Audiophile iPod dock

It's not clear from your post exactly what it is that you are trying to accomplish.

You can bypass the iPod's internal DAC and amp and use an external DAC, but you'll still need an amp. It is not necessary to tear up your speakers to output the iPod's signal to them. An iPod can be used as a source in the same manner as either a CD player or CD transport can be used. Regardless, you'll need an amp to push the speakers.

Cabinet design is an important aspect of speaker design. You can't transplant drivers to a completely different cabinet design and expect a similar sound quality. If you start with quality speakers, the probability is high that sound quality will be significantly diminished.
Edited by Jaywalk3r - 2/15/12 at 5:41pm

This bypass the DAC business and then saying an amp.......

A dock connector can be used to get line out, but it's still using the onboard DAC on the iDevice, just not using the internal amp (or minimally using the internal amp). Bypassing the internal DAC would require more expensive equipment than the Line Out Dock connector (shortened to LOD), which you would still need to get an amp to properly take advantage of this source. The LOD would only work from the connector, it would have no effect on the output from the headphone jack built into the device. 

 

If you would be so kind as to try to clearly state what you are trying to do, that would be great. If you are having trouble, try to just provide the basics, like what items you have, what you wanna do, what you're hoping the overall project will yield, and what things you don't understand/fears of what might go wrong. Welcome to the forums man, may God have mercy on your wallet.
 

 

My mistake. I was under the (mistaken) impression that digital output could be obtained from the dock connection.

It can, just not easily. if you had an iPad it would just require the camera kit USB adapter, and then an external DAC, but without an iPad, you would need a DAC meant to take the digital signal from the iDevice, which usually is only in expensive devices as I believe their is a technical complication requiring authorization from Apple itself, but I am not completely sure. Considering what I can understand of your build idea, you might not want to spend that type of money, but once you are done with what you wanna do, it should be easily be able to be added if you so desire. The most important aspect is the amp in your situation (from what I can tell).

 

 

EDIT: just realized i was replying to someone other than the OP
 

Also, their are some doubts about the Line Out Dock connector truly bypassing the internal amp completely, but from experience the output from a LOD is noticeably better than from the HO (headphone out). 

 

EDIT 2: Also, why is this in the Portable Source Gear section of the forums? Am I missing something here with the idea or goal of this project?

Edited by kenman345 - 2/15/12 at 3:04pm

Again, I am highly confused by this. So, you're saying you want an all in one solution of some type of speaker with a dock connector for input that's portable. Battery powered or plugged in? and I do not know how cost effective this project would be in the first place. Cabinets are quite important, not just the driver. If it's not properly done you won't be getting the right sound out of the setup. 

 

And could you describe this, not good for anything comment? I am having a hard time visualizing. I think I know what you're talking about, but feel free to post a link to something or call it by name so I can get a better sense of the goal here. I would love you help and lend some experience I've gained from my own attempts at making things. 
 

 

Not to discourage you but dude, how good is your EE knowledge? How good is your industrial design knowledge? As a hobby you really need to spend a lot of time, energy, and money for trial and error.

 

First of all, designing an amplifier that can properly drive an 8 ohm speaker is already really difficult. And you want it to be small/portable enough to carry without the lost of fidelity? Forget about it.

I'm an EE and I still find tweaking a ready made amp is already difficult.. Designing an amp from scratch including shielding, proper pcb design and signal integrity without a proper knowledge and experience? Not in this lifetime.

Edited by Jazzyfi - 2/16/12 at 1:20am