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Onkyo ND-S1 iPod dock - Page 4

post #46 of 253
11/4/09 at 11:19am
Quote:
What's also clever about the ND-S1 is that it serves as a digital output for the PC to which it is connected. Hence the 'PC' and 'iPod' buttons at the front of the system's top surface.
Cool - did not know about this feature. So it sounds like it is also a USB to SPDIF converter for your computer. All these extra features and less expensive than iTransport!

Mine is being shipped to me, so I'm looking forward to testing it out and doing the comparisons. Of course I'll also be testing it powered from SLA battery power (instead of the cheap and noisy switch-mode power supply that comes with these things).

Hope to receive it next week! I'll even bring to the NY Headfi meet on Nov. 14th: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f24/ny...ficial-446482/

For your "New Yawkas"

Vinnie
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post #47 of 253
11/4/09 at 2:12pm
The Onkyo ND-S1 is in the house.
Works very good with my ipod classic 160gb and the Dacmagic.
On the iPod only Lossless files.
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post #48 of 253
11/17/09 at 12:35am
All,

Just posted my experiences here, as promised:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6163646-post110.html

-Vinnie
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post #49 of 253
11/17/09 at 4:35am
Thanks a lot Vinnie, waiting for your power supply to be made available, please keep us posted.
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post #50 of 253
11/17/09 at 3:50pm
Vinnie,
What would be the pros & cons (Theoretical/Practical) in SQ using the following configurations:
A.Computer=>USB or Optical=>DAC
B.Computer=>USB=>ND-S1=>Optical or Coaxial=>DAC
Thanks
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post #51 of 253
11/18/09 at 7:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rosgr63 View Post
Vinnie,
What would be the pros & cons (Theoretical/Practical) in SQ using the following configurations:
A.Computer=>USB or Optical=>DAC
B.Computer=>USB=>ND-S1=>Optical or Coaxial=>DAC
Thanks
It depends...

The ND-S1's main purpose is to obtain a digital output from the iPod, so you can feed an external dac. I'm not sure how good its USB-to-SPDIF converter section is.

If your computer already has an optical output (e.g. Macbook) and your dac has an optical input, then there is no need to use the ND-S1 for USB-to-SPDIF conversion. Just go optical SPDIF direct from your computer to dac. Seems like less conversions and hopefully will lead to better sound (unless the spdif out of your computer is less quality than the USB-to-SPDIF converter of the ND-S1).

The way I see it, the ND-S1's main purpose it to obtain a digital output from the iPod (just like the Wadia iTransport), so you can feed an external dac. If you are using a computer as your source instead of the iPod, then I wouldn't bother with the ND-S1 (unless I am missing something )

To me, the cool part about the ND-S1 having a USB port is that you can sync your iPod to your computer while it remains docked in the ND-S1.

Hope this helps,

Vinnie
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post #52 of 253
11/18/09 at 11:39pm
Thanks Vinnie, seems that the ND-S1 is a steal!
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post #53 of 253
11/18/09 at 11:54pm
CapQ, if you do buy the ND-S1, I would be very interested to hear how well it pairs with the Cantate and your Grados.

Tks,

estreeter
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post #54 of 253
11/19/09 at 12:48pm
Thanks a lot Vinnie!
I do use the ND-S1 for my iPod but also as a USB/SPDIF converter for one of my DACs that doesn't have a USB input.
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post #55 of 253
11/21/09 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by estreeter View Post
CapQ, if you do buy the ND-S1, I would be very interested to hear how well it pairs with the Cantate and your Grados.

Tks,

estreeter

I think the most important thing is what DAC can match the ND-S1 well. The source decide how Cantate and Grados sing^^
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post #56 of 253
11/21/09 at 11:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CapQ View Post
I think the most important thing is what DAC can match the ND-S1 well. The source decide how Cantate and Grados sing^^
Hang on - the ND-S1 will become the source, and I would have thought that the DAC section in the Cantate would be up to speed for the conversion ? Clearly, I'm missing something here.

iPod/ND-S1 -> Cantate -> Grados ?
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post #57 of 253
11/23/09 at 11:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by estreeter View Post
Hang on - the ND-S1 will become the source, and I would have thought that the DAC section in the Cantate would be up to speed for the conversion ? Clearly, I'm missing something here.

iPod/ND-S1 -> Cantate -> Grados ?
No you cant do that. Cantate only have USB input (no other digi inputs) which means you can only use its DAC with your PC. I think ND-S1 only has coaxial or optical output right? Please correct me if Im wrong.
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post #58 of 253
11/23/09 at 6:17pm
You are correct - Meier fans have to spring for the Symphony to be able to hook their amp up to the Onkyo ! I guess there was method in Wadia providing RCA-out on their transport. I'm glad the Topaz takes either USB or SPDIF then allows me to hook up to an amp via analog out - that versatility didnt come cheaply, but the Cantate is more expensive here, admittedly with a better amp section.
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post #59 of 253
11/24/09 at 10:46am
I didn't realise that you could use it as a USB/SPDIF as well.
Guess I can see if its better than using the USB input on my DAC... probably not - but it would leave less cables flying to the DAC - i.e. just the 1 optical.
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post #60 of 253
11/24/09 at 11:08am
That's right. One USB cable to ND-S1 gives you 2 outputs (Coaxial & Optical), plus iPod synchronization.
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