Sony DMPORT Hack - Making an Adapter for the Digital Media Port

I got a SONY compact HiFi system from the late 2000's.

The input lines are quite limited, but Sony integrated another interface, the Digital Media Port (DMP or DMPort). Somehow this interface never become very popular, Sony abandoned it after a couple of years. For more details check the article on WIKIPEDIA.

For a while you could get additional equipment to use this port, like TDM-NC1 (WiFi receiver), TDM-BT1 (Bluetooth receiver) or TDM-iP50 to connect an iPhone. They ain't manufactured anymore and are hard to find, even on eBay.

This Instructable describes the making of an adapter to use the Digital Media Port (DMP or DMPort) as an additional analog stereo Line-In (3,5mm jack) for your old Sony HiFi system.

PLEASE NOTE: Everything is very tiny, especially the pins on the HIROSE plug. Experience in soldering is recommended.

• HIROSE plug ST40X-18S-CV(80)
• 3,5mm stereo plug with cable endings
• USB-plug with cable endings (not mandatory, only if you need a USB power supply for your input device, i.e. a Bluetooth receiver)
• soldering iron with a fine tip (needle tip)
• a magnifier for checking
• a PH1 screwdriver

Information about specifications of the DMPORT are quite rare. After some research I found a thread on a platform called www.diyaudio.com.

I was quite surprised that for the input just an analog stereo signal is needed. The only thing which is digital at this interface will be the controls for the status to/from the connected device.

The member "macboy", who put the entry #3 at the thread, suggested to ground the pin "DET", which would tell the host (my stereo) that some device is connected. His entry ended with "Try and let us know."

Well, I did it by bridging the DET-pin (#7) to ground (#8) at the HIROSE plug. IT WORKED! Without this, by connecting the stereo Line-In only, the DMPORT won't be activated.

Anyhow, here is the link to the thread I mentioned. All credits should go to "macboy" for his ingenious idea. I just realized it.

The hardest thing, however, was getting a DMPORT plug. It seems that they are quite unique and only made by HRS / HIROSE. Mine was shipped from Asia. The HRS ordering number is 241-0012-1 80 (see excerpt from catalogue).

Open the HIROSE plug by using a PH1 screwdriver.

Remove the shields.

Solder the cable endings to the pins as seen in the pic. Bend pin 7 and 8 a bit to the middle and solder them together.

Check with a magnifying lens if everything is properly connected.

Make sure none of the neighboring pins are connected.

Put the shields back in place, put the cover on the plug an put the screws in.

DONE!