Ipod Lightning Plug - Line Level Audio Question

[James Edward]

It appears that the new ipod touch with lightning jack as opposed to the traditional 30 pin jack does not support line level out signals anymore. Is this correct?
I may be a dinosaur, but I was looking to get a dock w/ line level out to hook up to a friend's stereo. Am I correct in my assumption that the 5th gen Touch only outputs audio via the headphone jack or Bluetooth? I was looking for a one piece dock that both charged the itouch and provided a line out signal.
Any thoughts?
Thanks

[richidoo]

Hi James

Lightning connector has only digital audio. No analog line level on Lightning. Analog is only available from the headphone jack. The Apple Lightning to 30 pin adapter has analog out, so it must have a DAC in it.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Charger-Audio-iPhone-Generation/dp/B00CMR15Z8

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD823ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter

Lightning Docks with built in DAC:
http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,rSeries,iPod-Docks,rdockuni.htm

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-50779-luxman-d-100r-ipod-dock-dac-docking-station.aspx

[tmazz]

I have an iPod classic with the 30 pin connector. I used to hook it into the AUX  input of my car audio system using a Mini to mini cable connected to the headphone output. Then one day I was in a Dollar Store and saw a 30 pin to mini cable. Being and audiophile, nervosa kicked in and I had to try it out. Well holy cr@p, what a difference. I used to avoid playing the iPod in the car because hooking it in via the headphone jack just sounded lousy. But using the line level output via the 30 pin increase the sound to the point where it was similar in quality to playing a CD in the car. Giving up the ability to interconnect at the line level rather than at the headphone output will give me great pause about buying a new iPod. I will just ride the one I have now into the ground and hope that it lasts as long as possible.

[James Edward]

Thanks guys, I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. Yes Tom, I use what is called a line out dock or LOD for both my stereo at home and in the car. Bypassing the volume control seems to make a big difference in sound quality, not to mention fiddling with the volume on the ipod vis a vis the stereo.