Yes — you
can get decent sound out of a JRY-W9RQUHD-SA1 board, but it takes a bit of work.
By default, the SA1’s
onboard amplifier is only 3 W per channel, which is
much too weak to properly drive the iMac’s built-in speakers (which are 4 Ω and expect a much stronger signal). So if you connect them directly, you’ll get very quiet or flat sound.
However, several users in the MacRumors “DIY 5K Monitor Success” thread have achieved good results by doing one of the following:
🔊 Option 1: Add a Small External Amplifier
- Use the SA1’s audio line-out jack or solder leads from the board’s audio output pads.
- Feed that line-level signal into a small Class-D amplifier module such as the TPA3116, TPA3118, or TPA7498 (these are inexpensive, clean, and compact).
- Then connect your iMac speakers to the amp’s outputs.
- This delivers full volume and dynamic range.
Typical wiring:
SA1 audio out → amplifier input
amplifier output → iMac tweeter/woofer pair (via crossovers)
🪶 Option 2: Use Passive Crossovers (if re-using iMac speakers)
As detailed in @SubDriver’s guide (May 2025, see page 2681 post), the iMac’s internal speakers use
separate tweeter and woofer drivers, so you need a
crossover network to split frequencies properly.
You can:
- Use ready-made 4 Ω crossovers (small adjustable boards) between amp and speakers, or
- Build simple filters with capacitors and inductors inline with the speaker wires.
Without crossovers, the sound will be thin or distorted, because both drivers get the full frequency range.
🪛 Option 3: External Powered Speakers
If you don’t care about keeping the iMac’s internal speakers, the easiest solution is to plug
powered desktop speakers into the SA1’s headphone/line-out jack. You’ll get clean audio because the SA1 outputs a proper line-level signal.
⚙️ Notes
- The iMac’s internal speakers are 4 Ω, so make sure any amp or crossover is rated for that impedance.
- A 12 V / 2 A or 24 V / 2 A power supply is usually enough for a small amplifier board.
- If you’re re-using the iMac enclosure, you can mount the amp inside and power it off the same 24 V feed as the SA1 board (with a buck converter if needed).
✅
Summary:
- The SA1’s built-in 3 W amp is not enough for the iMac speakers.
- Use the line-out → external Class-D amp → crossovers → speakers.
- This setup yields clear, full-volume sound comparable to the stock iMac audio.
If you tell me which speakers or which iMac model you’re re-using (e.g. 2015 A1419 vs 2019 iMac), I can recommend specific crossover values and a compact amp that fits neatly inside the chassis.
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