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Permalink Reply by Madopal (16.5 mi) on April 6, 2015 at 1:07pm

It's actually pretty simple.  My basic setup (minus my bigger speakers) would easily fit in/on a milk crate.

Start with a T-Amp:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PNOH2I/

Takes 10 AA batteries:

http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High-Capacity-Rechargeable-Batte...

If you want to get fancy, you can buy cases and have a few spare packs, you just have to figure out the right plugs and solder them on the end.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Plastic-Battery-Holder-Case/dp/B00MJU1EEK

After that, you only need a cable to plug in your source, any stereo 1/8" / 3.5mm male-to-male cable will do:

http://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-12-Feet-3-5mm-Stereo/dp/B000GZ6ZQW

and a pair of speakers that fit in/attach to your milk crate.  You want to get them as efficient as possible.  As close to 90db+ sensitivity as you can afford, as the higher the sensitivity, the more efficient the speaker. You can go with a smaller set all the way up to a pair you can attach to a rack. Something like these (outdoor is nice in case it rains...you just have to cover the amp then):

http://www.amazon.com/Dual-LU43PW-Indoor-Outdoor-Speakers/dp/B000A5...

And some speaker wire:

http://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Premium-Gauge-Speaker/dp/B006JSXES2

Basically, the speakers will be the most expensive component, and with extra AA batteries, you can easily carry way more power than you need.  I ran 3 10 packs and found with a good enough volume to work Critical Mass, you'd get 3 hours or so per 10 batteries at ~2500 mAh (those ones I linked are 2400, so that's close).  So if you carried 30 AA batteries, you'd easily be good for most of a day.

Amp: ~$35

Stereo cable: $3

Speaker wire: $10

Batteries: $60 for 24, good enough for ~6 hours with replacements when some go bad

Speakers: $35-$100, depending on quality

Whole shebang for $135-$210 or so, maybe another $10 in random costs (rain tarp, clamps for speakers, banana plugs if you want).

That's the basic small/loud/decent charge.  I'd stick with the T-amp and work on other costs if you're looking for small. 

Of course, this assumes you've already got a phone/ipod/mp3 player to feed audio to it. Personally, I'd stay away from using my phone, as they might not like being constantly used.  It's probably pretty easy to find a cheap mp3 player at Target/whatever, and then just use it.  That way, it'll have a better battery life (no touch screen, prolly), and you won't wind up toasting your phone.

Permalink Reply by Dean Bekken on April 7, 2015 at 11:32am

If you live in the city, the Park District has many fitness centers that are only $17 a month. I joined one over a year ago and treadmill/cycle machine helped me get started on a significant weight loss. I'm so cheap that I will go to the gym every day if poss. to get my money's worth!