Wadia Digital intros iTransport: the audiophile's iPod dock

We've seen some fairly snazzy aftermarket iPod docks before, but Wadia Digital is hoping to lure a few C-notes from the wallets of bona fide audiophiles with its iTransport. This Made for iPod device reportedly bypasses the PMP's "internal D/A conversion and output stage," which enables the music to stream through "clean and unadulterated." Hailed as the "market's first digital player dock to retrieve a direct digital signal from an iPod," it relies on a S/PDIF digital audio out (as well as analog outs) and even includes a set of component outputs for video. Notably, the iPhone and iPod touch will work here too, but unless you've got some mighty fine loudspeakers (or cans) that can take advantage of such clarity, we'd suggest holding tight to your $349 when it ships next month.

[Via AudioJunkies]

[alicia @ Jan 4th 2008 1:19PM]

how many audiophiles actually have an iPod? I thought that disqualified you from being an audiophile. just a thought

[larry @ Jan 4th 2008 1:38PM]

So true.

[wslcrew @ Jan 4th 2008 5:31PM]

So true. Audiophiles with iPod is like petrolheads with minivans.

[rip @ Jan 4th 2008 2:23PM]

Well, I have an iPod. And I'd consider myself an audiophile. Well, a rational audiophile. Which means I don't spend $300 on a 5 meter cable.

Thing is, I never ever connect my iPod to my home receiver. I use it in my car, for which it is perfectly suited.

However, a large part of my music is in encoded in lossless. So, I really don't see any reason why it wouldn't sound just as good as a CD, especially with this piece of equipment.

[Bad Beaver @ Jan 4th 2008 2:26PM]

rip, thank you for that reasonable comment. You're not alone.

[alicia @ Jan 4th 2008 2:56PM]

an audiophile is someone who spends $300 on a 5 meter cable. And even if you're playing lossless files on your iPod, it's still not coming out of the headphones that way. the signal-to-noise ratio on the iPod is much lower than on most players that play lossless formats.

[Cal @ Jan 4th 2008 3:05PM]

Grr I only opened this entry to say something like that =(

iPods are for sheep, not audiophiles.

[bradwjensen @ Jan 4th 2008 3:10PM]

True Audiophiles most likely use the FLAC codec after ripping with "Exact Audio Copy" when possible; thus not being able to use an iPod in the first place.. Not to mention i've heard many times that the Cowon players which some can play Flac files actually have way better sound quality than any iPod out there.

[Bad Beaver @ Jan 4th 2008 3:26PM]

Yawn. Good thing I don't consider myself an audiophile anymore. I would have to ooze pretentious ignorance all day long. So glad I'm just a person who likes to listen to music that sounds nice and appreciates it if it comes on a device that is slick to use.

[packgrog @ Jan 4th 2008 3:31PM]

Many, actually. They get them modified, though, because the default product has a crappy headphone jack. Check out the Red Wine Audio iMod for more info. They rewire the iPod to create a better quality, direct line-out straight from the (surprisingly good and under-utilized) Wolfson DAC chip.

Also, many (but not all) iPods can run Rockbox, allowing them to play FLAC (lossless compression) files. Alternatively, they just use ALAC (Apple Lossless) files.

[MacAnkka @ Jan 4th 2008 3:38PM]

iPods aren't that uncommon among audiophiles. Most of the iPod models have a pretty good DAC, but the headphone amplifier could be better. Thankfully you can get Line out audio out of the dock port and use your own headphone amp for portable (though bulky) hifi goodness. Sure, it's bulkier than using the internal amp, but good 'phones really require more power to sound their best anyways.

iPod supports Apple Lossless and you can convert your old FLAC-files to it (lossless to lossless conversion doesn't deteriorate sound quality) or alternatively, if you have a 5G ipod or older, you can install an alternative firmware called Rockbox on it that supports FLAC (and ogg and such..)

iPods are not bad when it comes to producing portable hifi audio.

[Tom @ Jan 4th 2008 3:55PM]

@Alicia:

True audiophiles use a LOD (Line-Out Dock) to bypass the iPod's headphone amp, and usually utilize their own headphone amp. That headphone amp generally costs more than the iPod itself.

Even higher-strung audiophiles get an iMod iPod from Vinny at Red Wine Audio to go along with this setup.

The iPod can be a great audiophile-grade tool. However, it costs money to get it that way.

[gorby @ Jan 4th 2008 5:58PM]

I'd call myself a semi-audiophile. I have a nice enough system to notice quality differences in various compression rates, &c. with ease. If I had the desire to listen to my music on-the-go, I'd use my iPod without issue. There's a big difference between casually listening and sitting down in your listening room to really relax to some amazing sound. Even if you appreciate good sound, sometimes you want to settle for 'good-enough,' you just want to hear some music. Regardless, I think this product is a little strange, and I think I'll be sticking with my Roku for my digital listening at home..

[DG @ Jan 4th 2008 1:21PM]

Are the source files still 128kbps mp3s? If so, then what's the point?

[name @ Jan 4th 2008 1:21PM]

has anyone noticed that mp3 sounds like shit.

[Sherm Didit @ Jan 4th 2008 1:54PM]

*Sigh* Who said anything about the source files being locked to a ridiculous 128k? You'd think everyone would know by now that the ipod is perfectly capable of playing lossless files.

[DG @ Jan 4th 2008 2:32PM]

Can you buy lossless from iTunes? No, no you can't.

Anyway, most people use their iPods for mp3s. And really, an 80GB iPod can hold about 100 albums at lossless quality. That's good to be sure, but not quite the usefulness you'd want out of your iPod. And putting lossless albums on an 8GB iPod Touch is pointless.

If you're invested enough in your audio that you want to hear lossless quality music, there's a good chance that you either have a huge HD full of flac files, or you're listening via CD or other hi-def audio discs. A product like this doesn't make any sense; I can't see a "true" audiophile having any interest in this.

[Jeff @ Jan 4th 2008 2:43PM]

Never heard of Apple Lossless?

Natively supported in both iTunes and the iPod.

[Shrike @ Jan 4th 2008 2:30PM]

You dont need a very expensive amp or speakers to clearly hear the advantage of a better DAC over an ipod or similar. £100 speakers are easily enough to hear a big difference. Also its largely irrelevant what the source is, whether it be 128kbs mp3 or cd, itll still sound better running thru a better output stage. Obviously the gains are more limited with low quality mp3s but the fact still remains.

[Jeff @ Jan 4th 2008 2:47PM]

DG:

iPods are available up to 160GB, you know. Not 80GB.

And my Apple Lossless albums average around 300-350MB each. A 160GB iPod could then hold around 480 albums at lossless quality.

480 albums is not enough music for you to be "useful"?

[Bad Beaver @ Jan 4th 2008 2:57PM]

Don't you bother him with facts and logic ;)

While patronizing, he it halfway right. At home, you likely have much better sources and solutions on offer. As I said further down, I think this is mostly meant so you can provide a decent connection for *other people's* iPods.

[JS @ Jan 4th 2008 1:30PM]

mp3's only sound as bad as the compression employed. But in this day and age we are experiencing a significant degradation of music as new releases are mastered for volume instead of dynamic range. A good explanation of this can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/33f7wy

With regards to the iTransport, you're much better off getting an Airport Express for < $99 and use it's toslink output to stream directly from iTunes to your receiver.

[letstakeawalk @ Jan 4th 2008 3:19PM]

Thanks for that excellent link re: engineering "loudness".

[Homeboy @ Jan 4th 2008 1:30PM]

My Zune 80 sounds phenomenal, the reproduction is the best I've ever experienced on a portable device. Everything I play sounds clear, alive and no matter how much I turn up the volume the sound never distorts. The sound quality is amazing, 100% flawless sound which I why I don't look back to the time I rocked iPods.

How about an audiophile dock for us Zune users?

[Jim @ Jan 4th 2008 2:18PM]

Ummm.... when there is a critical mass such that the 0.01% of Zune users who might buy one of these adds up to more than a bus load of people which is unlikely to be any time soon (not to criticize the Zune, its just economics).

Interesting how the bi-pass of the D/A converter was done since the quality of D/A converters in any portable device is crappy compared to a decent home receiver. For the price, this is probably the most cost-effective way of supplying pristine, lossless input into an audiophile-level system from a portable device.

[chris @ Jan 4th 2008 1:49PM]

Wow, that has got to be the cheapest piece of Wadia equipment I have ever seen.

[Bad Beaver @ Jan 4th 2008 2:13PM]

Hm. Hmmmm. Actually, this is very nice. But I have no idea who is supposed to use it, and where. As JS says, at home you're better off with AirPort Express or some other wireless system + the DAC of your choice and just stream from your own computer. But then this seemingly has a DAC built in already too...
I guess it would be nice to have so people bringing their iPods over can connect them to your rig in the best possible way. HiFi dealers should be all over it too because it allows people to bring their own demo material without lugging loads of CDs.

[dhaasgob @ Jan 4th 2008 4:16PM]

I'm seriously wondering how these people are bypassing the iPod/iPhone DAC. I thought the dock's audio out pins were directly wired to the DAC (it was on older iPods, and was circumvented by an expensive iPod surgery). I might be wrong, though.

[Andrew @ Jan 4th 2008 4:37PM]

This is what I would like to know too. How are they able to tap the digital signal? I thought it was impossible (no pin for that purpose). I would definitely want to DIY a homebrew digital out to use with my DACs if this is in fact possible.

[will @ Jan 4th 2008 4:33PM]

Tch, REAL audiophiles only listen to the Bsides of unreleased or ashcanned vinyl pressings.
Get your facts straight, all you poser audiophiles above me are losing your edge, to better looking people with better ideas and more talent; everyone we know is more relevant than everyone you know.
*other james murphy references*

[Patrick @ Jan 4th 2008 5:27PM]

I am just curious how this works. As far as I know, iPods have never included digital outputs on the dock connector. I was shopping for just this type of product when I found that out. You can buy such a product by MSB but they have to mod your ipod to include a digital out. Has this changed recently?

[Skorpius @ Jan 4th 2008 10:08PM]

I wish Denon would just go ahead and make their own FLAC player.

[Wayne @ Jan 7th 2008 3:03PM]

Here's a link to more information about how Wadia did it. And, they are not likely to be the only ones to do so.

BTW, I'm a reformed audiophile using an Ipod in a pretty decent system. Gave up vinyl long ago. This thing looks great to me.

http://www.stereophile.com/news/010408wadia/