About

What?

This is the OxAmp. It's a tiny amplifier that goes between your smartphone or mp3 player and your car's audio input jack. If you've ever wished the quality of sound from your car's AUX input was better, then this is the solution.

Most smartphones and MP3 players output audio voltages around 3V peak to peak (±1.5V) due to being powered by a single cell lithium battery (3.7v); while AUX line inputs such as the one present in a car expect nearly 6V peak to peak. In addition, smartphones and mp3 players are often AC coupled outputs with capacitors that are physically limited by the ever shrinking size of today's devices, resulting in reduced bass output. This is why with many factory and aftermarket stereos external devices can sound about half as loud as internal sources such as the CD player or FM/Satellite radio.

In this situation you are forced to increase the volume on both the mp3 player/smartphone and the car stereo to the point where distortion begins. All this just to achieve an acceptable loudness and then you are in for an unpleasant surprise when switching from an external to internal source (Large volume difference). With the OxAmp you simply adjust the boost level needed between your device and your stereo and you are set. No more cranking up volumes to unnecessary and possibly dangerous levels on either your devices or your car stereo. Everything is now as it should be.

How?

In case you were wondering, here's how the OxAmp works. It takes 5v into it's micro USB port from your car, smooths out any noise that may be present and then uses that to also make -5V. An additional full size female USB port is also provided on the OxAmp to keep your phone or mp3 player juiced up. So now we have ±5V or 10V peak to peak to work with. More than enough to properly drive any AUX line input. These voltages are fed to the operational amplifier IC and the gain is set via the knob in the center. And that's about it. Your phone/mp3 player sends its wimpy 2V to the OxAmp who then pumps it up to a more reasonable level such as 5V and your car stereo is now a little less angry at the world.

Premium high quality components. The best available.

Dual gold plated copper 3.5mm jacks for long life.

PCB solder pads gold plated as well for strong joints.

Designed as small as possible to tuck away neatly in the car.

Ultra-low noise Texas Instruments operational amplifier.

All solid, low ESR, Japanese capacitors.

Why?

Unfortunately, components as nice as these tend to come at a high price, especially when buying them in low quantities. That's where you guys and girls (our kickstarter backers) come in. If there is enough demand to order the components for at least 200 units then it is possible to meet a price point of $35.