Any Simple Solutions?

Jenga12

I find tech stuff complicated. I put songs onto a basic mp3 player (took forever) Is there any way to connect to external speakers? It has an earphone jack and a usb connector jack thing to power it. It's not bluetooth + not for the car - just for when visiting relatives who don't have internet/laptops.

Neil_Jones

MP3 player will have headphone out jack, you may be able to connect speakers to that.

If the relatives have a hifi system (usually with speakers on the wall wireless or cabled) it may have auxiliary in, you may be able to connect MP3 player to that.

Sandtree

What speakers are you wanting to connect it to?

The headphone output gives you a way of getting the sound out to other devices but its output wont be powerful enough to power speakers directly. So you either need to connect it to an amplifier (like a home stereo) or to active speakers (like computer speakers that have an amplifier built into them).

You'd need to buy something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-2-Male-Adapter-Cable/dp/B01D5H8JW0/ but can pick something like it up from a poundshop type place for less.

When connected up both the volume control on the mp3 player and the hifi/speakers will change the volume... you are generally better setting the MP3 to a medium to highish level and using the other system to get it to the level of listening you want.

getmore4less

Easiest portable solution is a portable speaker with aux in.
Loads of youtube reviews
there are solutions that take a sdcards so you could move the music onto that and drop the mp3 player.

we have this one,  plenty similar at different price points and  shapes/sizes.

qaasim

Go on Amazon and search for "3.5MM speakers"
you will find small portable


Or larger mains powered ones


Note:

•  These are often labelled 'PC Speakers' but as long as 3.5mm should work. 
• Sometimes they are not Mains powered but USB

As others have said you can get a 3.5mm cable to connect to devices you already have if they have a compatible input.

esuhl

As above, if your relatives have some kind of hi-fi or portable speaker thingy, it might have an input that you can connect your MP3 player to with a cable.

Traditional hi-fi amps should have phono connectors, so you'd want a cable like this (a random example):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Stereo-Jack-Phono-Cable/dp/B002JV4LZS

Other devices might have a 3.5mm socket (like the earphone socket on your MP3 player), so you'd need a cable like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Valueline-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Cable-Black/dp/B00O29M4FE

Unfortunately, some devices might not have an input socket at all...