Wadia iTransport - which amp/DAC? Corda Opera? - Page 2

I have used the amp in my DAC1 with various Grados - and I think that was very good, so I definetly think that the Alessandros would work out of a DAC1.

About the Cambridge DAC, I have my eyes on this one aswell. I'm really looking forward to hear this one - I'm thinking something like an ipod -> Wadia itransport -> Cambridge Dac -> LD I+ -> Grado SR225/D2000 would make a really nice office or bedside rig.

I will be going from the ipod classic 80GB--> wadia itransport --> Benchmark Dac1 USB --> GS-1 --> HD650/AKG701/RS-1/GS1K/

Haven't received the wadia itransport yet but I too never plan on going back to spinning CDs. I have done my homework IMHO and believe that this combination will give the best cdp a run for it's money and it has built in upgrades/flexibility. After all the greatest cdp is only as good as it's dac and IMO, the Benchmark is extremely good in this arena and the dac is a fantastic preamp that will allow me to use my computer, Apple TV, and ipod(X4) as transports....sweet! Then I can take my transport(X4) with me in the car or to the office or on the plane or...I think you get the idea. --- hey, it works for me.

It will be an extremely transparent setup and If the colors of the music needs to be fine tuned, I will do this by alternating headphones.

I am glad I found this thread. That Cambridge DacMagic looks great and there is a Canadian retailer that sells the DacMagic and the Wadia iTransport. I trust this will be a good start and enhance my listening with the Schiit Valhalla.

 

The DAC1 looks intriguing too but I already have an amp I like.

 

I would like to say the opposite actually and suggest it is a very good decision.  The Wadia iTransport bypasses the iPod's internal DAC and sends the digital signal, and if you are using Apple lossless it's a bit perfect relationship.

 

I'm using the i170, and when I switch over to my Sony 9000ES with the Modwright Signature Truth modifications and switch digital signals, I can't hear the difference between stuff coming out of the iPod or the 9000ES.

 

It's also a very good step to take from a media server architecture point of view.  

 

That is you can get in to an inexpensive media server situation with the iTransport, and then focus on a really good DAC for a really nice system.  Once you are feeding your system through an offboard DAC, your source options go up dramatically.  You can get really good hi rez music recorded at 96 and 192 kHZ and feed it to your amp for really spectacular results.

 

I'm using it and I have been very happy with it.

 

 

Any reason why you picked up the Wadia over the cheaper and better designed Onkyo?

 

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/157594-inside-onkyo-nd-s1-ipod-transport.html

That is a good question.  I'm not sure that that the Onkyo is better designed, it may be.  When I bought the i170, it was the first one out there.  A while back I did read the link you posted, and did some research, and while this link points to posts that argue the Onkyo is better designed, I found that the reviews favored the Wadia.  I've read that Wadia is coming out with a newer i170 that is supposed to be improved in a variety of ways and maybe those improvements cover the ground discussed in that thread.

 

Are you running the Onkyo?  Have you had the opportunity to hear the differences between the Wadia and Onkyo?