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January 20, 2007 - 3:12pm
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Recommendations on dock for ipod used as source?
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Question: Do you want to come out of the iPod with a digital stream and run it through an outboard DAC into the rest of your system, or do you want to take analog out from the iPod?
Since the ipod does not have a digital out, and modding it to output digital is very expensive, I am definitely planning to use the analog out. As I wrote in my original post, I have the impression that the docking out may be of better quality than the headphone out, and regardless bypasses the issue of what the optimum output volume is. Basically, what I'm asking is among the various docks, e.g. http://www.xitel.com/product_hflipod.htm, the generic Apple dock, various models by Kensington, etc., what do people recommend?
Some online research suggests that the Xitel dock is one of the few that does not put a volume control onto the output line, potentially degrading the signal (Kensington docks apparently have small but noticeable degradation for this reason). On its docks, Apple apparently limits volume in such a way that maximum volume simply means no degradation, but I still prefer the no-volume option. Who controls volume at the source, anyway? Also, Apple outputs via a mini plug, not proper RCA, not appealing. So it looks like Xitel it is...
I have been using the Marantz IS201. It sounds fine to me. It comes with a remote as well.