iPod docks with digital output - question

[Dan Turner]

There are now a handful of docks on the market that can output a spdif digital signal for connection to a DAC - ranging from the extremely expensive (MSB) to a more affordable one recently announced by Onkyo. There is also a Wadia one I think.

Anyway my question is, does either the ipod or the dock convert the codec that the music is stored in to plain PCM before output? I'm thinking that one or other must because presumably the average DAC can only handle PCM digital data?

I'm toying with getting one of these (probably the Onkyo if reviews are good), and I'm sure that it must be the case but thought it would be a good idea to check first.

Thanks.

 

[manicm]

The conversion to PCM is done in the iPod.

 

[Dan Turner]

Thanks manicm!