Onkyo's iPod-lovin' ND-S1 digital media transport gets reviewed
By Darren Murph 
posted November 3rd 2009 3:51AM
posted November 3rd 2009 3:51AM
Back in late July, we weren't aware of when Onkyo's fancy ND-S1 iPod dock would ship. Now, we're not only certain that the £144 ($235) digital media transport is shipping across the pond, but we've stumbled upon a critique for those wondering if such an outlay is justified. After slamming their iPod touch into the device and connecting it to their reference speaker system, they came away duly impressed; in practically every scenario, using the external DAC in this box led to clearer, more precise audio compared to signals coming straight out of the iPod. In fact, reviewers went so far as to call this unit "peerless," though they did mention that it's really only good for those already satisfied with their existing speaker setuip. Of course, you could just opt for an audiophile-approved media player, but then you wouldn't be able to experience the joy and elation that comes with relying on iTunes. Right?
Way too expensive for an ipod dock.
It's obvious you don't know of the Krell KIDD ipod dock. Which makes this Onkyo look like the bargain bin deal of the day.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/07/krell-intros-the-kid-anothe-expensive-ipod-dock-youll-never/
Yay, second ment
I think if someone is a serious audiophile, they wouldn't have an iPod in the first place, or they would have a secondary device/system.
"external DAC in this box"?? This only has digital outputs. It has no DAC.
Duh.
There is no DAC in this box as is wrongly stated in the engadget blurb. It has digital outputs only so you'll have to use an external DAC. That's where the audio quality improvement can happen. This box is more like an adapter that gives you a coax or optical digital audio output from your iPod. You can't say that this dock in itself makes the music sound better, it just allows you to use a better DAC. If you plug this into a cheap DAC it probably wouldn't sound much better than the iPod's built-in DAC.
"Of course, you could just opt for an audiophile-approved media player, but then you wouldn't be able to experience the joy and elation that comes with relying on iTunes. Right?"
I really hope that's just biting sarcasm and not a sincere train of thought.
No, I suspect that's a really *clever* attempt to start another exciting discussion about the merits of the iPod/iTunes ecosystem, or "idiotic flamewar" as we usually call it. Frankly, it's stupid additions like this this to articles that make me wonder why I bother reading this site where the goal seems to be to get the readers to act like a collection of 5-year olds.
"though they did mention that it's really only good for those already satisfied with their existing speaker setuip."
...Setuip?