Onkyo ND-S1 iPod dock

[MagnumOrpheus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinnie R. /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi Guys, Just like with the Wadia iTransport, the Onkyo ND-S1 gives full functionality (full navigation of your music via the click wheel, etc.) starting with 6th gen iPods. Seems to work fine with the "iPod classic", iPhone, iPod Touch, newer Nanos, etc.

Thanks for the info, fortunately I have an iPod 160 GB (Classic, I think). I've now purchased the Onkyo and the click wheel works fine during playback.

 

[stoutblock]

I am quite impressed with this product but also considering the new Audio-technica ATH-HA35i which has similar functionality but also a DAC and HP amplifier. Granted, that makes it a different product but I would only use it in my office with HPs so a contained unit makes some sense for me. Anyone here have any insight in this product? SQ etc?

 

[Ypoknons]

What's the headphone? As I posted in the other thread, the HA35i only does 50mW into 300ohms. That might be barely enough, but it's a bit under-juiced - Nuforce HDP 152mW rms @ 300 Ohm, Stello HP100 300mW into 300ohms etc... $450 seems a bit too much for a dedicated transport, and the headphone jack isn't too powerful.

But, being a one box unit is nice - the boss won't go "woah! you've got a whole hi-fi in here. we must be paying you too much"

 

[wakeride74]

I'm not seeing these at many online retailers, can anyone recommend a reputable online retailer that has this in stock? (US)

 

[Gugu]

Hi everyone,

finally i bought myself an ONKYO ND-S1, configured it with my ARCAM Home theater through Optical output. After I pluged in my Iphone 3Gs, it sounded like it had a lot of treble. I went into the ipod menu, and switched the EQ to off, and the sound got normal.

Now, my big question is, what the hell was this !?!? Because usually I use my iPhone with my UE triple.fi's, which according to my taste sounds best with the treble booster EQ.

But if this is a real Media Transport, which gets the digital music data (in my case Apple Lossless) from the iPod/iPhone, than why on Earth has the EQ setting any influence on the sound quality !?

I would be very pissed, if this is only an analog dock, which uses a Analog to Digital converter to put out digital signal, because it wasn't described/advertised this way.

Please, someone help me to figure this out !

Best Regards: Gustav

 

[MagnumOrpheus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gugu /img/forum/go_quote.gif But if this is a real Media Transport, which gets the digital music data (in my case Apple Lossless) from the iPod/iPhone, than why on Earth has the EQ setting any influence on the sound quality !? I would be very pissed, if this is only an analog dock, which uses a Analog to Digital converter to put out digital signal, because it wasn't described/advertised this way.

First of all, I don't think Onkyo is trying to fool us

The EQ filters are applied in the digital domain BEFORE any DA-conversion. So the signal is processed digitally by the iPod before it leaves its digital outputs. The Onkyo retrieves this digital signal and transmits it via its digital outputs. Then an external DAC or receiver finally converts the digital signal to analogue sound. At least that's how I think it works.

An analogy would be using the DSP-effects (restorer, room simulation, etc.) in the control panel of a soundcard on your PC. Now presume that your soundcard is connected digitally to your receiver. Although the signal is being sent digitally to your receiver (where the DA-conversion occurs), you would still hear the sound being affected by the DSP settings. And that's how you'd expect things to work, otherwise there wouldn't be much benefit of having DSP-settings on your soundcard (when connected digitally).

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I'd recommend turning the EQ off if you want an unprocessed digital signal from your iPod.

 

[realmassy]

I'm thinking of this dock to use with my IPhone as a small music server: does anyone know if you can stream from a NAS in the network to the IPhone/IPod?
Also, anyone compared the digital output of this dock to the one on the Squeezebox Duet?
Thanks

 

[pekingduck]

Realmassy,

You can try Airfoil

Rogue Amoeba | Airfoil | Select Your Operating System

 

[rosgr63]

I use Airfoil with Mac OS and is great!

 

[realmassy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pekingduck /img/forum/go_quote.gif Realmassy, You can try Airfoil Rogue Amoeba | Airfoil | Select Your Operating System

I've used it on my windows laptop + Airport express, but I'd like not use any PC or MAC, just stream from a NAS to the IPhone, and use the dock to get the digital signal to feed my DAC.
This should do the trick:
http://high-fidelity.net/nastunes.html

 

[TrumpOrMonkey]

Hey everyone, I just recieved my Onkyo ND S1 and I have an iPhone 2G 16Gb on the latest firmware and it doesn't interact at all with my player, also, hooking it up through USB to my computer. it says "Device driver not recognised." on Windows 7.
 
Basically I've hooked it up to the wall, hooked the optical cable up the the Onkyo and to the Bel Canto. I tried it like this and it is not working, not asking for anything and it's playing from the phone speakers while on dock.
and then I tried hooking it up to the PC using the usb cable, and that doesn't work either.
 
Is there anything special I need to do to get it working?
 
I'm using an aus plug adapter and the charge on the iPhone is 20% if that matters.

 

[TrumpOrMonkey]

Anyone?

 

[.Sup]

Here are the EU stores that sell it: http://www.geizhals.eu/a457623.html
 
These are the cheapest prices, I got mine here, I think: http://www.schlauershoppen.de/product_info.php?refID=200&info=p266210_Onkyo-ND-S1--silber--Digitale-Medienschnittstelle.html
Vinnie I'm pretty sure some stores ship to USA but if you're still unable to obtain it let me know and I will buy it for you. I can only buy it next moth as the Ref 5 set me back quite a lot and will have to ask for shipping costs first as they are quite expensive here.
 
 
Regarding the unit; this is the best source I have ever had/heard. While Win7/Vista has bright and coloured sound the Onkyo dock is the most neutral source I have heard. I have it for several months now and since I got it I haven't listened to music from my PC. I do comparisons every now and then and I'm always amazed how much better it is. Now I don't have the hiface so I can't say what's better between these two but I really do recommend this unit. I will be getting the Russ Andrews PSU for it next month, I can only imagine how much better it can be. I will report back. Btw the old Wadia has such a crappy remote,I got a similar one with my Gigabyte TV tuner and I tosed it in the can. I would rather wait for the newer version. 
 
regards, Peter

 

[.Sup]

@massy & trump; The manual does not list the iPhone as a supported device
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.eu.onkyo.com/dl/1459201/Manual_ND-S1_English.pdf
(page 3 under Features)

 

[TrumpOrMonkey]

I guess that's my luck, I'm guessing the people that have them working with iPhones are 3G and 3GS in flight mode.
 
I'll just have to buy an Ipod Classic later on for this dock to be of any use to me, but atleast with the classic I could have all my music on it, I already have my Teralink X2 for a transport.
 
I bought the iPhone primarily so I could use it as a source, but I guess I haven't lost, because I needed a phone anyway and it has enough space for me to use it as a portable.