You want to bypass the DAC on your iPod....Onkyo release alternative to Wadia

Danny Tse
Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
edited August 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Onkyo Europe is releasing an iPod dock that will output digitally before the music get processed by the iPod's internal DAC....

onkyo-nds1.jpg
Onkyo is proud to unveil the ND-S1, an advanced new breed of iPod dock that allows music lovers to tap directly into the digital audio content on their iPods before it is processed by the player's own DAC (digital to analogue converter) and output stage.

Why do that? Simple – it'll sound better. Send the audio digital signal you've extracted to a better DAC (digital to analogue converter) than is present in the iPod and you can enjoy a massive uplift in sound quality, readily apparent with full-resolution file formats such as Apple Lossless and .WAV.

KEY FEATURES
Digital Outputs (Optical/Coaxial)
High-precision Clock Reference to minimise jitter
iPod video playback
iTunes Sync/Unsync switch
Audio Selector (iPod/PC)
Resume Music and Video Playback Function
Shuffle/Repeat (one/all tracks)/Random Playback of Songs/Albums
iPod/iPhone charging function
USB Port
Compatible with iPod touch [1G and 2G], iPod classic, iPod [5G*], iPod nano [1G*, 2G, 3G, and 4G] and iPhone 3G/3Gs [Flight mode]
Works with Onkyo AV Systems equipped with a USB Port and Audio/Video terminals
Single handset control via Onkyo A/V System’s RI (Remote Interactive) protocol
Dedicated remote control also supplied
Compatible with Windows XP/Vista
Post edited by Danny Tse on
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Comments

  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited August 2009
    Great. Now I am going to have to buy one of those, and compare its sound to the Wadia. When will it ever end!!! ;)
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited August 2009
    I have seen that in my searches and it looks great but I don't think its avail in NA as of yet and in all likelihood will be spendy.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Josephlogston
    Josephlogston Posts: 30
    edited August 2009
    wend are they going to have one for zune
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited August 2009
    Josephlogston wrote: »
    wend are they going to have one for zune

    You mean next month.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • dorourke07
    dorourke07 Posts: 298
    edited August 2009
    Perfect to go with my 706 avr.
    Mains - LSi9's
    Center - LSiC
    Surround - pair of TL3's
    Amplification - Parasound 2125
    AVR - Onkyo 706
    CD/SACD - Onkyo DV-SP506
    SUB - MartinLogan Abyss
    55" Panasonic Viera TC-P55GT30 3D
    Bluray - DMP-BDT310 Panasonic
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited August 2009
    The new Zune HD.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855604030

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855604029

    Supposedly there will be a dock available with an optical out.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • SivaNevets
    SivaNevets Posts: 303
    edited August 2009
    any mp3 availble with a good dac and decent output power?
    Front: Martinlogan ESL
    Center: Martinlogan Stage
    Rear: Martinlogan Motion 4
    Sub: Martinlogan Grotto-I
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC 1523K

    PC 2 Channel: Polk LSI7
    Headset: Grado RS2 + Grado RA1 amp
    Mic: Neumann KMS605

    Car Audio
    2002 MB C240 Sedan
    MM6501 components
    MM840 sub
    MB Quart Onyx 4.60 (1/2 to components, 3/4 bridged to sub)
    Pioneer 8200BT HU
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  • Cpyder
    Cpyder Posts: 514
    edited August 2009
    Sorry if someone mentioned it already and i missed it, but any news on the release date? Approximately?
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  • Cpyder
    Cpyder Posts: 514
    edited August 2009
    I should have just looked it up. UK release probably in October. Here's some more on it.

    Onkyo ND-SD1

    According to techradar.com

    • Outputs (Optical/Coaxial)
    • High-precision Clock Reference to minimise jitter
    • iPod video playback
    • iTunes Sync/Unsync switch
    • Audio Selector (iPod/PC)
    • Resume Music and Video Playback Function
    • Shuffle/Repeat (one/all tracks)/Random Playback of Songs/Albums
    • iPod/iPhone charging function
    • USB Port
    • Compatible with iPod touch [1G and 2G], iPod classic, iPod [5G*], iPod nano [1G*, 2G, 3G, and 4G] and iPhone 3G/3Gs [Flight mode]
    • Works with Onkyo AV Systems equipped with a USB Port and Audio/Video terminals
    • Single handset control via Onkyo A/V System's RI (Remote Interactive) protocol
    • Dedicated remote control also supplied
    • Compatible with Windows XP/Vista
    *Extended mode only.


    http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/onkyo-nd-sd1-ipod-dock-bringing-bit-perfect-audio-626864
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited August 2009
    SivaNevets wrote: »
    any mp3 availble with a good dac and decent output power?

    'Fraid i don't understand the question...
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • Josephlogston
    Josephlogston Posts: 30
    edited August 2009
    thanks face i have a older 80g zune i wish i could up grade it to mp4 and hd radio it dont have a toslink output the dam thing is obsolute i guess i would have to buy a new one to get what i want
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  • Josephlogston
    Josephlogston Posts: 30
    edited August 2009
    i wonder if the new docing station for the zune would have internnal dac
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  • SivaNevets
    SivaNevets Posts: 303
    edited August 2009
    concealer404 wrote: »
    'Fraid i don't understand the question...

    i mean mp3 player :D something with significant better sound quality than ipod
    Front: Martinlogan ESL
    Center: Martinlogan Stage
    Rear: Martinlogan Motion 4
    Sub: Martinlogan Grotto-I
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC 1523K

    PC 2 Channel: Polk LSI7
    Headset: Grado RS2 + Grado RA1 amp
    Mic: Neumann KMS605

    Car Audio
    2002 MB C240 Sedan
    MM6501 components
    MM840 sub
    MB Quart Onyx 4.60 (1/2 to components, 3/4 bridged to sub)
    Pioneer 8200BT HU
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited August 2009
    Looks pretty good-Sweet!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • maandjojo
    maandjojo Posts: 293
    edited August 2009
    I don't see the big deal. At what bit rate are you downloading your music or ripping from a cd. If its the typical 128 kbs it won't make a difference what DAC you have, it will sound like sh@t on a good sound system. If you use the 320 kbs you will fit 5 songs on your ipod. Get a 500 G external hard drive and an WDTV, download at lossless wave and you will be fine.

    Joe
    Joe
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited August 2009
    maandjojo wrote: »
    I don't see the big deal. At what bit rate are you downloading your music or ripping from a cd. If its the typical 128 kbs it won't make a difference what DAC you have, it will sound like sh@t on a good sound system. If you use the 320 kbs you will fit 5 songs on your ipod. Get a 500 G external hard drive and an WDTV, download at lossless wave and you will be fine.

    What are you talking about?

    I have 1800 classical songs on my iPod 120GB Classic, and I still have 64GB of free space. Also, since these 'songs' are classical many are 10, 20, and 30 minutes in length. They are stored in Apple lossless format which when uncompressed is bit for bit identical to the CD data.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • SivaNevets
    SivaNevets Posts: 303
    edited August 2009
    maandjojo wrote: »
    I don't see the big deal. At what bit rate are you downloading your music or ripping from a cd. If its the typical 128 kbs it won't make a difference what DAC you have, it will sound like sh@t on a good sound system. If you use the 320 kbs you will fit 5 songs on your ipod. Get a 500 G external hard drive and an WDTV, download at lossless wave and you will be fine.

    Joe

    huge difference on dac even ur playing 128 kbps
    Front: Martinlogan ESL
    Center: Martinlogan Stage
    Rear: Martinlogan Motion 4
    Sub: Martinlogan Grotto-I
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC 1523K

    PC 2 Channel: Polk LSI7
    Headset: Grado RS2 + Grado RA1 amp
    Mic: Neumann KMS605

    Car Audio
    2002 MB C240 Sedan
    MM6501 components
    MM840 sub
    MB Quart Onyx 4.60 (1/2 to components, 3/4 bridged to sub)
    Pioneer 8200BT HU
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  • maandjojo
    maandjojo Posts: 293
    edited August 2009
    Look, I've got an ipod myself, good gadget. I've got some 6000 songs from hard rock to country on it at 128 kbps and use it in the car where the bit rate doesn't matter. However, I didn't throw a few thousand dollars into a sound system to play an ipod on it. A sound system is only as good as it weakest link.
    By the way, when I am finished I will have as many as 10,000 songs from most genres including a bit of opera on the hard drive playing through the WDTV.

    Joe
    Joe
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited August 2009
    maandjojo wrote: »
    Look, I've got an ipod myself, good gadget. I've got some 6000 songs from hard rock to country on it at 128 kbps and use it in the car where the bit rate doesn't matter. However, I didn't throw a few thousand dollars into a sound system to play an ipod on it. A sound system is only as good as it weakest link.

    Apparently you do not understand the concept in the original post. The Onkyo docking station, as does the Wadia, extracts the digital data from the iPod and sends it to an external DAC. If the songs on the iPod are stored as lossless files the sound quality is uncompromised by the iPod and is directly determined by the quality of the external DAC.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • DeusExa
    DeusExa Posts: 491
    edited August 2009
    Pricing? Wadia's pretty pricy..
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  • Cpyder
    Cpyder Posts: 514
    edited August 2009
    Wadia retails for 379 and I'm not sure on Onkyo's but I think I remember hearing around 3
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  • maandjojo
    maandjojo Posts: 293
    edited August 2009
    Look, I understand full well what was in that post. I also know quite a few people that use an ipod and can't say anyone of them download to the ipod in a lossless format. If you do then I am sure that device will work fine but I feel a WDTV and external hd is a better way to go.
    I'm here as Polkie and I just can't see listening to compressed music through a very good set of Polks.

    Joe
    Joe
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited August 2009
    Josephlogston wrote: »
    i wonder if the new docing station for the zune would have internnal dac

    I just talked to a client of mine who is working on the Zune-HD team, and he told me he thought that it is going to be 'direct' as in no DAC internally, but he said he would check and get back to me.
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