How much power does the iPod output?

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Level 1

8 points

How much power does the iPod output?

I tried measuring the power output via the headphone jack, and the reading was so small my multimeter could barely measure it. It peaked at about half a volt, and thats with a very loud song with the music cranked up all the way. It averaged about .3. That seems REALLY low, maybe enough to power the cheap earbuds the iPod comes with, but not enough for more power demanding professional headphones or other non-powered audio devices. I called every number apple has to call, and it seems no one in the entire company knows anything about their own product when it comes to power output.

Also, what is the power output for the serial port on the bottom of the iPod? I couldn't measure that with my multimeter without splicing some wire which I wasn't about to do.

HP Pavilion a640n, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Mar 19, 2006 5:52 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Mar 22, 2006 6:00 PM in response to krazykomrade

When you say power, you mean the volume level, correct?

The amplifier in the iPod is 60 milliWatts.

I tried measuring the power output via the headphone jack, and the reading was so small my multimeter could barely measure it.
Haven't worked much in electronics, have ya'?

Using a multimeter on a wildy varying audio output level is not gonna show you anything.

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Answer 2

krazykomrade Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 25, 2006 1:39 AM in response to Chris CA

Nope, I don't mean the volume level. I mean the actual measurable ammount of electricity that the iPod is physically capable of outputing via the headphone Jack. I imagine the hard drive and screen ***** up most of it, so that the full potential cannot be tapped, because frankly the apple designers had no reason to give it any significant booster space.

No, but having the volume at a max and and playing a variety of different types of music will give one a decent idea of the average power output, which is about a .3. Seems it did show me something, buddy. accurate min, max, and average power should not be that hard to caclculate.

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Answer 3

krazykomrade Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 19, 2006 8:12 PM in response to Masna

Do you have any to reccomend? I doubt any electritians already know the specs of an Ipod unless they had the same problem I did, and I also doubt any of them will be willing to go ahead and measure the power levels for some random stanger over the internet, especially because it would require that they already own an ipod as well.

Are there any other resources that I could use? It seems like someone should know this already without me having to figure it out on my own. I mean, how can the people that make the iPod not have such a basic specification? And if they do have it, then why is it so hard to track down?

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Answer 4

MikeyTG

Level 2

486 points

Mar 25, 2006 4:18 AM in response to krazykomrade

Measuring voltage with no load on the amp won't tell you much. A multimeter provides virtually no load. Chris CA fould somewhere that the ipod power amp is capable of 60mw - that is its maximum power output. Minimum is obviously 0mw.

This still won't tell you how well it will drive a particular device, the best way is to try it. Take whatever headphones you are planning to use to an Apple store, they will probably let you try it on an ipod.

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Mar 27, 2006 9:15 AM in response to krazykomrade

accurate min, max, and average power should not be that hard to caclculate.
Using a standar multimeter, any measurements will be useless.
You need a power meter.

the average power output, which is about a .3.
Power is measured in Watts.
You measured a .3 Watt output with a multimeter?

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