The Apple diyMod: My Take on the Famous iMod [56k killer] Featuring 3G, 4G, 5G and nano 1G! - Page 86

All those capacitors are within spec. Just make sure you have enough for both channels. Find the setup that sounds best and you're set.

It comes down to preference, but, to a relative point, larger is better. The spirit of the mod comes from the bass-rolloff problems many have complained about in the iPod, and we "technical-types" can attribute that to undersized caps. With resistance constant, more capacitance means bass rolls off at a lower frequency, thus solving (at least, in part) the problem of bass roll-off. For me, I could somehow detect the difference between 22 uF and 47 uF, and I preferred the 47s. You must also keep in mind that capacitance and voltage rating aren't the only parameters that affect the sound (think ESR, build quality, tolerance, etc.). That's why you should judge by the sound each capacitor gives you.

And colour has very little sound effect except for the imagined.

You can use docking speakers if the diyMod has internal capacitors. By replacing the other components from the signal path with just the capacitor, you are changing the circuitry quite a bit, but it's still a usable signal. The other elements modify the signal in some way, but to us, they only "contaminate" the sound in the sense that the signal can be cleaner by using better parts. Apple probably implemented some sort of filter after the DAC, but its nature I do not know. On the iPod 5G, I read 100 ohms between the DAC and the L2/L3 positions. So there is some sort of RLC filter going on, I just don't know what kind; I probably learned this in class, but it's been so long .

In short, yes, we are going around more components, but I don't know how that's supposed to affect the diyMod's compatibility with docking speakers though. Perhaps you can clarify what's confusing you as I'm kind of fuzzy on what you're really asking.

Hey, check it out, we're on TV!

The diyMod: Ultimate Audio or a Dead iPod — Systm — Revision3

edit: This video is really good for beginners. Highly recommended.

With respect to the image of the 4G photo, you take the signal from the top of the R and the bottom of the L. There are two signals, one that goes to the headphone whose volume is controlled by the click wheel and one that has a constant volume that goes to the dock. If you remove those resistors, then you will still get the signal to the headphone jack.