Music Library on an ipod in Lossless to play on my HiFi

[Sluggster]

I am considering getting an ipod 80gb to connect only to my hifi and filling it with lossless music so that it sounds good. I have some questions;
- do I need to get a dock to get lossless on the ipod?
- which is the best dock at the moment?

I have two ipods already so I don't really want to get a different type of portable player but is there a better solution for my requirement - I don't want a PC in my living room.

Thanks

FYI: I have Totem Sttaf speakers and a Naim Supernait amp - which i think has a good onboard DAC

[Autopilot]

iPod's, and portable players in general, are not best suited to this kind of thing. Many people around here, including myself, use network audio streamers. Have a search and look around, seems that every other thread some days is about this now. You would be able to by one for just about the same price as decent dock anyway.

Have a look at the Sono's, Squeezebox 3, and maybe Roku.

Sound quality will be better than an ipod with lossless, you get internet radio, very smart remotes, no storage constraints, loads of other features... etc.

[trailer]

If you have a wireless network try an Airport Express into the Supernait.

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by trailer

If you have a wireless network try an Airport Express into the Supernait.

Ok, if you don't mind going back to the PC all the time. Sound quality not as good as Sono's or SB.

[trailer]

Originally Posted by Autopilot

Ok, if you don't mind going back to the PC all the time. Sound quality not as good as Sono's or SB.

Agreed, the PC operation is the downside. However, for £65 the sound quality using lossless and with the Supernait DAC might surprise you.

[bugser]

Sluggster

there are loads of docks out there for about £30 with remotes, that will all do the same thing connect your ipod to your amp by phono means so i can't see how one could be better than another
u ask
do I need to get a dock to get lossless on the ipod?
no just rip to apple lossless and add to your ipod like you would do with your mp3s its no different in that way.

[Autopilot]

Using a £30 dock with lossless and his kit would make little sense.

[lazymatt]

Originally Posted by Autopilot

Using a £30 dock with lossless and his kit would make little sense.

Yeah, you really need to be looking at the Denon, Onkyo or Arcam's from about £80 up.

[Sluggster]

I saw a Denon docking station in John Lewis earlier but it said it worked with v1 & 2 ipods only and that I would need to get a widget of some sort to use ipods that come with a dock. I would be inclined to get a Denon or Marantz.

I actually have an Airport, or my wife does - on her Mac portable. How would I connect it to my Supernait and once it is connected how do I get my music there?

I also like the idea of a Squeesebox so I'll look that up. I understand the sonos is expensive.

Could I buy one of those 500Gb portable hard disks and put it in the living room. If I could, how would I get the music out of it on to my Supernait?

How does just running a lead from my ipods in to the front panel of my Supernait compare to a Squeezebox or similar?

I can get lossless music on to my copy of iTunes, but it does not transfer on to my most recent ipod - the colour screen version - any ideas why not?

Sorry to ask so many questions and thanks for your help so far.

[trailer]

Originally Posted by Sluggster

I actually have an Airport, or my wife does - on her Mac portable. How would I connect it to my Supernait and once it is connected how do I get my music there?

Get a miniTosLink to standard TOSLink cable to go from the Airport Express to the SNait.

iTunes will pick up the AE after you've configured it and then it's a case of whatever you play in iTunes on your PC will play on your hi-fi.

[swisspolo]

If your looking at buying a large HD then you may as well look into getting something that can do a little more. A mac mini (as shown by avi systems at a recent exhibition) is an excellent source of music playback and looks nice sitting on top of a stack of separates.

you can pick them up on ebay now for a little over £200, you can get a mini jack to tos link converter that apple make (monster might also make one) and then you can stick the sound line into the digital input on an av receiver.

On top of that all mac mini's (as far as i know) come kitted out with f"ront row", so get hold of an apple remote and you can control iTunes from the couch and never need to go near the mac.

If you choose to use the analogue output and are worried about the output DAC quality in the mac mini i wouldn't as it'll be just as good as any of the docks you are looking at or airport express.

I'd post my web site address to show you a guide for using a mac for this purpose but I've posted it elsewhere once today and as i'm new i dont want to appear like I'm spamming the forums.

[lazymatt]

Originally Posted by Sluggster

I actually have an Airport, or my wife does - on her Mac portable. How would I connect it to my Supernait and once it is connected how do I get my music there?

I think you're confusing an Airport, with an Airport Express:

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

As for using Lossless on your iPod, I presume you've ripped to Apple Lossless (ALAC)?

[Sluggster]

Hi Matt,

Yes, I have ripped to Apple lossless but the music I can see in i-Tunes does not appear on my iPod. Do I have to allow my iPod to load it in some way?

Could you send a link by PM swisspolo?

Your right Lazyman - I am confusing the two....

[trailer]

Make sure in iTunes when you have the iPod attached that you have ticked the box(es) to synch the iPod with your music folder plus podcasts etc if you have any. I don't think this tab appears unless you have your iPod attached.

[Sluggster]

I seem to be able to see them now. I must have been doing something silly earlier.

Can you feed music directly off the iPod in digital to an amp or only in analogue from the iPod phones socket? I'm assuming that when you use a dock you can get a digital feed to the amp - or am I mistaken in this too?