"Dock" Connection to HeadPhones Help

[Fezzer]

From what I have read, the distortion problem with headphones is not present if the IPOD color is "docked". People have stated that there is a flaw with the headphone signal/jack but that the signal/output when the Ipod is "docked" is very clean/distortion free.

Is there anything out there in terms of a product that allows convenient patching to headphones from the "docking" connection???

Also, I have read that the signal from the headphone jack is not strong enough to send to a home stereo/amp etc. Is there an interface for headphones and RCA jacks from the "docking" connection???

Thanks for any insight.

Fezzer

[pdp76]

Originally posted by Fezzer
From what I have read, the distortion problem with headphones is not present if the IPOD color is "docked". People have stated that there is a flaw with the headphone signal/jack but that the signal/output when the iPod is "docked" is very clean/distortion free.

Is there anything out there in terms of a product that allows convenient patching to headphones from the "docking" connection???

Also, I have read that the signal from the headphone jack is not strong enough to send to a home stereo/amp etc. Is there an interface for headphones and RCA jacks from the "docking" connection???

Thanks for any insight.

Fezzer
I'll answer your 2nd question first.... Actually, the headphone output is plenty strong for a typical home stereo or amp IF you turn the volume of the iPod all the way to max. However, there are also adapters that let you connect the line-out signal from the dock connector to a stereo or amp. This signal is just SLIGHTLY less loud than the headphone at max volume, but the good part of this is that when connected to an amp, you can't control the volume from the iPod, which leaves you only one volume control, at your amp. Also, the signal coming out of the lineout sounds "better" than the headphone output. Anyway, here are just a few examples of line-out adapters: SiK imp, apple dock, and the sendstation pocketdock. Check them all out, see which one fits your needs and budget. Keep in mind, not all line-out dock adapters will let you charge the iPod at the same time. The 3 I mentioned above, however, will.

So this brings us to your 1st question. I think what most people are saying is that the headphone output is not as "pure" as the line-out output. The headphone output has to pass through yet another amplification stage so that you can control the volume of the music coming out of your headphones. The line-out does not have this amplification stage, hence the constant "volume" coming out of the line-out connection via the dock connector. Which brings us back to "when 'docked' [i.e. using the docking connector line-out] the sound is less distorted."