Audio signal through iPod dock connector: Analog or Digital?

[Synomenon]

Is the audio signal through the iPod's dock connector analog or digital?

I see alot of car head units w/ USB inputs and iPod control through the iPod's dock connector.

The manufacturers of these head units always say it's fully digital audio.

 

[Phynaz]

Audio output is analog. Control signals are digital.

 

[Synomenon]

I have a JVC AVX77. The standard connection for the iPod to this head unit is directly via USB. The AVX77 has a rear USB port and comes with a USB extension cable that you plug the iPod into w/ it's sync / charge cable.

I'm guess when connected this way, it's sending audio digitally.

To get album art to show and to play videos on the AVX77, you need this optional cable from JVC that connects to the iPod's dock connector on one end. The other end has a USB connector that plugs into the back of the AVX77 along with RCA red/white for audio and a yellow for composite video. I don't know why they send the audio via RCA audio vs. the USB connection with this cable / when getting album art and videos to play on the AVX77.