Is iPod Digital Output Possible?

Joeylawn36111,

This is my third hard drive. I keep running out of space, I do burn the entire disks. Of course I always hear the same songs over and over, about 30% of the library. But disk space is getting cheaper and it's easier for me to burn the whole than to manually select the songs I like.

Jax2,

I just bought an Alpine CDA-9855 and KCA-420I (I-Pod interface) for my Ruf. The I-Pod can be controled from the head unit, even the information can be seen on the dash. Not sure if the unit(KCA-420I) does the D/A conversion or just allow the head unit to control the I-Pod and read its display info. You may want to try to find out more on www.ipodlounge.com.
Hector

Hector - I have an Alpine head unit in the same series, and the same KCA-4201 iPod interface. That was the unit that made me curious if what I'm asking is possible. Alpine makes a nice head unit, but I find the iPod interface to be a bit tedious...don't you? It's still great to have access to such a great variety of music in the car, especially when driving long distance.

Marco

As a subset of this discussion, can anyone please suggest which of the new iPods might be most suitable to audiophile applications?

Would you just get the biggest, most expensive, video iPod? Or as audiophiles, does it make more sense to skip the video, perhaps gaining longer battery life or something?

Is the possibility for digital output the same for all models?

The only rumor I've heard that indicates any advantage was in the HeadFi forum where someone opined that the op-amp (line-out) in the more recent (video) iPods was slightly improved from the previous versions with a bit more robust output. I don't know if this is true or not. I find the output on my line out to be just barely adequate for listening on the edge of loud. If others were worse than this then I'd say definitely go for a more current version of the video ipod. Other than that, I just went for the most storage capacity, which happens to be a video iPod (60gb). I don't know if any of the current large-capacity offerings from apple are anything but "video" ipods. The only other type of ipods being offered are the smaller units with much less capacity. Unless you are using mp3's, you will be severely limiting yourself in terms of how much music will fit on one. And if you're using mp3s you may as well just glue some nails to the ends of the earbuds and call it a day. Of course if you have to have some pop star's autograph emblazened across the back of your iPod to go with your celebrity sports-star approved basketball shoes, well, then again you are limiting your selection.

Marco

Marco,

There is third party software out now that will copy your tunes from your Ipod to your computer. Which means yes there is a digital output of the Ipod now just how you access that I don't know.

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Michael