Where to Buy An Apple Lightning to 30-pin Adapter

The Lightning adapter for 30-pins is useful if you own an older device you love to use, such as the speaker dock. As an example, there is the Apple iPod Hi-Fi that we use in our home office. It's just the right size and functions well. We need to utilize a Lightning 30 pin Adapter for it to dock the iPhone MX Max. The adapter could also be an integral element of iPod Hi-Fi; it never is removed. But, it could happen on an occasion when the adapter wears out or because it's not attached to the iPod HiFi, it could be lost.

This Lightning to 30-pin adapter is no longer available on the Apple store online. It is possible to locate it in the Apple retailer (as long as the supply lasts); however, your best chance of purchasing the adapter is via a third party. Below are a few websites to look at. There are several places to look. Lightning to 30-pin adapter comes with an MSRP price of $29. You might be able to locate it for less.

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Rakuten
• Staples
• Target
• Walmart

Compatibility

According to Apple, the adapters can support audio in both analog and USB audio along with charging and syncing, but they have some limitations.

Audio Docks and Speakers

We tested both adapters using various dock-cradle speakers and audio-focused docks used with Apple's iPhone 5 and the latest iPod nano and touch models. To play audio, the adapters worked flawlessly with all speaker and audio docks we tried, including both new and old ones. This includes the latest speakers and audio docks that take the digital audio output of your player (specifically USB-audio) output and then employ an analog-to-digital converter (DAC) inside the dock or speaker to create an analog signal.

The adapters are also compatible with docks and speakers, generally older models with an analog sound signal. The speakers are connected to analog audio pins within the 30-pin connector. They depend on iPhone and iPod to perform the conversion from analog to digital. The problem is the Lightning connector doesn't have analog-audio pins. The new connector is entirely digital.

The solution (and most likely a major reason Apple's adapters aren't expensive) is to have a DAC integrated into every adapter. The adapter converts an iPhone or iPod's digital audio output to an analog sound and then transfers that analog signal to suitable pins on the connector with 30 pins. For instance, with the adapters Apple offers, we have utilized the most current iPhone and iPods using the mm50 speaker system from Logitech, which has been a popular model since 2005.

Batteries and Chargers

We also tested the adapters with 30-pin-dock-connector chargers and batteries. Most of them performed as expected, effectively providing electricity to and charging the batteries of the most recent iPhone and iPod models. The few exceptions, as described previously, were older models that only supply power via the FireWire power pins on the 30-pin connector (in other terms, they don't provide power via these USB-power ports). These power adapters will not work with the newest iPhones and iPods using Apple's adapters. They also don't work with the latest 30-pin iPhones and iPods.

Video

As Apple, clearly states on its product pages for the two adapters, neither one can output video. Does your 30-pin dock or any other accessory offer the ability to play video from your iPhone or iPod on a television or projector? That feature isn't compatible with the new 2012 iPhone or iPod touchscreen when linked to the adapters Apple makes available.

The Lightning connector supports video output; however, these adapters cannot pass video signals to the 30-pin connector. Apple stated to Macworld in the days before they announced their Lightning connector was first announced that Lightning-to HDMI and Lightning to VGA cables would be available "in the next few months."

iPod-out Mode

For some who are disappointed by the limitations of Apple's adapters - or more specifically and in this case, the Lightning connector itself -- is the absence of support for the iPod-out feature. An exclusive mode lets certain devices like car stereos and some home-audio systems show a copy that displays iPhone and iPod's settings on its screen. This problem is connected to the first issue: The Lightning connector does not support the analog video signal utilized by earlier devices to enable the iPod-out mode.

We weren't able to confirm this limitation since we don't have access to vehicles or other accessories, which support iPod-out mode; however, several reports posted on Apple's Discussions forums have confirmed that it isn't possible to use this feature on the latest iPhones as well as iPods if you have an adapter.