The Wiert Corner – irregular stream of stuff

I wanted to connect my iPod Classic: 3rd Generation via TOSLINK to my amplifier (or alternatively via line-out).

Docks I found (most of the links only work from their archived versions):

• Via [Wayback/Archive] Review: Pure i-20 iPod dock | carsten knoch: essays + ideas:
  • [Wayback/Archive] PURE North America Online Store – i-20
    

    • High-performance 24-bit 192 KHz DAC (-105 dB signal to noise ratio, -93 dB THD+N and 2V RMS)
    • Audio outputs: Digital optical (TOSLINK), digital coaxial (RCA) and analogue (dual RCA)
    • Video outputs: Component (YPbPr), S-Video* and Composite video output
    • Remote controlCharges iPod/iPhone

    * Requires additional PURE Choice S-Video adapter

  • [Wayback/Archive] Wadia Digital 170iTransport
    

    • bit-perfect digital audio signal via S/PDIF coaxial (RCA) output,
    • DVD quality video via component outputs,
    • built on a sleek aluminum chassis.

• Cambridge Audio ID100
  • [Wayback/Archive] 6moons industry features: Cambridge Audio iD100
    

    • 1 = outboard power supply.
    • 2 = video output.
    • 3 = AES/EBU digital audio out.
    • 4 = Toslink digital audio out.
    • 5 = S/PDIF coaxial output.
    • The USB socket is for easy syncing.
    • Their iD100 is compatible with the iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G (Airplane mode recommended), iPod Touch (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation), iPod Classic and iPod Nano (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation).

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• [Wayback/Archive] RAL -RATOC Audio lab- iPod DDC RAL-1648iP1
• [Wayback/Archive] best sounding iPod iPhone Docking station, ONKYO ND-S1, high end ipod, high end iphone, audiophile ipod iphone, digital ipod iphone dock, ipod audiophile, iphone highend
  

  • USB-Digital/Digital-converter function up to 48kHz 16bit ( USB to SPdif ) no drivers required for Win,Mac,Linux
  • iPod / iPhone Digital output max 44.1kHz 16bit
  • High-Precision Circuit Clock (±10 ppm) for Precise Digital Processing
  • Works with Onkyo A/V Systems with USB Port and Audio/Video Terminals
  • iPod Video Playback
  • iTunes Sync/Unsync Switch
  • Audio Selector (iPod/PC)
  • Resume Music and Video Playback Function
  • Shuffle Function for Random Playback of Songs/Albums
  • Repeat Function (1 Track/All)
  • Auto Power On
  • Digital Outputs, Optical & Coax max 44.1/48kHz 16bit, (CD is 44.1kHz 16bit)
  • USB Port USB1.1, 48kHz 16bit, no drivers required Win / Mac / Linux
  • Composite Video Output
  • Direct Change (Automatically Switches Input Source to iPod)
  • iPod Recharging Function
  • iR Remote, simple and little included
  • optional Remote Control Operability via Onkyo A/V System’s RI (Remote Interactive) Remote Control
  • W× H × D: 205 × 35 × 175 mm
  • Power consumption 3.5 Watt
  • ATTENTION: in any case an firmware Update is recommended for the Apple device.
    • iPod touch all
    • iPod classic
    • iPod ab Generation 5.
    • iPod nano all – except 5, here the navigation in playlists is not possible
    • iPhone 3 & 4

• [Wayback/Archive] Integra Australia – DMI-40.4
  

  • ADVANCED FEATURES:
    • Audio and Video Playback from iPod/iPhone/iPad
    • Link with Integra A/V Receiver via RI (Remote Interactive)
    • AirPlay Capability
    • Wi-Fi Certified
    • Ethernet Port
    • High-Quality Pure Digital Audio Output
    • Analog Audio Outputs
    • Composite Video Output
    • Parallel Audio Outputs- Analog & Digital
    • Recharge iPod/iPhone/iPad During Playback
    • Auto On and Selector Function via RI
  • COMPATIBLE iPod/iPhone/iPad MODELS*:
    • iPod nano (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Generations)
    • iPod classic (80 GB, 120 GB, 160 GB)
    • iPod touch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Generations)
    • iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S
    • iPad, iPad (Wi-Fi + 3G), iPad 2 (Wi-Fi), iPad 2 (Wi-Fi + 3G), New iPad*Updating iPod/iPhone/iPad software is advised before using the DMI-40.4.
  • Connections
    • Digital Audio Out (Optical)
    • Ethernet
    • Composite Video Out
    • RCA Audio L/R Out
    • RI Terminal
    • DC Input (5 V [3 A])

• [Wayback/Archive] Arcam – drDock(Discontinued) – iPhone / iPod / iPad Dock
• [Wayback/Archive] Philips HomeDock HD DLA99901/17 | DLO

According to the reviews on this forum, I should go for the Pure i20 although having any digital Classic iPod dock at all is beter than having none:

1. [Wayback/Archive] Is the Cambridge Audio id100 iPod Dock any good? | Headphone Reviews and Discussion – Head-Fi.org
2. [Wayback/Archive] Is the Cambridge Audio id100 iPod Dock any good? | Page 2 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion – Head-Fi.org

Mods

• [Wayback/Archive] Optical Digital Audio output (TOSLINK) mod : ipod
  • [Wayback/Archive] DavidBuchanan314/ipod-toslink-mod: Adding optical digital audio output to classic iPods
• [Wayback/Archive] Modding digital out to an iPod | Headphone Reviews and Discussion – Head-Fi.org
  1. [Wayback/Archive] DIY iPod digital out – Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
  2. [Wayback/Archive] DIY iPod digital out – Page 2 – Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
  3. [Wayback/Archive] DIY iPod digital out – Page 3 – Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
  4. [Wayback/Archive] DIY iPod digital out – Page 4 – Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
  5. [Wayback/Archive] DIY iPod digital out – Page 5 – Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
  6. [Wayback/Archive] DIY iPod digital out – Page 6 – Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
  7. [Wayback/Archive] DIY iPod digital out – Page 7 – Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
• [Wayback/Archive] The Apple diyMod: My Take on the Famous iMod [56k killer] Featuring 3G, 4G, 5G and nano 1G! – Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
  • [Wayback/Archive] S/PDIF output extension for Portable MiniDisc Devices

Note: there are a few more posts like this one, but the approach this seems to be a rabbit hole.

Forum messages

• [Wayback/Archive] iPod Classic and digital output to dac – Apple Community (recommends Pure i20)
• [Wayback/Archive] Can I connect my iPod classic or universa… – Apple Community recommends Cambridge Audio
• [Wayback/Archive] IPod Dock with digital out Coax TOSLINK or HDMI : ipod recommends Onkyo nd-s1 (though the remote control lacks quite a bit of what the i20 has)
• [Wayback/A] Ipod Classic 7th Gen How to listen via Line Out Instead of Headphones Jack. | MacRumors Forums
  

  • Yeah the line level audio output from the dock connector will sound a lot cleaner to an audio input. 30-pin to RCA output or 30-pin to 3.5mm
  • I have an old iPod dock that is connected to another stereo. The dock has a 30-pin port plus a line-out stereo mini plug port. A USB-to-30-pin cable provides power to keep the iPod charged, but the audio comes from the line-out port and goes into the A/V receiver with a stereo mini plug to RCA L-R cable.
  • Note that the iPod Classic also outputs unconverted digital audio on the 30-pin connector. You can use some external DACs to convert this signal to analog audio. I have a discontinued NuForce Icon iDO DAC for this purpose (I think it was $200 when I bought it new many years ago). That is about has high-fidelity you can get out of an iPod Classic. I have a bunch of ALAC files, mostly ripped from CDs on this Classic.
  • I’ve always used the line output on the iPod Universal Dock with mine. No longer sold but you can pick them up fairly cheap on eBay.

• [Wayback/Archive] How to connect an ipod to a Toslink input? | DIYMobileAudio.com Car Stereo Forum recommends Pure i20.
• [Wayback/Archive] iPod Classic digital stream output – can it utilize third party external DAC, with Rockbox? : rockbox
  • [Wayback/Archive] Playing music from an iPod to an Android Car Headunit : ipod mentions Direct iPod Control (but I could not find an archived version of the specifications)
• [Wayback/Archive] Digital out from iPod classic (cheaply) | pink fish media recommends Pure i-20, Cambridge Audio id-100, Onkyo NSD1 (which actually is the Onkyo ND-S1)
• [Wayback/Archive] Connecting your iPod to a DAC via Toslink | Headphone Reviews and Discussion – Head-Fi.org is about the Onky ND-S1

Videos

• [Wayback/Archive] Getting digital audio out from Apple i Devices with the Pure i 20 Dock – YouTube
• [Wayback/Archive] Integra Home Theater – DMI-40.4 Intro- iPod/iPhone/iPad Airplay Interface – YouTube

Charging

[Wayback/Archive] Which iPods can sync and charge via USB? Which iPods can sync and charge via Firewire?: EveryiPod.com

Via [Wayback/Archive] The iPod Hi-Fi is amazing. Just Wow | Page 2 | MacRumors Forums.

Queries

• [Wayback/Archive] ipod classic 1st generation optical – Google Search
• [Wayback/Archive] classic ipod toslink – Google Search
• [Wayback/Archive] ipod toslink dock – Google Search
• [Wayback/Archive] ipod toslink dock – Google Image Search
• [Wayback/Archive] toslink ipod mod – Google Search

–jeroen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goTq3JrNfDw