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04.04.2008 at 01:00AM PDT, ID: 23295267
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How to test the audio output of my iPod

Hi folks.

Recently I've been messing around with the hardware of my iPod (for example, headphone jack died and had to be replaced, etc).

While it works fine, I want to test the audio output to make sure that it's not going to damage my new high-end headphones.

I had two ideas about how this could possibly be done:

- connect an audio cable to a multimeter and measure the output (i'm guessing that this won't tell me anything useful)

- get oscilloscope software running on my pc... plug the ipod into the line-in, and record it playing some specially-crafted test file.

I really don't have much background knowledge in this area, but I'm prepared to read as many wikipedia articles as it takes :)

As such, I'd really appreciate it if someone could give me a basic walk me through of the easiest way to do this...

Cheers!
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Question Stats
Zone: Programming
Question Asked By: cc16
Solution Provided By: Callandor
Participating Experts: 2
Solution Grade: A
Views: 0
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04.04.2008 at 01:52AM PDT, ID: 21279876

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04.04.2008 at 02:16AM PDT, ID: 21279934

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04.04.2008 at 03:01AM PDT, ID: 21280111

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04.04.2008 at 03:29AM PDT, ID: 21280210

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04.04.2008 at 09:48AM PDT, ID: 21283517

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04.04.2008 at 05:21PM PDT, ID: 21286573

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04.04.2008 at 05:47PM PDT, ID: 21286665

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04.04.2008 at 06:42PM PDT, ID: 21286813

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04.04.2008 at 07:45PM PDT, ID: 21286944

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04.04.2008 at 09:23PM PDT, ID: 21287069

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04.04.2008 at 01:52AM PDT, ID: 21279876

Rank: Guru

hmm maybe just a turning down the Volume on your ipod  :p
Most ipod testers are only for flashing or battery life
 headphone jack died << is that worded right? The jack is not the headphones
If the jack died to use your terminology
that may indicate a short on the computer case? Or you yanked out the small wires somewhere.
To test your ipod audio in the simplest terms
How to Do Everything with Your IPod & IPod Mini
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=fZpmruGN88sC&pg=PA377&lpg=PA377&dq=ipod+audio+tester&source=web&ots=xK63zetIRK&sig=tB9aRZnOHOSt73QgD5Pf8Jzymjc&hl=en

is this audio mp3 on your ipod heavy bass?
That could distort the speakers and possibily blow them
Must be a good ipod?

take a look at here
Quantifying Digital Audio Player Performance
iPod Shuffle
Zen Micro
Dell DJ 20GB
15GB iPod (3rd Generation)
iPod Mini
http://home.comcast.net/~machrone/playertest/playertest.htm

You could try using Audacity, plug in your ipod and play it can you do that?
Audacity uses the steremix with the lame.dll and your line in ( what you hear from your speakers) and will pick up the volume coming from your ipod and show an audio spectrum.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
I found a wilki for you
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audacity

Alternatative is use a dock and playthru the stereo
http://www.apple.com/ipod/accessories/

Hope it helps


 
04.04.2008 at 02:16AM PDT, ID: 21279934
Hi, thanks for replying.

I should be able to use Audacity, however my issue would be how to determine if the iPod is safe to use based on the audio spectrum output of Audacity.

Perhaps I the wording of my original question was not quite clear. Let me expand on exactly what I'm looking for:

I really have no idea *how* my iPod might damage the headphones -- what I need is a definitive test that will guarantee it's safe.

Awhile ago there was a lot of speculation about how a firmware update for the 6th generation iPod could potentially damage headphones/speakers... e.g., see: http://www.homotron.net/2008/02/does_ipod_classic_firmware_upd.html

While I don't own a 6G ipod, I'd still feel a lot more comfortable if there was some sort of test I could run. I'd want to re-test it after every hardware change (I tend to swap out the parts occasionally), and after every firmware update.

 
04.04.2008 at 03:01AM PDT, ID: 21280111

Rank: Guru

I remember when ipods first came out oh those adds throwing their ipods against walls.
Audacity will show the levels of the audio as in the base levels peaks but not what your headset can tolerate.
No amount of audio testing will help if these headsets don't provide low noise cancelling.
The tester on your ipod is about the best really as it's designed for your ipod.
The area I would look into is both, possibly use a better set of headphones.
Rumor: iPod Firmware Damages Headphones?
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2008/02/rumor_ipod_firmware_damages_headphones.html
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/ipod-classic-firmware-1-1-warning-287401/

the head phones you currently use, are these the little plugs in the ears type?
The new type the same?

You could look for low noise isolating supported headphones
http://www.applesource.com.au/ipod-accessories/soa/Why-noise-cancelling-headphones-are-good-for-you/0,2000451100,339287567,00.htm

Etymotic Research hf2 Noise-Isolating Headset + Earphones
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/etymotic-research-hf2-noise-isolating-headset-earphones/
 
04.04.2008 at 03:29AM PDT, ID: 21280210
What exactly do you mean by "no amount of audio testing will help if these headsets don't provide low noise cancelling".

The new headphones I have purchased are infact noise-canceling headphones (Bose QC3). I thought it might be wise to test the audio output of my iPod before using it with these new headphones.

I was under the impression that the noise-canceling only protected my ears, not the headphones themselves.
 
04.04.2008 at 09:48AM PDT, ID: 21283517

Rank: Genius

The most common way that audio equipment damages speakers and headphones is when it is driven beyond specs and it sends distorted signals to the speakers as a result.  These distorted signals force the speakers to do things beyond what they were designed for and damage follows.  Trying to drive an amplifier beyond what it can handle is one way to distort the signal, and you can do this by turning the volume all the way up or feeding abnormally high bass content to a device that can't deliver high current.  In your case, you would need a spectrum analyzer to see the waveform to tell if distortion is occuring, or you could just listen to the signal with your ears - distortion is pretty easy to detect if you know what the music should sound like.
Accepted Solution
 
04.04.2008 at 05:21PM PDT, ID: 21286573
Hi Callandor, thanks for the info, that certainly clears things up a lot.

So is it a safe bet to conclude that if the audio output sounds normal than the device is not going to damage any speakers/headphones I use it with?

Obviously (as you've said) this is true for excessive volume or abnormally high bass, but how about if the less common hypothetical case of the device malfunctioning?
 
04.04.2008 at 05:47PM PDT, ID: 21286665

Rank: Guru

lol it's the same I have already said in my first comment, glad to see Callandor's wording helps you see it that way
 
04.04.2008 at 06:42PM PDT, ID: 21286813

Rank: Genius

Merete,

Well, the part about bass is not all I said, so I didn't think I was just repeating your comments.  Using Audacity as a spectrum analyzer is a good idea, but it depends a lot on the soundcard connected to the inputs, so perhaps a dedicated machine would be better, or trained human ears.

cc16,

>So is it a safe bet to conclude that if the audio output sounds normal than the device is not going to damage any speakers/headphones I use it with?

Yes.

>Obviously (as you've said) this is true for excessive volume or abnormally high bass, but how about if the less common hypothetical case of the device malfunctioning?

If the device malfunctions, it will sound distorted - I don't see how a malfunctioning iPod that outputs normal sound will do anything harmful to your headphones or speakers (see my previous answer).  Make sure the volume is turned down or off when plugging and unplugging the jack, because the "pop" CAN damage your speakers and headphones.
 
04.04.2008 at 07:45PM PDT, ID: 21286944

Rank: Guru

There's a scare tactic hitting the web about a driver update damages the headphones.
I don't think most users realize that the drivers may help or increase a better playback but!!
Most young people download their tracks and these often are heavy base and no way suitable for mp3 players
Updating drivers is just amplifying the mp3 improving it.. I think the mp3 is the problem.
Most of the new music on the market is very heavy into bass and techno stuff.
My thoughts of course.
 
04.04.2008 at 09:23PM PDT, ID: 21287069
Hey guys,

Merete, I do appreciate the effort, but your comments didn't really solve my problem.

I agree that a lot of new music on the market has a high bass content (certainly a good percentage of my music collection does) -- but I'm certainly not noticing any distortion on any of my headphones or speaker set ups.

Callandor, that's just the info I needed. Thanks buddy.
 
 
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