At CES, one of the most interesting new toys was the Wadia iTransport, which pulls the digital stream out of an iPod.

IIRC, the only units to do this before were the Monitor audio iDecks, but they had no digital output. After them, Meridian announced a unit, but to my knowledge, it still hasn't shipped.

For $350 you turn your iPod into a music server. You pick your own DAC, and the sound is however good you can afford. Anyone who heard the Wadia display at CES will tell you it sounded very good, but note that it was running through multi-thousand $ gear.

I can't wait.

Wild excitement, huh?

In memory of Roy Scheider, I throw full Jazz Hands at this thread.

I think that unless Roy himself posts in this thread, post-mortem, there's not gonna be much interest here. But thanks, nonetheless.

The problem with using an iPod in this manner is that it has a limit on hard drive space. I would rather use a computer or Roku to do the same thing and have access to my entire media library.

I understand that some people do not want to use a network, so maybe they will chime in.

This seems like a cool idea for someone who uses an iPod a lot, and thus has set up favorite playlists, etc. As a music server, I agree the limit on storage space is a big issue. I assume a review will be forthcoming? :)

I admit it's not for everyone. It is a wonderful thing if you have a second home or office system. No need to set up another server; just fill up the iPod at home and carry it around. Use it on the plane or car, then at the office or 2nd home. I have both, so for me, this is a great thing.

Here's a small mystery:

A while back Meridian launched its iRis, which did similar tricks, and added video functions. $390

To my knowledge, it's not possible to actually buy either the Wadia or the Meridian. Why is that?

Here's a small mystery:

A while back Meridian launched its iRis, which did similar tricks, and added video functions. $390

To my knowledge, it's not possible to actually buy either the Wadia or the Meridian. Why is that?

My guess? The software issues have turned out to be more difficult than they expected. The digital signal has to be extracted through an interface designed to work with iTunes, and is likely driven by propriety software. I doubt that Apple is assisting with the reverse engineering on this.

You may also want to make sure your iPod is compatible. This Stereophile link (http://www.stereophile.com/news/010408wadia/)has some info.

Even though I already have a Macbook for a server, I'm looking forward to it, at least as something to play friends music on when they come over.

OK, now I'm really confused. I've never used a dock, hence possibly why I'm confused. I assumed that with a dock one selects the tunes they want to hear in the normal fashion of using their iPod, via the click wheel. But, when I read the link from uofmtiger pointing to Stereophile, they make comments at the end about compatibility saying with some models and generations, you can't use the click wheel. Well, if you can't use the click wheel, how to you operate the iPod on the dock (especially when there are no controls or display on the dock)?

My guess? The software issues have turned out to be more difficult than they expected. The digital signal has to be extracted through an interface designed to work with iTunes, and is likely driven by propriety software. I doubt that Apple is assisting with the reverse engineering on this.

Not how it works and Just the opposite. Apple is facilitating the advancement of the iPod as an audiophile source.

This from Stereophile

"I thought it was impossible to bypass the iPod's DAC. "So did we," said Wadia president John W. Schaffer. "Then we discovered the little-known fact that Apple had a process called 'authentication' that allowed mobile electronics companies to bypass the iPod's internal DAC."

"Authentication" refers to Apple's authentication chip, which essentially tells the iPod that it's okay to output raw digital audio or video data to the chip-enhanced component. The authentication chips are only available in Apple products or from products made by Apple-licensed third-party developers. After Wadia first began developing what became the iTransport, Apple opened up the authentication program to more third-party vendors. The iTransport may be the first audio product of its kind, but it probably won't be the last. But however you slice it, being firstest is a great coup.

"I think Apple approved our working on the iTransport because of our reputation as a high-end component manufacturer. Apple thinks of the iPod as a high-end source, so it made sense to them," said Schaffer."

Full article - http://www.stereophile.com/news/010408wadia/

Interesting to know - thanks for the info and link. It will be interesting to see what new products come along based on this.

Interesting to know - thanks for the info and link. It will be interesting to see what new products come along based on this.

Glad to pass the info along. As for other new products that may come along because of this, I'm still hoping Mcintosh will make a high end, high quality iPod station. As part of my wish list for such a product I'd still favor being able to see the songs/artists being played a la Slim Devices approach.

I'm not really that concerned with iPod capacity and don't really see that as a long term issue. If Apple is serious about opening up what would be another growth market for the iPod, I'm convinced we're not that far away from a 250GB and perhaps a 500GB iPod.

All we really need is a high end manufacturer that can develop the docking station itself with a host of features. "If Mcintosh builds it - I'll buy it."

Goldbug, great info, and welcome to AK!

I can't wait for this to hit the streets!!!

MusicDirect will begin shipping the iTransport on 5/30. $379. You can get in line now:

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/82178?gclid=CNnwhOK10pICFSEYagod-Sn1Hg

If you wanna hear it first, Wadia will have one at the Fest!

I've posted this elsewhere, but I thought my iPod it sounded quite nice on the Wadia in NT's room at AKFest.

I'll second that. My iPhone sounded just like the CDs, and I actually had a few to AB, so I'm fairly confident of that conclusion.

The iTransport worked flawlessly the entire time, and I've put my order in for one, although I may decide to buy 3, for home, office, and 2nd home. The idea of having all my favorite music anywhere I go, at full quality, without having to re-copy into different music servers is tremendously attractive.

I just picked up the iTransport today from my local audio shop. Now that I have it, I have to spend more money on a DAC. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good DAC for less than $300? I saw the Firestone Audio product that looked decent. But the cheaper the better! Of course just cheaper in price, not quality.

I have two on the way that should be there when I get home from this trip... can't wait!

I just picked up the iTransport today from my local audio shop. Now that I have it, I have to spend more money on a DAC. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good DAC for less than $300? I saw the Firestone Audio product that looked decent. But the cheaper the better! Of course just cheaper in price, not quality.

Search AGon for "USB DAC". I started a thread there. I have the Blue Circle USB DAC (169 new from Walt in Chicago, an authorized BC dealer). USB 2.0 powered. Can be configged with various inputs from Gilbert in Canada.

Search AGon for "USB DAC". I started a thread there. I have the Blue Circle USB DAC (169 new from Walt in Chicago, an authorized BC dealer). USB 2.0 powered. Can be configged with various inputs from Gilbert in Canada.

Thanks for the info. But, since I won't have a computer nearby, I don't think I can used a USB powered DAC. :no:
Unless I put an airport express near my audio setup?

I'm thinking I maybe should have bought an Apple TV instead? Or wait -- if I get a DAC that has an optical input (toslink) and a digital input, I could connect both the iTransport and the Apple TV to it simultaneously?

Or wait -- if I get a DAC that has an optical input (toslink) and a digital input, I could connect both the iTransport and the Apple TV to it simultaneously?
Yep!

Thanks for the info. But, since I won't have a computer nearby, I don't think I can used a USB powered DAC. :no:
Unless I put an airport express near my audio setup?


I run iTunes into my system via the DAC from my computer. My iPod has over 7,000 songs on it, better than lugging a bunch of albums and CD's from place to place.

I live in a rental property during the week with my main audio system, and have another system at my home.