Apple Dock and Rockbox

[h.finn]

[St.] and torne,
Thanks for your answers!
..........
@ [St.]: it' just that I have been told by reliable people that docks like the Arcam irdock deliver a very good and clean sound to a home stereo amp (I have an excellent but very cheap "class T" one). Just this morning the guy told me that his one works with Rockbox and advised me to get one myself..............price is a bit steep, so I was fishing around for a cheaper solution
 
@ torne: the purpose of a "digital" dock + external DAC (Digital-Analog Converter) was to use the iPod as a hard disk, basically. That's why I said I wasn't too keen on this option and was thinking about the irdock which apparently simply delivers good sound from the iPod.

Thanks!

[saratoga]

@ [St.]: it' just that I have been told by reliable people that docks like the Arcam irdock deliver a very good and clean sound to a home stereo amp

So does every dock ever made.

[h.finn]

Hi Saratoga,
And thanks for your answer.
Are you really saying that the connector and the simple dock in first and second picture (cost 6$ approx.) are EXACTLY the same as the dock in third picture (cost 200$ approx.) ? ? ? ?
.........Really?

[torne]

We are saying that in a blind test you are very unlikely to be able to tell the difference, yes. They may not be exactly the same internally but it's extremely unlikely to make an audible difference.

[h.finn]

WOW

[torne]

It's news to you that a lot of expensive audio stuff is not actually any better than reasonably priced audio stuff?

Obviously I haven't personally tested the specific devices you are using as examples, so maybe the cheap one is unusually badly made, but generally the weak link in this system is going to be the sound hardware in the ipod, not the dock which is basically just a pair of wires leading from the line out pins on the dock connector to a left and right terminal for your stereo, whether that's on a 3.5mm jack or fancy RCA plugs

[h.finn]

Right Torne,
Things are a bit clearer............
and no, it does not surprise me at all
 
so, if I get it right, if I want to keep using my iPod as a "source" for my home stereo, I would be better off purchasing a "digital" ("untested") dock like the Onkyo + an external Dac?
Or............a laptop + a Dac (I would badly miss Rockbox in this case.... :'( :'( )

[torne]

so, if I get it right, if I want to keep using my iPod as a "source" for my home stereo, I would be better off purchasing a "digital" ("untested") dock like the Onkyo + an external Dac?

This will *almost definitely* not work with Rockbox. We don't implement the protocol that all these devices are believed to use. It is untested, but we know enough about how they must logically work to know that they are unlikely to support Rockbox.

Use any old analogue dock, or the adapter you already have. It's probably not going to sound any worse.

[saratoga]

so, if I get it right, if I want to keep using my iPod as a "source" for my home stereo, I would be better off purchasing a "digital" ("untested") dock like the Onkyo + an external Dac?
Or............a laptop + a Dac (I would badly miss Rockbox in this case.... :'( :'( )

Did you even read anything in this thread?  Thats the exact opposite of what we're telling you.

[h.finn]

Hi Saratoga,
Sorry if I misunderstood!!
 
I certainly read quite carefully.......
I was looking at what Torne just said: "....the weak link in this system is going to be the sound hardware in the ipod".
So I concluded: Keep the system as is (using a "basic" dock), or go back to my laptop + DAC (and forever miss Rockbox) :'( :'( ............as the use of a dock like the Onkyo + a Dac is probably not going to work....
.................what did I miss???

Thanks!

[torne]

I didn't mean that the sound from the ipod is *bad* - it's just the part that's the most likely to cause a problem *if you have a problem*.

[h.finn]

That's ok, Torne...............I'm just try to learn and.....improve!
 

My chain system is: iPod with dock connector, class T amp, good '80s home speakers, hand made cables.
I also have an IBM Thinkpad and a Macbook.
I'm not planning to spend any more money on the "source".
Just trying to improve on what I have.....
 
I tried the laptops with foobar but without any external DAC.
Definition in slightly better than iPod+Rockbox but bass is definetly not.
As I'm planning to build a pre for the amp, I was simply evaluating if it's better to remain on the iPod +........., or a laptop + a DAC.
That's all.
I seem to have understood that it's pointless to spend excessive money on a dock...........that's already something
 

[h.finn]

As a "finale" to this thread:
you reckon an iPod + Rockbox is on a par with a laptop + Foobar + DAC?

[Chronon]

What DAC, exactly?

Also, what sort of measure defines "on par with"?  It seems this assessment must be subjectively determined by you.  We can't really know whether a difference on a spec. sheet translates into a perceptible difference to you, so there doesn't seem to be an objective answer to this question.

Also, the iPod has certain advantages, like the ability to fit in a pocket and battery life, that may or may not be part of your assessment.

[h.finn]

Hi Chronon,
Of course.
In a way you're right.
In a way.........
What I meant is: as a general rule.
Of course if we get in the micro-detail we could also ask:
...but what kind of iPod?
and what Rockbox settings?

vs
what laptop?
what kind of interconnect cables?
what foobar settings?
what kind of DAC?

and about the amp or the DAC: powered by a 12V battery, or not?
and so on and on...................
 
I was just wondering if, "as a general rule", the iPod hardware can compare positively with the laptop.
 

Thanks again!
H.