FInally I have a noise issue

Seems this new-fangled digital gear isn't foolproof.

A bit like the fact that after 25 or more years of development internet connections still aren't stable.

Hi there,

I sometimes use an iPad as a cable-connected audio source, like I guess many people here do.  I found it is essential to be not charging at the same time.  You must have only the audio headphone/lineout wire connected.  Any other connection will cause two things  a hum loop (line frequency 50 or 60Hz tone) and the horrid switching noise and RF junk that comes out of all basic phone/usb chargers.  It can have a nasty subliminal burbling sound that is not completely audible most of the time but is nevertheless destroying many details in the sound.

With only the one connection from iPad ( or phone) to line-in I find the fidelity is not bad and the noise floor is pretty low.

Hope this helps,

...all the above applies to laptops.  When it comes to desktops you need different solutions (e.g. isolation transformers) as, obviously, you cannot disconnect the mains supply to the computer.

Word @adambennette and @clearthinker 

I always ply the iPod without charging, mostly because the one hole cannot do charge and plat at the same time.

The DAC/ADC was a surprise though.

I can see why I like vinyl… this digital stuff if difficult.

@holmz 

Yes.  As you may have guessed I listen nearly exclusively to vinyl with only a little CD/SACD and no streaming or rips.  In any case, it's the artists who are getting ripped.

On your iPod, maybe there's a good reason why they only give you one hole?

It's still amazing how many people think that digital is the final and complete answer to everything (not just in hi-fi) with all upsides and no problems.  IT has a long way to go before its brain is as big as mine.  And yours.

@adambennette 

Actually, it's surprising how often I have to cut the mains to my desktop when it locks or operates very slowly.  It is old though and true that junk gradually builds up on hard disks and cannot ever be cleaned fully, even with programs like Norton and others.