I don't have an iDecco, but I have an iPhone and hopefully can interject some thoughts.
The not optimized message has to do with rejecting noise from the phone trying to find a signal. It's that buzzing noise that can happen when any cell phone is near speakers or amps. When my iPhone (and every other cell phone I've had) is near my alarm clock and the phone rings, right before it rings, the alarm clock buzzes.
To avoid this, put the iPhone into Airplane Mode.
As far as sound quality, a digit stream is a digital stream. The stream will come out of both bot perfect. One may have a little more jitter than the other, but it'll probably be negligible.
As was said above, the iPhone's biggest weakness is storage space. An iPod would have a lot more space for the money.
A great option to look into is an Apple TV. It has a digital output, stores music on it's internal hard drive, is dead silent, and can be controlled by an iPhone if desired. It has Internet radio too. No Pandora though.
Just a few thoughts. |
Sorry for a few misspellings. I'm posting from my iPhone and editing isn't very easy.
BTW, I'm also controlling my Apple TV with my iPhone as I type this.
I'd really like some thoughts on the iDecco if you guys wouldn't mind. I've read a review or two, but you know how that goes. What would you compare it's house sound to? Warm like NAD, Marantz, etc? Forward, laid back?
My system's changing a bit, due to a recent move. I need my system to have less boxes. I'd love a NaimUniti, but it's a bot expensive for me. |
I don't have an iDecco, but I have an iPhone and hopefully can interject some thoughts.
The not optimized message has to do with rejecting noise from the phone trying to find a signal. It's that buzzing noise that can happen when any cell phone is near speakers or amps. When my iPhone (and every other cell phone I've had) is near my alarm clock and the phone rings, right before it rings, the alarm clock buzzes.
To avoid this, put the iPhone into Airplane Mode.
As far as sound quality, a digit stream is a digital stream. The stream will come out of both bot perfect. One may have a little more jitter than the other, but it'll probably be negligible.
As was said above, the iPhone's biggest weakness is storage space. An iPod would have a lot more space for the money.
A great option to look into is an Apple TV. It has a digital output, stores music on it's internal hard drive, is dead silent, and can be controlled by an iPhone if desired. It has Internet radio too. No Pandora though.
Just a few thoughts. |
Thanks for the insight on the iDecco, Bob. If I go the iDecco route, it'll be due to simplicity. Connecting an amp wouldn't be realistic in my case. I have a Bryston B60, but have recently moved and am expecting our first child. The turntable has to be stored for a few years, the speakers will have to go on a shelf when she starts crawling, etc. I lost my dedicated man-cave room in exchange for more space in the new place. No dedicated room requires as few boxes as possible. I'd love to hook up the Apple TV to something along the lines of the Decco or Nova (no iPod dock needed for me) to keep things simple.
I'd get the internal DAC Tom my B60, but it's only available as a coax, and my Apple TV only has optical. I figure a few digital inputs will go well with the TV and DVD player too.
Regarding the next Apple TV, rumor has it that it won't have an internal hard drive, which kind of defeats my appeal for the Apple TV. I lie not needing the computer to be on at all times. Everything being synched to my Apple TV eliminates drop outs too.
Just some thoughts. Sorry if I'm taking your thread off track. |
Thanks again, Bob. The B60 has a pre-out/main in loop, so I could use that. That kinda defeats the 1 box principal though. There's a dealer or two in my area, so I guess an audition is in order.
I'm also waiting on the Naim UnitiQute. It's going to be released soon, and will cost $2k, but it does everything the Peachtrees do, and adds wireless, and FM and Internet radio tuners. I'm a huge fan of Naim and would have bought their Uniti, but at almost $4k, it's over my budget.
With my first child on the way, I'll probably have to sell of the entire system and get a 1 box solution and wall mount speakers. It'll be worth it in the end. And it's a good thing that more and more companies are coming out with great sounding 1 box solutions, minus the speakers of course. |
I've wondered that myself. I read somewhere in my Alpine car stereo manual that when using the iPod cable, it head unit uses its own DACs. I think they're claiming to do what these things are doing. The head unit is about 5 years old, and isn't a high end model.
Maybe hifi companies ignored the digital out of iPods due to arrogence/ignorance?
The Naim DAC and UnitiQute's handling of the iPod makes the most sense to me. Use a wire so that you can hold the iPod, rather than trying to mess with the click wheel while docked. I didn't buy the iTransport due mainly to that (and that its pretty buggy with different iPod models).
It interesting how the UnitiQute and Naim DAC have the iPod digital out wire, yet the Uniti (more expensive than the UnitiQute) doesn't. I think the Uniti was released before the other 2, so maybe that's why. Can't see how they wouldn't update it on the current ones if that's the case though.
To see if the UnitiQute is $1k better, I need to hear both. I've loved everything Naim has made that I've heard. Even though it'll be their entry level, if its got that Naim soul, it'll be very hard to beat. I guess time will tell. |
Deaf -
The extension cable sounds like a great idea. Do you have a web link to it? Thanks for the review. |
Please don't take this the wrong way...
Why would you want to use an iPhone instead of a bigger iPod? The iPhone doesn't hold nearly as mucg music as an iPod Classic. The Classic also costs less.
I have an iPhone and love it. But I wouldn't use it as a music server. I understand killing 2 birds with one stone and all, but an iPod Classic isn't that much money (relatively speaking to hifi), and holds a ton of music in Apple Lossless format.
Did I mention before that I'm a huge fan of the Apple TV (the now older one with built in hard drive)? Store all your music on that (160 gb), connect it via its optical output, and control it with your iPhone. I'll never go back to CD players again. |
Makes sense, Bob. I wasn't thinking about Pandora. I didn't think you bought the iPhone specifically for the iDecco.
The Apple TV runs hot, but its not that hot IMO. It doesn't heat up a room the way a tube amp will. While it doesn't have Pandora (which is great BTW), it does do internet radio.
I was just throwing out a few options due to the iPhone's recent incompatability. Hopefully either Apple or Peachtree will have a fix soon. I can't imagine the iDecco is the only piece that's no longer compatable. If enough people complain, maybe Apple will update it again. |
Interesting. I just updated my iPhone a few days ago. Gotta check if it'll work right in my car - Apline head unit with iPod 30 pin cable (or whatever its called). I mainly keep my iPod Classic in there though.
No company is perfect. It strikes me as odd how they release an update and didn't bother to check if the units will play on everyone's gear. Hopefully they'll have something soon.
The extension cable the Deaf in left eye talked about are making an iPod docking device like the iDecco and iTransport more appealing. Maybe if/when my Apple TV goes.
I heard the Naim DAC again the other day, but this time it was fed by an iPod. Fantastic sounding DAC. Now I just need to raise $3k! The UnitiQute is supposedly coming soon. It claims to take the digital output of an iPod too. If it sounds anything like the Uniti, it'll be an excellent unit. |
I updated my iPhone the other day to the current version. Won't play at all in my car. It was the first time I tried it since the update. It irritates me, and the iPhone isn't my primary car source. |
