Can the mini-USB on the T10 be used to play from?

[Sesquash]

Some interesting news.

There might be the possibility of connecting your T10 either MTP or UMS version to a car sound system or home stereo via the USB connect!!! Instead of connecting via the 1/8 mini phone jack (which is NOT the ultimate way to interface, due to the fact that this is a amplitude-driven signal and not line-out voltage) and possibly overloading the line-in circuit of any ACCESSORY 1/8 mini plug that can be found for instance on the 2007 Mazda 3 as well as other makes and models.

I am currently sourcing a mini-USB to 1/8 stereo mini-plug so this interface can be tested.

Being that USB is not merely one way transfer of information, I am attempting to find out/experiment to see if an unamplified line-out signal is present when the T10 is in PLAY MODE or FM Front-End. If so, then this would be the superior way to interface your player with your car, or home stereo. No chance of distortion and overloading your input line.

There is a Canadian company that is working with Volkswagen to create an interface harness that will use the USB of any D.A.P. for the purpose of hooking up with their sound system that is offered in the Jetta model. This would be a harness that would connect from the back of the Jetta's stereo system and be accessible to the dashboard. This company obviously feels that the USB is a viable means to provide a line-out signal. I'm sure that if successful, they will create a universal harness/ lead that will work in any environment.

If someone else has already accomplished the above (using your USB for sound interface) please post your findings. This would be the only way to go for connecting to another system to use your T10 as the sound source.

Thanks,

Cheers!

Sesquash

[pringuet]

This is a very interesting project.
I would have never thought to do that.
Even though I have no experience in the field,
I would be happy to help.

Good luck.
Phil

[Sesquash]

Hello Phil!

Thanks for your offer. What we would have to do here, is to find (if they are infact available) a mini USB-to-1/8 stereo jack and while in play mode (not hooked up to the computer, as that would invoke a docking response by the 'always listening' firmware, see if there is infact a line-level sound signal.

If there is...we are cooking with gas!

Again, this could only be when you are not connected to any computer, but have the cable into the ACCESORY jack of whatever you are trying to hook up...OR....have another 1/8 mini jack into a normal RCA end so you could use that configuration to connect it to your home stereo or tape deck!

Cheers!

Sesquash

[pringuet]

I've checked on google and even though I couldn't find anything similar, I read things that could help.
What about plugging your player to an oscilloscope? You need to get yourself a cable with a mini usb connector on one end and leave the other end raw (with all the other pins bare if you know what I mean)
Then you monitor each pin thanks to the oscilloscope while playing music and you'll get an answer directly whether there is anything out on the mini usb while playing.
I don't have the material here but I guess any school/university with a somewhat decent physics lab should have that. Then it's just a 30 min job !

This is only a first step but at least you'll have a proof that it is possible !

keep me posted
phil

[Sesquash]

The oscilloscope idea is a good one. I'm still trying to source a USB/mini 1/8 stereo plug chord, if in fact they exist at all.

You know what would be even better (Iriver...are you reading this?!?) would be for the next generation of Iriver models to have a 1/8 mini LINE OUT connector. That way, you could merely hook up your cable to what seems to now be the automotive standard of the 1/8th mini socket for AUX to your car radio.

That LINE OUT would be connected to the circuitry just before the pre-amp or just after it (if you wanted to use the on board equalization such as SRS, etc.

Hey Iriver...how 'bout a LINE OUT in your next generation D.A.P's?!?

Sesquash

[pringuet]

The line Out would be great alright but I doubt it would be implemented on any mp3 player before a long time. I don't think it has ever been implemented on a mp3 player yet (but I could be wrong) and even though iRiver have always be very innovative and avant-gardist, I think it will stay a dream for us for a long time.

As for the USB - 1/8 cable, I think we should first try to check if there's anything comming out of the USB port while playing. if not this project is just dead before birth.

Anyone with the hardware for such a test ?

[Sesquash]

Originally Posted by pringuet

The line Out would be great alright but I doubt it would be implemented on any mp3 player before a long time. I don't think it has ever been implemented on a mp3 player yet (but I could be wrong) and even though iRiver have always be very innovative and avant-gardist, I think it will stay a dream for us for a long time.

As for the USB - 1/8 cable, I think we should first try to check if there's anything comming out of the USB port while playing. if not this project is just dead before birth.

Anyone with the hardware for such a test ?

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I'll tell you what....If Iriver did, I'd go right out and replace my Blue T10 with that model in a heart beat. One of my kids would benefit from the deal, lol.

On the positive front, as per my original posting, there is a Canadian company that IS in the R and R of producing a harness for Volkswagen. If that is the case, then it stands to reason that there is a ghost LINE OUT signal being passed along the mini USB, AND...that you and I can/will see this happen. Of course, if next year Iriver did add this feature, it would be best to place the cost of the universal harness that would logically follow into just a new LINE OUT-equipped T10.

Truly, it would be no sweat for Iriver to mod a current T10 other than drilling a hole through the body and placing the LINE out 1/8 mini (next?) to the present earphone plug.

If they actually monitor this post, I'll bet you anything this 'innovative concept/feature' WILL be there in next year units. Anything to 'up ' on the competition, right?

I'm enjoying this dialog with you,

Cheers!

Sesquash

[MRC01]

Originally Posted by Sesquash

There might be the possibility of connecting your T10 either MTP or UMS version to a car sound system or home stereo via the USB connect!!! Instead of connecting via the 1/8 mini phone jack (which is NOT the ultimate way to interface, due to the fact that this is a amplitude-driven signal and not line-out voltage) and possibly overloading the line-in circuit of any ACCESSORY 1/8 mini plug that can be found for instance on the 2007 Mazda 3 as well as other makes and models.

Interesting idea. However I would just add that the line out level of the T30 (not sure of other players) is on the low side even at full volume. Most full size devices (CD players, tuners, etc.) are putting out 1 - 2 V peak to peak through the line out. The T30's output is about 12 dB lower, which means 1/4 that voltage (0.5 Volt or less). So it's unlikely it would overload the input of whatever it was driving.

[danielloft]

I just came form school, where I hooked up my T10 to an osciloscope. I don't have much expirience with osciloscopes but that noise that I was seeing didn't even resemble the 1kHz sine that I put this morning on my T10. The thing that convinced me (that what I was seeing was really useless noise) was the fact that that noise looked pretty much the same no matter what it was playing: sine, music or nothing.
I will later with a speaker, but...