[JonnyBingham]

I understand the point of bypassing the iPod's volume control to have a bit for bit copy of the song and then using an external DAC for conversion, but if you drop the ipod as an interface and use an inexpensive hard drive or USB plugged into the DAC, won't you have the same sound quality, and for less than £100 rather than the £390 Wadia is charging?

If I have a laptop plugged into a DAC will it's sound actually be inferior to using the iPod and Wadia as a transport?

Thanks

[markiii]

assuming identical file formats your probably right

[Amal99]

I think your spot on.

I use my Xbox 360 to play tunes via my iPod, and it sounds amazing. It uses the iPod as a hard drive, therefore the 360's DAC (a Wolfson one btw) does the conversion and sends the sound to the amplifier. Sounds alot better than plugging the iPod directly to the amplifier.

[karkus30]

Thats precisely what it does. Your missing the convenience angle though and it is a fix for those wanting an iPod dock that has hifi pretensions as opposed to one that simply bypasses the iPod internal amplifier.

[JonnyBingham]

The thing is although my original post suggests I think the Wadia is a waste of cash, I actually think it's a really great device for the potential sq it enables from an ipod. Also with a decent DAC it would prob be significantly better than my rDock. Wadia's seen there's a gap in the market for preserving the original data from the iPod and utilising an external DAC, having all the benefit of the iPod's UI. However, the Wadia is just a transport, so literally is dedicated to negating the ipod's function. I suppose in that sense it seemed expensive to me. If say you were considering getting a Cambridge Audio DAC, which seems to be the DAC that's put DACs back pm the map for the way it injects life into digital files, if I was using USB I wouldn't be able to see what songs I was selcting would I? I be selecting from?
But then for a unit with Wadia's name on it many would think it's the bargain of the century I'm sure!

Can anyone just give an impression of what the performance level of a cambridge audio DAC Magic using the wadia is roughly equivelant to in terms of dedicated CD players.

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by JonnyBingham

The thing is although my original post suggests I think the Wadia is a waste of cash, I actually think it's a really great device for the potential sq it enables from an ipod. Also with a decent DAC it would prob be significantly better than my rDock. Wadia's seen there's a gap in the market for preserving the original data from the iPod and utilising an external DAC, having all the benefit of the iPod's UI. However, the Wadia is just a transport, so literally is dedicated to negating the ipod's function. I suppose in that sense it seemed expensive to me. If say you were considering getting a Cambridge Audio DAC, which seems to be the DAC that's put DACs back pm the map for the way it injects life into digital files, if I was using USB I wouldn't be able to see what songs I was selcting would I? I be selecting from?
But then for a unit with Wadia's name on it many would think it's the bargain of the century I'm sure!

Can anyone just give an impression of what the performance level of a cambridge audio DAC Magic using the wadia is roughly equivelant to in terms of dedicated CD players.

Every user review suggests that (obviously depending on the encoding and bit rate) it is every bit as good as your average CD spinner, infact some have thought it better ! Yes, you can view the tracks on the iPod if I remember correctly, although there are some remote control limitations.

It also comes with video outputs so you can use it for H/C applications. If I had an iPod then there is a good chance I would buy one for a second system as it would make a nice compact unit for back ground music without the need for getting CDs.

[scrufftyguy]

Hi!

I'm starting to get a little interested in the Wadia, as i'm after a good dock, and although it's expensive, it seems a great idea. I'd be very interested to know which DACs people are using with the Wadia, and specifically what everyone thinks about using it with the DAC magic.

Cheers!

[trailer]

Originally Posted by Amal99

I think your spot on.

I use my Xbox 360 to play tunes via my iPod, and it sounds amazing. It uses the iPod as a hard drive, therefore the 360's DAC (a Wolfson one btw) does the conversion and sends the sound to the amplifier. Sounds alot better than plugging the iPod directly to the amplifier.

I'm pretty sure that the Wadia is the only device that can get raw digital out of an iPod.

[scrufftyguy]

Originally Posted by trailer

I'm pretty sure that the Wadia is the only device that can get raw digital out of an iPod.

What about the Homedock HD?

DLO | HomeDock HD

[trailer]

Originally Posted by scrufftyguy

What about the Homedock HD?

DLO | HomeDock HD

I'm not sure about this. Be careful though. Just because it has an optical out doesn't mean that is the raw digital feed. It may well be converting the A to D inside the unit.

[scrufftyguy]

Thanks!

I'm trying to find out a bit about both the Wadia and the Homedock, so if there's some Homedock HD users, it'd be good to hear from them too!

Does the Wadia have a built in DAC too, or do you have to run it with a seperate DAC?

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by scrufftyguy

Thanks!

I'm trying to find out a bit about both the Wadia and the Homedock, so if there's some Homedock HD users, it'd be good to hear from them too!

Does the Wadia have a built in DAC too, or do you have to run it with a seperate DAC?

Separate DAC.

I'm not sure about the Homedock, the words don't add up. It says digital optical out which would indicate you would need a DAC with a digital input ? I suspect that it uses the same setup as you would find from a DVD player which naturally would go to an AV amp which would do all the splitting.

It means that DACs will be severely limited if you cant use a Coax ouput.

[trailer]

Originally Posted by karkus30

It says digital optical out which would indicate you would need a DAC with a digital input ?

All DACs have a digital input. Its a fundamental part of the function.

[JonnyBingham]

I'd be interested to know if anyone has tried any mods on the 170i transport, and with what results?
Thanks