Apple Lightning to Headphone Jack Adapter Teardown
By oldturkey03 • Difficulty: Moderate
Introduction

This is definitely a destructive teardown. Hopefully it will help to show how the adapter was put together. Also that it does have a DAC on the adapter, not the lightning connector on the idevice.

Step 1
  • Typical Apple product packaging. Simple yet elegant
  • Backside of the package
  • Bottom of the package describes the adapter as a A1749
Step 2
  • Again, nice packaging for the adapter.
  • The total length of the adapter is 3 1/8 inches or 8cm. One side with the lightning connector and the other end is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
  • Checked to see if there was any way to remove the outside of the adapter by slipping some thin tools in between. No way on that.
Step 3
  • This is the business end that requires the removal of the covering.
  • The only way to do that is by cutting into it. Using a good scalpel does cut it with relative ease.
  • Careful while using a sharp instrument, not much room to hold onto the connector.
Cutting the lightning connector open
  • Cutting length wise on one side
  • as well as the opposite site
  • Then flipping the two halves that were created by the cuts.
Step 5
  • This makes for an easy removal.
  • The next thing to be removed is the ground shield.
  • Using a pair of small side cutters that shield is easily removed as well.
Step 6
  • Just a matter of using the cutters on one end
  • and rolling it around the connector.
  • This shows the destructive nature of this teardown
Step 7
  • The connector is now left with another plastic covering.
  • Luckily the removal of the ground shield seems to have open slots lengthwise in the plastic covering.
  • Using these slots, the plastic needs to be carefully pulled away from the circuit board.
Step 8
  • Here is the business end with the cover removed.
  • This side shows what appears to be the DAC inside this adapter
  • Close-up of the circuit board shows Apple's fascination with adhesive and other sticky substances. Both sides of the circuit board are covered with it.
Step 9
  • A bit more of a close up of one side
  • as well as the other. As more information becomes available about the DAC this teardown will be edited to reflect those.
  • Here are the markings on the DAC 338S00140 A0SM1624 TW
Cutting the headphone jack open
  • Carefully slice down the headphone jack connector with a sharp knife, being careful to not cut yourself.
Step 11
  • Insert wisdom here.
Final Thoughts
  • Repairability score: 0 out of 10
  • The device is clearly not meant to be opened or repaired in any way.
  • It is impossible to open the adapter without destroying it.