SendStation's latest PocketDock is slightly larger than a penny, has much better audio quality than a dime
By Tim Stevens 
posted August 28th 2009 7:23AM
posted August 28th 2009 7:23AM
[Via SlashGear]
posted August 28th 2009 7:23AM
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Am I missing something here - what is the point of this thing?
Better sound quality than the standard iPod audio out? Better A/D converters?
Ah, I think I get it: it lets you use the line out instead of having to use the signal that's going through the headphones amplifier.
You can also use a ubiquitous USB mini cable to (for instance) connect to your friends' computers without having to bring an iPod cable around.
Although depending on who your friends are, the standard iPod cable might also be ubiquitous.
Can you use the USB to transfer files or just for charging?
fh--if your friends don't have iPod cables lying around, they should not be your friends.
According to what I've heard/read... ah, what the hell!
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=68431
I would have used lmgtfy.com, but... meh...
Do some research, not everything may be true, but I think it's close to be true (wPod's comment)
rezaudio, I hate to be a dick, but you mean better D/A converters, not A/D.... although, of course, you could've gotten away with DAC.... Now I think about it, you could've / should've gotten away with A/D but then I showed up....
Sorry...
Seems that Le Big Mac is Le Asshole.
Instead of keeping an iPod charger AND my Blackberry MiniUSB charger in the car... I can keep my one Blackberry charger and this tiny dongle. No need for 2 cords getting tangled in my center console.
This device may be an answer to a question nobody asked... but I could still use it.
Shame it's $30.
Actually I'm pretty sure this thing has no D-to-A in it. All is does is pass the analog stereo line-level signal, that already comes out through the dock connector, out through a 3.5mm stereo jack. If I'm not mistaken that means this has ZERO electronics in it. It's just an adapter, making $30 pretty expensive, but that's no surprise for Apple accesories.
Does it amplify your music? Or you do you have to pay more money to get a dock to play the music out loud? I dont get the point of it.
Umm there is no video out with this one.
and?
No video out makes it less desirable.
The same thing happens when you post comments.
I am only pointing out that the article is misleading.
Oh wait never mind. I fail, that was refering to the old one.
It appears to be an un-amplified line out, this way you are not amping it out the headphone jack, then amping it again when connected to your home audio receiver. Your receiver will proly do a better job then the headphone jack on the iPhone/iPod will. Its also nice to not have to carry the iPod cable too, all my other devices use mini usb so i only will need 1 cable.
I'm amazed that no one seems to understand the usefulness of this device.
It noticeably improves audio quality by providing a line level output and allows you to charge/sync as well.
It's a shame that my old doesn't work with the iPhone or iPod Touch... they're quite expensive for what they are.
how much difference to the audio quality does it make? Baring in mind we're talking about mp3s...
I've got one of the old style ipod docks that has a line out and i can't hear any difference when using this or when plugging the ipod straight into the amp with a minijack lead.
Wouldn't carrying this attachment be the same as carrying the proprietary USB cable?
Have been using the old one on the ipod for years now, the sound quality is waaaaay better with line out. The old one does not work in the iphone so I'll definetly pick this up so I can enjoy spotify on iphone, in my car, in better quality :) :)
Good point - do we know if the mini USB would work with a standard USB car charger?
Any word on UK availability?
http://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pocketdock/lineout-miniusb.html
"We ship world-wide"
I can't see the above device in their shop listing?
rezaudio,
It's there, it's the one that has picture yet "PocketDock Line Out Mini USB New!"
BTW, is this what Apple will include with the iPhone to make it comply with the EU edict that all phone charges be interchangeable?
No, Apple will use Jobs' reality distortion field to weasel out of this requirement.
Yes, in the same manner that they complied with the 2006/66/EC which says that batteries must be removable for recycling.
The batteries are removable, you just need special tools. Club hammer, meet iPod.
Sorted.
No, Apple won't be packaging this. In fact the EU requirements is to standardize all cell phones with Micro USB, not Mini USB (which this has). New Blackberries and the Palm Pre already have Micro USB and expect many Nokias to start having them (if not already). Apple is still stuck with their adage of having their own proprietary connection *sigh*.
To make matters worse, on the nano, between generations, they played with moving the dock connector around, so accessories would be hampered when upgrading Nanos. All in the name of user experience. On the flip side, if you have old Apple products, some of the older accessories is dirt cheap ;-). Then again, Nokias and Blackberry's always had cheaper accessories.
Love it and ordered mine a few days ago. I was bummed when my old monster car charger with lineout wasn't compatible (at least for charging) with my iPhone. Now I can get back to pushing out some line out music goodness to my car's 11 speakers.
/golfclap
Does iPhone pitch the incompatible click-through when you use it?
The advantage is better quality sound and the ability to charge and play the ipod at the same time. It also may use a traditional audio cord.
? I can charge and play my ipod now.
Looks like the FiiO E3/5... What is bad is the price.. The FiiO is a full fledged amp, and it costs just 20 bucks (and for the price its awesome). This on the other hand is 30... Not that great. iPod LOD can be obtained from anything upwards 10...
I just want to say thanks for this informative post. I have subsequently bought a FiiO E3 and am eagerly awaiting the release of the E1.
(Y)
Does anyone know the brand and model of that iphone case that is shown in the picture?
For reals! That thing is quite attractive. Any thoughts out there?
it doesn't have ADCs, its just a pin adapter with a better OPAMP to drive your speakers (or headphones). it uses the line out signal already there, its not magic, no digital interface. that also means that you cant listen to things are are output protected like certain podcasts through it.
its a fancy, tiny pin adapter, with a nice audio grade opamp in line with the line out signal
I'm using the original Firewire model on my iPod Classic 160GB in my vehicle. The Line Out audio beats using the headphone jack hands down! No distortion, & no messing with the iPod volume & the Stereo volume. Well worth the $30!
wouldn't it be nice if ipods/iphones CAME WITH a line out and min usb? so sad that we have to buy a gd adapter for these basic necessities.
Wow plenty of misinformation here. This product allows you to bypass the internal amp of the iPhone which sucks. It does not amplify. There is no opamp involved here. It just gives you a line-out clean signal which means (in many cases) you better have a headphone amp ready to receive it. This is worthless to most iPod users who don't care about audio quality. You guys are still using the white earbuds that came with your iPods right?
I understand this argument in theory, however in practice I don't notice any detectable difference in audio quality. Cranking the ipod to max volume to do line out of the headphone jack is no load unlike headphones. I own an older sendstation product, which I purchased for a different reason, firewire adaptor, and have much experience with the product.
Just ordered one. It used to be so difficult to find stuff like this. (Especially car chargers with line-outs, instead of stupid FM transmitters) Great to see companies realize there are people out there who want products like this.
Nice! The crappy headphone jack on my iPod Touch died recently, so it sits a useless $400 brick in my drawer... with this little dongle I could use it in my car at least. Definitely picking one up.
very useful for my car. now instead of the regular ipod cable for charging through the usb adapter *and* having a cable coming out of the top (my car has a factory aux in) I can have one port used and get better audio quality... shame that apple just doesn't do this from the start.
What is the iPhone casing shown on the picture?