Unless you have a nice outboard DAC you won't see much benefit from the Wadia i170. The only reason to get one is to be able to get high quality sound from an ipod. You must have a compatible ipod. Basically you need one of the newer ipods or it doesn't work well. I have a 5th gen ipod video and it works about half the time I try to use it and when it does you have no control over the ipod while it is docked to the Wadia. My iphone seems to work fine with the i170.
Understanding the Wadia 170i Transport
Trying to understand this device and the benefits it can provide. Perhaps those who are using it, or have used it, can help. My questions are,
1) If the Wadia 170i unit itself has its own internal DAC, why is it necessary to use an external DAC to truly benefit its high rez digital output?
2) If using an external DAC, and in order to benefit its high rez digital signal, should it be connected only thru digital output (from external DAC) to the preamp, int-amp, or receiver? Or can it go analog RCA from external DAC to any of said components (using high quality IC's of course)?
2) If using only Wadia 170i's analog RCA output (without external DAC), is it the same as using a mass market iPod dock with analog RCA output? If not the same, is there really a superior sonic performance.
I'm interested only about the audio performance for lossless playback, not video. Thanks in advance.
1) If the Wadia 170i unit itself has its own internal DAC, why is it necessary to use an external DAC to truly benefit its high rez digital output?
2) If using an external DAC, and in order to benefit its high rez digital signal, should it be connected only thru digital output (from external DAC) to the preamp, int-amp, or receiver? Or can it go analog RCA from external DAC to any of said components (using high quality IC's of course)?
2) If using only Wadia 170i's analog RCA output (without external DAC), is it the same as using a mass market iPod dock with analog RCA output? If not the same, is there really a superior sonic performance.
I'm interested only about the audio performance for lossless playback, not video. Thanks in advance.