iPod docking station - Belkin vs Wadia vs Arcam

Buying the Wadia to use the analog outs defeat the purpose. The reason the Wadia is special is that it can output a digital stream. If you are going to use analog outs, just buy the apple doc for $40. Maybe go with the Arcam or one of the others if you want a more high end look.

Check out the Krell Kid. It is a pretty awesome piece. I have mine hooked up to a pair of quad 12L actives and for a small system that I can take everywhere, it is awesome. The kid also has tone controls and I think it definately improves upon the sound of the ipod. I own the wadia as well hooked up to the new ps audio dac and I think the krell sounds a bit better and the build quality smokes the wadia which is a plastic piece of junk.

the reviews of the wadia point out the advantage of the digital out to dac. the sound was highly improved in this way. using the analogue out wasts your money, your still using the ipod dac.

I know you guys get tired with rookies not knowing the terminology or what these new boxes do. I was so unsure of myself, I have an av system in the same room and separate from the stereo. This Arcam av is so good to my ears, it's hard to imagine anyone disatisfied. I will look at the Krell before I order the PS.

My $.02.....Just bought the Wadia iTransport. It is very good and waaaay better than using the DAC in the Ipod. You must have an external dac (I am using a Camelot Uther v2 mk 4). Honestly, the Ipod is so close to going from the CD transport that it is scary. In fact on most (99%) of recordings, I cannot tell the difference. This is such a cool piece because it allows a person to listen for mucho hours without having to get up and change the CD. Plus it is so cool and convenient to have hi rez recording for playlists. One caveat...you must record the Ipod songs in hi rez or you are defeating the purpose. Just record in AIFF or other "lossless" format and you will be amazed. The only thing I do not like is the remote as it basically will "start" "stop" or forward / back of tracks -- and it will not display on your tv. You cannot switch playlists or scroll to different tracks.