best i-pod dock (audiphile grade)

hi,

with i-pod becoming a very popular device of storing full music collection for many, traditional hi-fi brands have launched their i-pod docks - CA, NAD, Marantz, Denon, harman kardon, besides of course apple recognised griffin and belkin docks.

can anybody advise on which is the best i-pod dock of audiophile grade (just the dock... not dock with attached speakers)

Wadia iTransport

I dont think it can get better than these babies!

http://www.krellonline.com/new_pdfs/...69_018_BRO.pdf

OR

Stereophile: Wadia Announces Launch of iPod Dock with S/PDIF Output

OR

Fatman Tube Signal Processors
Fatman iTube - iPod Dock and Amplifier

Keep in mind that if the Doc uses the analog audio out of the iPod ( its also avaiklable from the connector at the base where the doc mates ) then you are using the fairly mediocre DAC + Volume Control + output stage of the iPod.

Garbage in Garbage out ... is what will happen even if you follow it with a megabuck amplifier.

The ONLY 2 Docks that provide a Digital O/p from the iPod is :

1. The Wadia doc ( soon to be available in India )
This works without modifying the ipod.

2. The MSB dock which requires the iPod to be modified, and is priced more than 5 times the Wadia !


3. The Krell product, to me seems to be taking the ANALOG output from the ipod, and has even provided Tone Controls to tweak the signal.

There is some sideways mention that its a digital signal, but I am not too sure of that. It does not say this as an explict statement, in the specification....

4. All other docks.... besides 1 & 2 above ... not audiophile products... infact IMHO below evtry level audiophile grade. These are Lifestyle / convenience products... IMHO

Further, the specs of the Krell product do not mention a built in DAC.

Also no external Digital ( SPDIF etc ) input provided.....

Good post!! Finally someone came out with the truth.

Quite astounding, isn’t it?!

I wonder how the big bosses in Krell, Wadia or Fatman were able to conceal the “truth” for such a long time. We are surely a bunch of really smart people out here. Finally a savior forum is here – HiFi salvation is not far!

Keep the faith guys, Amen.

Or may be this might help us with some options…
Top 10 Tech Toys for the Filthy Rich | The Best Article Every day

thanks everybody for your help. went thru all the links that you all sent and all said that digital output from ipod will give cd quality sound from .wav or lossless formats like apple lossless or flac.

however majority of music on net is available in mp3 format. now i know that even digital output from mp3 will still not sound as good as from .wav.

but can anybody tell me if digital output from mp3 (from wadia dock) will sound noticably better from analogue output from other docks (like CA or Belkin).

Hmm...more ideas?

Shanling MC-3

Roth Music Announces Cocoon MC4 - Tube Driven iPod Amp |

Cheers.

That would depend on the External DAC used after the ipod & Wadia Doc...