iPod & iPhone Docks

iPod docks provide a way to connect the iPod and iPhone to other audio equipment, including Hi-Fi amplifiers and AV receivers.

The humble Apple iPod or iPhone can be the basis for a high quality home audio system with the addition of an iPhone or iPod dock.   The 30 pin dock connector on the Apple MP3 players provides a line level signal suitable for connection with any high quality audio equipment that has a spare line in.

A basic iPod dock simply has an audio output cable that can be connected to another audio device.  Wireless docks are also available that relay the audio signal via wireless to a base unit.  The more advanced iPod/iPhone docks come with an amplifier built in and can be hooked straight up to speakers.

Important Note: iPods released since Sept 2008 (e.g. Touch 2nd Gen, 4th Gen iPod Nano and iPod Classic 120 Gigabyte, iPhone 3g and onwards) have an updated dock connector that means older revisions of speaker dock may not be able to charge these newer models of iPod/iPhone.  Older docks should play music from these newer models with no problem.

The problem with charging is due to Apple removing support for 12v (firewire) charging on these new models.  Only 5v (USB) charging is supported on these new iPod/iPhone models.