Wadia 170i transport experience?

Interesting finding since I tried an AppleTV (same WAV files that on my iTouch) connected thru a Toslink cable (only digital-out option from the AppleTV) to the same Reimyo DAC I have.

Much better interfase since now I can browse from a 15 inch monitor close to my tired eyes - but - not sure if it sounds as good as the Wadia 170i yet (just a few hours of listening so far).

Could it be that the Siltech coax cable used with the Wadia 170i is a better digital interfase than the Kimber toslink (optical) one?

or is it that a SS storage capabilities of the iTouch is a better option than the IDE disk in the AppleTV?

More later....

hey Flg2001

I did study about the 170i a bit. IMO, solid state creates less noise and more stable compares to the traditional disk. Also even toslink and coax are transferring the same signal, toslink has to transform the digital signal into light > pass through the optical cable > transform the light back into the digital signal. It takes more steps than using a coax cable and that might be what makes people saying coax is a better digital interface than toslink in short length connection.

Flg2001
Please let us know your honest opinion of the AppleTV once you have spend more time listening.I am undecisive whether I should go with ipod classic 120gb/Wadia 170 itransport/my DAC or the AppleTV hooked to my DAC.Also how big the AppleTV comes?I seen some 500gb at ebay.
Regards
George

Hei83: Thanks for bringing that placing some "light" (no pun) to the difference between toslink and coax, that should have some drawbacks in the audible side of the system.

Yioryos: I have not devoted that much of a time to compare the Wadia170i to the AppleTV, first impressions showed that the Wadia was a tad better in resolution and ambience, but I need at least a whole week to back-up this statement.

Regards,

I just got a reply from wadia:

................. The 121 DAC (due out in early 2010) shares the same chassis as the 170iTransport and will be available in both black and silver powder coat finishes. It can be stacked with the 170iTransport or will fit next to the it on a shelf due to its small size. Even though it will be small, it will have twenty years worth of Wadia DAC technology packed into its small chassis. It will have a digital coax to work with the 170iTransport or another unit that uses that type of connection. It will also have USB, Toslink and AES/EBU for compatibility with many digital audio products currently available. It will have a pair of Balanced and Single Ended analog outputs as well as a built-in headphone amplifier.

Because it follows in a long line of Wadia DACs, it will share many of the technologies that Wadia has perfected over the past 20 years. It will use our patented DigiMaster upsampling software and also will allow the user to control volume and balance with the 121 using our Direct-Connect technology. We reclock the incoming digital signals so that Jitter is reduced to a minimum.

While the 121 is designed to complement the 170iTransport, it is by no means meant to only sell with it. The 121 will make an extraordinary DAC for many people looking for better performance out of all or their digital devices. Please let me know if you have any other questions that I may answer.................

It seems like wadia got a solution for 170i 's jitter issue now. It may be worth a try again once the 121 DAC is available.