Wadia 170iTransport - To mod, or not to mod?

Sakahara,

The first mod I would make is to upgrade to the iTouch. The solid state drive in it makes no noise unlike the iPod Classic which uses a standard hard drive. This will improve sound quality immediately.

I am having my Wadia upgraded by ASI technologies in about a week. I will let you know how it turns out. Here is the link http://www.asi-tek.com/wadia2.html

I am getting the standard mod package and the DEXA Neutron Star Flagship Clock Upgrade.

Here's a different opinion I received from Empirical Audio;

The problem with modding the iTransport is that is uses the PCM270X chip from TI. This chip, even with the best clock on the planet is very jittery. I should know, I had products based on it years ago. The AirPort Express uses it also.

The best mod for an iTransport is no mod at all. Add an external reclocker like the Pace-Car 2. This will outperfrom by a long shot any mod that you care to do to it. Also, once you put money into mods, the mods become worthless. You never get your money out of them. The Pace-Car on the other hand has a great resale and lasts maybe a day on Audiogon.

Nrostov go to computeraudiophile.com type in teardown wadia i transport and click search. Chris of computeraudiophile does a complete review of the wadia i170 and takes it apart to see whats in it. You can also read the posted commets by empirical audio about the pcm270x chip found in the wadia and J. gordan Rankin of wavelength audio said " the ipod is a great product but it's a mobile personal player. Use as a high end transport is a waste of time" It seems to me that many of these guys who design digital gear say that putting in any sort of clock into the itransport is a wast of money, your better of on getting an outboard clock. I hope that your asi mod is as good as they say however i think is a big rip off.

I posted this tear-down thread from computeraudiophile.com that Usarmyvet91 is referring to in the other 'msb ilink vs. Wadia 170 ipd dock' thread. I'll post it again here for the benefit others:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Teardown-Wadia-iTransport#comment-7413

The guy at ASI is a good tech but a poor businessman.Naturally YMMV,Bob