Best ipod dock for audio quality ?

[russellbridge]

Which is the best ipod docking station for audio quality? Are there any available with digital / optical connections? I'd like it to charge the ipod as well if poss, but I'd also be interested in anyone's comments who thinks the headphone out socket gives better audio quality.

I've slowly been upgrading various hi-fi components and am now fairly happy with my Marantz SR8500 AV amp and Tannoy Saturn speakers. Most of my music is played through my ipod (ipod photo 60Gb) hooked up to the amp through the standard ipod dock and anologue leads. I don't use the ipod for photos so I'm not bothered about video connection. After upgrading my very old Denon dvd player and swapping to optical cables from analogue, I'm now wondering whether the same can be done for the ipod?

Options so far:
1) Kensington ipod docking station from Richer Sounds (about £15)
2) Marantz IS-201 (control through SR8500 remote looks possible) (about £99)
3) Onkyo DS-A2 (about £70)
4) DLO Homedock (about £120)
5) Iwantit IW300 from Currys (about £40)

Cheers

Russ

[Bachstrad]

I'm very happy with the Bose SoundDock, it's a bit more expensive than the models you've listed but is very good IMHO.

ATB

Max

[lazymatt]

The Marantz and Onkyo are both supposed to be very very good. Although for me, the Kensington is excellent value at the moment. But I'm not sure if you'd necessarily notice a difference over what you have already.

[hornydragon]

the advantage of the Onkyo Denon marantz docks is the integration to your existing system (uses same remote control IR wired interface etc) the Onkyo does carge the ipod as well i assume the marantz one will and the denon does.

[russellbridge]

Thanks for the replies...

I popped into Superfi and Practical Hi-Fi in Manchester earlier today and got an answer as to why there's no docks on the market with digital out - apparently its to prevent music copyright - ie the only allowable 'out' method from an mp3 player is analogue, although who's enforcing this I don't know?

I'm favouring the marantz purely for compatibility, although PHF did say they're struggling to get it working, but they'd happily offer a refund if it didn't work. I'd still really like an optical audio link somehow but it's looking unlikely....

Russ

[AMc]

If you're using MP3, FLAC etc. then a number of Network Audio Players offer digital outputs (try the Squeezebox for one) but they need some file storage usually on a PC or Network Attached Storage (NAS) for the music and a wired/wireless network to access it.

If you're using music from the iTunes store then you won't find anything that will read it and output a digital signal because of copy protection. In fact AFAIK only an iPod, iTunes, Airport Express or Apple TV gagdet will be able to decode it at all.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by russellbridge

Thanks for the replies...

I popped into Superfi and Practical Hi-Fi in Manchester earlier today and got an answer as to why there's no docks on the market with digital out - apparently its to prevent music copyright - ie the only allowable 'out' method from an mp3 player is analogue, although who's enforcing this I don't know?

That may well be an apple thing loads of other devices have digital out for files stored in MP3 format http://www.imerge.co.uk/index.php?op...191&Itemid=387

[dr_mabuse]

Another vote for the Bose here. Bit pricey but worth it for the audio quality. Great sound, charges as it goes, looks cool (esp if you have a black ipod).

dr_m

[Rookies]

The intempo floor standing dock is FAB and it loud and it got some lovely bass on it too. John lewis sell it have a look at that too

[russellbridge]

AMc, many thanks for that - the Squeezebox looks very good and I've found some very good reviews for it, obviously not what I was looking for originally but I've got a networked drive in another room with all my music on it and a network already set up so this seems a very good way of getting higher quality mp3's into the marantz av amp using an optical link.

There's another product coming out apparently called the Creative Xdock which features an optical out so perhaps there's more docks on the way with optical out...

Russ

[Semiskimmed1976]

I have the Onkyo DS-A2 and very happy I am too - excellent sound quality, but to be honest I haven't compared it to any other docking stations, so that comment may not be worth much!?

[jason44mag]

I went the kensington route, for the money 15.00 its a steal !

I just wanted to check out how my system sounds using a dock & ipod and i figured that 15.00 was worthing missing to check it out, you can also chuck it on ebay and not lose alot of cash if you decide on a more expensive piece of kit.

Also from memory these docks were about 67.00 new

I can also vouch for the sound quality too & a definate bonus is being to store all my cds on the ipod and keep the orginal disks in the attic keeping my stereo area clutter free

[mikeymike]

hi,
is there really a diference in the SOUND quality between the docks that anyone has noticed ?
I bough an onkyo dock and a micro onkyo 515 system and it sounds good, much better than through the headphone socket with a cable.

In the main room i have a roksan kandy amp and want to buy a dock for that one too. Whathifi saya denon sounds the best, but i have been told the marantz is better and there is an Arcam one coming soon! can they really influence the sound so much ? has anyone had any experience of this ?

Does the maratnz one come with an interconnect ?

Thanks !

[Crustyloafer]

I would say that the new Arcam R-Dock is one of the best sounding docks out. Even the ability to switch off the charging and run the iPod off it's internal batteries is aimed at improving performance by allowing the source to run off a pure DC source.

Please see attached file for more info.

[mikeymike]

Thnaks for that,
Have you actually heard the arcam one ? I havent been able to find a shop that stocks it.