2. cables
  3. 1351284383

Ipod 30-pin-to-USB cable

Here's a query that forums are surprisingly quiet about: what's a good-to-great Ipod USB cable? I'm looking for a 30-pin-to-USB, rather than (e.g.) headphone-to-RCA or firewire-to-USB. For some reason, I'm not seeing a lot of discussions of that sort of cable.

I have a Marantz CD6004 cd player, which has a USB input on its face, so you use the player's DAC. I rip all of my files to lossless formats; listening to music from my Ipod(s) is very convenient (no messing with cds), and the sound quality is great - certainly better than headphone-to-RCA. If I can improve SQ with an aftermarket cable, all the better.

I'd like to spend less than $100, at least to start, but I'd be happy to hear recommendations for more expensive cables. I've been looking at (e.g.) the Audioquest Forest, which is very inexpensive...almost...too inexpensive. Any other suggestions?
bthogan
mateored
258 posts
 
I didn't think you could bypass the iPod's DAC with any available cable. I thought you needed the Wadia i70 or similar dock. As far as I know, there are only a few that do this - and they all cost more than $100 new.
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
I remember reading a review that stated that the USB port on the Marantz SACD/CD player SA8003(? I think) didn't use the better DAC that they used for SACD. I don't have the link off hand though.

So it may not be worth springing for a better cable than the standard one.

But if you really want a better quality cable, have a look at ALO Audio
http://www.aloaudio.com/cables-en/portable-cables-ipod-imod-solo/algorhythm-solo-cables/
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
Found the review

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0109/marantz_sa8003.htm

"The USB input is powered by an NEC uPD63901 microcontroller (designed for use in car audio head units), and it enables the SA8003 to play MP3, WAV, WMA and AAC files directly off a USB hard drive, pen drive, or iPod (it does not function as a USB DAC, as connecting a laptop to the Marantz with a USB cable does nothing). The uPD63901 does its own D/A conversion, so files read from the USB input completely bypass Marantz' CS4398-based digital section (and cannot be output via the Marantz digital outputs). The USB signal still benefits from going through the SA8003's discreet analog output stage, but overall the USB sound is not quite up to par with what the SA8003 does when playing a shiny disc. "
More to discover