The Apple diyMod: My Take on the Famous iMod [56k killer] Featuring 3G, 4G, 5G and nano 1G! - Page 85

Wrong? not quiet. In fact, it's a sign that something is quiet all-right (well, potentially all all right).

The mod removes capacitors from inside the ipod. The capacitors job is to filter out DC (direct current). The ipod's signal is created on top of this DC, though this DC is what you don't want flowing through your headphones, cause it'll likely eventually damage them, and they wont be operating properly with it. They will nonetheless still be responding to the AC signal thats on top of that DC if they are still working, BUT, the line out is not meant to be fed directly in to headphones, rather in to a headphone amp, where that direct current could be amplified and become even worse! Some amps have coupling caps that will filter it out already, but you'd need to be certain of that before taking the risk. To be sure, we put capacitors in the signal path anyway, to block that DC, which we usually put in the line out cable, or some other contraption.
In short, is'd not a sign that things are wrong, but it's certainly not good practice to try and amplify that dc and feed it into your headphones. make sure there is a coupling capacitor in the signal path, either in a cable, or at the input of your amp...
I hope this doesn't confuse you more :P

edit:
Ignore most of the circuitry, just take a look at the 2 right most voltage meters..

Input and output coupling

I didn't use it directly with headphone : I just plug in an ipod soundstation

So for you it's normal (sorry but I don't really understand stuff about electricity )

Well, yes.
There IS a signal when using a normal line out dock, but that signal has a component that NEEDS(!) to be filtered out with a capacitor in line somewhere.
The signal, even with the DC, will cause an amplifier to play sounds on a speaker, but is NOT good practice. So, your mod is probably ok, but you NEED to use a cap

I'm sorry I'm bad with abbreviations. What does LOD stand for?

Pretty sure its Line Out Dock but i could be wrong

Ive been watching this thread and was ready to purchase an ipod to start my own DIYmod but i decided to go with a Toshiba Gigabeat with rockbox instead. What you guys have done is amazing and i think i might still buy an ipod, try the DIYmod and pass the gigabeat to the finacee. Only part that stops me is making the LOD with the caps in it.. Im not that great soldering

Thx for the pep talk...I think im gonna try to make a Gigabeat LOD 1st(if its possible). Then ill try the diymod\lod when i get more funds. You might get some PMs from me since im not crystal clear on some things.

What pins in the dock are unused? I think i'm going to go with attaching wires in parallel with the original Line Out and having those wires go to 2 unused pins in the dock. Then I'll make a corresponding 30 pin connector with the Caps in them. I'm still debating whether or not to actually do this. I've never soldered anything so small, and the only thing I have ever done inside an iPod was to replace parts. And even doing that while grounded I still managed to fry an iPod's mainboard. Maybe the next time I open up my iPod to replace a battery or something I'll perform the DiyMod.

the only used is the 2, 3 and 4 for the audio.

2 is the audio ground
3 is the right
4 is the left

Pin 1 is also ground. Some folks prefer to use that one, but I don't think it makes a difference in SQ.

This is just slightly confusing. take a look at ipod pinout at pinouts.ru. You'll notice pins 7, 14 and 17 are unmentioned. I used 14 and 17 so they are verified to be unused in my nano but the access was a bit of a pain. a different ipod may have different access. I warn you though, that these pins are VERY small, and pretty tough to handle. I think if you'r capable of it, you should know what to do. The confusing this is the numbering though. the numbering at pinout.ru is INVERSED fram that marked on the board. It's not hard to figure out though. if you're looking at your ipod screen like you normally would, according to pinout.ru, pin number 1 is on the left, when you flip the ipod over and work from the back, it'll be to your right. I suggest you have this covored before tackling anything, and make sure you know what you're doing.
Good luck

Thanks for the info. So pins 7, 14, and 17 are unused by anything correct?, or are they just unknown? And if I solder the wires onto 14, and 17, it would not affect the original functionality whatsoever (Docking speakers, data transfer etc) right? Thanks again.