keysersoze311
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2009
- Posts
- 12
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Dear Head-Fi,
First of all, just to say I am talking about portable use here.
Just wondering if it is possible to bypass the DAC in an iPod (or other portable player), and then use a portable DAC/amp? That is to say, can I extract a digital feed from my portable player?
If the signal that leaves my iPod has already undergone D/A conversion, using the iPod's crummy internal DAC, surely an external DAC is pointless, because the signal has already been converted into analog, right? But such devices (external portable DACs) exist, so I'm guessing you can bypass the portable player's DAC? Either that, or you have to do D/A conversion twice.
If I really have to use the portable player's DAC, surely I'm in trouble, because audiophiles often spend many times the cost of an mp3 player on D/A conversion.
And if it is possible to get a digital feed from a portable player (including portable CD players), does this make the quality of 'source' component irrelevant? Am I right in thinking that if you can extract a digital feed, the sound quality of the portable player is irrelevant, as all of that business starts at the D/A stage? If not, can someone recommend a portable player with the best sound quality please?
Surely someone makes a portable player that caters for the audiophile market, and has the option of producing a pure digital signal.
Finally, are there any portable DAC/Amps you would recommend? Having an all-in-one unit would be better for portable use, but I don't know if such devices exist.
Many thanks,
Keyse
First of all, just to say I am talking about portable use here.
Just wondering if it is possible to bypass the DAC in an iPod (or other portable player), and then use a portable DAC/amp? That is to say, can I extract a digital feed from my portable player?
If the signal that leaves my iPod has already undergone D/A conversion, using the iPod's crummy internal DAC, surely an external DAC is pointless, because the signal has already been converted into analog, right? But such devices (external portable DACs) exist, so I'm guessing you can bypass the portable player's DAC? Either that, or you have to do D/A conversion twice.
If I really have to use the portable player's DAC, surely I'm in trouble, because audiophiles often spend many times the cost of an mp3 player on D/A conversion.
And if it is possible to get a digital feed from a portable player (including portable CD players), does this make the quality of 'source' component irrelevant? Am I right in thinking that if you can extract a digital feed, the sound quality of the portable player is irrelevant, as all of that business starts at the D/A stage? If not, can someone recommend a portable player with the best sound quality please?
Surely someone makes a portable player that caters for the audiophile market, and has the option of producing a pure digital signal.
Finally, are there any portable DAC/Amps you would recommend? Having an all-in-one unit would be better for portable use, but I don't know if such devices exist.
Many thanks,
Keyse