We offer multiple discounts on upgrade and repair items at checkout.
We offer an upgrade & repair service for iPod Classic’s Worldwide.
Do you own an iPod Classic? Do you want to upgrade your iPod Classic with larger, newer SSD flash storage? Are you needing a repair to your iPod Classic? Perhaps your iPod’s Classic battery life has deteriorated. Is your iPod Classic looking a little tired? We can refresh and refurbish your iPod Classic to give you many more years of service.
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When we mention iPod Classic, we mean either:
- 2005 5th gen iPod video 30GB, 60GB
- 2006 5th gen iPod video 30GB, 80GB
- 2007 6th gen iPod classic 80GB, 160GB
- 2008 6th gen iPod classic 120GB
- 2009 7th gen iPod classic 160GB
It’s been nearly two decades since the iconic iPod Classic was released, and surprisingly, it’s still relevant in 2023. With a 160-gigabyte hard drive capable of storing over 40,000 songs, the iPod Classic is still a popular choice for music enthusiasts.
The iPod classic was released in 2001 and has since become one of the most iconic pieces of technology ever made. Its uncanny timelessness means it will likely remain a classic for years to come.
The iPod Classic is still a great choice for music lovers. Its long-lasting battery life and incredibly large storage capacity make it a great device for those who want to listen to music without any interruptions. Plus, it’s incredibly user-friendly so it’s easy to navigate your way around.
But the iPod classic can also be upgraded to make it a more modern device. Several third-party accessories can help modernise your classic iPod, such as charging docks, FM transmitters, and even Bluetooth connectivity. This way, you can enjoy all the latest technology without sacrificing the timeless design of the original iPod.
The iPod Classic is also a great choice for those who want a device that will stand the test of time. Unlike modern devices, these classic iPods do not suffer from the same rapid obsolescence as many other devices. With the ability to upgrade your device, you can keep up with the latest technology, while still keeping the classic look of the original iPod.
The iPod Classic is still a great choice for music lovers in 2023, and the best part is that you can upgrade it to suit your needs. With the ability to upgrade your device with third-party accessories, you can enjoy all the latest technology without sacrificing the timeless design of the original iPod. Additionally, the iPod classic can be upgraded with SSD flash storage and batteries can be swapped for higher capacities. This means that you can keep your device up to date and improve its performance, while still maintaining the classic look and feel of the iconic iPod Classic. So if you’re looking for a timeless device that can easily be upgraded for modern technology, the iPod Classic is a great choice.
Years later, the mechanical drives in the iPod Classic would start to fail. Because the iPod Classic shipped with a mechanical spinning hard disk, knocks and bumps would inevitably cause the drives to fail.
Fast forward to today and much progress has been made in terms of flash storage drives. There are several SSD flash storage options for the iPod Classic today but here at iPod Classic Upgrades, we have tried and tested the most reliable flash storage drives for the iPod Classic.
How big can you go?
If you want to upgrade your iPod, you will need to pay close attention to exactly which model of iPod Classic you have. Depending on the exact model of the iPod Classic you have will determine the size of the flash storage to be fitted.
If your iPod powers on please follow our handy video guide below to locate your exact model.
Remember, The iPod Classic has a limit to the number of tracks it can store.
The iPod track limitation is an approximate number, with some users reporting either a slightly higher or lower amount of tracks that can be stored. The limit will also depend on your iTunes library and the amount of metadata stored within which includes artist name, track name, genre, comments, album art, etc.
The track limits are a function of the iTunes database size and the memory (RAM) on the iPod motherboard, it is not a limitation of the flash storage upgrade.
| Model Description | Model No | iTunes Storage Limit | Cache Memory Size | Max Flash Storage Upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th gen 30GB | MA002 / MA146 / PA002 / PA146 | ~20000 Tracks | 32MB | 2TB |
| 5th gen 60GB | MA003 / MA147 / PA003 / PA147 | ~50000 Tracks | 64MB | 2TB |
| 5.5th gen 30GB | MA444 / MA446 / PA444 / PA446 / MA664 | ~20000 Tracks | 32MB | 2TB |
| 5.5th gen 80GB | MA448 / MA450 / PA448 / PA450 | ~50000 Tracks | 64MB | 2TB |
| 6th gen 80GB | MB029 / MB147 | ~50000 Tracks | 64MB | 128GB |
| 6th gen 160GB (thick rear) | MB145 / MB150 / PB145 / PB150 | ~50000 Tracks | 64MB | 128GB |
| 6.5th gen 120GB | MB565 / PB565 / MB562 / PB562 | ~50000 Tracks | 64MB | 128GB |
| 7th gen 160GB | PC297 / MC297 / PC293 / MC293 | ~50000 Tracks | 64MB | 2TB |
Why add more storage if the iPod Classic is limited by the number of tracks stored?
Audiophiles love lossless audio tracks. Lossless files are supported by Apple and the iPod Classic using ALAC.
Apple has developed its own lossless audio compression technology called Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). In addition to AAC, the entire Apple Music catalogue is now also encoded using ALAC in resolutions ranging from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
While both ALAC and AAC are compressed and both feature the file extension, ‘.m4a’, ALAC files retain the audio quality of their source making them the higher resolution option of the two formats.
ALAC is also large in size and requires a large amount of battery power. ALAC decreases battery life by about 30-40% over 320 MP3 and even more over 256 AAC.
What if you have an iPod that does not support larger SSD flash storage?
The 6th Gen Classic models (80GB/120GB/Thick 160GB) are limited to LBA28 addressing by Apple so these models will only show and use up to 128GB of the storage installed. The other iPod models have LBA48 addressing so do not have this limitation.
This LBA28 Limitation can be removed by replacing the iPod operating system with a 3rd party OS such as Rockbox. If you choose an SSD upgrade option larger than 128GB, we will automatically install Rockbox for free, unless you tell us not to but please bear in mind that your iPod 6th Gen (80GB/120GB/Thick 160GB) will only show 128GB.
Not all iPod classics play lossless audio well.
Every iPod Classic has either 32MB or 64MB cache RAM. A portion of the RAM is used to hold the iPod OS loaded from firmware, but the majority of it serves to cache songs from the storage medium. For example, an iPod could spin its hard disk up once and copy approximately 30 MB of upcoming songs into RAM, thus saving power by not requiring the drive to spin up for each song.
Most iPod Classics come with 64MB cache RAM apart from the iPod Classic 5th gen 30GB and 5.5th enhanced 30GB model (see table below).
| Model Description | Model No | Cache Memory Size |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Gen 30Gb | MA002 / MA146 / PA002 / PA146 | 32MB |
| 5th Gen 60Gb | MA003 / MA147 / PA003 / PA147 | 64MB |
| 5.5th Gen 30Gb | MA444 / MA446 / PA444 / PA446 / MA664 | 32MB |
| 5.5th Gen 80Gb | MA448 / MA450 / PA448 / PA450 | 64MB |
| 6th Gen 80Gb | MB029 / MB147 | 64MB |
| 6th Gen 160Gb | MB145 / MB150 / PB145 / PB150 | 64MB |
| 6.5th Gen 120Gb | MB565 / PB565 / MB562 / PB562 | 64MB |
| 7th Gen 160Gb | PC297 / MC297 / PC293 / MC293 | 64MB |
An iPod Classic with 32MB cache RAM will struggle to play lossless audio files without skipping or pausing while the iPod loads the rest of the audio track from the hard disk to cache RAM. It is best to use lossy audio files with iPod Classics with a 32MB cache.
