The MSB Ipod doc is much better than the Wadia. They actually re-clock the digital signal so that they reduce jitter to almost zero. These statements have no merit. Seeing that the iTransport hasn't been delivered to people yet you are making speculations on which performs better. Futhermore, if one uses a DAC that reclocks the signal, the best place to do so from what I understand, this is a non-issue. Not to mention you must modify your iPod with the MSB. |
Nrostov, in what way was my response hostile?
Also, where did I say jitter doesn't matter? As I have already stated, if one uses a DAC that reclocks the signal, jitter is being dealt with just as the MSB.
Keep in mind that the Wadia bypasses the DAC of the iPod, without modifications.
So, there is not a problem as you allude. |
Nrostov,
It goes beyond a stretch to call that comment hostile, but let's get beyond that.
Like the claims of MSB, Wadia also makes claims of delivering bit perfect data.
The link you provided that shows the "bad" data coming from the iPod I highly suspect is after going through the DAC of the iPod.
If there is some other mysterious distortion that needs cleaned up, how are they to get it back to bit-perfect like the CD? If it is corrupt it is corrupt. It is my opinion, feel free to have your own, that what you are claiming is "clever" marketing.
Jitter can be handled when using the Wadia every bit as well as the MSB. We will simply have to agree to disagree.
It seems to me that some statements based on the MSB are done so not considering the Wadia, as it wasn't yet available, knowing that all (other) iPod docks used the the DAC within the iPod. |
I would like to point out though that Wadia's bit for bit could be the bit for bit in picture Those bits don't know if they are audio or video. :) You seem very set on dismissing the Wadia. Look if the Wadia contains that kind of DSP that can reduce jitter to that low of an amount I will be happy to buy it. It's much cheaper and comes in a pretty box. I am being redundant here. You can purchase a DAC that reclocks the signal reducing jitter and this is as not rare to find as you have eluded. MSB isn't the only company gifted at reducing jitter. I believe I have read a blurb that states that the MSB unit converts the signal to SPDIF instead of the iPod doing so, whether this makes much difference I am sure is up for plenty of debate. Let me be clear in that I am not dismissing the MSB unit, rather countering comments against the Wadia that I think are not accurate. |
Any jitter will have come from the original rip and is now part of the file, unable to be removed. Am I wrong? From what I have read, yes, you would be wrong, in context. There is a great article on jitter in a recent Stereophile or TAS issue that discussed jitter. Jitter is only an issue outside the digital realm, bringing it from analog to digital (i.e. making the master) and bringing it from digital back to analog. (So you are right in the sense of the original (master) rip, not the subsequent though and it cannot be removed. This is partly why early CD's were bad, according to the article.) |
Carl, I have an iPod that is 160 gig that I have loaded all the CD's I own onto, at least the songs I care about; I loaded these via Apple Lossless and I have used somewhere around 35 gig of the iPod. Some of us find it very convenient to not have to go to the CD cabinet to get music, not to mention choosing shuffle and hearing all our music at random...and when you head out the door, you can take your music collection with you, if you so desire. |
I had no idea the iPod could actually output digital and bypass it's own DAC. Well, the Wadia 170 iTransport is the only licensed product on the market to do this. But, as you can read in this thread, MSB offers the ability to modify the iPod to do this as well. |
Wow, quite a brutal assessment Uclaid. My experience differs from yours and maybe this is partly because I knew somewhat what to expect from the iTransport going in, as I had seen it at an audio show.
I am curious what iPod model you are using? Some of the things you slam the iTransport for are not a problem for me, I use the iPod Classic. Example, I have no problems using the iPod click wheel to navigate through my iPod while it is docked on the iTransport while using the digital out; I did read in the manual that this may not be the case for all iPod models, there are many models. Again, I can freely navigate my iPod while docked. In doing so I can also see what tracks are being played, so finding Stairway to Heaven or Black Dog is not a problem. :)
As for sound quality, I am very pleased with the performance of it, indistinguishable from a Meridian transport.
Also, I find the fit and finish to be without reproach. |
Sure the iPod is portable, but not when you add the Wadia dock, amp & speakers and so on. Why does it no longer become portable? You just pull it off the iTransport, plug in your headphones and away you go! I admit I am not knowledgeable off all the other ways, but this is a very easy way to have a music server based system, one you can take with you to boot. As for money, I don't know what that setup you suggest costs, but the iTransport and an iPod seems reasonable to me. |
some of the comments above make it sound like a lot of headaches to get it right. I don't see where it would be any different than the way you load your Nano; obviously for higher quality you would chose Apple Lossless, WAV, etc., which I assume you don't use. No headaches, very straightforward, especially if you use the SYNC option on the iTunes/iPod. |
$379 doesn't seem expensive to me considering the overall prices within this hobby. Adding a device such as the iTransport to use use an iPod doesn't come across to me as a "headache", quite the opposite; it allows people to merge their portable with their home stereo, and adding a server type source as well, which appeals to me, the portable part is just a bonus for me. :)
As for build quality, I already addressed that I feel just the opposite as Uclaids, I think it is excellent.
As you probably know, iPod's come in many forms and it seems they all work differently. For me, my iPod and iTransport work together perfectly, others have complaints as documented above. But it appears by Uclaids own admission that he purchased the iTransport "blindly". Before I placed an order I contacted Wadia, several times, and they were more than gracious in addressing my questions. The fact that Uclaids iPod doesn't mate to the iTransport the way he would like may have been addressed before he placed an order, then again maybe he did, I can't say.
Not all products are for all people, but the iTransport is all I hoped from first reading about it and Wadia has been great to deal with. |
I like the idea of digital out very much, but I don't like my iPod reduced to a Shuffle. Neither would I and I am glad it is not. I don't know if you are talking about an external screen, but I can navigate my iPod while docked on the iTransport just as I can undocked. To say it clearer, so far I can navigate and view everything on the iPod's screen absolutely the same, whether docked or undocked. If I misinterpreted your comments, I apologize. |
Hi Sleeve,
I follow you better now. The one thing I miss, slightly, is viewing how much time is left on a track, which I now must go up to the iPod to read. As for which track is next etc., I could never do that with a CD player anyway, I'd have to look at the CD jacket. |
