My $7k iPod

BlueFox

I am working at home today, and one if its benefits is that I can truly listen to music while working versus being interrupted while at work. But, my two channel speakers are out for repair, so what to do. First option is move my laptop, monitor, keyboard, etc. into the HT room, but that means sitting on the floor with the computer on a low coffee table.

That doesn't seem very appealing, so time for option two, which is use my first file player system: an iPod Classic with lossless files, a Wadia 171 iTransport dock, and a Benchmark DAC. For power, I can use the idle Shunyata Cyclops for the right channel amp, which is connected to a dedicated 20 amp line through a Shunyata Anaconda, and two Shunyata Venom cables for the DAC and Wadia power supply. Headphones are Sennheiser 650s.

Total cost, list, is $7k to 8k.

WLDock

Brand droppin'! You showed him Keiko! LOL!

Bluefox, are you following the Sony Walkman NWZ-ZX1 release? Who knows if they will ever offer it in the US but one has to wonder if Hi-Res audio will be pushed more in the future by Apple and Sony.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2461186,00.asp
http://gadgets.ndtv.com/tv/news/sony-keeping-walkman-brand-alive-with-audiophile-offerings-report-563036

Anyway, that is one pricey iPod! What are your thoughts on the sound? Is it almost there, or is it all there?

cnh

Mike is more in my budget!

But at least B-Fox has demonstrated that he's not a 20 something listening to an ipod in the usual mode, i.e., with a cheap set of earplugs connected directly to the H-phone out on the ipod! lol

Have fun. I work at home a lot too; not because I make a lot of money (because what we do is highly "undervalued" in this society. to its detriment, of course!), but because I have the freedom to do so and it is MORE productive than being in the office for most of us. As a result, I can choose from a WIDE variety of gear from newer to vintage that co-occupies my Home Office with me. It is a luxury that most do not have, or will never have due to the nature of their work. We should be grateful for what we have!

Enjoy!

cnh

BlueFox

This was just a kludge I threw together for today. When I get my two channel speakers back on Monday I won't need it anymore for this purpose. As mentioned, the iPod/Wadia was my first file player, and I bought it 3-4 years ago. Wadia was the first company to create a dock that could bypass the iPod DAC, and get a digital file off the iPod. So, as long as you stored lossless files on the iPod, all you need is a good DAC. I eventually replaced this combo with a Bryston BDP1 file player. The main advantage of the Bryston is better file access than with the iPod.

Jhayman

Great little machines I own two of them and these models not the smaller ones based on Android and two Patriot Box Office..
Great for streaming movies and music, but I'm looking for better quality..

On another note, Bluefox what happened to your new Magico's?
I must have missed the thread about it..

Keiko wrote: »

Aios Media Player - 99.00 with WD Green 2TB 3.5 SATA HDD - 80.00. Lossless flac via my tube buffered Yammie RX-797 - 450.00/Polk RTi6 :cheesygrin:

Attachment not found.

Nightfall

BlueFox, have you happened to have listened to the Philips Fidelio X1's? If so, how would you compare them to the HD650's?

The HD650's are on my list of possible next headphones candidates.

BlueFox

The 650s are the only headphones I own. While they are great, like everything else in this "hobby", there is always something better.

This setup was my work rig, but I bought it home a while back in anticipation of layoffs. While I survived, I haven't bothered to take it back. To many interruptions to really enjoy it.

Also, $5k of this "rig" is just for the Shunyata Anaconda and Cyclops, which actually belong to my right channel amp.

BlueFox

WLDock wrote: »

Bluefox, are you following the Sony Walkman NWZ-ZX1 release? Who knows if they will ever offer it in the US but one has to wonder if Hi-Res audio will be pushed more in the future by Apple and Sony.

No, this is the first I have heard of it. This sounds like what Neil Young is trying to do with Pono. There certainly isn't anything technically difficult to storing high-res files. While the iPod is currently limited to 44/16 (CD quality), I suspect Apple could tweak it to store high-res. The only issue is the high-res files take more space.

WLDock

Keiko wrote: »

I use mine strictly for music. An inexpensive device and it does pretty well, IMO. I've ripped several vinyl LPs at 96/24 and it handles them without any hiccups at all.

I really wish I could have ripped all my jazz albums before I gave up on the format. I sold or gave away all my records. However, just the other day I was listening to some old albums on YouTube that someone uploaded. Sounded better than anything else on there and reminded me how full and warm albums sound. Would have been sweet to have that stuff today.

txcoastal1

This is what I replaced my IPOD with, an AK120 II and a Chord Hugo DAC combo. The AK120 alone provides excellent portable headphone rig. By adding the Hugo in the chain it takes it to a world class headphone rig and portable transport/DAC combo.

It holds 256g of music. I have put together a little kit of Coaxial, optical, and RCA cables to carry with me to shows, gatherings or other events. This allows me to plug into anyone's system for A/B comparisons at the drop of a hat.

I am extremely pleased with the results.

tonyb

Man, that Chord looks sweet. Does it sound as nice as it looks ?

txcoastal1

tonyb wrote: »

Man, that Chord looks sweet. Does it sound as nice as it looks ?

It's very impressive, I was really surprised.

I have a couple reference songs where I had to replay a couple times because I had never heard a couple of instruments that were in the the back ground, so the separation is wonderful.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I see I sold you on those B&W P7s Ron, very nice portable closed headphone. I'm a big fan of the A&K players especially if you want hi-res playback. I personally still use one of my 240GB iPod Classics in my portable rig, but would love to upgrade to the AK240 at some point when funds allow, I don't do much hi-rez though so that'll probably be the last piece I upgrade.

I'm jealous of that Hugo, would love to get my ears on that piece for sure, it should be an upgrade over the Theorem 720 I'm using now but I'm curious how much.

By the way, if you want to really step up the game with closed headphones you should check out the LCD-Xc and the Alpha Dog. I prefer the Alpha Dogs personally and bought a pair, but you should check them both out if you can.

txcoastal1

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

I see I sold you on those B&W P7s Ron, very nice portable closed headphone.

Yes you did. Like the style and fit and very happy with the $ value and sound.

I haven't had a chance to get out to try any new can's since I got the Hugo, but will soon, did enough damage to the pocket book.

BlueFox

nbrowser wrote: »

hrm like Jhayman asked...what happened to the Magicos?

I missed that. Sorry. Two weeks ago on Friday night I experimented to see just how loud they could play, and blew the right channel tweeter and mid-range. It turns out the Pass Labs XP-20 volume is calibrated between 0 and 83! What kind of a range is that? Anyway, I assumed it would be between 0 and 100. So, while I thought I had some headroom at 83, I was really at the max. Just as I was ready to back off since I felt it was too loud, the right channel went silent.

I get them back Monday, and it will cost me $1960, an expensive mistake. On the plus side, I took them to Magico myself, got a tour, listened to the $600,000 Magico Ultimates, met Alon Wolf, the founder, and got a T-shirt.

I have a thread on Audio Shark that goes into it.

http://audioshark.org/magico-61/broke-my-s5s-last-night-5263.html#.U9QxAnmCOK0

Thorton

BlueFox wrote: »

I missed that. Sorry. Two weeks ago on Friday night I experimented to see just how loud they could play, and blew the right channel tweeter and mid-range. It turns out the Pass Labs XP-20 volume is calibrated between 0 and 83! What kind of a range is that? Anyway, I assumed it would be between 0 and 100. So, while I thought I had some headroom at 83, I was really at the max. Just as I was ready to back off since I felt it was too loud, the right channel went silent.

I get them back Monday, and it will cost me $1960, an expensive mistake. On the plus side, I took them to Magico myself, got a tour, listened to the $600,000 Magico Ultimates, met Alon Wolf, the founder, and got a T-shirt.

I have a thread on Audio Shark that goes into it.

http://audioshark.org/magico-61/broke-my-s5s-last-night-5263.html#.U9QxAnmCOK0

Rookie mistake! Just kidding. For that price, I would have sent you my A9's with 12 drivers. Well, sh-t happens. Hopefully you'll have them back Monday. I would love to listen to your system. I thought the Magico's sounded great at Axpona.

BlueFox

nbrowser wrote: »

Cripes dude I could get a pair of RTiA9s for less than that...a pair of LSiM 703s with a 706C ouch!

On the other hand, I have paid more for a power cord. It's funny how your perspective changes after doing that. I remember once I had my car in for service, along with getting new tires, and the service advisor was almost apologizing for the $1000 cost. At the same time I am thinking, "That's all? I've paid more for a power cord."

voltz

The main problem with the IPODs are the amplification, that's why I simple head phone amp like the JDS labs C5 can really transform the IPOD into a really awesome player, but you cant use the headphone jack must use the line out dock cable.