New Member trying figure the next upgrade step

[Redcarmoose]

That's the thing. Head-fi is a process and journey. It has areas of contentment but also times of confusion. The times of confusion are just as important as the times of satisfaction as typically it means you are on course for a new transition. It has been a challenge for most of us. And the path is not the same for everyone. There is no guide.......but typically progress. Even people with 30-40 years in this............learn again, especially if it revolves around something new.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

FYI, the iPod Classic, 7th Gen can output digital data stream via the USB dock connector. I don‘t know if current DACs would work Anymore. Years back when iPods were more popular, the DAC’s spec would say it is compatible with iPod/iPhone. It works like plugging the USB into a car’s stereo via USB.

I asked because I didn't see the "Made for iPod" badge on the UD301 page when I looked it up, which then requires using a dock like the Wadia 170 to extract the digital signal then outputs via regular SPDIF or as in the case of the 170 has its own DAC circuit.

Some older dock connector may use the analog line out. I can tell, if it works on my gen 5.5, that only output lime out.

Yes that's how I used mg 5g and 5.5g.

 

[ACHofNY]

I asked because I didn't see the "Made for iPod" badge on the UD301 page when I looked it up, which then requires using a dock like the Wadia 170 to extract the digital signal then outputs via regular SPDIF or as in the case of the 170 has its own DAC circuit.





Yes that's how I used mg 5g and 5.5g.

I’m sorry, i checked it, only my Teac HA-P50 portable DAC works with the iPad. The UD301 works with iPhone/iPad with the USB Camera adapter (one with charge port) and the later iOS. I also have an old small I use an old MacBook dedicated to this setup. I also have a airport express hooked up, but not for headphone but the stereo to stream to it from my iOS device (from songs non it) I don’t like to use headphone because I hear compression/sampling conversion fro 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz.