Hi folks,
Today I added a feature to the m9XX firmware that enables operation with an iPhone using only the CCK (no hub) and of course powering the m9XX via its 5V/2A power port. The way this works is that if you first connect the 5V/2A power port to a power source and second connect to a USB host, the descriptors will indicate self-powered / 0mA. I sent the firmware update to Alex Vallejo (currently at the AES conference) and he is operating with that setup right now.
rmartinI don't think it can. I have the iPod 5.5th Gen and I think the dock connector is capable of line out function but not digital out to feed to an external DAC. So while you can feed the line out to an amplifier, as is often done with speaker docks and portable amplifiers, you can't feed the digital signal to the m9xx for the m9xx's DAC to process and feed down the pathway to the headphone out. You also can't use the m9xx as an amplifier only, because it has no analog inputs. As I understand it, there are very few devices that can take digital signal directly from the iPod and use it to convert it to analog independently of the iPod. This discussion on Headfi might prove useful. It explains that the Fiio E17, a DAC/AMP is capable of functioning as an amplifier on the iPod, but not as a DAC. http://www.head-fi.org/t/607272/fiio-e17-for-ipod
DeathbyMusicI've been googling and reading for a couple hours on many headphone and iPod sites, and have yet to read a definitive refutation that the iPod classic outputs a digital signal via the 30-pin dock. If it does, then it should work with something like an Oppo HA-2, so then the question would be whether it works with other DACs like this. My old iPod Touch from circa 2011 with a 30-pin connector works OK with the FiiO E17k DAC, so would the iPod Classic 30-pin dock be different? If so, and you have a verified reference, please share.
dalethornMy iPod Classic 7th generation is currently hooked up to a Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo wich is a DAC only. So this is why I wonder if the m9XX would work with the iPod too.