The Apple diyMod: My Take on the Famous iMod [56k killer] Featuring 3G, 4G, 5G and nano 1G!
Jul 6, 2012 at 4:41 AM Post #2,521 of 3,220
There you go my friend: http://www.ualberta.ca/~jple/diyMod/

Also, some images that I'm sure will come in handy:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/iywrzwrgcxe8u7e/Video%205%20plyta%20gl%C3%B3wna.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t1vb7r8tzve23sc/Video%205%20plyta%20gl%C3%B3wna2.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e6cnyvp7m21d6jh/p1020206h.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/knmjcmln46ooqaw/p1020203.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/edn5c7moajnp3ug/IMG_5689.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/awagetvsdy1ff4r/IMG_5683.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s14t23cfsd91lun/diymod80gb006qe1.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kothfvcg3fsxd6y/diymod80gb005fc2.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/het96pp25lvuf37/diymod80gb002bi9.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jt4hpj0s6qgi9sh/diymod80gb001km5.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6hl9ufg4ydfx9ih/20090918_imod_04.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lx3395hb6nqourx/20090918_imod_03.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mt7hsv21r0to4pv/20090918_imod_02.jpg

Good luck with your diyMod bro ^^
 
Sep 27, 2012 at 4:02 AM Post #2,526 of 3,220
Hi Guys,
 
I have a question with regards to DIYiModding an iPod 5.5g 80GB.
 
I am looking to change the hard drive in this to a 120Gb SSD....at the same time and whilst the case is open I want to look at doing a DIY mod on this similar to the RWA iMod........not sure what is involved though.
 
Is it just a case of bypassing the "Line Out" of the iPod with say Pure Silver Wire? or is there anything else that needs to be done?
 
I know I also need to make up an iMod LOD as well which has the capacitors fitted to protect my portable amp. What do people suggest for the Capacitors, I know a lot of people use BlackGate Caps are there other good alternatives?
 
Hope you can help / advise guys.
 
Jay
 
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:39 PM Post #2,527 of 3,220
Don't make two mods at once - do the SSD first and make sure it works first.  Then make the bypass mod.  If you have issues it's nice to know how it was caused.
You are bypassing the ipods amplifier circuit from the A out of the DAC to the line out connections.  And yeah, go with pure silver - whatever is most expensive (and try a free strand of teflon coated wire from a cat5 cable and tell me if you notice the difference)
For the caps try...
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=black+gate+nx+alternatives
 
Oct 6, 2012 at 1:14 PM Post #2,528 of 3,220
I would actually advise doing it the other way around. Do the mod first, then the SSD upgrade. an SSD can potentially introduce new noise since it's all electric circuitry, so you might not know if the mod was done right if the SSD is introducing new noise. Then again, Maybe i'm wrong.
Quote:
Don't make two mods at once - do the SSD first and make sure it works first.  Then make the bypass mod.  If you have issues it's nice to know how it was caused.
You are bypassing the ipods amplifier circuit from the A out of the DAC to the line out connections.  And yeah, go with pure silver - whatever is most expensive (and try a free strand of teflon coated wire from a cat5 cable and tell me if you notice the difference)
For the caps try...
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=black+gate+nx+alternatives

 
Oct 8, 2012 at 1:23 AM Post #2,529 of 3,220
im thinking of modding my ipod 5.5 80 to SSD with internal CAPs and a internal amp. im still not sure how to fit everything in the 80G back housing yet. For the internal amp i was thinking of using CMOY, they can be very small. i know the CMOY is not the greatest of choice. but i am aiming at portability and powering IEMs only. please let me know if there are any problems with this route.
 
my trail of thought are IPOD DAC ---> CAPs ---> CMOY amp ----> IEMs.
 
basically just soldering two wires out of the DAC, instead of going to the LO, it's heading to CMOY amp. 
 
Oct 8, 2012 at 1:31 AM Post #2,530 of 3,220
not sure how you'll pull that off. You'll need to modify the back cover for the use of volume control. I have come up with this idea as well. Good Luck
 
I suggest going the route of the mSATA drives that have recently been discovered to work with an adapter in ipods, or with the CF card adapter in order to save space. Then do the mod and figure everything else out. Maybe you might be able to find some place to make you a slightly thicker back cover if necessary for this project. Please report back.
Quote:
im thinking of modding my ipod 5.5 80 to SSD with internal CAPs and a internal amp. im still not sure how to fit everything in the 80G back housing yet. For the internal amp i was thinking of using CMOY, they can be very small. i know the CMOY is not the greatest of choice. but i am aiming at portability and powering IEMs only. please let me know if there are any problems with this route.
 
my trail of thought are IPOD DAC ---> CAPs ---> CMOY amp ----> IEMs.
 
basically just soldering two wires out of the DAC, instead of going to the LO, it's heading to CMOY amp. 

 
Oct 8, 2012 at 2:42 AM Post #2,531 of 3,220
yes.. the back housing would need a hole for the volume knob as well as the new PO. or using the existing PO 
 
my part list:
Transcend 32GB 1.3-inch IDE ZIF SSD (MLC) - TS32GPSSD-M - #32PSSD $35
or 
Super Talent 128GB MLC 1.3 inch IDE ZIF Solid State Drive $300
 
http://attachment.imp3.net/forum/201205/10/21440584e2eyz0eb64ey4f.jpg
picture showing how much space you would save swapping to SSD
 
33uF 6.3V Elna Silmic II Electrolytic Capacitor
47uF 6.3V Elna Silmic II Electrolytic Capacitor
100uF 6.3V Elna Silmic II Electrolytic Capacitor
 
 going to playing with different caps to see what's the difference
 
CMOY kit from ebay, BUT gonna swap out caps and resisters for better ones. laying down the caps for a lower profile.  
 
+ silver solders and wires, etcs
 
Oct 8, 2012 at 1:57 PM Post #2,532 of 3,220
Ok, this is a newbie DIY question, but I'm looking to upgrade my 5g with the 240GB Toshiba drive, and so I'm thinking about doing the iMod as well. My question is: if the external caps are just to control (stop?) the DC while letting the AC through, could I not simply use a Fiio L11 after doing the mod? The L11 already has the circuits for line out AND micro-USB charging, so my thinking is that the USB circuitry built into it *have* to account for any DC coming out of the iPod - and remove the need for external caps like the Black Gates?
 
Or would this just end up blowing up some gear?! 
triportsad.gif
 (There is a chance that the L11 is dependent on the internal caps which I would be circumventing with the iMOd, right?)
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Oct 8, 2012 at 5:55 PM Post #2,533 of 3,220
the caps take the DC output and change it to AC. I have seen a few people go without the caps using amps with a protection capacitor on the input (RSA Mustang), but I do not know if you will see the benefits of the modification at it's full potential. It is also not advised to use the protection capacitors of an amp instead of actual purpose meant capacitors. The whole point of the capacitors in the amp are to protect the amp section from potentially harmful input. You'll get the most out of the modification if you use external or internal (internal to the iPod) capacitors as you'll be able to use it with more amps as well as get the most out of it. I freaked out when at a Head-Fi meet up I tried someones iMod with LOD and found out that the LOD didn't have capacitors inside, and the owner had no idea he needed capacitors. I was pissed beyond belief but nothing seems to have been damaged. I had tried his iMod with LOD on my amp, and then Vinny from RWA was there and had a iMod and LOD with capacitors in it and i tried it with my amp and it was actually compatible like it should have been. 
Quote:
Ok, this is a newbie DIY question, but I'm looking to upgrade my 5g with the 240GB Toshiba drive, and so I'm thinking about doing the iMod as well. My question is: if the external caps are just to control (stop?) the DC while letting the AC through, could I not simply use a Fiio L11 after doing the mod? The L11 already has the circuits for line out AND micro-USB charging, so my thinking is that the USB circuitry built into it *have* to account for any DC coming out of the iPod - and remove the need for external caps like the Black Gates?
 
Or would this just end up blowing up some gear?! 
triportsad.gif
 (There is a chance that the L11 is dependent on the internal caps which I would be circumventing with the iMOd, right?)
 
Thanks in advance!

 
Oct 8, 2012 at 9:34 PM Post #2,534 of 3,220
Thanks - that helps a tonne!
 
Looks like I'll be getting some LOD parts from Qables or somewhere... Shopping, then soldering!
 
Oct 8, 2012 at 10:53 PM Post #2,535 of 3,220
sorry kenman345, I have to correct several things in your post.

the caps dont change anything to AC, the AC is already there riding on top of a DC offset, the caps remove that DC, while presenting a High pass filter to the AC signal in combination with the amps input impedance.

if you have DC blocking caps for sure on the amp you are using, its BETTER to have no caps, adding an extra cap, no matter how good it is, isnt ever going to improve the sound quality over having no cap. but be aware at meets, advise people that there are no caps and remember yourself ie. dont use it with other peoples gear unless you know its AC coupled.

@ pcgo: I dont know what you think blocks DC in a USB connection, not only does it not involve any kind of DC blocking mechanism, but it is a completely different signal path that uses completely different pins in the dock.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top