Is iPod Digital Output Possible?


I've been scouring through all the ipod accessories and cannot find what I am looking for. Perhaps it does not exist. I was wondering if there is any cable or dock that will allow me to extract a digital output from my iPod video (or any iPod for that matter)? There's plenty of adapters to pull the analog out, but it seems like you always need a computer interface to get digital output. Why? Is it just a matter of software to sort out the library? More to the point; I want to connect my iPod directly to my DAC or even to my Waveterminal (requires the squareish delivery end of a USB cable) to my DAC...is this possible? Has this been discussed previously? If so, where the heck was I? No, don't answer that last part! The authorities may be listening in! Just tell me how to get a digital stream out of my iPod if it's possible.

Marco
jax2

Showing 2 responses by hepl

Jax2,

I tought of the same, what I ended up doing is the following since as you said it the product doesn´t exist:

1. Burning all of my cds into a 1,000 GB external drive using the WAV format.

2. Using a Xitel Pro-Link from my laptop USB to send an optical cable (Kimber) to my Bel Canto DAC2 and into my system.

The optical connection sounds better that the coaxial, my feeling is that there is way too much digital noise inside the computer. Another option is to use an Apple Airport Express to send the data from your computer to your dac via the optical output (you will need to buy the Monster cable kit to get the 1/8 to toslink optical cable). Hope this will help.
Hector
Joeylawn36111,

This is my third hard drive. I keep running out of space, I do burn the entire disks. Of course I always hear the same songs over and over, about 30% of the library. But disk space is getting cheaper and it's easier for me to burn the whole than to manually select the songs I like.

Jax2,

I just bought an Alpine CDA-9855 and KCA-420I (I-Pod interface) for my Ruf. The I-Pod can be controled from the head unit, even the information can be seen on the dash. Not sure if the unit(KCA-420I) does the D/A conversion or just allow the head unit to control the I-Pod and read its display info. You may want to try to find out more on www.ipodlounge.com.
Hector