Audio Technica AT-HA35i melds headphone amp and iPod dock
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 25th 2010 12:36PM
posted January 25th 2010 12:36PM
Headphone amps may not be a necessity for the average user with a pair of off-the-shelf 'phones or iPod buds, but they're definitely a must-have for a particular subset of users, and Audio Technica is looking to make their lives a bit easier with its new AT-HA35i amp. From the looks of it, it this one doesn't skimp too much where it counts, and includes a D/A converter that supports 192 kHz/24bit audio, along with a max output of 440mWx2, 20-20kHz frequency response and support for 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz sampling. Unlike other amps, however, this one also packs a built-in iPod dock, plus some RCA, S-Video, and digital audio outputs 'round back to connect it to your other audio / video gear. Of course, Audio Technica headphone amps tend not to come cheap, and this is no exception -- look for it to set you back ¥50,400 (or about $560) when it rolls out in Japan next month.
all the better to enjoy low quality mp3s with.
@vlad the inhaler
You know iPods can play other formats right? Uncompressed, Apple Lossless, etc. The people who spend $560 on headphone amps probably already know this.
@manifolddestiny
And yet you are still using the crappy built in DA converter instead of the 192khz one in the Amp itself. This seems pretty pointless to me. It is no different than just connecting the iPod to an amp with a Line Out adapter.
A real audiophile would use the digital Toslink output of the iRiver H120 and connect that to a DAC/Amp.
@DrDr Docks can bypass the iPod's internal D/A converter.
@DrDr See my post below about bypassing the internal DAC
@vlad the inhaler
Actually, the primary reason for a headphone amp is not clarity, but power. Larger cans need more power to be driven correctly, therefore you will be able to hear all the imperfections of your MP3's even better!
Seriously, i want one!
@vlad the inhaler of some kind of smoke; most people do not use MP3 on Ipods... can you say .m4a, .m4b, .m4p, .m4v, .m4r, .3gp, .mp4, .aac; the format that Itunes uses by default.
And another thing, these Apple Audio Video toys support:
"Audio formats AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV.
480p and 576p component TV out
H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats;
H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats;
MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats"
So the Hifi nerds can put high fidelity audio on these devices if they so desire; if they can get highfidelity digital audio out on that doc is another question?
@vlad the inhaler If you don't like the dock, just hook up a CD player to the back. Done.
The problem is not data compression anymore; it's DYNAMIC compression. All the popular music since the mid '90s has been destroyed by dynamic compression before release, to make it "louder." And now these assholes at the record labels are going back and destroying their back catalogs for "remasters." Tell us: Why the hell would you need to "remaster" Brothers in Arms, a full digital recording?
Uh huh: To ruin it with dynamic compression.
The sad fact is that high-quality stereo equipment is a waste for current music. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to find that even classical music is being ruined now.
$560 for an iPod dock. I will laugh my balls off if Apple changes the (placement of the) proprietary ultra-super-port or whatever it's called of the next generation iPods.
@BigKing That's why these docks are universal now. There are different inserts for different devices. As far as I know, most iPods come with an insert of the proper size and shape.
@BigKing You realize that headphone amps are quite necessary and worthwhile for a high-end headphone like a AKG701 or Sennheiser HD595? Or even a mid-range series.
He's saying that Apple could abandon this dock connector at any time.
Unlikely, but possible.
The important question is whether Audio Technica licensed the digital output from Apple like Wadia did, or if this just takes the analog stream, converts to digital, then back to analog like a few docks used to do. If they did the former, and this bypasses the iPod's internal DAC, I think this thing will sell with the headfi types.
@manifolddestiny
The iPod port is capable of outputting digital? I thought it was line-out only. Anyway, I'll be getting a FiiO E9 for a quarter of the price, as much as I love Audio-Technica.
@DestrictoEnse Yes, but you have to license it from Apple. AFAIK Wadia's iTransport is the only dock that does it.
@manifolddestiny
I had no idea you could get digital out from the iPod. This could be a genuinely cool device if it actually did digital out.
So here's a pinout of the dock connector:
http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml
I don't see any digital audio output in there.
@manifolddestiny no Onkyo has released a dock that uses Wadias code for cheaper but it is built like crap
At least it uses the line-out in that case. Line-out FTW
@paul34 Actually digital out is the big winner, but we don't know if AT licensed that from Apple or not. Heretofore it's just been Wadia with their iTransport.
@manifolddestiny The Pioneer SC-25/27 receivers also stream the digital from an iPod, according to Pioneer when I talked to them about it. Not the same market as the Wadia, or this, but another device that can do it apparently.
So, looking at this pinout of the iPod dock, where's the digital-audio output?
http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml
A few years ago, if said to Audio Technica and the like, 'i want an mp3 player port in my amp', they wouldve taken you round the back and put you out of your misery.
How times cha...zzz.
The Japanese consumer audio brands (Denon, Kenwood, JVC, etc) were surprisingly slow to come to grips with the whole "audio on my computer" thing. It was only about 2 years ago that they finally rid of minidisc players on their compact receivers and one started seeing SD slots, USB ports, and yes, iPod docks instead.
One exeption was Onkyo, which brought out high end sound cards and an audio player/computer hybrid box. Neat idea but rather behind the curve still.
Unlike other amps, however, this one also lacks a USB- or optical input. WTF?
Looks like I'll just stick to my Focusrite headphone amp and the idea of purchasing ma favorite iPhone/iPod dock, the Onkyo ND-S1.
The case and controls are simply beautiful. It has the industrial modern high quality look that pairs nicely with the premium price. Like bad beaver said the lack of SPDIF optical in is a disappointment for a $500+ amp. Cool name too "Audio Technica" reminds one of "Ars Technica". Oh and it is very unlikely that apple is going to relocate their "proprietary ultra-super-port" because of the affect that would have on their hardware partners.
@cosmicinglewood That case is literally a $7 project box from Digi-Key. No kidding, I have several of them on my shelf right now! For $500+ I'd expect at least an original design.
I'm guessing the answer is 'no' but this would need to have some kind of USB functionality for me to be interested. There are other more interesting iPod docks at the 'high end' that also function as PC connections. (And they tend to have named, replaceable DAC chips or tubes - equally impressive likely to this one.)
It's hard to imagine being married forever to using an iPhone now that so many other options abound. I wouldn't want to buy it and toss the thing on Craigslist when I found I'd rather switch to Android or Apple decides to change their dock connector. USB gives it that kind of backup plan, like 'Well, at least when I'm tired of using the iPhone I can make it my PC or laptop amp'.
If you translate it at Google, in the specs is does say:
iPod用 Dockコネクタ(デジタルリンク) Dock Connector for iPod (Digital Link)
So I'll assume that the Digital Link means they paid the fee to get a straight digital output from the iPod like the Wadia has. So, provided that the headphone amp section is decent, this could make a really nice desktop listening station with an iPod Classic filled with Apple Lossless audio.
@smackrabbit
Amazing! Although I cannot afford it, I use DAC/Amp with USB on my MBP. But this audio-technica one indeed draws digital signal from iPod!
Bing translate:
dedicated headphone amplifier can enjoy high quality sound is drawn out as iPod digital signal.
digital signal emitted from the iPod to direct transmission and CD quality high definition playback of ＊.
＊ WAV format, Apple ロスレスフォーマット at.