[Krutsch]

 
Hopefully with the 7G Classic it won't happen.  The 6.5G is supported and it works, just the clicking...  The clicks don't happen through the built-in headphone port, just with the DAC

 
I don't know what that means, since the PHA-1A has headphone out as its sole output.

 

[438555]

   
I don't know what that means, since the PHA-1A has headphone out as its sole output.

I mean if I just use the iPod Classic w/o the PHA-1A at all, then no artifact sounds.

 

[438555]

  FWIW, I use mine with an older iPod Touch (30 pin connector, but am not sure of the exact version), a Sony Walkman (NWZ-A17) and a MacBook Retina. I've never heard so much as a tick or pop or any artifact, so I am guessing you are experiencing drop-outs from the device (just my guess).

Can you say whether your iPod Classic is 120 or 160 GB?  That should indicate whether it is the same as mine (120) or the slightly newer model (160) which was the last version released.

 

[Krutsch]

 
Can you say whether your iPod Classic is 120 or 160 GB?  That should indicate whether it is the same as mine (120) or the slightly newer model (160) which was the last version released.

My iPod Classic is a 5.5 version with an 80GB drives, which isn't supported at all with digital out. My older iPod Touch is good to go.

 

[gavinfabl]

OK, I bit the bullet and bought a PHA-1A to use on my various portable and semi portable devices (iPod Touch 1G and 5G, iPhone 4S and 5S, iPod Classic 6.5G and 7G, Macbook Air)  Looks like I can't post photos (yet) as a newbie, but it successfully connected with digital cable to all these devices and am able to play HiRes files (96kHz 24 bit are the highest I have) with iOS devices on recent OS (using the Onkyo HF Player), or from the laptop using iTunes.

The only problem I've had thus far is an audible clicking sound that comes in a random points and is audible during quiet musical passages on the iPod Classic 6.5G (120 GB).  I have listened to the same tracks (various tracks from Neil Young Harvest and Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti) on each device and in formats ranging from 160 kbps mp3, 256 kbps aac, 44.1/16 ALAC, 96/24 ALAC, 192/24 FLAC, and the iPod Classic 6.5G (120 GB) is the only one to have these artifacts, and they only occur when passing digital (44.1/16 or 256kbps aac) to the DAC/Amp of the PHA-1A.  I don't hear them either through any direct headphone ports  or via the PHA-1A on any device other than the 120GB iPod Classic.

I plan to have my wife bring home her 160 GB (7G) iPod Classic to see if that has the same issue.  If not, then I'll switch with her, since each of us have the full contents of our ~105 GB (largely 256 kbps aac) library.  If the artifacts disappear on this last released Classic, then I'll just chalk it up to some weirdness, but if this device also has the same artifacts, I'll be disappointed since both of these iPod Classic models are supported according to Sony's docs, and I'll be left only with devices that are large (laptop) or don't hold all of my music (iPhone)
Here's a pic of the device attached to a 4S, using the same cable used with the iPod Classic.  No audio aritifact on the 4S, but definitely heard (a low click) in random places on the Classic 6.5G
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206481016836771&l=7abc2e936a

I can't stand the audible clicks. I really love the design and sound of this DAC, but its no good if the music gets ruined with audible clicks....

 

[YamaVega]

I get audible clicks too, but only when just starting up and thru my smartphone. Do you get the clicks with other sources?

 

[438555]

I can't stand the audible clicks. I really love the design and sound of this DAC, but its no good if the music gets ruined with audible clicks....

What source are you using where you get the audible clicks?  I can only hear them when using the iPod Classic.  I have also listened for them on my MacBook Air, iPhone 5S, iPhone 4S, and iPod Touch 1G.  No clicks there.  Just that the iPod Classic was the one I was planning to use the most since it is the highest capacity and battery life.

 

[gavinfabl]

What source are you using where you get the audible clicks?  I can only hear them when using the iPod Classic.  I have also listened for them on my MacBook Air, iPhone 5S, iPhone 4S, and iPod Touch 1G.  No clicks there.  Just that the iPod Classic was the one I was planning to use the most since it is the highest capacity and battery life.

I was using my iPhone 6S Plus. I just initiated a return today as the clicks were too annoying. I did try using a different lightning cable and it made no difference. I also use Onkyo HF Player but that made no difference.

It's a real shame as I liked the look and the sound.

 

[FiJAAS]

When I had the PHA-1A I did also hear "clicks" with my iPod Classic 7G.

 

[438555]

Revisiting this audible click issue further now, listening to more stuff on the 4S, and now hearing the same issues that appear on the iPod classic.  But I was using the same short USB-30pin cable for each.  Now I switched to the standard long cable that came with the phone and I don't hear the issue.
 
I wouldn't have thought the digital cable would have caused this....Perhaps I have to go all out and get one of these for my short cable...
http://www.amazon.com/7Nclass-30pin-Digital-Short-Cable/dp/B00AT5AHOK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

[438555]

I've been listening to this DAC/Amp on my MB Air all night and it is just sounding great and there are none of the artifacts I'm hearing with the two devices using the 30-pin dock cable.  I'm wondering if for portable I should just go with the A17 walkman strapped to this amp, since the only negative to that player seems to be the power output for headphones.

 

[Krutsch]

  I've been listening to this DAC/Amp on my MB Air all night and it is just sounding great and there are none of the artifacts I'm hearing with the two devices using the 30-pin dock cable.  I'm wondering if for portable I should just go with the A17 walkman strapped to this amp, since the only negative to that player seems to be the power output for headphones.

That's exactly the combo I use and it's great. If you pair an A17 with the PHA-1A, using the supplied short digital Walkman cable, the headphone power output is the PHA-1A, not the A17. Additionally, if you connect a micro USB cable to the charging port on the PHA-1A, it charges both devices (Walkman and DAC/amp) at the same time, even while playing.

 

[georgelai57]

Additionally, if you connect a micro USB cable to the charging port on the PHA-1A, it charges both devices (Walkman and DAC/amp) at the same time, even while playing.

That's great to hear. One of the drawbacks of connecting the A15 digitally was that the battery life plummets like crazy.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

I think you have invented a new headphone test for me to conduct on my DOZENS of headphones! How well does it do porn? (Oh Babeeee..)

 

[EdenElectronics]

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