iphone 4 dock - no sound from iphone

[cheeks]

i just bought an iphone 4 dock today. when i plug it in, my iphone makes no sound except for ringtones.

there is a line out port but i don't intend to use it to connect to external speakers. i would like the iphone to play the music direct. any idea if this is supposed to be the case or is there a software/hardware issue with either the iphone or the dock?

any help would be appreciated. thanks!

[MrBobNZ]

Hi,
I have the same problem, which for me is making every single alarm clock app besides the built in one useless.
Did you ever find a solution?
Cheers

[cheeks]

Well I ended up using the line out to a small set of speakers if I wanted to hear anything else coming in :-(

[QuarterSwede]

That's odd because when I plug my iP4 into my original iPhone dock (yes it fits) it plays music through the phone.

[viperet]

I recently bought cheap docking station for my iPhone 3G from Dealextreme and have exacly the same problem.
I've opened my dock:

and found one resistor inside, near line-out connector.

To disable line out function of the dock (and use internal iPhone speaker for music) you can desolder that resistor or just cut the lane leading to that resistor with sharp knife.

[obyte]

Originally Posted by viperet

I recently bought cheap docking station for my iPhone 3G from Dealextreme and have exacly the same problem.
I've opened my dock:

and found one resistor inside, near line-out connector.

To disable line out function of the dock (and use internal iPhone speaker for music) you can desolder that resistor or just cut the lane leading to that resistor with sharp knife.

Woah.

I will be testing this tonight with the sw-box docks as well. Does this work while not plugged into USB?

[viperet]

Originally Posted by obyte

Woah.

I will be testing this tonight with the sw-box docks as well. Does this work while not plugged into USB?

This works plugged and unplugged. But there is a better solution, than just cutting the lane. You can replace 3.5mm line-out connector with special one, with switch inside, and connect resistor through switch, so it will be connected only when 3.5 mm audio jack is inserted into line-out.

[obyte]

Originally Posted by viperet

This works plugged and unplugged. But there is a better solution, than just cutting the lane. You can replace 3.5mm line-out connector with special one, with switch inside, and connect resistor through switch, so it will be connected only when 3.5 mm audio jack is inserted into line-out.

I'd rather not re-wire everything on 20 docks

[viperet]

Originally Posted by obyte

I'd rather not re-wire everything on 20 docks

My dock costs $4.50 with worldwide shipping =)

[obyte]

Originally Posted by viperet

My dock costs $4.50 with worldwide shipping =)

I meant 20 individual docks, not $20 docks lol

Edit: I just realized that cutting the trace would completely negate the line out. I wasn't thinking this morning.

Any idea what switched line out jack to get to try?

[Che Castro]

what speakers can i use with the iphone 4 dock line out plug?

will any portable speakers do?

[cheeks]

Originally Posted by Che Castro

what speakers can i use with the iphone 4 dock line out plug?

will any portable speakers do?

Well mine are $7 speakers so if they work hopefully all the rest do!

Seems like there's no simpler solution than taking the dock apart? :-(

[gimme.junkmail]

out of all the current forum posts, this one is the only that seems to address the problem of "when i connect my iphone to my [cheap] dock, the sound disappears (unless i connect external speakers to the line out port)"

viperet has posted 2 hardware "solution":
one you open it up as explained above
a) either desolder the line out resistor, or cut the wire leading to its function (NOTE: you will not be able to use the line out port anymore).
b) desolder the line out resistor, and replace it with one that has a "switch" whereby if there is no external speaker connected then your iphone's internal speakers will be used; this is, logically-speaking, how it Should work by default but does not

i understand these 2 hardware options, but before proceeding, i want to find out if there is a simpler Software solution to simply tell the iphone to "pass thru" the dock's line out and continue to use its own speaker?
it continues to be somewhat of a hassle, as i expect you would have to go into whatever app/configuration to set the "pass thru", but i would prefer this than the posted hardware fixes

i would appreciate any constructive suggestions, thank you

[ShionoyaTamaki]

I got the same dock for 2.50 shipped. It was cheaply constructed. I desoldered the a9 resistor and now it plays audio

Weird thing is the 30pin connector on the back side is upside down. Sure confused me a bit trying to plug it in the first time.

[brand]

Originally Posted by obyte

I'd rather not re-wire everything on 20 docks

I'm just curious why you have 20 docks.

[takeshi74]

Originally Posted by Che Castro

what speakers can i use with the iphone 4 dock line out plug?

will any portable speakers do?

Anything that will take a line input.

[0073735963]

I'm hoping someone can assist me...I just bought a dock and have the same "only ringtones" play issue while docked. I opened up my dock and while the outside case is the same, the internals are just a bit different. I only know so much about internal electronics, is the R5 component the resistor that needs to be desoldered..(I thought I'd find a color band resistor). Or I can just use a blade to cut the two lines going down from it correct? Thanks everyone.

[imDanielWood]

I have the same issue with these small charge docks, I've tried cutting the two lines to the resistor, but still no sound. Either I didn't cut deep enough or it just didn't work... Could anybody point out exactly what to do? I'm not very good with electronics, but I REALLY want the sound to work as it will make a nice alarm clock. Thanks.