will an amp increase an ipod's battery life?

[I3eyond]

probably a stupid question, but i'm curious

 

[muckluck]

Yes, because it will not have to power the headphones.

 

[I3eyond]

Quote:

Originally Posted by muckluck Yes, because it will not have to power the headphones.

yeah, common sense. just wanted to make sure

 

[Kirosia]

really? I'd think it'd decrease it, since line outs are usually set at a higher volume than normal listening levels (which drains battery faster). In the ipod's case it's 90%. Honestly I don't know, someone clarify?

 

[2426]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirosia really? I'd think it'd decrease it, since line outs are usually set at a higher volume than normal listening levels (which drains battery faster). In the ipod's case it's 90%. Honestly I don't know, someone clarify?

Thats what I thought too. Aren't you suppost to set your Ipod's volume to maxium, and then use your amp's volume knob.....

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Yes, an amp WILL help an iPod...as long as you mean out of the headphone jack. I have personal proof: if you plug in your iPod to, say, a regular 2.1 speaker thing (computer speakers, y'know), turn it very low, but amp it high w/ the speaker knob, of course your iPod battery life will be much better, because really the speaker is outputting the main volume.

 

[Kirosia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2426 Thats what I thought too. Aren't you suppost to set your Ipod's volume to maxium, and then use your amp's volume knob.....

According to some (fairly respectable) fellas round here, the ipod (5g) line out is basically the headphone out at 90% max volume or something.

 

[Veniogenesis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtheisticFreedom if you plug in your iPod to, say, a regular 2.1 speaker thing (computer speakers, y'know), turn it very low, but amp it high w/ the speaker knob, of course your iPod battery life will be much better, because really the speaker is outputting the main volume.

But when you're using an amplifier, I thought the point is to turn the source (the iPod) to full volume if you can't get a line-out. In this case, no. An amp will actually decrease the battery life as mentioned earlier in this thread. Of course, you could do what AtheisticFreedom is saying, but the sound quality might not be what it should be.

 

[I3eyond]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtheisticFreedom Yes, an amp WILL help an iPod...as long as you mean out of the headphone jack. I have personal proof: if you plug in your iPod to, say, a regular 2.1 speaker thing (computer speakers, y'know), turn it very low, but amp it high w/ the speaker knob, of course your iPod battery life will be much better, because really the speaker is outputting the main volume.

but the line out provides better quality, so why do that?

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veniogenesis But when you're using an amplifier, I thought the point is to turn the source (the iPod) to full volume if you can't get a line-out. In this case, no. An amp will actually decrease the battery life as mentioned earlier in this thread.

Why would that be? Turning the volume up increases voltage (electrical pressure), but an amp's current demand on the iPod remains low no matter what the volume setting, and thus should increase battery life compared to the much lower impedance of a pair of headphones. Unless I'm overlooking or confusing something.

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch Why would that be? Turning the volume up increases voltage (electrical pressure), but an amp's current demand on the iPod remains low no matter what the volume setting, and thus should increase battery life compared to the much lower impedance of a pair of headphones. Unless I'm overlooking or confusing something.

I think some people are confused here...

What fewtch says is correct - the impedance of a line out (amplifier) is 10k ohms which needs tiny amounts of power to run when compared to the 16~300ohm headphones that everyone uses...

I'm really not sure that the headphone out is the same as the line out... maybe it sounds not a million miles away, but impedances and what not will be different across the board - If sound quality matters, then go through the bottom every time - you can pick up line out dock connectors for next to nothing anyway

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duncan I think some people are confused here... What fewtch says is correct - the impedance of a line out (amplifier) is 10k ohms which needs tiny amounts of power to run when compared to the 16~300ohm headphones that everyone uses...

I think when amping the headphone-out jack, turning the volume of the iPod up to full would decrease battery life slightly (watts=volts*amps), but the current demand is so low that it would still be negligible compared to the wattage used by a pair of headphones plugged into the jack... would this be correct? (been awhile since I've taken any electronics classes).

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch I think when amping the headphone-out jack, turning the volume of the iPod up to full would decrease battery life slightly (watts=volts*amps), but the current demand is so low that it would still be negligible compared to the wattage used by a pair of headphones plugged into the jack... would this be correct? (been awhile since I've taken any electronics classes).

True enough, certainly doesn't sound wrong to me

 

[labrat]

Deleted.

 

[The_Duke_Of_Eli]

The difference in volume isn't all that is significant. A big eater of battery life on ipods (sole Nanos/Shuffles) is the hard drive spinning up and down. So even if you have an amp and your ipod set to very quiet, you will not see an incredible gain in battery life. I've experienced ~25% more life in idea situations (not constantly changing tracks and re-filling the buffer).