Wadia 170i Transport

[sylvainp]

I found this article on the net for the Wadia 170i Transport and according to Wadia this dock station extract the digital output from the ipod without using the ipod DAC. Could this be real ?

Here the article

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm starting to think the iPod is a true high-end audio component. What's changed? I heard it in my high-end system, docked into Wadia's 170i Transport ($379). I can now testify to the iPod's bona fides.

Thing is, an iPod, even one loaded with uncompressed AIFF or WAV files, isn't all by itself a high-end component, but teamed with Wadia's 170i Transport, aka, dock, an iPod is elevated to high-end status. The transformation takes place when the Wadia transmits the iPod's zeros and ones to an outboard digital-to-analog (D/A) converter in your A/V receiver, or even better, a standalone high-end D/A. Wadia's claims that the 170i is the first and only "dock" to extract a digital output from an unmodified iPod.

The 170i's digital out sends a 16 bit/44.1 kHz PCM digital signal to a D/A. The 170i does that for MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV files, but just be aware that it converts all but AIFF and WAV to 16/44.1. It can also pass 16/48 PCM, but in most cases 16/44.1 is what you'll get.

According to Wadia's national sales manager, Martin Cooper, iPods store MP3, Apple Lossless, and AAC files in Apple's own digital language, and when an iPod is nestled into a 170i it converts those files to 16/44.1 PCM. That way, the signals can be processed by the D/A in your A/V receiver or high-end D/A. MP3, Apple Lossless, and AAC files will sound "good," just not quite the same as the original CD. In other words, only AIFF and WAV files can be heard with bit-for-bit accuracy over the 170i.

[yaluen]

Apparently, yes!

Wadia iTransport iPod Dock Gets Bit-Perfect Digital from iPods!

[gpkoo]

If you search through audiocircle there's some concenn that the levels of jitter could be quite high. I'm not qualified to say whether that's really the case.

[timb5881]

Originally Posted by gpkoo

If you search through audiocircle there's some concenn that the levels of jitter could be quite high. I'm not qualified to say whether that's really the case.

That would solve the jitter problem. Others are availble used such as Audio Alchamy DTI, Jitterbug from I believe Parts Connexion and a few others. The Monarchy company has one that would also upsample it to 24/96 as well.


Tim

[krmathis]

Originally Posted by sylvainp

MP3, Apple Lossless, and AAC files will sound "good," just not quite the same as the original CD. In other words, only AIFF and WAV files can be heard with bit-for-bit accuracy over the 170i.

Hmmm....
Why would not Apple Lossless sound as good as the original CD? After all its lossless, and I don't see how the 170i will convert the signal as its already 16/44.1.

The other parts of your post looks correct though.

[davidhunternyc]

^^^ Yes, I have been wondering that too.