[vDrag0n]

Audiophiles, rejoice! New high-end dock retrieves digital audio signals from iPods! | Crave : The gadget blog

Quote:

Just received a preview from next week's CES show in Las Vegas--Wadia Digital, a high-end audio company will be demonstrating the first digital player dock to retrieve a direct digital signal from iPods. As a result, the iTransport will provide CD-quality resolution from full-resolution file formats such as .WAV and AppleLossless. The iTransport (SRP: $349) will turn any currently available iPod player into a high-end media server by providing a bit-perfect digital audio output to an audio/video system. The really cool thing about the device is that it can bypass the player's internal D/A conversion and output stage. The iTransport is compatible with all currently available (Q1 2008) iPod players, as well as iPhone and iPod Touch models. The iTransport can also access video content stored on currently available iPods, and the video signal will be available over high performance component outputs that provide up to DVD-quality video. The iTransport measures 2 x 8 x 8 inches (H/W/D), making it an easy addition to most racks and entertainment centers. Connectivity runs to S/PDIF digital audio output and high-resolution component digital video output, as well as analog audio and video outputs. Wadia Digital's iTransport will be available in February 2008 at select high-end audio specialists and the Wadia Digital Web site.

More links:
Apple: iTransport is World's First Purely Digital iPod Dock

 

[Oliver :)]

I think we've seen this announced before. Didn't follow it much, though – is there any proof Wadia is actually getting a digital signal and not using an ADC process? If it is actually true, it would be the first "audiophile" iPod dock to make some sense.

 

[deviationer]

Way too much money and why the hell would you want a dock? If you are going to have your ipod docked why not just play your music back from a computer with an appropriate sound card.

 

[Kabeer]

If this is true...then why does an iMod even exist?

 

[Capunk]

Definitely cheaper than MSB iLink, but how do they sound?

 

[Pete7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabeer /img/forum/go_quote.gif If this is true...then why does an iMod even exist?

Because it's already been in existence for 2 1/2 years.

 

[jonnywolfet]

how can it pull a digital signal from an ipod without modification?

 

[OracleGuy]

I think the consensus was that the dock must be re-digitizing the iPod's analog line-out.

It doesn't seem possible (to me anyway!) that any dock could just "bypass the player's internal D/A conversion stage", without doing what MSB does, i.e., modify the iPod to actually provide a digital-out.

 

[slwiser]

It speaks toward being able to do this with the 6g version. Could something internal have been changed to allow this feature?

 

[grawk]

I'd assume it's using the ipod's hard drive adn database, and is doing it's own playback.

 

[bobloblaw]

The iMod exist because its been around for quite awhile, and also uses the Wolfson DAC already built into the earlier (5.5 through 4th gen) iPods.

Also, it's PORTABLE, unless you want to carry around a turntable-sized device in a backpack, plus a car battery to power it.

Interesting for home use, though. When it says "currently available" iPods, it makes it sound like anything earlier is excluded, or am I reading that wrong?

 

[IPodPJ]

If this is legit, I will be one of the first to buy one.

 

[Kabeer]

I was assuming it worked with all ipods, and hence said what would be the need of someone like Vinnie to open up an ipod to get the digital signal.

Whereas if its just the new ipods then ok. But then....that means the new ipods are equivalent to an iMod! since they have a pin which directly gives digital output (if this news story is true)... surely this cant be right or it would have been big news on here already?

 

[lithe1]

Well it could be possible that the dock just reads the iPod as a portable hard drive. If that's the case then it would be similar to headphone amps with USB connections to a laptop. That way it will bypass the iPod's D/A converter and be pure digital.

 

[small.solar]

Does that mean it is a OVERSIZED IPOD without harddisk, LCD, DAC etc?