14 DAY TRIAL // Generally, updates are released to fix problems, add features and/or enhance the abilities of a certain device. Apple rolls out plenty of those for their respective systems on a regular basis, but a recent one in particular is causing quite some headaches in the line of iPod Classic owners. Sources on the web have revealed that iPod Classic users that have updated to firmware version 1.1 are experiencing residual electrical pulses sent through the headphone jack.
Stereophile.com notes that iLounge.com quotes (how long do you think I can keep this up?) Nine, a headfi.com correspondent "that had measured 500mV of DC coming out of the analog outputs when the iPod was turned 'off.' (Technically, one pauses the iPod and locks it; the device then powers down when it doesn't receive a command within a certain interval.) A DC amount of 500mV is extreme enough to shut down most DC-coupled headphone amplifiers-and could potentially damage certain models."
Other users reported freezing iPods, upon firmware upgrading, and even loss of stored music files, but it looks like headphones are the major concern for iPod Classic users that have just upgraded to 1.1. Here's Nine's original post up on Head-Fi:
"Hi all
Just updated my iPod classic to the 1.1 firmware, and was experiencing a lot of weird noise in my mini^3 when the power in the iPod was off. Took it down to the workbench and did some investigating.
What I found was ~.5v of DC on the line out whenever the ipod is off. This could be really bad for your headphones if you are connected through a DC coupled amplifier (like my mini^3).
I also plugged it into my scope, and verified the .5v is usually just DC, but that occasionally (maybe 10% of the time) it's got some triangular pulses on it.
I'd suggest people stay away from the 1.1 update."
Apple is of course taking advantage of their policy to not respond to issues such as this until further proof is presented to them, therefore they're shutting up. The company will however be forced to answer to the problem, if proven true and widespread.