connecting ipod nano to receiver

[a__thekevlar__2]

what do i need so i can play my music on my iPod nano through my yamaha rx-v1600 receiver?

 

[jonnythan]

You have a couple of options.

You can simply plug a 3.5mm to RCA plug into the headphone port:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=665&seq=1&format=2&style=

You can sit the Nano on a dock and use the dock's line out coupled with the above cable:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=MA594G/A

 

[a__thekevlar__2]

is there a difference in quality between these 2 options?

 

[MDS]

The doc for the iPod has an actual line-out so its voltage will be higher than the headphone out on the iPod itself. There will be no quality difference but you won't have to turn up the iPod volume as high if you use the doc.

I've never used a doc but using the 3.5mm to RCA approach I have to turn the volume on the iPod up to its maximum as well as the turn the receiver volume up quite a bit to get any appreciable volume out of the speakers.

 

[jonnythan]

With the dock/line-out option, you cannot control the volume of the sound with the iPod. You will do so with the receiver. MDS is right, and you may get slightly better sound with the higher voltage on the line-out than with the headphone option.

The dock will also charge/maintain the battery, whereas simply plugging into the headphone port will use battery.