IPod DAC into a tube preamp

Rockstar0215 · 10th April 2011, 06:02 AM

Is there a project here somewhere that builds a high quality DAC with an iPod input? I understand this might be difficult due to licensing and bypassing the iPods On board DAC. I would love to build a DAC that is part of a simple tube preamp sort of like the peachtree products but without the power amp.

Rockstar0215 · 11th April 2011, 03:21 AM

EDIT: I realized that licensing apple products is impossible for my needs. In this case, a simple USB DAC into an integrated tube preamp would be sufficient. I've been wanting to build something very high quality like the Burr Brown DAC, if a simpler and easier (and economical) yet comparable DAC exists please steer me into the right direction.

Any help would be appreciated.

stephensank · 11th April 2011, 04:41 PM

The best, and also cheapest afaik, way to get direct digital ouput from Ipod is the Onkyo ND-S1 dock. There is a good thread or two about it on here. It's quite a lot better than the Wadia dock, and rather better than the Cambridge, and lends itself most easily to upgrades, which it responds quite well to. It's not a dac, but it gets you a quality spdif output.

Buckapound · 11th April 2011, 08:49 PM

There is a new dock with digital output called the Pure i20. Costs about US$100, has coax and toslink output, and also a Cirrus CS4353 A/D converter for analog out, which is supposed to be fairly decent.

I haven't heard it, but it's a great deal for the money. Thinking about ordering one. Don't know where you are, but that Onkyo is about $300 as I recall and not generally available in the US.

For a simple tube stage, try this:

NEW tube pre-amp MKIII 12AU7 fully assembled | eBay

I built a dock (not digital) using this, and it does improve iPod sound, IMO.

--Buckapound

Rockstar0215 · 12th April 2011, 05:07 AM

I am thinking of building some type of USB input DAC coupled with a 12b4 tube preamp. Any suggestions?

10th April 2011, 06:02 AM	#1
Rockstar0215 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	IPod DAC into a tube preamp Is there a project here somewhere that builds a high quality DAC with an iPod input? I understand this might be difficult due to licensing and bypassing the iPods On board DAC. I would love to build a DAC that is part of a simple tube preamp sort of like the peachtree products but without the power amp.

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11th April 2011, 03:21 AM	#2
Rockstar0215 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	EDIT: I realized that licensing apple products is impossible for my needs. In this case, a simple USB DAC into an integrated tube preamp would be sufficient. I've been wanting to build something very high quality like the Burr Brown DAC, if a simpler and easier (and economical) yet comparable DAC exists please steer me into the right direction. Any help would be appreciated.

11th April 2011, 04:41 PM	#3
stephensank diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	The best, and also cheapest afaik, way to get direct digital ouput from Ipod is the Onkyo ND-S1 dock. There is a good thread or two about it on here. It's quite a lot better than the Wadia dock, and rather better than the Cambridge, and lends itself most easily to upgrades, which it responds quite well to. It's not a dac, but it gets you a quality spdif output.

11th April 2011, 08:49 PM	#4
Buckapound diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	There is a new dock with digital output called the Pure i20. Costs about US$100, has coax and toslink output, and also a Cirrus CS4353 A/D converter for analog out, which is supposed to be fairly decent. I haven't heard it, but it's a great deal for the money. Thinking about ordering one. Don't know where you are, but that Onkyo is about $300 as I recall and not generally available in the US. For a simple tube stage, try this: NEW tube pre-amp MKIII 12AU7 fully assembled \| eBay I built a dock (not digital) using this, and it does improve iPod sound, IMO. --Buckapound

12th April 2011, 05:07 AM	#5
Rockstar0215 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	I am thinking of building some type of USB input DAC coupled with a 12b4 tube preamp. Any suggestions?