iPod as a source 80 gig model, lossless

I've used my 60gig iPod photo as a source with WAV files and a Signal Cable Silver Resolution cord going from the line-out. It's OK for background music, but does not have the PRAT of either my my Muse DAC or Modwright Sony. I much prefer the convenience of the larger interface of a laptop and iTunes, and the sound via my U24 and DAC is outstanding to my ears, and can best the iPod alone, and is very difficult to distinguish from an original disc. The problem with the iPod is that, even using the line-out you are limited to the less than desirable internal DAC. There is one company that is making a device that bypasses the DAC and gets a digital output to feed to a DAC, but, last time I checked, it was at a ridiculously high expense. Monitor Audio made claims to this effect, but when asked, the company denied the iDock's ability to utilize digital output. Line-out is definitely the way to go to avoid the added grunge of the iPod op-amp. In my version a simple Apple iDock gives you a mini-headphone plug line output at the bottom. Earlier iPods had this standard. Can't speak to the iVideo.

Marco

Chris: The Empirical Audio Wireless is a huge improvement (should be; see their web site) over the stock Airport and obviously the choice of DAC is critical. I started out thinking that this was going to be strictly for background music and have been very pleasantly surprised.

David

Marco - no question that there are much better ways to play digital music then an iPod. It's a convenience or form factor thing. Makes no sense with a nice rig in place. But nice by the pool, on a boat, at the mountain cabin, the guest bedroom etc.

David - IME many of the people who come looking for this kind of advice are computer newbies (this is very generational). Old school audiophiles arre looking for the sort of guaranteed performance they are used to with their Denon or Wadia or whatever - you push the button and it works. That is why I recommend a wired solution, the odds tilt a bit more in your favor - truth is even then there is still no guarantee.

Looks like Steve has unleashed another one of his conceptual breakthroughs. Anxious to watch it roll out and to see market acceptance. Remember that you still need a DAC after the Offramp...

Yes - this stuff works really well and inexpensively compared to getting equivalent performance from a traditional rig with its tweaks, power cords, ICs and all the other folderol.

Marco's U24 set up is inexpensive - I ran one into a fully modded TriVista, a nicely modded Squeezebox is in the realm of the reasonable as are an ever growing number of USB DACS.

Watch for wireless USB coming soon, and the new WiFi standard 802.11n

listenable, fine for background but not for critical listening.

FWIW, I purchased an Apple TV and it beat my Arcam CD92 senseless.

I was willing to trade-off sound quality for the convenience of Apple TV's GUI, but I was gladly surprised. So this may be an option for you.

The convenience of playlists can never be overstated. My system is a Blue Circle NSCS and Von Schweikert VR2s.