I understand Wadia is coming out with their new i170 which seems to be a gift from above for those amateurs amongst us that still like the practicality of going through iTunes (preferably with lossless files of course). If I understand it correctly I can download lossless files to an iPod, then plug it into the i170, and out comes the most beautiful signal that my amp readily understands.
Reading about it, it seems to provide both digital and audio output. If it can deliver audio output, it presumably means it has a built in DAC. Does that mean I would only use the digital output if I ran the signal through a separate DAC? But doesn't the iPod already provide a digital out signal, so what is then the point of the i170?
Is it OK just to connect the i170 directly to a pre-amp or do I need (i.e. should I invest in) a separate DAC?
I understand Wadia is coming out with their new i170 which seems to be a gift from above for those amateurs amongst us that still like the practicality of going through iTunes (preferably with lossless files of course). If I understand it correctly I can download lossless files to an iPod, then plug it into the i170, and out comes the most beautiful signal that my amp readily understands.
Reading about it, it seems to provide both digital and audio output. If it can deliver audio output, it presumably means it has a built in DAC. Does that mean I would only use the digital output if I ran the signal through a separate DAC? But doesn't the iPod already provide a digital out signal, so what is then the point of the i170?
Is it OK just to connect the i170 directly to a pre-amp or do I need (i.e. should I invest in) a separate DAC?