iPod docking station - Belkin vs Wadia vs Arcam

Age of DAC: I'm no expert, but the age should not matter. If the system can create good sound from digital music, then it is ready for the Wadia iTransport....

I had a musician in my home recently and he wondered if his Iphone would play live recordings (lossless) of his Jazz band on my Wadia. It worked well. He also said it was the best the recording had ever sounded -- on any system. That was the first time I had the fun of sharing my system with a visitor's music. It was a delight for both of us.

One last note on the iTransport. It sounds better than my Sony ES CD player. The bass is fuller when comparing the same tracks back to back. Fascinating since the Wadia is playing the digital copy of the CD.

You don't need a docking station to use your iPod. I use the Cadas iPod Cable, 2 RCA jacks to a mini jack plugged directecly into my tape deck inputs and the sound is just great. Less is more. I mean if you really want to go the cheap route.

Excuse me,"Cardas"

No, you don't need a dock. But, if you want great sound out of an ipod to a good system, the Wadia gives you what the Ipod alone (or the Ipod with other docks)can't.