Wadia 170 iTransport owners club - Page 3

Champ04,

you've used the iPod video with the wadia, right? are you able to browse the music library and switch playlists while the ipod is docked and playing? how about the Classic?

I am currently using ipod video. Unfortunately, this mean you can't access play list etc. So just blank screen (with wadia logo) and all you can do is play/pause, forward/backward. You can only use your PC to control the listing.

However, with current ipod classic you are able to use the wheele interface and view list etc.

Note if you do use ipod video, if your interface appears 'working', this will mean you are in ipod 'mode' - i.e. you are using ipod to produce the sound. The only way to get out of this mode is to redock the ipod.

The only question is whether with another company's remote company whether it is possible to do more than that...

I was wondering about that too, and also if this could be fixed on a ipod video thru firmware updates. also does anyone know if we can use an extension cable between the ipod and dock so that it would be more comfortable to operate on the ipod (claasic for now)?

Mine comes tomorrow.
I decided to go this route because I am tired of the space and inconvenience of using all my cds. I like mixing up music and only listening to songs I really like (which is hard from CD but easy with an Ipod). That left me with two choices I was aware of: 1. Computer networking, or 2. An Ipod dock.

I went with Wadia because I could fit all my music on a 160gb Ipod classic in lossless format, bypass the Ipod DAC, and then send it straight through to my sound system for great sound. It also seems an easier and sleeker solution than networking from a computer in another room.

I REALLY wish it was made so the Ipod menus could be output to the TV screen. Since that is not currently possible, I REALLY hope Wadia develops or teams up for a solution like Keyspan has: Keyspan | TuneView for iPod. The Keyspan dock comes with a RF remote that has an LCD screen that duplicates and fully operates the ipod screen. Very cool.

I'll update with pics and impressions after I've had the unit for some days. Thanks for the thread.

It is possible, the Alpine car stereos do this. Tehy use the USB interface and an internal DAC and amplifier, as well as provide a remote interface from the car stereo to control the ipod and access all the content.

I even consider using one of those at home, with a car battery =P I do have one in my car, but can't comment much in terms of quality.. since at least my cars setup cannot compete with either my Headphone rig or my HT. The problem would be that using that, I'd be forced to use the Alpine's DACs.

Sounds like an Apple TV would be perfect for you, you sync the music across to it just like an iPod, and it outputs the menus to a TV screen and has bit perfect digital output (optical) and they make a 160gb version of it

Do you mean something like this?

DLO | HomeDock Deluxe

DLO | HomeDock HD

Yes I considered Apple TV and yes I do wish you could see the Ipod menus on the TV screen like you can with a DLO dock. But for me, the Wadia still wins out because it is the only unit that bypasses the Ipod DAC and uses my home stereo DAC. That gives CD quality or better.

Wadia itransport initial quick review:

Related System Components:
Ipod Classic (160gb), Onkyo PR SC885 Pre/Pro, Sunfire TGA 7400 amplifier, Salk SongTower speakers...

Note: I have not connected component video ability yet. I have little or no interest in storing and playing video from the Ipod at this time.

Pros:

• SOUND: Wonderful, detailed, full, clean. It's lossless from CDs, so it's at least as good. It may very well be better since there is no moving parts and such a direct path to the DACs, but I have not yet A/B tested to try and hear a difference.
• CONVENIENCE: It is so fun and wonderful to have my entire CD music collection available by Artist, Genre, Album, Playlist, etc. And it's great to be able to shuffle music with no gaps between songs (like a multi disc player). You can skip / pause / and play songs from remote. The Ipod controls and menus are still usable when docked so you can change settings or playlists while it's docked (Ipod Classic).
• COST: It may be the cheapest component ever sold by Wadia and it is unique in it's ability to bypass the IPOD DAC.
• OTHER: My Universal learning remote was able to learn the skip song commands from the Wadia remote.

Cons:

• THE REMOTE: So small as to be quickly lost between seat cushions. My learning remote was NOT able to learn the Pause/Play button from the Wadia remote.
• CONVENIENCE: Can't see and navigate the Ipod menu from the TV screen.
• COST: There's really not much to this lightweight component. The aluminum feels thin and light, it's appearance is not bad but nothing special, and it lacks ANY features beyond the very basics of passing video and sound signals (and skipping songs).
• OTHER: When you leave the Ipod connected but not playing, it charges it until charged and then the Ipod shows the battery symbol and "charged". That's OK, but I wish it had a power on / off feature. Lastly, mine came with finger prints all over it. No biggie.

All in all the Wadia itransport is what I expected and I love the convenience, usability, and tremendous sound quality. I will continue to rip any new music (Apple lossless) to my Windows computer which will sync to the Ipod for an ever growing and easily accessible and very playable library.

I concur with everything Noshortcuts said.

I'm using a 160 gb Classic, and feeding the i170 into a Decco amp with built in DAC. All my files are Apple lossless and the analog sounds very good, but the digital is better. Sounding as good as the CD if not better.

I would like to leave the iPod plugged into the i170 all the time, but like said above, it won't turn off. The backlight will turn off, but stay in charge mode.

Would it be bad for the iPod, or its battery, to keep it plugged in all the time?

just called musicdirect, they don't have any iTransports until 2 weeks later, and they still have some rollover preorders. they may again change that time of 2nd patch but who knows. so is anyone here willing to let go the itransport already? if you are please let me know coz I don't wanna wait for MD forever...

Try a different dealer? MD isn't the only Wadia dealer in the US...

Huh? The Apple TV doesn't involve connecting a iPod at all (you can have an ATV without owning/using an iPod). It can download off iTunes just like an iPod does, or you can browse via network (wired or wireless) and not store the data locally on the ATV.

ATV has optical digital out so it can hook up to a lot of different DACs. It also can output via RCA if you felt the ATV output was 'good enough'

The appletv bypasses the ipod dac too. It also bypasses the ipod hard drive the ipod display, the ipod volume control, and the ipod case.

The appletv is like having another ipod, only bigger, with a wireless network, that does more things, and plugs into the wall. And has a digital out, just like the wadia. For less than the cost of the wadia.

Apple TV is another great option and I was wrong to imply it doesn't feed music directly to an outside DAC. I don't need or want most of it's abilities and while I wish I could see Ipod menus on the TV with my Ipod/Wadia setup, I'm very glad I don't have to have the TV on to navigate the music (which I assume you do with ATV).