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Ipod 30-pin-to-USB cable

Here's a query that forums are surprisingly quiet about: what's a good-to-great Ipod USB cable? I'm looking for a 30-pin-to-USB, rather than (e.g.) headphone-to-RCA or firewire-to-USB. For some reason, I'm not seeing a lot of discussions of that sort of cable.

I have a Marantz CD6004 cd player, which has a USB input on its face, so you use the player's DAC. I rip all of my files to lossless formats; listening to music from my Ipod(s) is very convenient (no messing with cds), and the sound quality is great - certainly better than headphone-to-RCA. If I can improve SQ with an aftermarket cable, all the better.

I'd like to spend less than $100, at least to start, but I'd be happy to hear recommendations for more expensive cables. I've been looking at (e.g.) the Audioquest Forest, which is very inexpensive...almost...too inexpensive. Any other suggestions?
bthogan
ecruz
402 posts
 
The OP's tinyurl is linked to Audio Adisor, who offer a 30-day return. Why not buy a couple of cables, try them for a few weeks and keep the one that you like the best?
bthogan OP
38 posts
 
@Ecruz: You know what, that's a very good idea. Thanks for the tip!
bthogan OP
38 posts
 
Well, I picked up an AudioQuest Carbon Ipod USB cable...they're supposed to have a burn-in period, but I think I immediately heard a noticeable improvement over stock as soon as I plugged it in - cleaner, tighter, slightly larger soundstage. Of course, I may have just heard $119. We'll see. More later.
tomyeoh
1 posts
 
Hello Everyone,

I know I am a little late coming into this discussion but similar to Bthogan, I own a Marantz CD6004 CD player with the USB input that has been specified to be able to connect an iPod and bypass its internal DAC to make use of the Marantz's more superior DAC. I was so sceptical that I even contacted the Marantz's technical team to confirm that it actually does what it claims to do and the answer I got from them was a "Yes" apparently.

As pleased as I was with the answer, I am however convinced that it may not be the case and that the guys in Marantz was not honest with their answer due to my following encounters:

1) If the iPod's DAC is bypassed, then the link, i.e. the cable, between the iPod and the Marantz would have been a digital one. So, I ripped a CD in AIFF format into my iPod at the same resolution as the CD and played it back via the iPod and the sound reproduction was different compared to playing the CD. I would have expected the reproduction to be the same if the iPod's DAC was bypassed as it would have been an exact digital copy.

2) I then purchased an aftermarket iPod 30-pin-to-USB cable, the Oehlbach XXL and the sound reproduction was again different. In fact, the sound reproduction is different when comparing (a) the CD, (b) using the original Apple cable and (c) using the aftermarket cable.

Based on an ear test, the sound reproduction from the CD as the source was in my opinion the best sound reproduction.

In my conclusion, I believe that the Marantz CD6004 does not bypass the iPod's DAC which makes a lot of sense because as a "whole" package, it is priced rather inexpensive.

A disappointed enthusiast. Tom.
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