Orbitsound rolls out tube-based T6 iPod dock

It's far from the first dock of its kind, but those that just can't get enough of that warm vacuum tube sound now have a new option to consider courtesy of Orbitsound, which is set to roll out its new T6 iPod dock. This one apparently combines those tried and true tubes with Orbitsound's trademark single-speaker AirSOUND technology, which the company boldly proclaims is nothing short of "life changing." So as not to let anyone out of that not at all overstated experience, the dock also comes equipped with standard 3.5 mm inputs and outputs in addition to an iPod dock to accommodate your various devices, as well as a video output and, of course, a remote control. No word on a price, but you can look for this one to start shipping sometime next month.

[Via Gadget Lab]

[Sime @ May 27th 2008 6:23PM]

life changing, now thats what i call advertising

[Jared @ May 27th 2008 6:25PM]

The ipod is not a very good source anyways...might as well just get any headphone or desktop speaker amp (tamp?) you want and not have to worry about it being a special "dock" environment.

[Tom @ May 27th 2008 7:05PM]

Um, how is the iPod's Line-Out not a good source? It's a fantastic source - and hell if you're truly anal about the damn thing you can get the Red Wine Audio iMod, and have a truly perfect handheld source.

[Jared @ May 27th 2008 7:30PM]

Tom, ipods firstly do not have consistent sound qualities among the various generations and lines...but as a generalization they are not the best source for persons who actually have interest in high-end audio. Tubes are not a consideration for the common consumer. I am well aware of the mods and bit-perfect lineout but as I stated, why would you want to go with something specifically for the ipod environment when you could have a headphone/speaker setup tailored to all your needs and still be able to hook up a portable player? I just being critical of the product's specific mention for the portable player market.

[Tom @ May 27th 2008 8:08PM]

Quite simply, this takes up less space than a dedicated do-all setup. This might be the audiophile's kitchen station or bedside station. We'll have to see how it sounds, I guess, but I can definitely see purposes for this high-end single-unit system. I don't think it's made to replace a top-end system all - really just something to give nice sound where a big system can't fit.

And we'll have to agree to disagree on the iPod as a source - while my iPod doesn't touch my main system, it's a great companion in my bedroom system and car system.

[Oliver @ May 27th 2008 11:44PM]

you know what sounds good? iPod shuffle first gen! :D

[Can @ May 28th 2008 6:36AM]

iPod?
Sound quality?
Wha..

Don't use them in the same sentence please.
Listening to, even the highest quality music from right equalization with a good speaker/headphones, from and iPod... And I still don't enjoy what I'm listening.
One of the worst quality players out there, worthing almost twice compared to its counterparts. Why iPod is SOO popular? Because of Apple's marketing strategy, because people look for how it "looks" not how it "sounds".

[racimora @ May 27th 2008 6:31PM]

Pretty, but the only thing this will change in my life is my wallet I am sure. If priced right (less than $250) than it just might be something to consider and of course if reviewed well.

[Jake @ May 27th 2008 6:38PM]

What moron plugs a digital source (and in the case of an ipod, a crappy sounding one) into a analog valve amp?

Jesus, some people are thick...

[chris_whateverittakestogetauniqueID @ May 27th 2008 6:47PM]

Err, the same ones who'd plug analog earphones into an ipod?

[Bobby @ May 27th 2008 6:50PM]

Unless they have uncompressed music on their ipod, they probably won't get much out of this.

[Tom @ May 27th 2008 7:10PM]

I'm not going to copy/paste what I said about the iPod being an excellent source, but do you know what tubes do? They color the sound - bring out different details and slightly distort certain frequencies than solid state amps do. Why are there people using tube amps with CD sources? I use a headphone tube amp through my computer's source and it really sounds excellent. Try it. Digital sources are great these days, and they're going to be outputted in analog means anyway, so there's no harm in using a vacuum tube amp to amplify the signal.

[Jared @ May 27th 2008 7:33PM]

Tom the amp would have to utilize the ipod's dac, which is generally not that great (though I hear the touch is pretty good). I just glanced at the product site and it does not mention a DAC, so unless I am mistaken this is simply a preamp/amp. Of course with no pricetag we cannot really judge if this is a good bargain or otherwise (and not that we've heard it).

[Tom @ May 27th 2008 8:14PM]

Yeah - I don't think the dock connector give a straight digital out to begin with - so I believe the dock must utilize the DAC in the iPod. Some models are better than others, as you mentioned in another comment, but I suppose we'll have to hear it to see if it's worth the blank price tag.

[Reid @ May 27th 2008 10:20PM]

You think that's bad? There are still people using analog listening devices!

What rubes.

[Bill @ May 28th 2008 12:21AM]

Some people like the sort of harmonic distortion that tube amps introduce into a music source. They feel it makes the music sound warmer and richer. There's also the nostalgia factor that some people value.

However, this sort of distortion can easily be reproduced with solid state Digital Signal Processing circuitry and software - much more reliably than a tube amp.

[jason @ May 27th 2008 6:42PM]

so what happens when the tubes need replacing? shall i go in my time car and warp back to the 50's?

[Bobby @ May 27th 2008 6:46PM]

Tubes are very readily available through a lot of different online vendors, instrument shops and some hifi audio shops.. Although not a mainstream product, doesn't mean they don't exist.

[Ryan Trevisol @ May 27th 2008 6:47PM]

FYI, tubes are still widely used in guitar and keyboard amps, as well as high-end stereo systems.

Most likely http://www.eurotubes.com, http://www.tubedepot.com, or any other tube supplier would be able to get replacements.

[shineman @ May 27th 2008 8:31PM]

Those look like they're actually pretty standard 12AX7 or ECC83s... I use them all the time in a couple preamps I have for music making. They're pretty easy to get hold of, even without the awesome time machine I use to get the "vintage like new" tubes.

S.

[BigD145 @ May 27th 2008 7:17PM]

Russia is a great place to find tubes.

[phanbouy @ May 27th 2008 7:35PM]

in soviet russia tubes find you

[phanbouy @ May 27th 2008 6:51PM]

Boy the digital sound quality's really gone down the tubes these days!

Ba-dum-ching!

Thanks, tip your waitress please.

[SoloSalsa @ Jun 5th 2008 6:38PM]

http://www.instantrimshot.com/

[Matthew Hilario @ May 27th 2008 6:54PM]

What Tier 6 iPod Dock? does it drop off Illidan Stormrage?

[warrrennnnn @ May 27th 2008 10:34PM]

wow. haha, wow fail.

[Dusty Nipples @ May 27th 2008 7:53PM]

"What moron plugs a digital source (and in the case of an ipod, a crappy sounding one) into a analog valve amp?

Jesus, some people are thick..."
You don't understand audio at all do you?

[phanbouy @ May 27th 2008 8:13PM]

i don't know what's funnier your name or your comment

[kyle allen @ May 28th 2008 2:05AM]

its better than runing it through a solid state amp. but im still waiting for the tube state pmp.

[Cal @ May 27th 2008 8:21PM]

will it blend?

[Andrew @ May 27th 2008 11:04PM]

Gods... I love people.
Even more than I love my tubes.

[neopia9 @ May 27th 2008 11:08PM]

This amp's just like the internet: it's a series of tubes!

[joshky @ May 27th 2008 11:28PM]

can someone please explain to me the advantages of tubes? cuz from what i can see they're just old tech with a lot of history so nobody wants to let go.

[Bill @ May 28th 2008 6:43AM]

Some people like the sort of harmonic distortion that tube amps introduce into a music source. They feel it makes the music sound warmer and richer. There's also the nostalgia factor that some people value.

However, this sort of distortion can easily be reproduced with solid state Digital Signal Processing circuitry and software - much more reliably than a tube amp.

[JRM @ May 28th 2008 1:49AM]

not just that, but replacing the tubes (should that scenario happen) is very expensive.

For an Ipod, I would not invest in anything like this. I'd rather get something more versataile, more energy efficient, and cheaper, especially to play AAC/Mp3.

[kyle allen @ May 28th 2008 2:07AM]

also tube amps dont degrade sound quality at higher volumes as much as solid states... or so ive herd... but mainly they just sound way better.

[larry Friedman @ May 28th 2008 11:48AM]

Awesome, this is going to make my 128k MP3s sound soooo good. :D