How to Play an iPod Through Exterior Speakers

You can connect your iPod to your car or home stereo.

Although the iPod is a portable device for personal music playback, you can also connect it to external speakers by using the iPod's headphone jack. Alternatively, if the external-speaker set is specifically for iPods, it will have a dock connector to place the iPod into that connects the device to the speakers. To reduce distortion and prevent overdriving the iPod's amplifier, you may need to adjust the volume on your iPod, according to Guy Hart-Davis, author of "How to Do Everything with Your iPod & iTunes, Fifth Edition."

Things You'll Need

• Third-party speakers
• 3.5 mm mini stereo to RCA adapter cable

Instructions

1. Slide the "Hold" switch located on the top of your iPod to the "OFF" position to unlock the iPod.

2. Plug the iPod into the exterior speakers' dock connector by gently placing the iPod onto the speakers' dock connector. Alternatively, plug the RCA adapter cable into the headphone jack located at the top of the iPod, and plug the dual-headed end of the cable into the left and right audio ports located on the back of the speakers. Refer to your speakers' instruction manual to insert the dual-headed cable into the appropriate color-coded audio ports.

3. Press the "Center" or "Play" button on your iPod to begin audio playback. Glide your finger over the iPod's click wheel counterclockwise to turn the volume down halfway, recommends the Apple support site.

4. Turn on the speakers, and adjust the volume to your liking.

References

• Apple: Connecting iPod to Your Home or Car Stereo
• "How to Do Everything iPod, iPhone & iTunes, Fifth Edition"; Guy Hart-Davis; 2009