Einleitung
This is definitely a destructive teardown. Hopefully it will help to show how the adapter was put together. Also that it does have a DAC on the adapter, not the lightning connector on the idevice.
Werkzeuge
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Typical Apple product packaging. Simple yet elegant
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Backside of the package
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Bottom of the package describes the adapter as a A1749
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Again, nice packaging for the adapter.
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The total length of the adapter is 3 1/8 inches or 8cm. One side with the lightning connector and the other end is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
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Checked to see if there was any way to remove the outside of the adapter by slipping some thin tools in between. No way on that.
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This is the business end that requires the removal of the covering.
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The only way to do that is by cutting into it. Using a good scalpel does cut it with relative ease.
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Cutting length wise on one side
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as well as the opposite site
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Then flipping the two halves that were created by the cuts.
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This makes for an easy removal.
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The next thing to be removed is the ground shield.
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Using a pair of small side cutters that shield is easily removed as well.
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Just a matter of using the cutters on one end
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and rolling it around the connector.
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This shows the destructive nature of this teardown
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The connector is now left with another plastic covering.
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Luckily the removal of the ground shield seems to have open slots lengthwise in the plastic covering.
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Using these slots, the plastic needs to be carefully pulled away from the circuit board.
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Here is the business end with the cover removed.
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This side shows what appears to be the DAC inside this adapter
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Close-up of the circuit board shows Apple's fascination with adhesive and other sticky substances. Both sides of the circuit board are covered with it.
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A bit more of a close up of one side
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as well as the other. As more information becomes available about the DAC this teardown will be edited to reflect those.
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Here are the markings on the DAC 338S00140 A0SM1624 TW
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Carefully slice down the headphone jack connector with a sharp knife, being careful to not cut yourself.
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Repairability score: 0 out of 10
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The device is clearly not meant to be opened or repaired in any way.
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It is impossible to open the adapter without destroying it.
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32 Kommentare
There seem to be a lot more wires than necessary going to the 3.5mm connector. By my count there appear to be 7 or 8 discrete wires?
At most there should be 4, TRRS, and maybe a shield ground. How are the other wires used here?
Mac 128 -
Mac 128 excellent question and I will try and take the jack end off as well asap. There is a total of 7 wires....
Perhaps it supports both standard pinout methods for mics/remotes, rather than just Apples flipped data/ground pin standard?
tipoo -
I am currently looking into modyfying an Apple TRRS connector so I can take some readings on what is what and how it may function. Only hold-up is that I do work for a living:-) so time is always an issue.
Mac 128 mystery already solved. Check this teardown by Mason Dowell Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic (Lightning Edition) Teardown. It'll explain what each wire does.
There might be 7 wires on the earphone side, but remember, it has to interface to the 4 pins of the 3.5mm plug.
The socket will have a switch in it to detect if there is a plug inserted. That could account for 1-3 of the wires, depending on how it's wired up.
@oldturkey03 -- thanks for the link. That does help explain what's happening. But they still have to be resolved onto four conductors of the TRRS jack of the adapter. So that means that of the four conductors, L, R, Mic, & Ground, only the L, R & Mic are discreet. The ground sleeve is where the L-, R-, & Mic-, must converge. So essentially 3 out of 7 wires are common ground in this adapter?
It seems like the EarPods maintain discreet ground wires for all 3 signal lines out of the amp, as well as the common ground, but combines them for any headphones plugged into the adapter jack. Does this mean the Lightning EarPods are providing balanced lines throughout? Whereas the adaptor is an unbalanced converter?
Mac 128 -
I couldn't edit this after 5 minutes, but I see a typo ... 4 out of the 7 discrete wires are common ground in the adapter.
Mac 128 -
We sure that's a DAC and not the usual Lightning signaling chip?
tipoo -
thought about that as well. Seems to be way different from the privous one to be the "signalling" chip. It would be kind of like reinventing the wheel for Apple. That in itself would bot be uncommon, but doubtful. I think that chip would be the one on the opposite end. I will try and get more information on all the components on that board.
The lightning auth chip is much smaller, this big chip is obviously for audio.
Tom Chai -
I have completed a teardown of the Lightning headphones. I can confirm that the red and red/orange stripe wires are for the right speaker/driver, the green and green/orange strip wires are for the left speaker/driver, and the three others (red, green, orange) are what drive commands for the in-line volume control/mic. I will post pics if anyone is interested in seeing for themselves
@masongdowell would be great if you make a quick teardown and post it. Use this to post it as a teardown https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/new
Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic (Lightning Edition) Teardown
For your viewing pleasure! Sorry for the picture quality...I did not take them apart for the purpose of making a teardown post. If more photos are required, feel free to message me.