HRT iStreamer - the cheapest way to an audiophile signal from iPod to your amp? - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by BmWr75 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sterling1 

 Lossless from iPod to amp?  The question was, are there cheaper than HRT, the answer is yes; and, one is the X-FI HD.

The question is "HRT iStreamer - the cheapest way to an audiophile signal from iPod to your amp?".  

 

The analog signal out of an iPod is not considered audiophile quality by many people.  But, the digital signal from an iPod has great potential to be converted to audiophile quality sound.

 

Creative Sound Blaster X-FI HD is USB soundcard as best I can tell from reading the descriptrion.  It has nothing to do with pulling a digital signal from an iPod.

No matter how many times you break it down to him, he still won't get it. So just ignore him.

I'm so glad that we finally have options. Before, we were limited to overpaying(IMO) for the wadia. I think it's only a matter of time before we have affordable portable docks. I know one is already in existence, but it's far to expensive for me. From the impressions both the pure and the istreamer are great products for what they are. But I'm going to try to wait it out a bit longer to see what else might pop up. Neither one is crazy expensive like the others. The pure may be the best value right now, but only time will tell if it's as good as the istreamer. But if nothing else, you do get a digital signal and decent analog out from it.

I am especially surprised at the i-20 pricing when the Pure range of DAB radios is comparatively expensive here in Oz, and I dont think we even *have* the DAB format - its a Brit thing :)

I am an old (!) hi-fi nut from the 1950s.

My headphones have included Grado, STAX electrostatics and many in between.  Most of my listening is on the following system:

1.  Sources:

                    Linn LP12 with Grado Platinum Cartridge

                    Bryston CD Player

                    Sony SACD-1

2. Line Stage Controller -  

                    Placette

3. Amplifier

                    Custom Ultralinear Tube Amp; 60 watts RMS

4. Speakers

                    Quad Custom 989 Electrostatics

The system can distinguish between different mice releasing flatulence (if you are appreciative of that sort of thing) in the background of a cello concerto.

Now, to the point:

HOW DOES THE iSTREAMER SOUND?!?!?!

And for those that mentioned the Pure, how does it sound?

I have run the iPod products in to my system with the Wadia and various DACs, including the Cambridge Audio.

My own conclusion with with the various DACs is that the resulting sound is equal to a decent CD player but not a great CD player; the Sony and Bryston are noticeably better.  

Using the HRT Music Streamer and Streamer II out of my Apple laptop gives a roughly equal sound quality to the Wadia/DAC combinations.

SO--- how about a comparison of the iStreamer and Pure, please.  I will soon have an iStreamer and will give my own opinion herein on it; I will not get the Pure and will let someone else spend the 75 English Pounds for the comparison.

Tillman in Snow-free South Florida

BmWr75-

Thanks for the comment on the Pure I-20 !!!

I look forward to your comparison with the HRT.

Tillman

I have to admit I didn't realize the iStreamer had a wall wart since none of the other HRT's use one.

Note, with these A/B tests, all I-devices limit digital output to 16/48.  I'm not sure what the ipure is doing with the 192 it says it is outputting.  I also think, but am in no way sure, that when streaming music with apple, the streaming also cuts the bit rate/data depth to some level - possibly also 16/48.  So you are not getting the full signal and some of these tests may be ascew.

I was going to get the iStreamer myself - it was by far the cheapest solution I could find at the time but  based on the 16/48 limitation I decided to stay with the LOD when portable and then get a better DAC (the HRT MS2+, but my original plan was the MS2 since it was cheaper and better than the iStreamer) for the best possible solution for on my computer.

I like the Pure i-20, because the craddle provides firm support to the back of the iPod. You can use clickwheel or touchscreen without bending or loosening the electrical connectors which is a problem with most other docks. I would have liked to see a volume control on the i-20 for use with active speakers. 

My iPod Classic has a Headstage Arrow amp permanently glued to its back. That adds 8.5mm. I wonder whether that would still fit into the i-20. Otherwise I would prefer the HRT iStreamer.