I am having a tough time understanding the target audience for this device. OK, it provides a bit accurate digital output from the iPod. Fair enough, and that is a feature worthy of applause.
But who is going to buy it?
Let's say you have an iPod. It's better than even money that you are using iTunes to rip and otherwise acquire your music. There are 3rd party apps that I suppose could also put files on an iPod, but I have to think that the majority of users, even among audiophiles, are using iTunes.
And correctly configured, iTunes is also capable of bit perfect output via USB, Optical, or streamed to optical via an Airport Express.
And therein lies my point.
If I have iTunes, and I have a wireless connection on my Mac, I can spend $99 on an Airport Express, and I can use Airtunes to stream a bit perfect (as measured by JA) stream to the DAC of my choice. If I happen to have a computer in the same room, great. I can control it from there.
If not, I can use an iPod Touch running the new Remote App, and I can not only stream my music, but I can control it from the comfort of my listening chair. Think about that....for the cost of an AE and an iPod Touch (refurbs are now about $180) , I can remotely control my entire iTunes library of lossless and uncompressed files and stream a bit perfect signal to any DAC I choose to use. And I would wager that there are PC based solutions that will do the same.
So, what do I gain with the Wadia? I would probably place it close to my equipment rack, and unless you have eagle eyes, you are not really going to be able to see what is on the iPod's display from the listening chair in order to effectively use its remote. And while it has a video output, how many audiophiles would choose to defile(!) their 2 Channel system with a video display. But let's say for arguments sake that they did.
If that were the case, an Apple TV can also stream with Airtunes from iTunes (unknown at present if it too is bit perfect), and it is also remotely controllable via its own remote or an iPod Touch. Doesn't that make more sense then the Wadia?
The only thing I read about the Wadia that seemed to be a selling point versus other options was that your friends could come over and plug their iPods in to your dock. OK, I will buy that, but how many of your friends are also audiophiles such that they have iPods full of lossless or uncompressed files? Be honest ;-)
So, while it is cool that the music on our iPods can now deliver a bit perfect digital output, there are other, arguably better ways to accomplish a similar result, IMHO.
Brian
I am having a tough time understanding the target audience for this device. OK, it provides a bit accurate digital output from the iPod. Fair enough, and that is a feature worthy of applause.
But who is going to buy it?
Let's say you have an iPod. It's better than even money that you are using iTunes to rip and otherwise acquire your music. There are 3rd party apps that I suppose could also put files on an iPod, but I have to think that the majority of users, even among audiophiles, are using iTunes.
And correctly configured, iTunes is also capable of bit perfect output via USB, Optical, or streamed to optical via an Airport Express.
And therein lies my point.
If I have iTunes, and I have a wireless connection on my Mac, I can spend $99 on an Airport Express, and I can use Airtunes to stream a bit perfect (as measured by JA) stream to the DAC of my choice. If I happen to have a computer in the same room, great. I can control it from there.
If not, I can use an iPod Touch running the new Remote App, and I can not only stream my music, but I can control it from the comfort of my listening chair. Think about that....for the cost of an AE and an iPod Touch (refurbs are now about $180) , I can remotely control my entire iTunes library of lossless and uncompressed files and stream a bit perfect signal to any DAC I choose to use. And I would wager that there are PC based solutions that will do the same.
So, what do I gain with the Wadia? I would probably place it close to my equipment rack, and unless you have eagle eyes, you are not really going to be able to see what is on the iPod's display from the listening chair in order to effectively use its remote. And while it has a video output, how many audiophiles would choose to defile(!) their 2 Channel system with a video display. But let's say for arguments sake that they did.
If that were the case, an Apple TV can also stream with Airtunes from iTunes (unknown at present if it too is bit perfect), and it is also remotely controllable via its own remote or an iPod Touch. Doesn't that make more sense then the Wadia?
The only thing I read about the Wadia that seemed to be a selling point versus other options was that your friends could come over and plug their iPods in to your dock. OK, I will buy that, but how many of your friends are also audiophiles such that they have iPods full of lossless or uncompressed files? Be honest ;-)
So, while it is cool that the music on our iPods can now deliver a bit perfect digital output, there are other, arguably better ways to accomplish a similar result, IMHO.
Brian