(Ipod Touch + Apple Dock + isupply) or Squeezebox?

Oma,

Welcome to the forum....

You are going to hear some wildly different opinions on this matter.

In the end, only you can decide what sounds good. That being said, get started with something inexpensive and then start demoing bits like external DACs, streaming solutions etc...


The Wadia dock is currently the only option for extracting the actual digital signal from an iPod. Otherwise, you will always be using the iPod's internal DAC which is widely regarded as inferior.

The same goes for your PC/Mac soundcard. Most do not have a digital output. To use the analog outputs is asking the soundcard to do the crucial DAC process. Not ideal.

If you have an M-Audio or Riviera or something with a digital output. Start with that.

If you have access to a PC/Mac, I would relegate the iPod for running, cycling, car etc... I would then go from the computer to a DAC to your preamp.

There are many options for a sub $300 DAC, Cambridge DACmagic, and the Beresford come to mind. Although there are countless others.

I wouldn't get too hung up and the relative differences between these. Get one and enjoy for some time, until you decide where you would like to ultimately end up.


To answer question 4).... rip to one of the following, ALAC, FLAC or WAV. Lossless only. And there are no significant differences between the 3 codecs, where you are at now.

In order to extract the digital signal from your PC/Mac, you will need one of the following:

- USB to Digital Convertor
- Soundcard with digital output
- USB DAC
- Streaming solution (Squeezebox or Sonos etc.)

Then you will need an external DAC if the one in your "extraction device" is not up to par. It seems people get along with the Sonos analog output. Squeezebox maybe less so.

Lastly, a RCA to DIN cable , unless your Nait has RCA inputs.

And away you go!!!


A seriously bare bones option would be:

- Bit perfect Turtle Beach Riviera Soundcard (24bit/48khz)- $30ish
- Beresford DAC - $180 including shipping
- Chord Crimson RCA-to-DIN - $100

Surely you could get a cheaper connect. But this seems like one you could use in any set-up.

You could step it up by using a USB-to-digital converter. There are many price levels and quality associated with these devices. I currently use an M-Audio Transit ($90). Bit perfect 24/96 passthru.

If you have a MAC, allegedly you have a decent digital output. Although you will need an adapter or special lead.

Thanks for the great advice pcstockton! Certainly gives me a lot more clarity on the matter.

In lieu of the soundcard (tied to your computer), if you are using itunes you could get an Apple Airport Express ($79 for a refurbed unit from the online Apple Store). This will output either analog or digital. In the context of a top flight system, the bass is woozy and there is some electronic sharpness, but if it is for casual listening through a Nait, it might be just fine. With a $3 mini-TOS to TOS cable (ebay or Amazon), you can connect to a DAC as above. The Airport Express will work wirelessly or by ethernet.

You can also buy aftermarket software to stream from any program to the AEX (not just itunes) for $25, though I have not tried this option.

Two plusses--if are not sure if you want a DAC it saves you money to start. And the hardware is standalone and easily resaleable.

Also, pretty much every lossless digital format is transcodable via the free version of dbpoweramp.

Thanks Eric.

After thinking through different options, I bot an Airport Express today. My possible next step would be to purchase an external DAC.

I have to say that setting up the AEX on the PC is not as easy as Apple advertised, and is testing my patience. I'm hooking it up to my DSL modem, but the Airport Utility s/w just wouldn't recognize my AEX after setup...

Anyone know a good internet FAQ-type resource for troubleshooting? Many thanks in advance again.

get rid of it and try out one of my "tried and true" methods.

AEX is a piece of junk.

wont stream 24/96... useless

Put up yer dukes.

I have not read the whole thread but an isupply is pretty useless I would imagine for new ipods.

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
wont stream 24/96... useless

Put up yer dukes.

pc, how many 24/96 recordings do you have? 99.8% of my tunes are 16/44.1.....all standard redbook CDs are, 24/192 is useful in the dacs domain no in the data stream - IMHO