Electronics

Trash Amps Jam jams a speaker and amp into a jar

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The Trash Amps Jam speaker/amplifier
The Trash Amps Jam speaker/amplifier
An input switch lets users choose between MP3 and guitar line-in levels

We’ve seen big glass speakers and we’ve seen smaller models, but Trash Amps’ Jam takes the whole glass speaker thing down to a new level – it’s a speaker and amplifier, housed in a Mason jar.

Electronics do-it-yourselfers have been making glass jar speakers for a while now, perhaps most notably Sarah Pease with her audioJar. Like some of those DIY efforts, the Trash Amps Jam has its guts attached to the underside of the lid, with holes in that lid acting as a grille. In the case of the Jam, however, the jar’s tin lid has been replaced with more acoustically-friendly Baltic birch plywood.

An included curly cord with 3.5-mm plugs at either end allows users to play music from their mobile device through the Jam. An included adapter plug also allows them to use it with an electric guitar – an input switch lets them choose between MP3 and guitar line-in levels.

An input switch lets users choose between MP3 and guitar line-in levels

Little in the way of specs are available, although the device does apparently run for about 20 hours on one charge of its integrated battery.

Should you be nervous about breaking its glass body, Trash Amps also makes a speaker/amplifier that’s housed in a beverage can.

The Trash Amps Jam is currently available for about US$70, via Uncommon Goods.

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4 comments
The Skud
There are many small amps, with or without speakers, and/or small stand-alone speakers on the market already. It looks like most of the cost is going to the supplied wooden lid.
Sheldon Cooper
It's hardly worth the bother with such a small speaker - I can't imagine it will reproduce anything below 150Hz. It's probably an improvement on many docking stations though some of which have 1" or 2" speakers which are little more than tweeters. The user is better off using headphones where the direct coupling transmits bass far more effectively.
Dan Lewis
I call BS on the supposed running time of the glass amp and speaker. Yeah, the little light might stay on for 20 hours, but if you're actually using it, it isn't going to be even half that long.
weitrhino
Nothing truly remarkable here. Bob Carver made a 750 watt amp in a coffee can 40 years ago.