Using an iPod Classic Monochrome 4th Gen in 2024

Most devices that do two things cannot do either better than two devices that do one thing. Consider your clock microwave. It has the worst clock that you own. As a microwave it is actually made worse because you need to set the time when the power goes out. A microwave-only device doesn't have this annoyance. Indeed, playing music on a cellphone also has shortcomings. An incoming phone call can interrupt your song. If you regularly stream an album it may refuse to do so if you travel to a foreign country. And it's nearly impossible to play a song through the cellphone speakers for your kid while you listen to 90s rock with earbuds.

Today I'm going to discuss the iPod Classic 4th Generation (Monochrome) iPod from 2004. Despite being 20 years old it's still quite capable. Also despite so many advancements in technology us humans still listen to music in stereo. This iPod is capable of playing MP3s encoded in their highest bitrate of 320kbps. It's also capable of playing CD quality WAV files at 1,400kbps. Save for fancy esoteric features like spatial audio the 20 year old iPod does what modern day audio players do.

Overcoming 20 year old limitations

The main limitations of the device include that of file storage capacity (my model in particular being 20GB), original batteries mostly being dead, the need to transfer music files using the obsolete iTunes software, and the lack of support for certain popular audio codecs such as FLAC. Luckily, storage can be increased to 128GB fairly easily and the same goes for swapping the battery. Drag and drop music file support and FLAC support can be added by installing the Rockbox operating system which is a breeze. I don't care too much about FLAC but the easy file transfer is essential.

Here's a video I put together showing how to increase storage and install Rockbox:

I paid about $50 USD for the iPod, $40 USD for the SD card adapter, and I already had a 128GB SD card lying around. The prying tool cost $3 shipped. All-in this combination will set you back around $120.

Why use an iPod and rip music

1.5mm Audio Cables: I'm a big fan of the humble 1.5mm jack. In fact, I was a holdout cellphone user until a week ago when I finally traded in my Pixel 4a5g, Google's last phone with a headphone jack, for a Pixel 9 Pro. I own several pairs of wired headphones that all sound pretty good. Dongles are annoying and Bluetooth is a pain. There's a reason all the best headphones use analog audio cables. Not to mention one day I'm sure we'll discover a huge Bluetooth security hole and all the Bluetooth devices will become eWaste.

Compared to Streaming: Streaming music and streaming video made content consumption so convenient that it all but killed digital piracy. Of course, video streaming is now super fractured so that no longer holds true. A lot of stuff is available on Spotify but not everything—especially gap-less DJ mix sets. Plus, the quality of a CD ripped into a FLAC file is higher than what you can get on streaming. Spotify, for example, is limited to 256kbps streams. A ripped CD, on the other hand, is 1,400kbps. Also, have you ever been offline and then tried to play a downloaded song only to get an error that the download has expired? There are many anti-user DRM mechanisms in play.

Compared to Music Purchase Apps: There are still services where you can buy music from, like iTunes and Qobuz. Even still, it's hard to find music quality that will surpass that of a ripped CD. Another bonus is that buying a CD on eBay to then rip is often cheaper than buying it from Qobuz. Plus you now have a cool little shiny disc as a backup. I suppose the content you buy online remains stored by the seller as a sort of backup. Well-funded companies like Sony have retroactively deleted purchased content from customers. Note that you can buy from these services and transfer files to your iPod.

Compared to cellphone playback: Locally downloaded music won't stop working when you fly to another country. Depending on the player you won't have all of your listening habits spied on and scrutinized (I paid for the Musicolet MP3 player on Android). Personally, I have found myself listening to more albums the whole way through on the iPod, and overall enjoying the listening experience more. And finally, it just looks cool, having that retro technology vibe.

Shortcomings

iPods require modifications to be most beneficial, specifically the aforementioned battery replacement and storage upgrade. This takes time and skill and has a risk. Of course, everything is old stock by now, so you'll need a can of Brasso to buff out the scratched screens and metal backs. The iPod uses a proprietary 30 pin connector so you can't simply plug a USB-C cable into it. It's one-more-thing taking up space in your pocket, or to be forgotten at home, or left uncharged. Unlike your smartphone there is no loud speaker. Your vehicle likely won't interface with it.

Classic iPods don't support Bluetooth. Personally I've never been a fan of Bluetooth. There are some mods available to add Bluetooth internally to iPods but it requires even more effort such as drilling a hole in the case for a Bluetooth pairing button.

The iPod Classic 4th gen cannot be charged in all the ways you would expect. They were built during Apple's transition from 12v Firewire to 5v USB. To "fast charge" the device you'll need a Firewire cable (or hacked USB cable but you'll still need a separate cable for data). To "slow charge" the device you'll need to plug the 30 pin cable into a data port, like one in your computer. You cannot charge an iPod Classic 4th gen using a standard wall plug and standard USB cable. Apple did some hacky things back in the day and it requires the 3v of electricity from the data lines as well as the 5v USB power, which wall adapters don't usually provide. Attempting to charge with a wall adapter will actually kill your battery much quicker since the silly iPod keeps the backlight on and the iPod gets really buggy once it hits 0% charge. I suspect the USB-C to 30pin adapters may not properly charge the iPod either; please leave a comment if you know for sure.

The monochrome iPod, despite being two decades old, remains a compelling choice for those who value high-quality, offline music playback and simplicity. Its ability to play music in superior formats compared to streaming services and the freedom from DRM and connectivity issues make it a noteworthy option for audiophiles and retro tech enthusiasts alike. While the device does require modifications to fully meet current needs, like upgrading storage and replacing the battery, these efforts can significantly enhance its functionality and longevity. Despite the challenges posed by outdated connectors and the lack of Bluetooth support, the iPod offers a nostalgic, reliable, and enjoyable listening experience that modern cellphones fail to deliver. In an age where convenience often overshadows quality, the iPod stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of dedicated audio players.

Thomas has contributed to dozens of enterprise Node.js services and has worked for a company dedicated to securing Node.js. He has spoken at several conferences on Node.js and JavaScript and is an O'Reilly published author.