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Post by weird23 on Nov 2, 2010 16:26:44 GMT -5
Is docking station required to access the direct digital stream from the IPAD or the IPOD Touch when using the XDA-1? Is a dock only required when using an analogue pre-amp? I've pre-ordered the XDA-1 and would like to pair it with either of theses digital devices. I've been told that if I use the USB with Apple Lossless files and connect it straight to a dac, a docking station such as the Wadia would not be needed. What is the best way to use an IPAD or IPOD touch with the XDA-1?
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spork
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Post by spork on Nov 2, 2010 16:54:32 GMT -5
From what I have read, iPODs require an Apple-controlled authentication to be sent to it from an outside source before it will output digital audio to that source. This means that iPODs require Apple-certified docks in order to access the iPOD's digital audio output. I have not seen any such "docks" in a portable or small form factor.
The iPAD, however, seems to be able to accept almost any USB device through its Camera Connection Kit, which is portable, but you will be limited to 16 bit audio.
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Nov 2, 2010 18:00:54 GMT -5
I've been using my iPad this way for months. When I get the XDA-1, I can replace the sound card and go direct. This sound card was an older Turtle-Beach.  |
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Post by GreenKiwi on Nov 3, 2010 0:54:48 GMT -5
AppleTV and AirTV.
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Post by weird23 on Nov 3, 2010 1:03:47 GMT -5
I've been using my iPad this way for months. When I get the XDA-1, I can replace the sound card and go direct. This sound card was an older Turtle-Beach. Have you been limited to 16bit audio? Are you going to use the USB cable that comes with the IPAD? |
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Post by dougie085 on Nov 3, 2010 4:06:10 GMT -5
Wow had no idea USB sound cards would work on those...
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Nov 3, 2010 7:37:39 GMT -5
Have you been limited to 16bit audio? Are you going to use the USB cable that comes with the IPAD? I've been playing stuff with the iPod app that comes with the iPad. All my songs are 44.1/16 Apple Lossless in iTunes. I'm not sure, but I think that all it supports is 16? The iPad comes with no USB, just the built in Apple dock. You have to buy the camera connection kit to get the USB adapter and supply your own USB cable. |
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Nov 3, 2010 7:40:49 GMT -5
Wow had no idea USB sound cards would work on those... This was not something that Apple talked about, but it does work with most USB sound cards. I came across this info at some web sites that were integrating an iPad into a car system. |
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spork
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Post by spork on Nov 3, 2010 8:22:22 GMT -5
If you use a USB sound card to output to coaxial or optical, then you are not limited to 16-bit audio unless the sound card you choose only supports 16-bit audio. In this case, USB is not carrying the uncompressed digital audio, it is being used as a transport by the sound card's driver. The 16-bit audio limitation is if you were to connect the iPAD directly to the XDA-1 and use USB to carry the digital audio signal, without a driver layer other than the USB driver itself. On a side note, I just now realized that I have a reason to buy an iPAD as I have a DAC in my portable headphone amplifier, and here I was thinking that I could get away with not buying a new piece of tech for at least three months...  |
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Nov 3, 2010 9:43:05 GMT -5
If you use a USB sound card to output to coaxial or optical, then you are not limited to 16-bit audio unless the sound card you choose only supports 16-bit audio. In this case, USB is not carrying the uncompressed digital audio, it is being used as a transport by the sound card's driver. The 16-bit audio limitation is if you were to connect the iPAD directly to the XDA-1 and use USB to carry the digital audio signal, without a driver layer other than the USB driver itself. On a side note, I just now realized that I have a reason to buy an iPAD as I have a DAC in my portable headphone amplifier, and here I was thinking that I could get away with not buying a new piece of tech for at least three months... Absolutely correct, but there is a further limitation by the app that plays the music. It appears that iTunes max is 48kHz/16. Maybe someone will do an app for the iPad that does higher res. FLAC or something. One the side note, glad I could support your budget!  |
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spork
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Post by spork on Nov 3, 2010 10:07:45 GMT -5
*** snip *** Maybe someone will do an app for the iPad that does higher res. FLAC or something. *** snip *** I almost hope not... The only thing stopping me from purchasing a Mac mini is that I could not use Foobar 2000. (Although, I have heard that bitstreaming support may not be a "necessity" with OSX. My music library is also nearly 100% FLAC encoded as well, and I would not want to track down and re-encode my entire CD collection.) Edit: I just did a search and found some OSX iTunes alternatives that may interest me. Sigh.  |
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Nov 3, 2010 10:54:59 GMT -5
I almost hope not... The only thing stopping me from purchasing a Mac mini is that I could not use Foobar 2000. (Although, I have heard that bitstreaming support may not be a "necessity" with OSX. My music library is also nearly 100% FLAC encoded as well, and I would not want to track down and re-encode my entire CD collection.) Edit: I just did a search and found some OSX iTunes alternatives that may interest me. Sigh. I've been thinking about a mini Mac too. Rumor mill has it that you can load Windows 7 on it directly without using the Windows 7 on OSX feature. |
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bootman
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Post by bootman on Nov 3, 2010 11:08:49 GMT -5
I've been thinking about a mini Mac too. Rumor mill has it that you can load Windows 7 on it directly without using the Windows 7 on OSX feature. You can but it will require a boot loader due to the mini's implementation of EFI. Look at this loader which may help. refit.sourceforge.net/ |
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Nov 3, 2010 11:23:10 GMT -5
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bootman
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Post by bootman on Nov 5, 2010 9:47:48 GMT -5
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