iPod digital(coxial) out possible?

[pojen_h@hotmail.]

iPod is a very convenient tool to carry music around. However, I am wondering if there is way to have it output digital data instead of analog out.

Is such product exist? I did a search on head-fi and google, but didn't find any cable that will output music stored in iPod as digital signal. (say 3.55mm coxial)

 

[pegasus21]

The usual means of getting music out of the ipod only has analogue. If you want digital... (assuming it's possible), you'll have to mod the ipod. Tap the digital lines before the DAC. The DAC would be the wolfson chip (depends on individual models).

You'll probably need to make a circuit to transform the signal to something usable for digital coax. Quite a significant job I think.

 

[steaxauce]

I wish it were possible, but it's not.

 

[Jasper994]

I believe some of the iRiver players have optical out.

 

[pds6]

This is no more than a guess on a rumor!

If a new Apple Video iPod were to come out, it would make sense to have some sort of a digital out.

 

[boschtb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pds6 This is no more than a guess on a rumor! If a new Apple Video iPod were to come out, it would make sense to have some sort of a digital out.

I'm assuming this is a joke. The article you linked is from October 2005 and refers to the 5G video ipod that came out last year.

 

[gloco]

The iriver H120/H140 have an optical out (and in)

 

[pds6]

boschtb says:
Quote:

The article you linked is from October 2005 and refers to the 5G video ipod that came out last year.

Try Engadget. Sorry, pasted wrong site.

 

[smeggy]

There is the Griffin Bluetrip which is a plugin bluetooth transmitter for the ipod which goes to a small basestation which outputs spdif so you can DAC it. It uses the bluetooth advanced audio profile so it can send high bandwidth audio to the station. Might be worth a look.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/736/736465p1.html

 

[Vinnie R.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeggy There is the Griffin Bluetrip which is a plugin bluetooth transmitter for the ipod which goes to a small basestation which outputs spdif so you can DAC it. It uses the bluetooth advanced audio profile so it can send high bandwidth audio to the station. Might be worth a look. http://gear.ign.com/articles/736/736465p1.html

Hi Smeggy,

The Bluetrip converts the analog output of the iPod to bluetooth, and the basestation converts this to SPDIF. So while it does output SPDIF, it comes from the analog output of the iPod. So the chain is:

iPods DAC >> Analog output of iPod >> Bluetrip to Bluetooth (analog to digital) >> Basestation converts to SPDIF >> external dac converts back to analog

Expect some degradation there.

IMHO, you're much better off with an Airport Express!

Best regards,

Vinnie

 

[pds6]

Vinnie R. says:
Quote:

IMHO, you're much better off with an Airport Express!

I'm going digital-out of my Apple Computer to the Express and then digital-in to my Marantz Receiver. I am very happy with the results.

 

[Vinnie R.]

Guys,

I hope I did't come across to hard on the Bluetrip. The idea is very cool and I can see people enjoying it.

I guess all I am saying is that it just isn't the *true* iPod S/PDIF "holy grail" that we all want... I've been seeking it for a while now and I still have a small hunch that is looking me in the face ever time I do an iMod

Cheers!

Vinnie