I am looking to get a nice amp, and was wondering if I could plug my ipod into this and actually use the DAC feature. Could I use the Nuforce icon ido coaxial output to plug it into this? The reason I ask is because I have been looking at the iDo and if it would be a required purchase to use my ipod with full size amps I would do it. Or could I use the RCA output of the iDo and use it as a preamp/DAC and this as my main amp.

I'm currently running my EF-2A and feeding it with my iPods (touch and Classic).  I'm feeding the signal into the RCA jacks on the amp, so this means I'm not using the DAC.  There have been some discussions in other threads where it's a bit hard to get an Apple portable device to pass a signal that you can use with the DAC.  With that being said, I think I like the DACs in the iPod slightly more than the Burr-Brown variant they used in the EF-2A amp / DAC.   The Classic I have features Wolfson DACs, which are pretty sweet --- until Apple started using them.   The touch  uses a Cirrus Logic chipset that handles the DAC processing and isn't so bad if you can apply a bit EQ to it.  However, I really like the little bit of coloration that the EF-2A provides via the tube section.  It makes for a relaxed listening session.  Call me impressed.

There should be, I believe, some type of iPod decoders out there like the Wadia product for example that takes the iPod signal and feeds it to a DAC input. I think, if I am correct or wrong, over at the ALO audio site they sell a unit that does the same thing for the iPod signal.

The DAC found in iPods is actually quite competent.  I believe it's a WM, so it's very smooth compared to other portable MP3 players.  I say just get a line out dongle and plug it into the amp.  The sound will be pretty darn good.  The DAC on the EF2 isn't much to write home about, so you probably won't get much benefit using that over the iPod's own DAC.  It might be a downgrade, actually.

Quote:

spareribs said:

There should be, I believe, some type of iPod decoders out there like the Wadia product for example that takes the iPod signal and feeds it to a DAC input. I think, if I am correct or wrong, over at the ALO audio site they sell a unit that does the same thing for the iPod signal.

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I found the following regarding the Wadia 170iTransport:
 
 
 

The 170iTransport is the first dock that lets you bypass the iPod's built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC). That means you can get richer, more detailed sound by passing music signals digitally to your audio/video receiver or other high-performance components with built-in DACs, such as Wadia's perfectly matched 151 PowerDAC mini.

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