Hi,

Thank you for introducing the world to the iTransport. I think it's a fantastic & revolutionary product. However, a couple of things I like to suggest to make it even better. I participate in many Hi-Fi forums and many are feeling the same way. So here is goes.

- Why is it so big? If it was smaller like Apple's Universal Dock, it will fit nicely next to the DAC and Pre-amp. Apple's product is small, simple and sexy.

- The included remote look and feel cheap. Would be better if users can use Apple's $19 mini remote.

- Skip the digital volume control. Users use it with DAC & pre-amp or DAC with a pre-amp, thus no need for a volume control on iTransport. A straight pass thru dock that extracts the digital signals and nothing else is what users really want. We just want a digital signal from our favorite iPod to our high-end gear.

Making the iTransport simpler, smaller, sexier and sold at a lower price ($150) will attract more buyers. At it's current street price of $379, people are seeing it as an expensive docking station. Nothing there that a Mac Mini can't do better.

Just my 2cents,

Mike

Nice letter and I completely agree.

All, If any other manufacturer is making a similar device please post a link.

I don't get it. This thing is simply bypassing the IPOD guts and using it as a removable hard drive.

I don't get it. This thing is simply bypassing the IPOD guts and using it as a removable hard drive.

that's about right. :thmbsp:

I get great performance from my Imod Ipod using a Blue Jeans cable through my main system. Lossless all the way. Hard to believe that the Wadia + DAC cost is going to be that much better. And at that cost, I'm not willing to try.

I get great performance from my Imod Ipod using a Blue Jeans cable through my main system. Lossless all the way. Hard to believe that the Wadia + DAC cost is going to be that much better. And at that cost, I'm not willing to try.Interesting. For $250 I think the Wadia is the better deal at $350 and much more flexible. So far the Wadia is the only device that takes the PCM BEFORE the DAC and lets you use any external DAC and is compatible with all new iPods. Others will follow and be a lot less expensive.

Interesting. For $250 I think the Wadia is the better deal at $350 and much more flexible. So far the Wadia is the only device that takes the PCM BEFORE the DAC and lets you use any external DAC and is compatible with all new iPods. Others will follow and be a lot less expensive.

Remember that it is not $350 if you don't have a DAC to use with it. And using it without a DAC is not using it properly. If others can follow and be less expensive great. But for now , you can mod your pod and have great sound both portable and through your system.

I'm not saying the Wadia is bad. But there are other options.

Who's doing the mod and what do they do to it?

Remember that it is not $350 if you don't have a DAC to use with it. And using it without a DAC is not using it properly. If others can follow and be less expensive great. But for now , you can mod your pod and have great sound both portable and through your system.

I'm not saying the Wadia is bad. But there are other options.The iMod looks interesting as well and I'm sure it works great but they are going after a different market. I'm on my fourth iPod and see many more in my future so it wouldn't make sense for me to put that kind of money into one.

They don't give any details as to what they do to it. Spending $250 on the mod is not for me too. I get a new iPod every year (collect).

http://www.redwineaudio.com/images/ipod.gif

It's pretty clear from the description what they do to it:

"We take the analog output (line out) signal off of the Wolfson DAC chip and send it directly to the internal 1/8" headphone jack (converting it into a dedicated line-out jack) via high-end Black Gate Non-Polarized NX-Hi-Q coupling capacitors (to block DC offset voltage). This completely bypasses all the components listed above that degrade the sound quality of the Wolfson DAC’s line-output."

Yes, for sure if you're going to buy a new Ipod every year, this isn't for you. But I have just the one, and with it sounding so great, I'm plenty satisfied using it as my occasional music server.

I've posted in another thread about the Wadia, but y'all are pretty much echoing my thoughts on it.

It's a connector that gives you the digital out. For $379.:no:

How can they charge that?

There is no way to get the digital stream out of an iPod through either the headphone jack or the connector at the bottom. The digital chip will not allow a connection without the proper "permissions". Wadia has negotiated a contract with Apple that gives them the code which provides the proper "handshaking" with the on-board chip on the iPod. So, at the moment, they're the only game in town.

And they will remain the only game until somebody else also inks a contract with Apple, and decides to charge less for their product. Which, given the obvious attraction of a ready market, might happen pretty soon. I hope.

Otherwise, we wait for a hack.