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Zune HD s/pdif output--potentially without dock

post #1 of 12
9/18/09 at 12:44am
Thread Starter 
It seems the Zune HD outputs s/pdif on one of its pins to its dock--the dock is just an optical converter--so it may be possible to make an adapter to connect the Zune directly to the coax input of a portable DAC without any additional bulk. The problem is that Zune accessories are authenticated by a security handshake, and before this happens most of the pins are disabled, so it would be necessary to find a way around this. If an outstanding PMP like the Zune HD were able to output to a portable DAC without any additional bulk, it would be the holy grail for us portaphiles, so I'd very much like to make this happen. I'd appreciate any input on how to go about doing it.

And if you'd like to see this happen too, speak up!
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post #2 of 12
9/18/09 at 1:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by steaxauce View Post
It seems the Zune HD outputs s/pdif on one of its pins to its dock--the dock is just an optical converter--so it may be possible to make an adapter to connect the Zune directly to the coax input of a portable DAC without any additional bulk. The problem is that Zune accessories are authenticated by a security handshake, and before this happens most of the pins are disabled, so it would be necessary to find a way around this. If an outstanding PMP like the Zune HD were able to output to a portable DAC without any additional bulk, it would be the holy grail for us portaphiles, so I'd very much like to make this happen. I'd appreciate any input on how to go about doing it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by steaxauce View Post

And if you'd like to see this happen too, speak up!
If there is a security handshake involved then it probably will be very hard / impossible to create an analog or optical LOD without the IC that does the handshake. The best bet is probably to modify an existing accessory.

First step would probably be to spend some time with an oscilloscope to identify which pins are the analog and digital outs. Then cut those connections/traces and route them elsewhere.

This sounds like quite a project.
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post #3 of 12
9/18/09 at 1:47am
That would be cool, I use a Cowon Q5W for it's s/pdif, it would be nice to have something smaller, and with flash memory instead.
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post #4 of 12
9/18/09 at 7:00am
does the spdif work for drm songs as well?
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post #5 of 12
9/18/09 at 12:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
does the spdif work for drm songs as well?
Yes.
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post #6 of 12
9/18/09 at 3:42pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for posting, guys. I'm not sure I'm willing to make a huge project out of this, but I'm definitely going to look into it. It occurred to me to incorporate parts from a dock into a DAC I would build to use with the Zune, but the problem there is that the Zune HD dock costs $90, and while the Zune HD is compatible with the currently-very-cheap previous Zune docks, I don't know whether or not those docks activate the Zune's spdif output.
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post #7 of 12
9/18/09 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by steaxauce View Post
Thanks for posting, guys. I'm not sure I'm willing to make a huge project out of this, but I'm definitely going to look into it. It occurred to me to incorporate parts from a dock into a DAC I would build to use with the Zune, but the problem there is that the Zune HD dock costs $90, and while the Zune HD is compatible with the currently-very-cheap previous Zune docks, I don't know whether or not those docks activate the Zune's spdif output.

I can't say for sure, but I'd be willing to bet all the accessories use the exact same handshake. I bet an older dock, or even one of the cheaper accessories like the wired remote or the FM transmitter would probably work.

I think the wired remotes are almost impossible to find now, but I have a couple squirreled away. I might be willing to donate one to the cause if you're serious about this. None of the buttons (play/pause, volume, etc.) work with the HD, but it does get analog audio out so hopefully the spidf pins are turned on as well.
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post #8 of 12
9/18/09 at 5:08pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Extropian. The Zune docks are $1.99 on Amazon right now, so I might try that first, though the wired remote looks like it might be ideal, since there's actually a wire between the dock connector and the device. I appreciate the offer, and I might ask about that later, but it should be at least a few more weeks before I even get a Zune, and I'm still considering a few more options.
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post #9 of 12
9/18/09 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by steaxauce View Post
Thanks for posting, guys. I'm not sure I'm willing to make a huge project out of this, but I'm definitely going to look into it. It occurred to me to incorporate parts from a dock into a DAC I would build to use with the Zune, but the problem there is that the Zune HD dock costs $90, and while the Zune HD is compatible with the currently-very-cheap previous Zune docks, I don't know whether or not those docks activate the Zune's spdif output.
Please note that there are two types of Zune docks:
Zune HD AV Dock -- $90 and
Zune Sync Dock -- $50
They seems to be identical and only difference is A/V and HDMI cables bundled with Zune HD AV Dock.

I hope that Zune Sync Dock also equipped with Toslink and HDMI outputs. Could someone check that?
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post #10 of 12
9/18/09 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nik1976 View Post
Please note that there are two types of Zune docks:
Zune HD AV Dock -- $90 and
Zune Sync Dock -- $50
They seems to be identical and only difference is A/V and HDMI cables bundled with Zune HD AV Dock.

I hope that Zune Sync Dock also equipped with Toslink and HDMI outputs. Could someone check that?
Both docks have the same ports options. S/PDIF and HDMI



Quote:
The back of the Zune AV Dock includes an HDMI output, digital audio output, analog AV output, and a black wire antenna for picking up radio reception.
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post #11 of 12
9/18/09 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 
Ah, that's great to know.
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post #12 of 12
9/20/09 at 7:39pm
Thanks Ricardo!
Could you please check whether Video out from analogue AV mini jack is available when audio streamed via optical SPDIF? I need to get digital audio with composite video from dock at the same time.
Thanks in advance!
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