Meridian has introduced the iRis, which is their universal iPod dock. Like the Monitor Audio iDeck, it extracts the iPod's digital stream, but the Meridian has coax and toslink outputs.

Not cheap at $379, but this is the first time you can use your iPod as a digital music server. If you have a separate DAC, and use lossless encoding, the results should (in theory) be no different than playing a CD, with all of the iPod's convenience. If you have a great DAC, you oughta get great sound.

As soon as I can find a source, my order will be in!

Bump

Basically you're paying 400 bucks to turn your $300 ipod into a 20GB disk drive?
"If you have a great DAC, you oughta get great sound."
.. and then throw another - what - 500 to 1000 bucks at a DAC?
Y not just pop for a Slim Devices' Transporter or something along those lines?

Don't get me wrong, we love our 4G IPOD with lossless files, but I've resisted the Redwine mod and every other soup-up that's come along

it-is-what-it-is

I have two homes, and two offices, all with audio systems, 5 in total. It's convenient to be able to just plop the iPod in and have all my favorite music at hand.

I already have the DACs. Most HT receivers have their own DACs, and accept digital input. If one didn't have any DACs available, the cost wouldn't make a lot of sense, but with that cost already sunk, it does, IMHO.

From a convenience and mobility perspective this looks like a very effective approach.

It also allows family members to carry their own personal collections between locations without a second thought.

Unfortunately, the storage capacity of an iPod could be a limiting factor for some folks.

Unfortunately, the storage capacity of an iPod could be a limiting factor for some folks.
My iPod holds 60Gb. At the "convenient" level, that's a very reasonable amount of music. My main server holds 750Gb, and while that's not enough for some folk, it's plenty for me.

What I'm truly excited about is whether I can use the digital output to import into servers. I'm think of buying one CD, putting it on the 750 and the iPod, then loading it onto the other servers from the ipod instead of lugging the CD around.

Yeah, I know... no one buys CDs any more! :D

IPOD just announced a 160gig IPOD.

Hardly limited storage IMO. I think I am going to buy one. I want it for my car.

Evan

I can't help but wonder if a digital audio output from an iPod isn't in violation of any DRM agreements.

- JP

I can't help but wonder if a digital audio output from an iPod isn't in violation of any DRM agreements.
Ssshhh...

Is listening through your earbuds also a DRM violation?

Frankly... I try to ignore DRM as much as possible, and that includes avoiding devices designed to force compliance with unreasonable DRM provisions.

Is listening through your earbuds also a DRM violation?

Frankly... I try to ignore DRM as much as possible, and that includes avoiding devices designed to force compliance with unreasonable DRM provisions.
One can never tell. I recall an argument a while back that listening to a CD in a car with passengers was in violation as only one had "paid for the right" to listen to the music. While working on cataloguing my CDs the other week, I found one that had in addition to the general copying and distribution warnings, an additional "No Lending!" printed right one it. So, evidently, I couldn't even lend the CD to a friend to listen to though that falls under fair use. (Does that also mean I can't sell it as a used album?)

In general, it seems that when in doubt, assume maximum restriction. Considering the added restrictions as of late regarding outputting unprotected digital streams from DRM'd albums, I'd suspect this dock is in violation somewhere, which is why I'm surprised that it's made it to market without a lawsuit.

- JP

I generally don't read the fine print on my CD's, and I don't really care what they say about "fair use".

I'm not wanting to hijack this thread, but their definition of "fair use" doesn't seem very fair to me at all!

I suspect the 'digital' output is using your ipod as a hard drive. I'd be curoius about it's ability to play FairPlay tracks since Aplle will not license it. Considering those would come lossy from the Apple store - who cares? Your outboard DAC won't put back the lost bits.

IPOD just announced a 160gig IPOD.
Hardly limited storage IMO. I think I am going to buy one. I want it for my car.


Thats the big thing for me. My last car, I had the factory 20gb music box on it and loved it. When I switched cars, I put in an Alpine HU with an iPod adapter and now its even better. More storage, more convenient better all around.

New music gets imported into iTunes, and every so often I bring the iPod in for a sync.

Since I also use iTunes to drive my office system (see below), it works real well for me.

in my opinion I would skip paying the 400 for that and buy a PC with a significantly greater hard drive and coax, toslink or even a good 5.1 analog out sound card. You can get diamond 7.1 with coax for 39 at staples and a 5.1 toslink at other box stores for 29. Buy a athlon barebones on ebay for 150 or a complete system (-monitor) for $200 delivered a 320gb hd is less than a $100 and 750gb's can be had for $200 on a regular basis