Onkyo ND-S1 iPod dock

[Lil' Knight]

Does this one has the BNC output?

 

[Vinnie R.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Knight /img/forum/go_quote.gif Does this one has the BNC output?

Onkyo ND-S1 has one coax (RCA jack, not BNC) and one optical (TOSLINK)
digital output.

 

[rosgr63]

No, only Optical and Coaxial RCA.

EDIT Sorry Vinnie, I was late replying

 

[Lil' Knight]

Thanks guy!

Vinnie, where did you buy yours? Is there any seller here in the States?

 

[estreeter]

Those who have read the November issue of Brit mag 'Hi-Fi World' will be aware that they reviewed the ND-S1 with Onkyo's new CD/amp combo. Conclusion was that the C-5AL amp/Diamond 10.1 combination sounded best with the C-5VL CDP playing SACDs, closely followed by redbook CD from the same source. Unfortunately, the ND-S1 bought up the rear in the reviewers opinion, but there was no attempt to test it with an external DAC into the Onkyo amp.

I still maintain that there is a tendency, conscious or otherwise, to circle the wagons around the humble CDP in the face of a threat like this, but can we realistically expect such relatively new technology to be an instant improvement on a device that has been under constant refinement for 30 years ? Another Brit magazine recently had an article on the early years of the CD, pointing out that the earliest players were overpriced junk but conceding that they learnt quickly and managed to take market share from vinyl. I'm not painting either the Onkyo or the Wadia in a similar light, but it may simply be that we need to walk before we can run.

I'll still give the Onkyo a shot, but my expectations have been lowered and thats probably a good thing.

 

[magical_mouse]

I purchased an onkyo nd-s1 several weeks ago and have been using it regularly since, it is burnt-in and i have to say that it is brilliant - the sound is excellent (appreciably better than using the line-out of the ipod directly into an amplifier)

I have compared it to a marantz cd63 KI used as a transport into the same dac (dacmagic) and listened carefully switching between the cdp and the onkyo - i listened using stax 303 headphones (and stax amplifier) and there was no clear winner, the marantz was possibly (very) marginally cleaner but the onkyo seemed more musical - however the difference was not one that would be noticed in normal use and i am not totally convinced it exists.

The sheer convenience of having all my music in lossless on 2 ipods (classic 2009 160gb and 5.5g 80gb) and being able to listen to artists, genres or random play as opposed to a single cd makes it an amazing buy.

I prefer it to using a PC connected by USB to the DAC as the PC is relatively noisy and less convenient although it might be better with a battery laptop (which i do not possess).

In passing Russ Andrews in producing an uprated PSU in the near future.

Finally i compared optiocal and digital cables from the onkyo and i prefer the optical but (again) that may be a figment of my imagination (that there is any difference as it was extremely marginal if it existed).

 

[estreeter]

Excellent feedback, mm : I agree that optical connection to a DAC definitely has a psychological advantage over USB. I say we should do the things that make us happy, even if its not supported by anything measurable !

 

[keezzzz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by keezzzz /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Onkyo ND-S1 is in the house. Works very good with my ipod classic 160gb and the Dacmagic. On the iPod only Lossless files.

And now he is Dead !!!!!!!
5 weeks old

 

[Vinnie R.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Knight /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks guy! Vinnie, where did you buy yours? Is there any seller here in the States?

Hi Lil' Knight,

Sorry for my very delayed response

I received my Onkyo ND-S1 from my Japanese RWA distributor (MixWave, Inc.). I ordered a few more, but they are all out of stock and it'll be a few weeks before they get them in stock and ship.

Quote:

Finally i compared optiocal and digital cables from the onkyo and i prefer the optical but (again) that may be a figment of my imagination (that there is any difference as it was extremely marginal if it existed).

In my opinion, if you cannot hear a difference between the coax and optical outputs (I agree, they are very close!), use the optical output. The optical output provides electrical isolation between the ND-S1 and your dac - which is always a good thing!

All the best,

Vinnie

 

[keezzzz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by keezzzz /img/forum/go_quote.gif And now he is Dead !!!!!!! 5 weeks old

A new ND-S1 is in the house, perfect service from Correct Electronics in Rotterdam-Netherlands

 

[mobbaddict]

Why doesn't the Onkyo have an RCA line-out like the Wadia itransport? Would the signal be crap compared to digital outputs + DAC? I'm looking for a dock to feed a Stax amp, and i don't want any DAC (otherwise i'd buy a used Iriver DAP with digital output).

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobbaddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm looking for a dock to feed a Stax amp, and i don't want any DAC (otherwise i'd buy a used Iriver DAP with digital output).

Then this one is not for you. The point of this dock is to use with your own DAC. The Onkyo itself is not a DAC.

 

[mobbaddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Knight /img/forum/go_quote.gif Then this one is not for you. The point of this dock is to use with your own DAC. The Onkyo itself is not a DAC.

Thanks that makes more sense. I see very few feedbacks about the RCA output of the Wadia. It looks like it doesn't have any DAC as well:
Review: Wadia iTransport offers Digital Data from iPod/Phone | AVguide
Right?

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quoted directly from your link:
Quote:

The Wadia has no DAC inside. It merely sends a digital signal to your DAC.

 

[mobbaddict]

Yep i saw that, i just wanted a confirmation