Rockbox Development > Feature Ideas

line-level output for Sansa e200

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PickupBetty:
Thanks -- when you say code can be written to raise the volume, are you talking about the output from the pins/dock connector only, or just the whole volume setting for the entire Sansa?  I certainly don't understand the science, so I assumed that "impedance" was what diminished the headphone jack's output at lower volume levels.

This I do know: my iPod's dock connector has a loud (I assume line-level) output, regardless of the headphone's volume.  So when I use my iPod (dock connector) with my boombox, I can keep the volume set at -36dB, and it still plays fine. 

On the other hand, my Sansa's dock connector and the headphone jack have identical volumes however loud I set it.  To connect it to my boombox, I have to set it at 0+dB, whether I use the headphone jack or the dock connector.

What I would like to do is obviate the need to crank up the headphone volume unnecessarily, because I read somewhere that doing so can wear/blow out the amp.  My understanding is that line-level output from the dock connector (like I have in my iPod Rockbox) would take care of that.

I'm not a developer or any type of programmer, but if someone knows of a way I can alter my source code to achieve this, I'd be happy to try.  I just thought I'd post this suggestion in case one of the developers wanted to take a stab at it.

torne:
Setting it to 0dB means you are running the amplifier in the player at its intended output level. This will not damage it.

PickupBetty:
I'm not doubting you, but could you explain how it works to me?

Why does the line-level dock connector output on my iPod stay loud, regardless of the headphone output?  Is the amp working overtime if I crank the headphone volume up?  Is it not pushed at all if the headphone volume is down, but the dock connector stays loud?

My Sansa (on Rockbox) has a range of -74dB to +6dB.  At 0dB, it's almost at its max and way above comfortable headphone volume.  How can that not strain the amp?

Thanks for your patience.

Llorean:
Notice that going down from 0db gets *lower* numbers. -1, -2, etc. The hardware inside the player is reducing the volume below 0db normally, not amplifying it up to it. 0db is "line level" the natural level.

On the iPod the line-out can be adjusted like the headphone out, but it's simply locked to 0db in the software. This is how it's supposed to work. There is no "magic" that allows a loud signal without anything to actually make it loud. It goes through the exact same amplification process as headphone output at 0db does, there's just different resistance on the line.

You aren't straining the amplifier in the player by adjusting the volume.

PickupBetty:
Thanks, Llorean -- I sort of understand.  I'll do a bit more reading on my own, too.

But, I'd still love to see line-level output from the dock connector..... ;)

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