Is iPod Digital Output Possible?

Jax2,

I tought of the same, what I ended up doing is the following since as you said it the product doesn´t exist:

1. Burning all of my cds into a 1,000 GB external drive using the WAV format.

2. Using a Xitel Pro-Link from my laptop USB to send an optical cable (Kimber) to my Bel Canto DAC2 and into my system.

The optical connection sounds better that the coaxial, my feeling is that there is way too much digital noise inside the computer. Another option is to use an Apple Airport Express to send the data from your computer to your dac via the optical output (you will need to buy the Monster cable kit to get the 1/8 to toslink optical cable). Hope this will help.
Hector

Hepl (Hector) - yep, I've done the same using a smaller (250gb) external drive (smaller drive using Apple Lossless format). I use a Waveterminal U24 and am also very happy with the setup. But I was looking for a portable solution that didn't involve toting along the laptop and hard drive. I've tried the Airport Express, but didn't like it in comparison to the Waveterminal route, which works superbly with my DAC.

Audioengr (Steve) - A direct to DAC solution would be great too (as I think you are suggesting with the I2S route), but I'd be happy if I could just get a USB feed to my Waveterminal which would do the S/PDIF conversion. The USB docking dongle won't work as it's the wrong end (and I assume wrong direction) of the USB cable. Do you think it's possible to get a digital feed via USB to go to my Waverterminal, or would that require the chip you mention?

Marco

Wavelength Audio has USB DAC's - check out the site www.wavelengthaudio.com and see if that might work. I couldn't tell by just the quick glance, but it would be worth a look.

Hepl,
Yamaha has a 200GB hard drive recorder that writes to the drive in an uncompressed format. I got one, and when I figure out how to use it, I will put all my CD's on it....

Wavelength Audio has USB DAC's

Yes, I know about their DACs. There are several companies with USB DAC's but they require a USB input (female). The only dongles cables available from the iPod Dock are USB male. I don't think you can reverse that or use an adapter - someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Marco

Joeylawn36111,

This is my third hard drive. I keep running out of space, I do burn the entire disks. Of course I always hear the same songs over and over, about 30% of the library. But disk space is getting cheaper and it's easier for me to burn the whole than to manually select the songs I like.

Jax2,

I just bought an Alpine CDA-9855 and KCA-420I (I-Pod interface) for my Ruf. The I-Pod can be controled from the head unit, even the information can be seen on the dash. Not sure if the unit(KCA-420I) does the D/A conversion or just allow the head unit to control the I-Pod and read its display info. You may want to try to find out more on www.ipodlounge.com.
Hector