Killer sound for your iPod, we're gettin it first!

TONEPUB · « **on:** 4 Jan 2008, 08:23 pm »

Just announced on Gizmodo today and at CES next week:

http://gizmodo.com/340518/itransport...ital-ipod-dock

Wadias new iPod dock that does NOT require any mods to your iPod.

It will be in my hot little hands after CES, I'm slated to take the show unit home with me on the plane. Pure digital output from your iPod. The only one that does it (for now) All the others take the analog output and go back to digital first.

160gb iPod and uncompressed files (not apple lossless) and you have about 200 albums at CD quality resolution that you can put in your shirt pocket! Plug it into your DAC and go!

Very exciting and you will see a full review in the Feb 6 issue of TONEAudio!

We are getting this product for a full review before any of the other hifi mags...

There will be a short piece up on Cnet in the next few days as well.

Steve Eddy · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Jan 2008, 09:47 pm »

Hey Jeff!

Sounds interesting. Do you have any more information about it? Is it supposed to work in realtime as a conventional iPod doc does?

I notice they make reference to "pull content" off the iPod. Does it first have to download the audio data off the iPod before it can play? I did a little research into the iPod dock some time back and as far as I could determine, there was no realtime digital audio on the iPod's dock connector and if that's the case, I'm wondering just what's involved in getting digital audio from the iPod to the output of the Wadia.

se

TONEPUB · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Jan 2008, 09:55 pm »

Ill know more next week when I bring it home...

Affordable$$Audio · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Jan 2008, 01:39 am »

Looking forward to what you have to say Jeff. I've been waiting for someone to come up digital out on an iPod.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Jan 2008, 02:12 am »

You will have to come over and give it a listen!

I'm sure I can work something out with Wadia so you can
write it up when we are done, even if I let you have mine.

This is going to be a cool product....

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Jan 2008, 02:55 pm »

SWEET!

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=49277.msg441998#msg441998

nature boy · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Jan 2008, 03:54 pm »

Inquiring minds want to know about this latest offering from Wadia, Jeff. We look forward to your observations and listening sessions.

NB

budyog · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Jan 2008, 04:16 pm »

Very cool! And I just got an 80gig Ipod classic for xmas I am using while snowmobiling!
I will buy one!

TONEPUB · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Jan 2008, 05:24 pm »

I guess where I see this thing as being so exciting is that it will
really allow a lot of us to have some crossover with the iPod
generation.

I know a lot of my daughters friends will freak out when they
plug their iPod into my living room system and see just
how good their music can sound, even if compressed.

Then it's pretty easy to make a quick demo and show them
how great music sounds uncompressed.....

Could have some real potential for getting this generation
interested in sound quality after all!

Mike Dzurko · « **Reply #9 on:** 7 Jan 2008, 09:01 pm »

Jeff:

This is very interesting indeed. I look forward to hearing all about it!

TONEPUB · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Jan 2008, 02:28 am »

Just got back from CES (and boy are my arms sore!)

Got to spend some extended time with the Wadia dock
in their room and it was really impressive with uncompressed
music going through their 581i as a DAC. It even sounded
really darn good with 320kb/sec MP3's from my iPhone!

The rest of the system consisted of a pair of Verity Audio
Parsifals played through one of the big Halcro stereo amps.

The Wadia folks had some of the best sound I heard at
the show. This is a very impressive piece of gear indeed!!!

I could really see having one of these with a new iPod,
a Squeezebox and a decent DAC for a pretty versatile
system!!

They will be shipping soon....

budyog · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Jan 2008, 04:20 pm »

I see this Krell unit was at the show. Did you get a chance to check it out?

They must have the authorization to use the digital output also!

http://www.krellonline.com/new_pdfs/KID/0269_018_BRO.pdf

kyrill · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Jan 2008, 05:05 pm »

In the Krell unit's specs and description it is (very) unclear to me what is the "internal dac"?

It looks as if they mean the dac of the Ipod... So the Krell unit is "only" an output device.
If is, highly unlikely though. I would consider that as a very stupid decision, so.. unlikely. I suppose they go one step further than Wadia and force the buyer to "live" with the build in Krell DAC

budyog · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 Jan 2008, 05:31 pm »

kyrill,
That is what I am also wondering. I read it the same way as you did and if that is true, that would stink for Krell!

budyog · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Jan 2008, 08:43 pm »

Hey Jeff,
Did you take one home? A lot of us want to know your thoughts after having it home. There are also people in the Squared Circle thread that also want to know! Let us know!

TONEPUB · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 03:46 pm »

HI There:

THe folks at Wadia wanted to send it right after the show so I should get it
any day. I'm pretty excited too!

The Krell KID does not have the same direct digital output like the
Wadia. At present they are the only one with access to the authentication chip
and a full digital output straight from the iPod.

I'll keep you posted as soon as I know!

Thanks

Huck · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 04:14 pm »

Hi: So let's say I am looking into an i-Pod for music, so should I wait for the Wadia unit or go with the I-Mod?. This will be my first foray into the iPod anything. What do I need to hook the Wadia to my integrated amp, other than a newer version i-pod and some cables?. How should the two (Wadia, i-Mod) compare sound-wise, If I were using the same speakers,amp,cables for each? Thanks, Huck

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 04:47 pm »

Hi Huck,

With the iMod, you are still using the internal Wolfson dac chip in the iPod. All you would need is an iMod dock cable (for the 5G/5.5G iMod) or dock (see below).

With the Wadia, you'll need to use an external dac to take advantage of it. With a high-end D/A converter, I am sure you can surpass the iMod's analog output performance, but it is going to cost ya more and it will not be as portable (if that even matters to you).

You can't really compare the iMod to the Wadia soundwise without stating the dac unit that will be used with the Wadia.

Hope this helps,

Vinnie

saisunil · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 05:21 pm »

Another question would be - will iMod work with Wadia?

I agree with Vinnie - iMod is a portable, very good sounding digital player that would work well in a small 2 channel home system.
Besides there are choices now with iMod - 4G, 5G, 5.5G with souped up V-Cap/V-Dock upgrade options and flavors of of LoD cables.

Good Luck

Huck · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 03:19 am »

Thanks! Huck