Ipod-questions

1) yes - the best connection IMHO would be one that connects to the bottom of the i-pod (not sure what it's called) rather than to the headphone input, and a DIN plug at the amp end.

2) Very dependent on the quality of the files on it obviously, but my experience is that it doesn't sound too bad, but switching back to my 5x even with downloaded apple files burnt on to CD is miles ahead, hence why I no longer bother hooking up the i-Pod to the main system.

3) Yes - more than enough to be able to tell the difference in the Bose system in my Audi, never mind in the main system. WAV is better still, but very space consuming. I find Apple Lossless an acceptable compromise for the car.

Alexander

I use an i-pod with an old Nait 2 upstairs. I got a free apple dock (but I believe that they only cost c£35 anyway)linked via a Chord i-cable and was extremely happy with the sound quality for such a simple system. Not sure how it compares to a CD5i, but seems a reasonable price to give it a try.

Best wishes

You asked about the "best" iPod to Naim cable. I can be a cable obsessive, I use "Qables" and haven't found better. Not allowed to give the URL here, but you can Google it.

Alexander,

I use an Arcam rDock with a Nait 2 in my kitchen system. Works pretty well.

Welcome to the forum BTW

Regards

Nic

The reviews for Wadia's relatively new iTransport are beginning to come in; Stereophile's October issue includes one. This dock differs from all that have come before it in that it is licensed by Apple to extract a digital stream from the iPod (Classic is one of the versions able to yield a digital stream). Bypassing iPod's small and inexpensive DAC makes for an altogether different experience, rivaling some of the best stand alone CD players. Of course, such a set up requires a good quality DAC such as Benchmark's or Grace, or even a SuperNait. It's $379.00 price tag seems reasonable for what it does, but I, for one, am not rushing out to get one as I don't have any particular desire to pop my iPod into my main system. I guess I still like to play one CD at a time (or LP for that matter). Portable listening is something else altogether: I won't step foot in the gym or get on an airplane without my iPod/Porta Corda rig. At any rate, I thought that in the context of this discussion, the iTransport should be mentioned.

Yes, Apple Lossless is well worth it. The difference may not be audible with Apple's throwaway earbuds, but any serious listener with an external amp and decent cans will immediately hear the difference. I only rip in Lossless.

Norman

flashback sales and happy with the service and cable

ATB

KK

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:
I won't step foot in the gym or get on an airplane without my iPod/Porta Corda rig.Norman

Me too, but that is where I need a good cable to connect the line out from the iPod dock-slot to the Porta Corda. I use Qables connector, but the silver cables are brittle and I have had failures. Which do you use?

quote:

Originally posted by Alexandernl:
(1) Can I connect the ipod to my Nait 5i? If so, what are the best cables to do this with?
(2) How will the sound from the connected ipod compare to the sound of my CD5i (I know, for some of you this sounds like heresy; my question amounts to: IS it heresy?)
(3) Probably the answer to my second question depends also on the format of the music on the ipod. Is there a real difference between MP3 and 'Apple lossless'?

1) Yes, Get a Flashback cables special ipod dock connection to either din or rca, depending on which input on your Nait5i you intend to use.

2) Your iPod will sound ok, but softened compared with CD playback, it'll be fine for background.

3) MP3 is a codec that throughs away data to end up with a smaller file, lossles is the equivalent to "zipping" the file, in computer terms. Apple advocates AAC (Apple Audio Compression ?) as opposed to MP3, it's a lossy compression, but is reputed to sound better for a given compression rate than MP3.

How do you intend to use your iPod classic ?

quote:

Probably I'm one of the last people on earth, but I'm considering buying an ipod

Not quite, I don't have one nor do I particularly want one, yet!
Dave

quote:

Originally posted by davereay:
nor do I particularly want one, yet!
Dave

But you're weakening aren't you!

cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:
I won't step foot in the gym or get on an airplane without my iPod/Porta Corda rig.Norman

Me too, but that is where I need a good cable to connect the line out from the iPod dock-slot to the Porta Corda. I use Qables connector, but the silver cables are brittle and I have had failures. Which do you use?

Actually, I have a Gen 4 iPod with Red Wine Audio's iMod, so the signal is output from the 1/8" jack at the top. I use a <$20 mini to mini cable by Kimber Kable that I bought from Headroom for an earlier MP3 player, with still excellent results. Vinnie at Red Wine Audio coordinates with Audio Line Out (now apparently known by the initials ALO) Audio to incorporate the needed Black Gate caps in the cable unit itself for his Gen 5 iPod mod. Audio Line Out makes several dock connector to 1/8" mini cables for the stock iPod and has been around for several years. I actually found out about them via head-fi.org, a portable listening forum, a couple of years back. ALO had a very good reputation by many posters on that forum. Anyway, this is a long winded response to say that I don't use one, but I understand that Audio Line Out's dock cables are supposed to be very good.

I haven't been hanging around much here in recent months, so I'm not sure what Adam's latest rules on posting URLs is. However, I easily found a link to ALO's web site at Red Wine Audio's web site, which in turn was easily Googled.

Norman