estreeter
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2009
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** mods - can this be moved into 'Dedicated Sources' , pls ? Apologies for my posting error **
Hi All,
I have made reference to a couple of What Hi-Fi reviews in several threads, and felt it worth compiling them into a single thread to be minimise the effort in future. I have highlighted the sections I consider noteworthy for those looking to achieve hi-fi sound from the iPod via one of these transports: I accept that two reviews from a single magazine isnt definitive, but its food for thought. Personally, I think they went overboard with the gear they hooked up to the transports (who would have this sort of kit lying around ?) and their expectations were far too high, but the stuff about an entry-level CDP being better for musicality gives me pause. Hopefully Vinnie's impressions arent far away and we can put this to bed.
Wadia 170 iTransport Dock system review - from the experts at whathifi.com
For
Produces a great sound (for an iPod dock) from its digital output; good build
Against
You’ll need a high –quality external DAC; rubbish remote; with older iPods, you don’t get full functionality in digital mode
While it works as a conventional dock, the 170 iTransport has a claim to fame: it’s the first dock to gain access the iPod’s digital data stream – so the internal DAC and audio stages can be bypassed for something more exotic.
You’ll need an outboard digital-to-analogue converter – or one of the company’s costly CD players, which have digital inputs – and, in theory, you have a top class audiophile sound. Except you don’t. Even using an iPod with WAV and Apple lossless files, the results aren’t up to that of an equivalently priced CD player.
Don’t forget to factor in a decent outboard DAC – we used Cyrus’s £1100 DAC X and the number-crunching section of Wadia’s 581 SE CD player (£9995).
However, to criticise it for not being as good as a dedicated CD player is missing the point. Using our revealing reference system – Bryston pre/power and ATC SCM 50 speakers – the 170 delivers greater dynamics and insight than we thought possible from an iPod, whatever the music.
It can stream video too, yet we can’t recommend it unreservedly: the remote feels flimsy and through its analogue inputs sound is no better than the £130 Arcam rDock. The 170 doesn’t turn the iPod into a high-end source, but it does produce the best sound we’ve heard from an iPod dock. If that’s for you, start saving.
Onkyo ND-S1 iPod dock etc review - from the experts at whathifi.com
For
Takes a digital signal from your iPod, resulting in better sound all-round; very few rivals – and none at this price
Against
Feels a bit cheap
iPod dock Product of the Year 2009
When is an iPod dock not strictly an iPod dock? When it's a digital media transport, that's when.
On the face of it that might sound like pedantry, but the distinction is an important one: where most docks take an analogue signal from the bottom of an iPod, the Onkyo ND-S1 takes the unfettered digital signal, before passing it on via coaxial or digital.
What this means is that rather than rely on the iPod or iPhone's own DAC, you can get the digital-to-analogue conversion done elsewhere.
For owners of home cinema receivers, digital amplifiers (like the Onkyo A-5VL) or stand-alone DACs, this is great news, as the ND-S1 is capable of a far better audio performance than its analogue rivals.
Play anything, from Holst's Planets to Simian Mobile Disco's Temporary Pleasure, and you'll benefit from greater detail, dynamics and rhythmic precision. Individual notes begin and end more accurately, vocals and guitars are more textured and nuanced, and cymbals have greater bite and extra sparkle.
Number of nice extras
True, the unit itself is bigger than it needs to be, and it feels cheaper than it looks, but these are minor flaws in this excellent, first-of-a-kind product.
Besides, there are nice little touches here, like a composite output for video and a USB connection that allows you to play your PC's tunes and sync your iPod or iPhone to your computer without removing it from the dock. Oh, and there's a remote control, of course.
So, is it time to bin the CD player? Well, not quite; even a budget disc-spinner of decent quality can beat this for overall musicality, but in the world of iPod docks, this is the new king.
True, it's not got much in the way of competition, but for now, this is without doubt the best, affordable way to get your iPod's tunes out to your home system.
Hi All,
I have made reference to a couple of What Hi-Fi reviews in several threads, and felt it worth compiling them into a single thread to be minimise the effort in future. I have highlighted the sections I consider noteworthy for those looking to achieve hi-fi sound from the iPod via one of these transports: I accept that two reviews from a single magazine isnt definitive, but its food for thought. Personally, I think they went overboard with the gear they hooked up to the transports (who would have this sort of kit lying around ?) and their expectations were far too high, but the stuff about an entry-level CDP being better for musicality gives me pause. Hopefully Vinnie's impressions arent far away and we can put this to bed.
Wadia 170 iTransport Dock system review - from the experts at whathifi.com
For
Produces a great sound (for an iPod dock) from its digital output; good build
Against
You’ll need a high –quality external DAC; rubbish remote; with older iPods, you don’t get full functionality in digital mode
While it works as a conventional dock, the 170 iTransport has a claim to fame: it’s the first dock to gain access the iPod’s digital data stream – so the internal DAC and audio stages can be bypassed for something more exotic.
You’ll need an outboard digital-to-analogue converter – or one of the company’s costly CD players, which have digital inputs – and, in theory, you have a top class audiophile sound. Except you don’t. Even using an iPod with WAV and Apple lossless files, the results aren’t up to that of an equivalently priced CD player.
Don’t forget to factor in a decent outboard DAC – we used Cyrus’s £1100 DAC X and the number-crunching section of Wadia’s 581 SE CD player (£9995).
However, to criticise it for not being as good as a dedicated CD player is missing the point. Using our revealing reference system – Bryston pre/power and ATC SCM 50 speakers – the 170 delivers greater dynamics and insight than we thought possible from an iPod, whatever the music.
It can stream video too, yet we can’t recommend it unreservedly: the remote feels flimsy and through its analogue inputs sound is no better than the £130 Arcam rDock. The 170 doesn’t turn the iPod into a high-end source, but it does produce the best sound we’ve heard from an iPod dock. If that’s for you, start saving.
Onkyo ND-S1 iPod dock etc review - from the experts at whathifi.com
For
Takes a digital signal from your iPod, resulting in better sound all-round; very few rivals – and none at this price
Against
Feels a bit cheap
iPod dock Product of the Year 2009
When is an iPod dock not strictly an iPod dock? When it's a digital media transport, that's when.
On the face of it that might sound like pedantry, but the distinction is an important one: where most docks take an analogue signal from the bottom of an iPod, the Onkyo ND-S1 takes the unfettered digital signal, before passing it on via coaxial or digital.
What this means is that rather than rely on the iPod or iPhone's own DAC, you can get the digital-to-analogue conversion done elsewhere.
For owners of home cinema receivers, digital amplifiers (like the Onkyo A-5VL) or stand-alone DACs, this is great news, as the ND-S1 is capable of a far better audio performance than its analogue rivals.
Play anything, from Holst's Planets to Simian Mobile Disco's Temporary Pleasure, and you'll benefit from greater detail, dynamics and rhythmic precision. Individual notes begin and end more accurately, vocals and guitars are more textured and nuanced, and cymbals have greater bite and extra sparkle.
Number of nice extras
True, the unit itself is bigger than it needs to be, and it feels cheaper than it looks, but these are minor flaws in this excellent, first-of-a-kind product.
Besides, there are nice little touches here, like a composite output for video and a USB connection that allows you to play your PC's tunes and sync your iPod or iPhone to your computer without removing it from the dock. Oh, and there's a remote control, of course.
So, is it time to bin the CD player? Well, not quite; even a budget disc-spinner of decent quality can beat this for overall musicality, but in the world of iPod docks, this is the new king.
True, it's not got much in the way of competition, but for now, this is without doubt the best, affordable way to get your iPod's tunes out to your home system.
