Question: I have an older high-end Marantz
receiver, which I now use with my iPod.
Unfortunately, the receiver doesn’t have a
dedicated iPod input, so I use the auxiliary
jack instead. The playback volume is lower
than from other sources. Is there any loss of
fidelity playing an iPod through the auxiliary
input? I know that newer receivers have
dedicated iPod inputs.
JEFFREY S. BALOG / VIA E-MAIL
Answer: The voltage level of an iPod’s headphone
output is considerably lower than what
you’ll fi nd on the line outputs of a typical
stereo component such as a CD player. That’s
why you have to crank the volume abnormally
high when you connect your iPod directly to
your home stereo’s Aux input — an adjustment
that also reduces audio fidelity by boosting
noise levels.
Plenty of fancy “iPod docking
stations” are available in a range of prices.
But you can also buy a special cable for under
$20 from online stores like CablesToGo.com
that will extract a line-level output from your
iPod’s dock connector and connect by way of
standard stereo RCA jacks to your receiver’s
Aux input. Happy listening.
-- Al Griffin
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