Getting Ready to Play

In order to hear the music that is stored on your iPod, you must attach a sound output device to it. The most common one you might think of is the earbud headphones that were included in the package.
To use these, you connect the mini-jack on the earbud cable to the Headphones port located on the top of the iPod. When you do so, you’ll hear any sound coming from the iPod through the earbuds. Although you are likely to use earbuds or other headphones with an iPod, those are certainly not the only audio output devices through which you can play an iPod’s music. Following are some other devices you might want to use to play your iPod’s music:

• Powered speakers—You can connect a set of powered speakers to the Headphones port to play your iPod’s music on those speakers. For example, you can use any set of computer speakers to create a mini stereo system. If you connect a set of unamplified speakers, you aren’t likely to hear very much if anything. The iPod doesn’t put out enough power to drive a set of unpowered speakers. In order to hear the music that is stored on your iPod, you must attach a sound output device to it. The most common one you might think of is the earbud headphones that were included in the package. To use these, you connect the mini-jack on the earbud cable to the Headphones port located on the top of the iPod. When you do so, you’ll hear any sound coming from the iPod through the earbuds. On the top of the iPod, you’ll also see the iPod Remote port in which you connect a remote control. And, you’ll also see the Hold switch.
• FM Transmitter—You can connect an FM transmitter to the Headphones port to broadcast your iPod’s output over FM. You can then tune into your iPod’s music on an FM tuner, such as the one in your car or home stereo system.
• Home or Car Stereo—You can use various cables and connectors to connect the Headphones port to an input port on a home stereo receiver, a car stereo, or boom box to play your iPod’s music over one of these devices.