Have an iPod 1-5.5G and gathering dust? check out the iMod DIY HD-Audio player!!

Readme

Disclaimer

The diyMod is not the same as the iMod. That is a product offered by Red Wine Audio. The iMod covers the Apple iPods 4G click wheel, photo and 5G/5.5G video. The iMod 4G sends the line out signal to the headphone jack and disables the signal where the iMod 5G/5.5G sends the signal to the dock. The diyMod is a community project that is configurable to whatever the user chooses, including the ones used in the iMod, spanning players other than the iPod. Please do not confuse the two as the iMod is a copyright product of Red Wine Audio.

Guidelines

This section is meant only to give you direction, not dictate how your mod ought to go. Every mod is different and unique, so don't let anyone completely dictate how your mod should be.

The purpose of the diyMod is to simplify the signal path from the DAC to the amp. To achieve this goal, the audio signal is taken directly after the DAC and sent to the amp. The DC blocking caps, also known as coupling capacitors, and a headphone jack or plug. By necessity, we place DC blocking caps behind the DAC to protect our listening apparatuses. Ensure that nothing lies between your DAC and amp but wires and traces.

Simplify the signal path

Keep your wires as short as they need to be, remove SMD resistors,capacitors and inductors electrically from your signal. That usually means short the circuit from the DAC's output coupling capacitor's positive leg to the pad after the inductor. Usually this means the coupling capacitor near the DAC and the inductors near the dock. You may also notice an IC labeled DZP## near the dock. We don't yet know what its purpose is, but if you remove it, you still get sound to your dock.

Secure your wires

Use hot glue or epoxy to keep your wires from tearing the pads off the logic board. These PCB pads are very delicate, so even the slightest tug could ruin your entire logic board, making it very difficult to recover the sound form your player.

Minimize collateral damage

Again, be careful when soldering or desoldering anything. Removing the wrong dock inductor can destroy your iPod completely, so slip ups and twitches aren't all that recommended. You could be paying who-knows-how-much for spare ribbon cables, new click wheels, new screens, etc. Also, use of desoldering braid over that of a desoldering pump is recommended.

Don't lose anything

Some iPods have screws, some iPods have rubber bumpers. Losing anything isn't helpful. It isn't the worst thing in the world, but it doesn't help.

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