User profile for user: technoreid
technoreid Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Connect iPod touch 2G to Reciever using RCA's? It cannot be this difficult?

Hello!

Need to connect iPod touch 2G to my reciever using RCA's?

But +I do not want to use the headphone jack....+ (I heard I will get higher sound quality using the bottom multi-pin connector on the bottom of the touch going to a left and right RCA's) +I have uncompressed (AIFF) files on my iPod touch and want the best sound quality possible.+


I found a couple companies that make these cables with one being the Cables To Go 4-Feet RCA Stereo to Dock Connector Cable for iPod and also the Nyko Stereo Link for iPod, but from reading the reviews on Amazon neither of them will work with the Touch 2g (or the iPhone for that matter).

I am also open to a simple dock of some sort that would provide me RCA outputs. Seems as if Apples universal dock would be great but it seems to have NO RCA outputs on the back of it.

If anyone has a solution to this I would be very very happy!

+I have looked high and low for a solution for this seemingly simple task.+

All I want is a connector that goes from the bottom of the touch to 2 RCA's so I can input this into
my home stereo so I can listen to my ripped CD's in high quality. A dock would also work too! I do not need charging or anything fancy....

(already have try the Tekkeon NavDock for iPod which was cool because I could watch my videos on tv from my touch but i dont need that)


+*just looking for something simple that works with the iPod Touch 2G.*+

*It cannot be this difficult?*

thanks, techo

iPod Touch 2G, Mac OS X (10.4.11), none

Posted on May 23, 2009 10:22 AM

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8 replies
User profile for user: deggie
deggie
User level: Level 10
167,525 points

May 23, 2009 10:30 AM in response to technoreid

It isn't difficult. Get the universal dock, put your Touch in it, get a male 3.5" to RCA cable, connect the RCAs to your receiver and you are good to go. The fact that the universal dock does not have RCA connectors has nothing to do with connecting to your receiver, and you are not connecting to the headphone jack.

That said, especially since you are using AIFF, you are not going to hear any appreciable difference using the dock connection or the headphone out, you are still using the iPod DAC and the dock connector has a volume tap.

If you really want to hear a difference with a dock, you need this:
http://www.wadia.com/products/transports/170i/
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User profile for user: technoreid
technoreid Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 23, 2009 7:19 PM in response to deggie

I think there is a difference between using the headphone jack vs. using the 30 pin connector to RCA.
I would have to say the 30 pin connector to RCA would provide higher quality? Am I wrong?
Wouldn't I get better quality using the Apple A/V kit that uses the 30 pin connector rather than a 3.5mm to RCA?

that device you linked to looks awesome!

thanks, techno
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User profile for user: technoreid
technoreid Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 23, 2009 7:37 PM in response to roaminggnome

Would I be able to see my photos on the TV with this connector? I have heard a lot of people saying they cannot see their photos over the TV but they can see their music videos....

I had this but brought it back:

http://www.amazon.com/Tekkeon-NavDock-iPod-Silver-Black/dp/B0012UZEEO/ref=sr154?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1243132356&sr=1-54

it would play videos, but could not even display my photos on tv? I find that strange.
the audio was sounded ok though, but the interface was buggy/sloppy. So with the Tekkeon dock is it using outboard convertors for the music/sound rather than iPods? Another words could/would this Tekkeon thing sound better than the Apple A/V kit?


thanks, techno
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User profile for user: deggie
deggie
User level: Level 10
167,525 points

May 24, 2009 8:33 AM in response to technoreid

As I stated above, the docking connector is not a "true" line-out, it does have a volume-tap so the volume control will work. It probably is somewhat cleaner than the headphone out (haven't measured it), but it is not going to be a significant difference as any improvement you get from the connector is severely limited by the DAC in the iPod.

You get no improvement in sound from using the pins on the 30 pin connector versus a 3.5 mm jack. If you buy a Universal Dock it is passing the signal from the 30 pin dock to a 3.5mm female jack, then you use the 3.5mm to RCA. Going directly from the dock connector to RCA will not improve the sound, the 3.5mm connector is not inferior in itself to the RCA connectors.

The A/V kit will get you the ability to watch your videos on your TV and output the stereo signal to your receiver. If you want even better sound for your music, get an Apple TV and use the HDMI cable to transfer the video and sound:
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shopipod/family/appletv?mco=MTE4MTU
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User profile for user: technoreid
technoreid Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 24, 2009 4:30 PM in response to deggie

then why is it when I bought this below (link) which had RCA outputs on the back of the dock
I had a "set" volume out of the RCA's. I didnt have to mess with the iPod Touch volume at all. I used the dock remote for the volume....


http://www.amazon.com/Tekkeon-NavDock-iPod-Silver-Black/dp/B0012UZEEO/ref=sr154?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1243132356&sr=1-54

**Since I had a "steady" signal from the dock above does that mean it had it's own DAC's?
It sounded ok, but i really couldn't tell any difference from a 3.5 to 3.5 - (ipod to receiver)

*would you know of any sound docks that have a line out?

thanks, techno
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User profile for user: deggie
deggie
User level: Level 10
167,525 points

May 24, 2009 5:14 PM in response to technoreid

Are you sure your remote for the dock was not controlling the volume on the Touch? This is what happens on many iPod speaker units, try it and check the volume level on the Touch as you adjust with the remote. No matter what dock you use the current iPods use a volume tap on the dock connector. The only way to avoid this is to avoid the analog output from the iPod. And that dock does not have an internal DAC nor does it bypass the internal DAC on the iPod. The ONLY unit that does so at this time is the Wadia.

So if you are looking for a device to deliver you the cleanest sound your options are, in order:

Wadia 1701i
Apple TV with HDMI cable transferring sound
Apple TV using optical digital cable for sound
Everything else.
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Connect iPod touch 2G to Reciever using RCA's? It cannot be this difficult?

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