[chgolatin2]

Is there ANY good tube audio product that I can dock my Ipod into and listen via tubes and not solid state?  I know their are various components out there Wadia, Itubes etc but I would like to get the advise of those that have it or have used such equipment for their Ipods.  Ipod is a great device however it could benefit better from a better DAC.

Thanks

[richidoo]

I have not heard this myself, but I have happily owned several Manley products. Original stingray is a killer.

Manley Stringray iTube


This is probably using iPod internal DAC. The Wadia dock is the only one I know of to extract the digital stream.

[oneinthepipe]

For good sound, I believe that you would need to extract the digital output to bypass the iPod's built in DAC and avoid AAC file playback.

[srb]

Ipod is a great device however it could benefit better from a better DAC.

There is no all-in-one tube docking component that extracts digital audio from an iPod.  Although there may be several docks on the horizon, the Wadia 170i is still the only current iPod dock that I am aware of that will extract digital audio.
 
So, if you want a "better DAC" for the iPod with tube amplification, you will need the separate Wadia dock, a separate DAC that accepts coaxial S/PDIF input and a separate tube amp.
 
You may be able to find a tube amp with built in DAC, but it will have to have a coaxial digital input, and not just a USB input, which most of the tube amps with integrated DACs that I have seen, have.
 
Steve

[chgolatin2]

Am aware of the Wadia dock and I thinks thats the only source out there that will by pass ipod internal DAC.  Well, not the only but you guys know what I'm talking about.  Any other recommendations? 

Thanks

[srb]

Here's a new upcoming product from Peachtree, makers of the Nova and Decco integrated amplifier/DAC, the iDecco.
 
The iDecco has an iPod dock which extracts the digital signal from the iPod, sends it to the built-in ESS 9006 Sabre DAC, then into a Class A tube preamp and finally into a 40W/channel MOSFET amp.  $1000.
 
Not an all-tube amp, but it does have a tube preamp.
 
I assume it is not yet available, as it does not appear on the Signal Path/Peachtree site or on the musicdirect.com site, but it does appear in the musicdirect 2010 printed catalog I just received.
 
Steve

[chgolatin2]

Wow, $1000? hmmmm sounds like a nice peace but way out of my price range my budget is somewhere the mid $500  maybe the used market will have one out there

[chgolatin2]

I think the Wadia will have to do  aa lets see but I have to do more research on it

[chrisby]

Wadia was the first licensed by Apple to directly access the direct digital data, and wasn't Abbington also recently announced?

If this is the leading edge of a wedge of new authorized licensees, will it get simpler or more confusing to decide which route to take?

Frankly, $1000 for a complete integrated package such as the iDecco's description seems more than reasonable.  If it could stream  Wi-Fi from ATV or MacBook etc for files not on your iPod/Phone or internet radio streamer, you could be pretty much set. 

The quality wouldn't be quite the same of course, but sometimes there's a lot to be said for simple convenience - like when friends or family drop by for dinner and have some tunes they recorded on their laptop of them noodling around with their buddies on the guitar. My son did that just last week, and the playback from his iPhone of 2 acoustic guitars recorded just with the built-in mike in his basic MacBook was surprisingly good - my wife immediately asked for a copy on CD!


edit:  it's too bad the Wadia doesn't include a USB output - for those looking for a dirt simple, silly cheap, and by all accounts surprisingly good sounding option:

http://www.musicstreamer.co.nz/




But there are no doubt any number of inexpensive outboard SPDIF DACs that could do the job, but a self powered USB device (250mA ) has a lot of appeal. 

[chgolatin2]

1k might sound good for those that could afford it but those that cant, well, they have to look at other options. 

[Mariusz]

Friend is ordering Onkyo transporter for me directly from japan. it is more or less the same as Wadia.
We will have it run on batteries and use it with external NOS DAC.

Best
Mariusz

[chrisby]

Friend is ordering Onkyo transporter for me directly from japan. it is more or less the same as Wadia.
We will have it run on batteries and use it with external NOS DAC.

Best
Mariusz

"more or less the same" - does that mean licensed and certified by Apple to directly access the digital stream?  So far I thought that was only the case with Wadia and Abbington.

[chrisby]

1k might sound good for those that could afford it but those that cant, well, they have to look at other options.

Fair enough - I'm just saying that a one box solution including a high quality Doc/ DAC, tube preamp and 40WPC Mosfet SS amp could be very appealing to someone acquiring their first serious digital system, or making a major rationalization of existing rat's nest of components and interconnects.