It’s cool to see this getting a resurgence!! I’ve been hunting down some “seventh gen” classics, in hopes to make myself a 512 gb full purple mod! This is super cool!
Im doing this shortly with my 4th gen. I've been looking at 5th, too. I really like the form factor and that there are so many different shells available.
@@iamalexsun just a couple thousand so far lol. The only "issue" after the mods: It doesn't make the click noise anymore, which, I'm kind of ok with to be honest
It's important to note that iPods prior to the 5th/5.5 gen also have a Wolfson DAC, the earphones and audio file are more important in that aspect. Great videos talking about iPod modding though very informative.
@@escapetherace1943 You make a really good point actually which is why I tried to not give any opinion on how the dac itself sounds but more so the general information on the devices since the talking point of the 5th gen being the “best sounding” was always silly to me. Appreciate your input.
Totally doing this during the winter (or rather, sending it out to have done). I have 34,000 songs ripped to iTunes taking up 263GB of memory. 512GB will be more than enough. I'll probably add bluetooth at the same time.
Been to and fro struggling with my Gen6 and finally wondered if I could use Termite to open the darn thing up, but it only took a kitchen knife to finally let the genie out. Next step is to disassemble the rest; much how to open the connectors. And finally order a new screen, a backplate, a frontplate and a board for SD-cards, and maybe a new battery, though I have one spare. While ordering front- and backplates, some crazy colours would be nice. AliExpress will supply the hard hardware, though choices of colours are a bit limited, but I get things duty- and VAT-free (actually not, but hazzle-free) to Sweden. The electronics, however will be order from OEO. As I commented on the other video, these videos are great. As a rookie you do pay a lot of attention to details any experienced upgrader miss, and details that are important to avoid mistakes and ruining critical details.
Thanks for taking the time to write! Looks like you picked one of the toughest generations to open. I admire your persistence! Please keep us updated on your project!
@@iamalexsun Many comments are useful as well. I got my iPod before I knew of all the options to upgrade and knowing that Gen5 had a better DAC, the only (and cheapest) one I could find in Sweden was a Gen6.
I have the same kit for a Gen 6. I never got it to work. I need to look back into that. But i see there is a kit now for bluetooth and USB-C, Moonlit Connect. Might try that as well as that would modernize everything for me
Thanks for the comment! That kit you mentioned is a bit pricy imo. You could get a decent DAP with that money. But Type C and bluetooth functionalities sure are pretty cool on an iPod!
I got a 5th gen when they first came out, ill say for most people the 7th gen is probably technically better sounding cause its easier to EQ to your liking, but I have a great nostalgia for the sound the 5th gen makes, glad that you enjoy it! it had a very unique sound! im planning to buy myself another soon because I really miss it!
I dumpster-dive a lot and I found a box with 6 of these. 3x Black 30GB slim models, 1x white 30GB slim model, 1x Black 80GB model (wide model), and 1x 6th Gen (Aluminum face) slim 80GB. Only 1 of the 30GB black 5.5th gens sort of works but freezes up randomly. The rest either have failed drives or batteries from what I can tell. So stoked to try this. Thanks for posting!
I still have my excellent [body wise] 6.5 Gen iPod Classic [silver] with over 7000 songs on it. The battery is "failed" now since it won't *hold* a full charge (it still charges up, just won't hold it). I bought it brand new from eBay in 2012.
Great video! I really want to do this exact mod. Although I want to try out rockbox on it instead of iPodOS. You should do a video on how to install rockbox and show off some features too!
Glad I found this video, very well done. I've been debating on getting an ipod or just another cheap mp3 player for when i travel. I also didn't know that Micro Center would price match, and I was JUST at micro center this weekend lol. Question about the iflash: does this unit still only have a "song limit" of roughly 20,000 songs? If so, then 512 might be a bit overkill lol
Hey Ryan, thanks for stopping by! I am making a video today that will address all your questions plus some general tips for modding iPods. Will keep you updated once it’s out!
Wow! I'm doing this. I bought two 160 Gb iPod Classics when Apple discontinued them. But my library has grown and doesn't fit in 160 Gb. I bought an iPod touch with more memory, but my library has outgrown that as well. And the iPod Touch interface is sucky. It has a lot of silly features I don't want. Radio? I haven't listened to radio since the 70's. It's always trying to push Apple streaming or iTunes store media on me. The battery can barely get me through a 3 hour plane ride. This is awesome!
Thanks for the comment! I’m glad the video helped! Here are some more useful info to consider: ruclips.net/video/E9ewxFGI8pI/видео.html Also, here’s a test I did of the 3,000mAh and 3,800mAh batteries: ruclips.net/video/WiOrS_PHOrc/видео.html Help you’ll find these useful! Cheers!
Hey there. Thank you for doing this video! In just ordered the parts to revitalize 2 of my iPods! Question, do you have a SD card you recommend? Thanks
@@iamalexsunI actually did the same mod not long ago, and got a little triggered by the open space at the top 🙃. I then replaced the clicker with an Apple Taptic Engine. There’s some soldering required but the result is nice!
Funny you say that about Amazon, I just got myself an Innioasis Y1 (which is basically a clone of the old 120gb Ipod Classic) and they didn't even give me the USB - C cable that was supposed to come with it. So I had to go out of my way to buy a replacement. I was able to get the thing to work but ya still should get what you pay for, and I wasn't going to go through the hassle of having to send the thing back either.
Great video. Made me as a Gen-X search for an iPod Classic with the goal to "disconnect" from the online life now and then. BTW, 30GB has 32MB of RAM, 60GB+ has 64MB. If you start with 2x 512GB memory and you run out, can you just add 2 formatted memory cards and they will be recognized or do you have to reformat?
The Creative series of players were every bit as good as iPods. Also, the very little-known RED Wolverine is also very good. Replacing any of these hard drives with SD cards gives them new life for good.
Thanks! Currently shuffling 11,278 songs with no issues. All in 16bit 320kbps MP3 format (~120GB). I recently switched the logic board to a 64MB one that came in the 80GB version of the 5.5. It was shuffling flawlessly with the same exact amount of songs on the 32MB board previously. I have yet to notice any performance improvements or differences between the two boards yet. Will definitely provide a more comprehensive update in a future video!
Great video so once you put it back together, you format the drives in FAT 16? Then plug it into iTunes which recognizes it and restores/loads the iPod firmware?
Thanks for the comment! I suggest following the iFlash SD card formatting guide to ensure the best outcome. iFlash Formatting Guide: www.iflash.xyz/prepare-sdxc-exfat-for-use-with-the-ipod/ After formatting and installing the cards, plug everything in, and iTunes should recognize it and prompt to reset when you connect it to your computer. Hope this helps!
kudos for being curious and forging ahead, but big groans for being way not careful and just hacking at it :) Plenty of other videos you could have watched first.
Could you do a time lapse video testing out the 3000 mAh Battery in your Ipod 5th gen? I've heard on reddit forums that the 3000 mAh Battery isn't lasting up to expectations but oddly enough, nobody on RUclips has taken the time to actually test the battery life. It is all hear-say. Lots of videos on RUclips on how to upgrade and install but no actual testing. Thanks. 💯
there's a 3800mah battery now that fits and because it's newer it'll have close to its full life unlike the older 3000mah ones sitting around for years
I saw a RUclips video of someone (dankpods?) testing the battery life of the 3000MAH and an iPod Classic Gen 7. He got over 45 hours on a single charge.
You can use both the Music app and Finder to add music. The Music app syncs your library similar to how iTunes works. With the Finder, you simple just drag and drop the files. There are also third party software that makes syncing music a bit easier. Hope this helps!
Dumb question, how long does the restore take? I’d have guessed a minute or two, you said half an hour, I’m having bad luck with the 5th gen I’ve got, but perhaps I’m being impatient?
Good question! I go over this in more detail in my other video about my iPod at around the 7 minute mark (ruclips.net/video/E9ewxFGI8pI/видео.htmlsi=Egfx7EM7T-loBdQ2) It took about 6 hours to sync my library of around 12,000 songs. Since the transfer speed bottleneck is hardware related, it all comes down to the file type, encoding, and the amount of songs you have. Hope this helps!
Wait, I completely missed your question lol. It took around 15-30 minutes for the restore process. Don’t panic if it takes too long, these things are pretty old. If it takes more than 45 minutes and appears to be stuck on the restore screen, I would consider unplugging it and reboot your iPod by holding the center and menu button at the same time for about 5 seconds.
@@iamalexsun I’m a bit stuck, High Sierra iTunes and Sonoma Finder both don’t want to restore this 5th gen I’ve got despite it working fine with the original hard drive… they see it, try then fail (err 1433 if that means anything to anyone) 🤔 I’m going to try different SD cards and hope! Seems weird it could be dead in such a specific way with everything else working, unless you’ve got ideas? You mentioned formatting (I’ve don’t the card) but did you also format the iPod itself in Disk Mode?
@@AngusPearson I would attempt formatting the iPod in disk mode. It could be an SD card issue as the iFlash boards are very picky with the brand and capacity of SD cards. Here’s the SD card compatibility list on the iFlash website for reference: www.iflash.xyz/store/iflash-quad/
@@frankenstein3163 I appreciate the info! I’ve never put any videos on my iPod and I probably never will, maybe besides Shrek ;) But this is very good to know!
when my 6a-gen 160GB died, i popped it open w/o the right tools, and it turned out a lot worse than yours. bad hard drive, never snapped back together right, and i ended up just e-cycling the thing, which i immediately regretted when apple announced they were discontinuing the classic. eventually found a 6a (80) and a 6b (120), now waiting on both these mods and the bluetooth mod. the apparent 128GB limit on them is disappointing, but at least i won't have to worry about janky 16-17-year-old hard drives self-destructing. i'll be sure to use the right tools this time
Hey Austin! Thanks for stopping by! Now that you've mentioned it, I realized I cross referenced the wrong battery from your site and the one I got was in fact the thick model!
I watched a RUclips video to learn how to mod an iPod by watching a video of a guy modding an iPod while watching a RUclips video of another guy modding an iPod. Wild.
It’s cool to see this getting a resurgence!! I’ve been hunting down some “seventh gen” classics, in hopes to make myself a 512 gb full purple mod! This is super cool!
Thanks for stopping by. Best of luck on your search! Please keep us updated!
Omg same! A purple one and red ❤
Happy modding
Updating: I have almost everything I need! My soldering tools came today, last component I need is a flash card!
My heart sank when I saw you approaching it with those big ass tools.
Im doing this shortly with my 4th gen. I've been looking at 5th, too. I really like the form factor and that there are so many different shells available.
Thanks for sharing, best of luck with the mod! Please keep us updated!
What do I do with a broken 5.5 enhanced iPod? Anyone still fixing it?
@@denniszenanywherelearn to fix it! You can purchase the parts easily online 😊
Finally got mine all in today! New storage and new battery installed!
Congrats!
How many songs are you putting on it? ;)
@@iamalexsun just a couple thousand so far lol. The only "issue" after the mods: It doesn't make the click noise anymore, which, I'm kind of ok with to be honest
It's important to note that iPods prior to the 5th/5.5 gen also have a Wolfson DAC, the earphones and audio file are more important in that aspect. Great videos talking about iPod modding though very informative.
Good point. Thanks for pointing that out!
The wolfson dac doesn't sound better than the gen 6/7 as people would have you to believe. It's literally nonsense
@@escapetherace1943 You make a really good point actually which is why I tried to not give any opinion on how the dac itself sounds but more so the general information on the devices since the talking point of the 5th gen being the “best sounding” was always silly to me. Appreciate your input.
@@sweetazuki most people can't tell the difference between DACs but 'warm' as people describe gen 5 is further away from transparency and accuracy...
Totally doing this during the winter (or rather, sending it out to have done). I have 34,000 songs ripped to iTunes taking up 263GB of memory. 512GB will be more than enough. I'll probably add bluetooth at the same time.
thats why i like the mini, it's got a wolfson, and i like how those sound. reminds me of cassette. and i like cassette. warmer.
Been to and fro struggling with my Gen6 and finally wondered if I could use Termite to open the darn thing up, but it only took a kitchen knife to finally let the genie out.
Next step is to disassemble the rest; much how to open the connectors. And finally order a new screen, a backplate, a frontplate and a board for SD-cards, and maybe a new battery, though I have one spare. While ordering front- and backplates, some crazy colours would be nice.
AliExpress will supply the hard hardware, though choices of colours are a bit limited, but I get things duty- and VAT-free (actually not, but hazzle-free) to Sweden. The electronics, however will be order from OEO.
As I commented on the other video, these videos are great. As a rookie you do pay a lot of attention to details any experienced upgrader miss, and details that are important to avoid mistakes and ruining critical details.
Thanks for taking the time to write! Looks like you picked one of the toughest generations to open. I admire your persistence! Please keep us updated on your project!
@@iamalexsun Many comments are useful as well. I got my iPod before I knew of all the options to upgrade and knowing that Gen5 had a better DAC, the only (and cheapest) one I could find in Sweden was a Gen6.
I have the same kit for a Gen 6. I never got it to work. I need to look back into that. But i see there is a kit now for bluetooth and USB-C, Moonlit Connect. Might try that as well as that would modernize everything for me
Thanks for the comment! That kit you mentioned is a bit pricy imo. You could get a decent DAP with that money. But Type C and bluetooth functionalities sure are pretty cool on an iPod!
I got a 5th gen when they first came out, ill say for most people the 7th gen is probably technically better sounding cause its easier to EQ to your liking, but I have a great nostalgia for the sound the 5th gen makes, glad that you enjoy it! it had a very unique sound! im planning to buy myself another soon because I really miss it!
Thank you for sharing! Please keep us updated on your new iPod!
I dumpster-dive a lot and I found a box with 6 of these. 3x Black 30GB slim models, 1x white 30GB slim model, 1x Black 80GB model (wide model), and 1x 6th Gen (Aluminum face) slim 80GB.
Only 1 of the 30GB black 5.5th gens sort of works but freezes up randomly. The rest either have failed drives or batteries from what I can tell. So stoked to try this. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for the comment!
That’s a great find! Hope you’re able to revive them all! Please keep us updated!
I still have my excellent [body wise] 6.5 Gen iPod Classic [silver] with over 7000 songs on it. The battery is "failed" now since it won't *hold* a full charge (it still charges up, just won't hold it). I bought it brand new from eBay in 2012.
Great video! I really want to do this exact mod. Although I want to try out rockbox on it instead of iPodOS. You should do a video on how to install rockbox and show off some features too!
Thanks for the idea! I plan on only using the stock OS, but I did consider installing rockbox. Will post an update soon!
Glad I found this video, very well done. I've been debating on getting an ipod or just another cheap mp3 player for when i travel. I also didn't know that Micro Center would price match, and I was JUST at micro center this weekend lol. Question about the iflash: does this unit still only have a "song limit" of roughly 20,000 songs? If so, then 512 might be a bit overkill lol
Hey Ryan, thanks for stopping by! I am making a video today that will address all your questions plus some general tips for modding iPods. Will keep you updated once it’s out!
@@iamalexsun awesome, can't wait to watch!
@@RyanNiemer Hey Ryan, thank you for your patience. Here's that video I promised: ruclips.net/video/E9ewxFGI8pI/видео.htmlsi=K9ccmmlKeorLB3y7
@@iamalexsun watching now!
I started screaming when u nearly ripped the headphone jack connector 😂
Cool mod tho
Wow! I'm doing this. I bought two 160 Gb iPod Classics when Apple discontinued them. But my library has grown and doesn't fit in 160 Gb. I bought an iPod touch with more memory, but my library has outgrown that as well. And the iPod Touch interface is sucky. It has a lot of silly features I don't want. Radio? I haven't listened to radio since the 70's. It's always trying to push Apple streaming or iTunes store media on me. The battery can barely get me through a 3 hour plane ride. This is awesome!
Thanks for the comment! I’m glad the video helped!
Here are some more useful info to consider: ruclips.net/video/E9ewxFGI8pI/видео.html
Also, here’s a test I did of the 3,000mAh and 3,800mAh batteries: ruclips.net/video/WiOrS_PHOrc/видео.html
Help you’ll find these useful!
Cheers!
Hey there. Thank you for doing this video! In just ordered the parts to revitalize 2 of my iPods! Question, do you have a SD card you recommend? Thanks
@@craigd7738 I used the Samsung Pro Plus (amzn.to/3BKb7Zr)
Check the iFlash compatibility guide for a list of usable sd cards
Great video! Fyi: The iPod has been opened before, judging by the replacement battery, as this is not the original : )
Thanks for the insight!
@@iamalexsunI actually did the same mod not long ago, and got a little triggered by the open space at the top 🙃. I then replaced the clicker with an Apple Taptic Engine. There’s some soldering required but the result is nice!
You're the GOAT, extremely clear explanation, greetings from Chile
@@molimolimolimoli Thank you! Glad the video helped!
Funny you say that about Amazon, I just got myself an Innioasis Y1 (which is basically a clone of the old 120gb Ipod Classic) and they didn't even give me the USB - C cable that was supposed to come with it. So I had to go out of my way to buy a replacement. I was able to get the thing to work but ya still should get what you pay for, and I wasn't going to go through the hassle of having to send the thing back either.
Great video. Made me as a Gen-X search for an iPod Classic with the goal to "disconnect" from the online life now and then. BTW, 30GB has 32MB of RAM, 60GB+ has 64MB.
If you start with 2x 512GB memory and you run out, can you just add 2 formatted memory cards and they will be recognized or do you have to reformat?
Dude thanks for the video!!
The Creative series of players were every bit as good as iPods. Also, the very little-known RED Wolverine is also very good. Replacing any of these hard drives with SD cards gives them new life for good.
Great job modding the iPod. Can you shuffle songs with the 512gb upgrade?
Thanks!
Currently shuffling 11,278 songs with no issues. All in 16bit 320kbps MP3 format (~120GB).
I recently switched the logic board to a 64MB one that came in the 80GB version of the 5.5. It was shuffling flawlessly with the same exact amount of songs on the 32MB board previously. I have yet to notice any performance improvements or differences between the two boards yet.
Will definitely provide a more comprehensive update in a future video!
Good video mate
Thanks for the support!
Great video. Plus: this motorcycle is amazing 🤩
Thank you!!
Use the big blade from that Swiss Army knife lengthwise to open next the iPod next time. Will be much easier and you won’t damage the iPod bezel.
@@lymancopps5957 Thanks for the tip!
Great video so once you put it back together, you format the drives in FAT 16? Then plug it into iTunes which recognizes it and restores/loads the iPod firmware?
Thanks for the comment!
I suggest following the iFlash SD card formatting guide to ensure the best outcome.
iFlash Formatting Guide: www.iflash.xyz/prepare-sdxc-exfat-for-use-with-the-ipod/
After formatting and installing the cards, plug everything in, and iTunes should recognize it and prompt to reset when you connect it to your computer.
Hope this helps!
when i replaced the battery on my 5th gen last year, i used an old gift card and it worked well
kudos for being curious and forging ahead, but big groans for being way not careful and just hacking at it :) Plenty of other videos you could have watched first.
Good job!
How do you format the micro SD cards?
Thanks for the support!
I referenced this guide by iFlash for the correct SD card format.
www.iflash.xyz/prepare-sdxc-exfat-for-use-with-the-ipod/
@@iamalexsun Thanks, from NYC!
Could you do a time lapse video testing out the 3000 mAh Battery in your Ipod 5th gen? I've heard on reddit forums that the 3000 mAh Battery isn't lasting up to expectations but oddly enough, nobody on RUclips has taken the time to actually test the battery life. It is all hear-say. Lots of videos on RUclips on how to upgrade and install but no actual testing. Thanks. 💯
there's a 3800mah battery now that fits and because it's newer it'll have close to its full life unlike the older 3000mah ones sitting around for years
@@escapetherace1943 How many playable hours are you able to clock off the 3800 mAh battery with your Ipod 5th gen?
@@eric6345 120+
@@escapetherace1943 I'm hoping someone makes a video of this claim, puts a stop watch next to the Ipod and tests it.
I saw a RUclips video of someone (dankpods?) testing the battery life of the 3000MAH and an iPod Classic Gen 7. He got over 45 hours on a single charge.
How do you add music to it? I can’t seem to figure it out since iTunes is now the “music” app and the iPod only appears on finder
You can use both the Music app and Finder to add music. The Music app syncs your library similar to how iTunes works. With the Finder, you simple just drag and drop the files. There are also third party software that makes syncing music a bit easier. Hope this helps!
Amazing video, dude! Loved every second of it, going to replicate this mod in a month or so 🙏
Thank you! Keep us updated on your project!
Dumb question, how long does the restore take? I’d have guessed a minute or two, you said half an hour, I’m having bad luck with the 5th gen I’ve got, but perhaps I’m being impatient?
Good question!
I go over this in more detail in my other video about my iPod at around the 7 minute mark (ruclips.net/video/E9ewxFGI8pI/видео.htmlsi=Egfx7EM7T-loBdQ2)
It took about 6 hours to sync my library of around 12,000 songs. Since the transfer speed bottleneck is hardware related, it all comes down to the file type, encoding, and the amount of songs you have.
Hope this helps!
Wait, I completely missed your question lol.
It took around 15-30 minutes for the restore process. Don’t panic if it takes too long, these things are pretty old. If it takes more than 45 minutes and appears to be stuck on the restore screen, I would consider unplugging it and reboot your iPod by holding the center and menu button at the same time for about 5 seconds.
@@iamalexsun I’m a bit stuck, High Sierra iTunes and Sonoma Finder both don’t want to restore this 5th gen I’ve got despite it working fine with the original hard drive… they see it, try then fail (err 1433 if that means anything to anyone) 🤔 I’m going to try different SD cards and hope! Seems weird it could be dead in such a specific way with everything else working, unless you’ve got ideas? You mentioned formatting (I’ve don’t the card) but did you also format the iPod itself in Disk Mode?
@@AngusPearson I would attempt formatting the iPod in disk mode. It could be an SD card issue as the iFlash boards are very picky with the brand and capacity of SD cards. Here’s the SD card compatibility list on the iFlash website for reference: www.iflash.xyz/store/iflash-quad/
Do any of these allow video shuffle ?
Unfortunately no, it cannot shuffle videos.
@@iamalexsun What os/rom's have you tried ?
@@frankenstein3163 Just stock Apple OS. I like to keep it simple.
@@iamalexsun I got a reply from another YT'r and he sead it does if you make a playlist. Is that what's preventing you from shuffling videos ?
@@frankenstein3163 I appreciate the info! I’ve never put any videos on my iPod and I probably never will, maybe besides Shrek ;) But this is very good to know!
Rad dude
Thanks!
Can I do the same upgrade for iPad 5th 60gb?
Yes! Absolutely! All the steps are exactly the same.
when my 6a-gen 160GB died, i popped it open w/o the right tools, and it turned out a lot worse than yours. bad hard drive, never snapped back together right, and i ended up just e-cycling the thing, which i immediately regretted when apple announced they were discontinuing the classic. eventually found a 6a (80) and a 6b (120), now waiting on both these mods and the bluetooth mod. the apparent 128GB limit on them is disappointing, but at least i won't have to worry about janky 16-17-year-old hard drives self-destructing. i'll be sure to use the right tools this time
I have been trying to do this process, but my iPod does not restore. Any tips?
Thanks for sharing! I would start by formatting your SD cards as instructed in this guide: www.iflash.xyz/prepare-sdxc-exfat-for-use-with-the-ipod
Ifixit please sponsor this guy :D
based and rockboxpilled
What headphone do you use. You can’t use an AirPod on it, right, because it doesn’t have Bluetooth?
I use wired EarPods (amzn.to/4d9e3wJ) along with the Koss KPH40 (amzn.to/3AouGpm). Both are phenomenal in terms of sound quality and value.
Is that a Royal Enfield behind
Good eye!
@@iamalexsun tq 😀😀
Buddy's in a storage unit😅
@@prestonhayes6810 close enough 😂
nice vid
Dam u got screwed over by whoever sold you that battery, it’s the thick model not the thin model.
Hey Austin! Thanks for stopping by! Now that you've mentioned it, I realized I cross referenced the wrong battery from your site and the one I got was in fact the thick model!
Has anyone tried to plug the iPod classic into the usb port in the car and see if it works to play music?
@@AndrewPerry-v7w I don’t think that how that works
Yes it does i do it all the time with mine
@@willt39 Woah, didn’t know my car stereo had this feature! I learned something new today!
I watched a RUclips video to learn how to mod an iPod by watching a video of a guy modding an iPod while watching a RUclips video of another guy modding an iPod. Wild.
@@ShadyJoe114 full 21st century experience
cool
I don’t have that luxury of going to a micro center ):