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

[IPodPJ]

Originally Posted by rgbyhkr

To me, what makes this exciting is finally getting what many of us have wanted, but without internal modification - that is a true digital out from the iPod to use with any DAC we choose. The iTransport is an interesting first step, but what I really want to see is somebody make this solution portable. I want a portable device that, at most, has digital and analog outs and ideally just has digital outs. The question is if it would requires it's own power supply to function properly.

Imagine - iPod -> portable dock with authentication chip that has a digital out -> portable DAC -> portable amp -> headphones. I like that idea a lot.

Jeff

Eventually that will happen. And when it does, all the portable amp manufacturers here will have to start making standalone portable DAC units. I'm pretty sure HeadAmp is already working on one.

And eventually, they will need to make one that transfers the I2S signal, and a portable DAC that receives it. The Pico already does this, but it's through USB, and it's not a standalone DAC.

[milkpowder]

I wonder if it's possible to get I2S from the iPod without internal modifications. My feeble knowledge tells me it is nigh on impossible. Steve of Empirical Audio mentioned I2S from the iPod before but I doubt there is really a market for that considering how rare I2S-interfaced DACs, let alone portable ones.

[blem]

Originally Posted by flohmann

Right. Only with a much better amp and much better DAC. Kind of the whole point of most of the head-fi community -- getting a better headphone experience than the stock iPod + buds can offer.

I agree with the post above -- the real news here is not the Wadia unit itself, but the news that digital out is now possible from the iPod (once you get Apple's blessing for the "authentication chip"), which means it's only a matter of time before a portable pico amp + DAC solution is made available. Paging Ray and Tyll...

I have two questions :
- Is the DAC on a pico much better than on an Ipod ? I was under the impression that the Ipod's DAC was pretty good.
- In a portable situation do you think you will be able to tell the difference ?

[IPodPJ]

Originally Posted by blem

I have two questions :
- Is the DAC on a pico much better than on an Ipod ? I was under the impression that the Ipod's DAC was pretty good.
- In a portable situation do you think you will be able to tell the difference ?

Yes and Yes. The Pico's DAC is so far above the iPod's DAC it's not even funny.

Yes, you can tell the difference in a portable situation, but even moreso with fullsize headphones.

[Stefaan]

stereophile article has just been updated: Stereophile: Wadia Announces Launch of iPod Dock with S/PDIF Output

[IPodPJ]

Originally Posted by milkpowder

I wonder if it's possible to get I2S from the iPod without internal modifications. My feeble knowledge tells me it is nigh on impossible. Steve of Empirical Audio mentioned I2S from the iPod before but I doubt there is really a market for that considering how rare I2S-interfaced DACs, let alone portable ones.

Well I'm pretty sure the digital transfer from the iPod is either in I2S format or some other format, but it surely isn't S/PDIF. It doesn't get transferred to S/PDIF until it gets inside the iTransport.

[milkpowder]

Originally Posted by IPodPJ

Well I'm pretty sure the digital transfer from the iPod is either in I2S format or some other format, but it surely isn't S/PDIF. It doesn't get transferred to S/PDIF until it gets inside the iTransport.

I'm hoping someone in the know can give us clarification on the type of data carried between iPod and computer but I agree with you: it definitely isn't S/PDIF.

Originally Posted by blem

I have two questions :
- Is the DAC on a pico much better than on an Ipod ? I was under the impression that the Ipod's DAC was pretty good.

The 5.5G iPod uses a Wolfson WM8758 and the Pico uses a Wolfson WM8740. Just looking at raw specifications, the WM8740 has a far better S/N ratio and THD: 120dB, -104dB vs 100dB, -88dB. Bear in mind the Pico also upsamples 16/44.1 to 24/192 before the DAC touches the data. While the 5.5G iPod DAC isn't shabby, the WM8740 is definitely superior, spec-wise.

Originally Posted by blem

- In a portable situation do you think you will be able to tell the difference ?

Given high fidelity, sensitivity equipment, eg custom IEMs, I wouldn't be surprised if one could tell between the two of them.

[SenjStevo]

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to use media centers like these:

TViX M-4000P

or

TViX mini

Both have digital outs and PCM support.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by jj69

The Stereophile article indicates that the Wadia will work with the iPod Video in its "Extended Interface" mode. So the next logical question is, will the Wadia work with an iPod Video running Rockbox?! That would be the good news I want to hear.

Given the way that the "extended interface" mode is described in the Stereophile article, no, it would not work with Rockbox.

[townes]

I consider the iTransport to be an extremely innovative product. It's like the missing link between the iPod world and the high-end/hi-fi world. Now I can combine the advantages of the iPod, i.e. the user interface (screen, menu, clickwheel) and its portability with the sound quality of my hi-fi rigs.

I will transcode my favourite tracks (ca 6000 out of 25000) from FLAC to apple lossless (that's an easy batch job for the PC) No need to worry about Rockbox compatibility. I will buy a second 6gen 160GB iPod. The first iPod then contains around 5000 tracks (ALAC), the second an additional 1000 plus ca 200 classical CDs.

I will be in the market for two iTransports: the first one will be an additional source to my main rig (aside the laptop with external hd and aside the SACD player). All three sources then connected to a Weiss DAC1 (using a Neutrik 70 to 110 Ohm adapter for the iTransport).

With the second iTransport I can build a bedroom rig: iTransport --> Neutrik adapter again --> Lavry Blue (which I have already) --> STAX SRM-727 and Omega 2. The convenient user interface makes the iPod an ideal source for a bedroom rig. For the main rig: I guess my wife will use the iPod as the only source - she isn't keen at all to use Winamp/Foobar on the Laptop, loves the simlicity of the iPod.

And ... no, I don't want a Squeezbox - I try to avoid a WLAN (keeping electronic pollution reasonable low), ethernet cables across the rooms, doesn't make them nicer too. My DACs are better by far than any Squeezbox

Congratulations to Wadia and hats off!

[jp11801]

Originally Posted by townes

And ... no, I don't want a Squeezbox - I try to avoid a WLAN (keeping electronic pollution reasonable low), ethernet cables across the rooms, doesn't make them nicer too. My DACs are better by far than any Squeezbox

Congratulations to Wadia and hats off!

off course you know the squeeze box has a digital out so for $299 (sb3) you could get to the same place instead of buying another ipod and 2x the wadias. I understand the coolness factor but the squeeze box gets you there is a smaller form factor and the new slim server duet does it with a very cool remote interface.

[DocHamm]

Originally Posted by Edwood

There's just something ironic about docking something so small into something so huge.

x2 ...

50 years ago it was understandable a computer was the size of a warehouse to do what a pocketpc can virtually do now. Today it's not understandable why a large device is required to do small, dedicated jobs ... especially when the device they are assisting does them more efficiently in a smaller package.

Nice box, nice idea, not a bad price ... but I bet it still can be done better.

[ezkcdude]

Originally Posted by jp11801

off course you know the squeeze box has a digital out so for $299 (sb3) you could get to the same place instead of buying another ipod and 2x the wadias. I understand the coolness factor but the squeeze box gets you there is a smaller form factor and the new slim server duet does it with a very cool remote interface.

Exactly. Let's say you hook up a Mac mini directly to the headless receiver from the duet (which will be $149) through the ethernet connection. Not only that, but the new receiver has a Wolfson DAC (not sure which one yet, though) and outputs 6Vpp. Sweet.

[jamato8]

I just realized this will, could make, transports a thing of the past and so goes all of their problems. No more 3 or 4 thousand dollar transport and the worry about reclocking and jitter problems initiated from the transport. It would be nice to have optical out also and so easy to do.

[truejoker]

there is something that i miss or don't understand ' it say that it have analog output , if so it mast be a DAC in it , doesn't it ?