iPod as a source 80 gig model, lossless

I agree completely. I have the 80 Gig model with everything burned in lossless, and I use the "line out" into my big rig with a decent $80-type cable. It doesn't sound nearly as good as my Modwright Signature Pioneer universal player (~$800), so I can't imagine it would be even close to your caliber of disc player.

One thing I can't say for sure is if iPods benefit from the kind of cables people routinely use for higher end gear ($500 a meter and so forth). I've been too worried that the iPod is so limited as a source that there wouldn't be a point in investing serious cable money in it.

However, maybe another 'GoNer has had a good experience with high end iPod cabling...

Interesting. Would you mind providing more information on the sound quality? E.g., is the iPod as a source missing detail, soft bass, overall artificial or grainy sound, etc. I should have been more clear in my question.
Thanks,
Art

I agree with the first two posters. An iPod playing non-compressed files is roughly as good as what I have been able to accomplish with a wireless music server so far, but is in no way even remotely as satisfying to me as a good CD player.

As to using expensive cables, it seems a very bad move to spend more on cables than on the source component itself. Better source, cheaper cables is a much better strategy.

Hmmm. I feel the need to disagree a bit here. I am currently using an Empirical Audio Wireless Offramp through an RCA digital cable to a Spectral SDR 2000 DAC. Sound is challenging my Linn CD12 reference source. Rest of system:

Spectral DMA 360 monoblocs
Spectral DMC 30 SL preamp
Dynaudio Evidence Temptations
All cables are MIT Oracle 1 reference
Dedicated 20 amp circuits

Streaming Apple lossless files (burned and downloaded) from iTunes.

IMHO,

David

David:
If you have anything wireless that sounds close to a CD 12 you give me hope. I clearly need to buff up my approach, because it certainly hasn't worked out that way for me yet.

Chris