Good looking and good quality Ipod dock?

[alex s]

I am after a Ipod dock ( as in to connect to the hifi, not a stand alone one with speakers)
A while ago there was a link on here for a ali ( billet ali I think) one.
Had a search but no luck.
Any idea's / link.

[DavidY]

If you are connecting to a HiFi and you have a spare digital input then the Wadia i170 dock is the 'only' way to go as this is the only iPod dock that enables a digital stream (rather than an analogue stream) from the iPod.

davidy

[Ruxpin]

What you describe sounds like an Arcam rDock

http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,solo,iPod-Docks,rD...

It's a very solid piece of kit.

[maddog993]

DavidY said:

If you are connecting to a HiFi and you have a spare digital input then the Wadia i170 dock is the 'only' way to go as this is the only iPod dock that enables a digital stream (rather than an analogue stream) from the iPod.

davidy

The i70 should be limitless in terms of it's digital streaming ability, it's potential theoretically limited only by the DAC you partner with it. However, there have been fairly consistent reviews suggesting it doesn't quite live up to it's potential in terms of it's musicality even if partnered with exotic DACs.
While there are no direct comparisons, as a high-end dock, the Krell Kid - while 'only' utilising a fully differential output for the iPod's internal DAC rather than taking a digital output -is an excellent dock in terms what it does with the source component. (Only downside is the £1600 price-tag!)

Edited by maddog993 on Tuesday 4th August 10:10

[BigBen]

DavidY said:

If you are connecting to a HiFi and you have a spare digital input then the Wadia i170 dock is the 'only' way to go as this is the only iPod dock that enables a digital stream (rather than an analogue stream) from the iPod.

davidy

But the ipod does not provide a digital output so you are converting from analogue to digital and back again, does not sound ideal to me.

[maddog993]

BigBen said:

DavidY said:

If you are connecting to a HiFi and you have a spare digital input then the Wadia i170 dock is the 'only' way to go as this is the only iPod dock that enables a digital stream (rather than an analogue stream) from the iPod.

davidy

But the ipod does not provide a digital output so you are converting from analogue to digital and back again, does not sound ideal to me.

No that's not the case - while you're right that the iPod doesn't have a digital output as such, the Wadia i70 nonetheless manages to bypass the internal DAC and output stage of the iPod (it is the first and thus far only Dock to do so), and so takes the digital signal unsullied through to an external DAC of your choice.
(In fairness to Apple, access to the digital source signal was a feature they built into the iPod but the i70 is the only dock to currently utilise this)

Edited by maddog993 on Tuesday 4th August 17:37

[BigBen]

maddog993 said:

BigBen said:

DavidY said:

If you are connecting to a HiFi and you have a spare digital input then the Wadia i170 dock is the 'only' way to go as this is the only iPod dock that enables a digital stream (rather than an analogue stream) from the iPod.

davidy

But the ipod does not provide a digital output so you are converting from analogue to digital and back again, does not sound ideal to me.

No that's not the case - while you're right that the iPod doesn't have a digital output as such, the Wadia i70 nonetheless manages to bypass the internal DAC and output stage of the iPod (it is thus far the first Dock to do so), and so takes the digital signal unsullied through to an external DAC of your choice.
(In fairness to Apple, access to the digital source signal was a feature they built into the iPod but the i70 is the only dock to currently utilise this)

Edited by maddog993 on Tuesday 4th August 15:09

Yep just had a look, impressive stuff.

If you fancy an analogue dock I can recommend these http://www.sieben-technology.com/au/home.htm have stopped distributing in the UK now but if anyone is keen I may be able to help.

Ben

[donkeypunt]

B&W Zeppelin. It is fantastic, very stylish as well.

[maddog993]

donkeypunt said:

B&W Zeppelin. It is fantastic, very stylish as well.

Impressive as it undoubtedly is, that won't plug into his hifi

[Eggle]

Meridian do a good one, and iir, also works with digital.
The thing with most is they are only as good as the weakest part, ie the connector. Most standard docks will sound the same.

[DavidY]

No the Meridian has a high quality analogue buffer but only takes analogue signals from iPod. I know I've had a presentation from their R&D dept about it!!!

davidy