Dock for aging iPod?

July 15, 2008 6:43 AM

I am looking for an iPod dock/speaker system which fulfills the following criteria: definitely known to be compatible with 3rd generation iPod (i.e. the dock provides power and receives sound via dock connector), AC powered, available in the UK, cost (new or used) less than about £30. Most retailers are vague about which iPod models are compatible with their docks, and most current docks only support 4th generation or newer iPods (it seems the dock connector on the 3G had a different pinout). I'm struggling to find available docks that are known good with the 3G.
posted by beniamino to technology (8 comments total)

You know, maybe I'm just not kewl, but I've always wondered about ipod docks. Instead of shelling out a bunch of money for a dock attached to a pair of micro speakers, I bought the low-end Dell computer speaker system. It's 2.1 stereo, so it comes with two small speakers and a good-sized subwoofer. AC powered. You plug the ipod into the headphone jack. I know this means it doesn't charge while it's plugged in, but I don't want to charge that thing up any more than I have to considering once the battery goes I have to get a new ipod.
posted by nushustu at 7:29 AM on July 15, 2008

I'd second using speakers via the headphone jack. I'm sure you can get much better speakers for the price than a set with a dock connector. Plus you can use them for anything else you want to put speakers on. Also, its easier to have your iPod on a longer speaker cable to control it, rather than at an odd angle right by the speakers. As for specifics, I'm not sure... At your price bracket its all going to be much of a muchness I assume.
posted by lukeo05 at 7:34 AM on July 15, 2008

You're definitely right in general, and I'm very happy with the household's #1 iPod being wired up to a traditional separates system, rather than a likely overpriced dock. However, for what I have in mind, an integrated iPod dock/speaker system is exactly what's needed.
posted by beniamino at 8:11 AM on July 15, 2008

There has only ever been one dock connector.
A 3G should work in any iPod speaker dock as long as it physically fits.
Apple have over time varied what different iPod models are willing to do over the connection (they dropped Firewire synching in later iPods for example) but it's still the same physical connector and basic things like charging and audio out didn't change. It's the newest Apple hardware like the iPhone 3G which is really fussy (it wants to see a DRM chip to make sure Apple gets its licensing fee).
posted by w0mbat at 9:49 AM on July 15, 2008

w0mbat: "A 3G should work in any iPod speaker dock as long as it physically fits."

That's definitely not true -- my 3G iPod doesn't work with many current docks, despite fitting into them fine. Looking at the pinout, I imagine one problem is that newer docks no longer provide +12V on pins 19 & 20 (Firewire power, required by the 3G for charging). I don't know what prevents line out through the dock working, but something does. I have tried it.
posted by beniamino at 10:34 AM on July 15, 2008

I highly reccommend the Klipsch iGroove. It's stylish and according to the website I just linked too, it works with "most all" MP3 players. I have one and use my 5G iPod in it and as I recall there are a few different dock adaptors included with it. Plus it pumps out some excellent sound, which is nice.
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:40 PM on July 15, 2008

I did a little more research and Amazon clearly says that it works with the 3G iPod. So you're good to go!
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:43 PM on July 15, 2008

The iGroove looks nice, but doesn't fit the budget. Eventually, I found the cheap and cheerful Logic iStation IP106 which fits the bill perfectly.
posted by beniamino at 12:26 PM on July 20, 2008