iPod dock or budget streamer?

[admin_exported]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for a low cost addition to my hifi system to access my digital music collection. My first thought was an iPod dock like the Arcam drDock but the Denon DNP-720AE wireless streamer is very similar money.

Any thoughts on the best route to take?

Here's my thinking:-

The drDock may soon be obsolete (without an unsightly and no doubt expensive adapter ) due to the new "lightening port" on latest iPods and iPhone 5. not an issue with the Denon as you use the iPods own cable to connect.

The Denon has a wider range of features and allows streaming from my PC or external hard drive too.

The Denon reportedly falls down on sound quality compared to more expensive streamers like the Marantz NA7004 but how does is stack up against a drDock? The drDock relies on the iPod's DAC while the Denon has its own built in. Should I therefore expect better sound quality from the Denon??

Yours,

gazh1234

a new member of the forum seeking advice

 

[paulsue38]

The Denon seems great value at 189 in some places. It gives FM, Internet radio and streaming with buil in Airplay. Sound quality may not be up with the best but Denon stuff is always good quality. Good luck with it.

Paul

 

[MeanandGreen]

The Arcam drDock has an inbuilt DAC, it bypasses the iPod DAC. The irDock is the one that doesn't have a DAC.

Which iPod do you currently own? Unless you have the latest generation one with the new style port on I wouldn't worry about the connectivity too much. Lastly the whole DAC superiority thing doesn't wash with me, I have the irDock (no built in DAC) going through my NAD C326BEE and B&W DM 601S3, in comparison to two £300 CD machines in the same system there is nothing in it. iPod DACs aren't bad going off how it sounds in my system.

Good luck with your decision. 🙂

 

[ID.]

Lastly the whole DAC superiority thing doesn't wash with me, I have the irDock (no built in DAC) going through my NAD C326BEE and B&W DM 601S3, in comparison to two £300 CD machines in the same system there is nothing in it. iPod DACs aren't bad going off how it sounds in my system.

Or maybe that just means that the DAC sections of the CD players are also pretty poor 😉

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the clarification on the DACs meanandgreen.

I'm leaning towards to Denon i think purely for the extra functionality. Of course if I had more to spend, id have the Cambridge audio stream magic 6 but that's not on right now.

 

[MeanandGreen]

Or maybe that just means that the DAC sections of the CD players are also pretty poor 😉

I thought someone would say this, I would expect the DAC in my Sony CDP-XB930 and Pioner PDR-509 to be considered of higher quality than the iPod DAC. The Pioneer especially, considering it has Pioneers Legato Link conversion and the fact it is a DAC and a ADC due to it being a well respected CD recorder of it's day. My Sony isn't exactly a duffer of a CD Player either.

The point I'm trying to make is don't expect to hear leaps and bounds in sound quality between DACs, the analogue sections of the components in question have a huge influence, hence the irDock is a high quality analogue interface for iPod to Hi-Fi and realistically in the OP's set up would sound more than good enough.

 

[Overdose]

Or maybe that just means that the DAC sections of the CD players are also pretty poor 😉

I thought someone would say this, I would expect the DAC in my Sony CDP-XB930 and Pioner PDR-509 to be considered of higher quality than the iPod DAC. The Pioneer especially, considering it has Pioneers Legato Link conversion and the fact it is a DAC and a ADC due to it being a well respected CD recorder of it's day. My Sony isn't exactly a duffer of a CD Player either.

The point I'm trying to make is don't expect to hear leaps and bounds in sound quality between DACs, the analogue sections of the components in question have a huge influence, hence the irDock is a high quality analogue interface for iPod to Hi-Fi and realistically in the OP's set up would sound more than good enough.

This just about sums up what I have experienced with DACs of varying descriptions, including proaudio interfaces.

Regarding the iPod situation, what do you have? Also what computer?

It could be that an Apple TV or Apple Airport Express might be a good option for you. If your iPod is a wireless model, then have a look at iTunes match as an option also.

There are quite a few options available, particularly if you consider that cheap netbooks can make good dedicated streamers. They can also be remotely controlled with iPhone/iPod Touch apps.