may be the 170i just can't fit into my system. I did think about playing the reclock trick ($250-$1800)but i would rather keep my system simple as getting an audio grade power strip will be another grand and i don't think the 170i is worth that much trouble in my setup. I might be able to get a better CDP that fits my setup for that price (ipod: $150 refurb, 170i:$380, decent DAC: $1000, decent power strip: $800-$1000, reclocker: $1800, total= $4000+) with better resell value.
Anyway, you might be able to find your need from this 170i, i just couldn't. ~
Hei83
Hei83, the way you have written about your i170 experience, it seems to me that you've tried very hard to sub-optimize the i170 in your system. It comes to me as no surprise that the i170 did not work in your system. I think that your setup was slighted/biased to make the i170 not work for you!
And, your thinking re. keeping your system simple by buying another audio grade POWER STRIP is just simply ludicrous. What the hell will a audio grade power strip do (besides choking your system)??? If you lose the music signal in your front-end source, it's gone forever! No audio grade POWER STRIP will bring it back!
Who said that a decent DAC needs to cost $1000? There are several non oversampling, great sounding DACs out there that are in the $500 or less category.
Who also said that a reclocker should cost $1800? You should be able to find a Monarchy DIP 24/96 for ~$200.
Or, better yet: some of the DACs have re-clockers built-in. Brianmgrarcom can suggest atleast one to you.
You might not still like the i170 but atleast do your best (& not your present half-assed attempt) to make it work to its fullest potential in your system.