IPod

I once cobbled together a phono to DIN connector to run from headphone socket of  IPod into a NAIT 1.

Easiest is probably a 3.5mm to either 2 x RCA Phono or DIN5  interconnect.  I seem to have a preponderance of the 3.5mm to RCA leads from all the Sony Walkmen I've had over the years.  This will do the job.

Best is to either take the line out from the dock connector - there are a number of quality solutions for this - or via a dock.  Ultimate is to take the digital signal via USB - such as you'll find on Naim DACs, all-in-ones and streamers.

Agree with Richard that if you can at least use a dock connector rather than the 3.5mm headphone socket there is a noticeable increase in quality.

Although if the only use is running in the amp when you are out of the house, just go for the cheapest option and sod the quality 

Why not put a CD on and hit the repeat button?

I use a cable that I bought from Russ Andrews some time ago, which works really well, and uses the 30 pin connector to a Din connector so is a line level out (rather than via the headphone jack). Sound is really good through a Nait 2, but I'm not sure whether they've been updated to the newer lightning connectors that apple use now. 

I also think that Chord used to make a similar cable

Thanks guys, I have not got the slightest idea what anyone is talking about.  So I will take your replies on my laptop to a man who sells Naim gear.  I am sure he will get things connected.

Thanks very much for your replies, and I will def try out the repeater button  with a CD.

Hi Staffy,

Maybe I can summarize the above and it will help. 

First, which iPod model do you have?  iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod Nano?

If you just want a cable, you can connect an iPod to your amplifier one of two ways. 

1.  Headphone jack.  This would be a cable which has a 3.5mm stereo plug to connect to the iPod, and terminates to the standard stereo RCA connectors at the other end, to connect to the Nait.   [iPod/3.5mm head phone jack -------cable----- RCA connectors/input on Nait]

2. Line out cable.  Depending on the model and/or age of your iPod, this would be either the 30pin or lightning USB connector.  This cable has the 30pin/lighting USB at one end, RCA connectors on the other.  [line out ----- cable ----- RCA input on Nait]

The Line Out is preferred since it bypasses the iPod's headphone amp. 

You can have the cable terminate with a DIN connector instead of RCAs to connect at the Nait end.  I imagine this would be more costly. 

Alternative ways to connect your iPod to the Nait would be

1.  Using a line out to usb cable, which then connects to a DAC.  The dac would use a DIN or RCA terminated cable to connect to a Nait input. 

2.  Line Out Dock/Cradle.  This is device that connects to your iPod via the line out port, and typically has RCA outputs.  So the cable would have RCA-RCA or RCA-DIN terminations. 

Br,

Pat

Thanks everyone for your input.  I have printed them and hope to have something made this week.  I will come back and let you know what happened.    I have 240 albums on my ITunes library all ripped between 750 1400 Kbps using Alac lossless format.   My CDs BTW.   Apple Ipod Classic 80Gb

Back in the day, an iPod Gen 3 (40 GB) was my quatenary source-after the CDS3/NAT01/LP12 into an active DBL sixpack. It was powered by the now discontinued Naim brick-like wall wart using a Din to Firewire adaptor or something like that. It was hooked up to the 552 via the very capable Chord ?Cobra (the green one). Sound quality of lossless files was very good, and quite a few people were fooled into thinking I had one of my higher quality sources playing. And for parties, entertaining,  high quality background music it was great. But going from the iPod to the CDS3 still was a leap, with the iPod BY COMPARISON sounding quite boxy, two dimensional and stripped of inner detail. But it still sounded better than probably 95% of the systems I heard using higher quality sources. 

But hard drive eventually packed in, and it was replaced with the latest  160GB ipod Classic-the last of its genre. Sadly the sound quality of the later iPods was not patch on the Gen 3, partly due to using a lower grade D/A converter chip, and aggressive power management deployment. The Gen 3 had only a couple hours of battery life (which is a non issue when powered with the Naim wall-wart), while the last batch was at least five-fold that. 

In terms of war sound quality, the quality I get from my Galaxy G5 phone is way better than the iPod allows. Too bad the G5 does not allow 160GB storage. 

Why not just be a little patient and enjoy each day as it comes? I'm sure that my 300DR is improving with each day but I've no desire to rush things!

I now have a 3.5 Jack with the Din connector made by Chord.  As I sit here typing I am listening to Chris Botti on my brand new NaitXS2.    Really pleased with the set up and to think it will get better in the next few weeks.

Thanks everyone for the advice.