Have your say & ask the experts!

wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions, comments please??

43 replies [Last post]
Gerrardasnails
Gerrardasnails's picture
Offline
Joined: 6 Sep 2007
Posts: 6398

I plan on using my mobile phone and new DacMagic together. Is usb anywhere near as good as coaxial?

__________________

Screen - Samsung UE46D8000.  Sources - Dell Zino HD 410; Sky HD; Sony BDP S550; Wyred 4 Sound DAC1.  Amps - Yamaha RX-A3010; SimAudio Moon I-3 RS.  Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand; Vienna Acoustics Waltz Grand centre; Proficient Audio W690 rears; Monitor Audio RSW12.  Cables - Van Damme Blue 4mm speaker cable; Townsend DCT300 and Atlas Voyager interconnects; Van den Hul Optocoupler.

zzgavin
zzgavin's picture
Offline
Joined: 16 Sep 2008
Posts: 412
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,

Octopo and the Cambridge Audio CEO both recommend S/PDIF (coax and optical) over USB. Over short runs it is probably not a huge difference. Hard to see how you'd get anything else than USB from a phone though.

Gerrardasnails
Gerrardasnails's picture
Offline
Joined: 6 Sep 2007
Posts: 6398
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
zzgavin:
Octopo and the Cambridge Audio CEO both recommend S/PDIF (coax and optical) over USB. Over short runs it is probably not a huge difference. Hard to see how you'd get anything else than USB from a phone though.



You're right, no choice other than usb for the phone but lossless to the dac should sound better than straight to the amp which is the only alternative. I was wondering how others find the sound.
__________________

Screen - Samsung UE46D8000.  Sources - Dell Zino HD 410; Sky HD; Sony BDP S550; Wyred 4 Sound DAC1.  Amps - Yamaha RX-A3010; SimAudio Moon I-3 RS.  Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand; Vienna Acoustics Waltz Grand centre; Proficient Audio W690 rears; Monitor Audio RSW12.  Cables - Van Damme Blue 4mm speaker cable; Townsend DCT300 and Atlas Voyager interconnects; Van den Hul Optocoupler.

pudley
pudley's picture
Offline
Joined: 10 Sep 2008
Posts: 138
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,

I doubt you will get an audio stream digital or otherwise from the mobile phone.

Most mp3 players have USB slots, but that does not mean a digital output for music playback, only for getting data off and on.ÿ

Gerrardasnails
Gerrardasnails's picture
Offline
Joined: 6 Sep 2007
Posts: 6398
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
pudley:

I doubt you will get an audio stream digital or otherwise from the mobile phone.

Most mp3 players have USB slots, but that does not mean a digital output for music playback, only for getting data off and on.ÿ



I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Currently I can run my phone to my amp with the cable that came with the phone - rca one end and the phone adapter the other. Are you saying that it won't play music through the usb cable? If it doesn't - I will have to buy an ipod which I will probably make more sense anyway.
__________________

Screen - Samsung UE46D8000.  Sources - Dell Zino HD 410; Sky HD; Sony BDP S550; Wyred 4 Sound DAC1.  Amps - Yamaha RX-A3010; SimAudio Moon I-3 RS.  Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand; Vienna Acoustics Waltz Grand centre; Proficient Audio W690 rears; Monitor Audio RSW12.  Cables - Van Damme Blue 4mm speaker cable; Townsend DCT300 and Atlas Voyager interconnects; Van den Hul Optocoupler.

John Duncan
John Duncan's picture
Offline
Joined: 8 Jan 2008
Posts: 20432
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,


Can't speak for your phone, but I'd be surprised if you can get a digital audio out from the ipod either. This is for the DACMagic yeah?

__________________

CA StreamMagic 6  |  CA 751BD  |  CA 651A  |  PMC DB1i

Moderator. mail: john.duncan.whf at the mail of g dot com

pudley
pudley's picture
Offline
Joined: 10 Sep 2008
Posts: 138
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
Gerrardasnails:

pudley:

I doubt you will get an audio stream digital or otherwise from the mobile phone.


Most mp3 players have USB slots, but that does not mean a digital output for music playback, only for getting data off and on. 


I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Currently I can run my phone to my amp with the cable that came with the phone - rca one end and the phone adapter the other. Are you saying that it won't play music through the usb cable? If it doesn't - I will have to buy an ipod which I will probably make more sense anyway.


AFAIK there are no mp3 players that will play from their USB slot. The iPod would require you also bought a Wadia transport.


 

Gerrardasnails
Gerrardasnails's picture
Offline
Joined: 6 Sep 2007
Posts: 6398
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
JohnDuncan:
Can't speak for your phone, but I'd be surprised if you can get a digital audio out from the ipod either. This is for the DACMagic yeah?



Indeed. Oh well. How do you connect an ipod to the DACMagic then?
__________________

Screen - Samsung UE46D8000.  Sources - Dell Zino HD 410; Sky HD; Sony BDP S550; Wyred 4 Sound DAC1.  Amps - Yamaha RX-A3010; SimAudio Moon I-3 RS.  Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand; Vienna Acoustics Waltz Grand centre; Proficient Audio W690 rears; Monitor Audio RSW12.  Cables - Van Damme Blue 4mm speaker cable; Townsend DCT300 and Atlas Voyager interconnects; Van den Hul Optocoupler.

John Duncan
John Duncan's picture
Offline
Joined: 8 Jan 2008
Posts: 20432
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,


You get a Wadia iTransport thingie

__________________

CA StreamMagic 6  |  CA 751BD  |  CA 651A  |  PMC DB1i

Moderator. mail: john.duncan.whf at the mail of g dot com

Gerrardasnails
Gerrardasnails's picture
Offline
Joined: 6 Sep 2007
Posts: 6398
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
JohnDuncan:
You get a Wadia iTransport thingie



Cheaper for me to buy a modest laptop and send songs through that.
__________________

Screen - Samsung UE46D8000.  Sources - Dell Zino HD 410; Sky HD; Sony BDP S550; Wyred 4 Sound DAC1.  Amps - Yamaha RX-A3010; SimAudio Moon I-3 RS.  Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand; Vienna Acoustics Waltz Grand centre; Proficient Audio W690 rears; Monitor Audio RSW12.  Cables - Van Damme Blue 4mm speaker cable; Townsend DCT300 and Atlas Voyager interconnects; Van den Hul Optocoupler.

John Duncan
John Duncan's picture
Offline
Joined: 8 Jan 2008
Posts: 20432
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,


Or airport express, which is what I'm going to do - is a pain remote-controlling it, but will probably go down the iPod Touch route.......

__________________

CA StreamMagic 6  |  CA 751BD  |  CA 651A  |  PMC DB1i

Moderator. mail: john.duncan.whf at the mail of g dot com

professorhat
professorhat's picture
Offline
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Posts: 10255
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
JohnDuncan:
Or airport express, which is what I'm going to do - is a pain remote-controlling it, but will probably go down the iPod Touch route.......


I have to say, since getting the Remote software installed on my Touch, I do use this feature quite a lot now. Not to mention numerous other applications I use on it like Golf Tracker to keep a track of my golf score improvement, Live Trains, DVDDash, plus numerous games.

John Duncan
John Duncan's picture
Offline
Joined: 8 Jan 2008
Posts: 20432
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,


Yeah I tried....um......(has to look).......Salling Clicker which works fine provided I stand in the hall........does Remote work over the network or is it bluetooth as well (which I presume is the problem I'm having with Clicker)?

__________________

CA StreamMagic 6  |  CA 751BD  |  CA 651A  |  PMC DB1i

Moderator. mail: john.duncan.whf at the mail of g dot com

Gerrardasnails
Gerrardasnails's picture
Offline
Joined: 6 Sep 2007
Posts: 6398
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
JohnDuncan:
Yeah I tried....um......(has to look).......Salling Clicker which works fine provided I stand in the hall........does Remote work over the network or is it bluetooth as well (which I presume is the problem I'm having with Clicker)?



I just called RS and will be popping down to the local branch at lunchtime to place my order!! I could have one tomorrow but def by Friday!!
__________________

Screen - Samsung UE46D8000.  Sources - Dell Zino HD 410; Sky HD; Sony BDP S550; Wyred 4 Sound DAC1.  Amps - Yamaha RX-A3010; SimAudio Moon I-3 RS.  Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand; Vienna Acoustics Waltz Grand centre; Proficient Audio W690 rears; Monitor Audio RSW12.  Cables - Van Damme Blue 4mm speaker cable; Townsend DCT300 and Atlas Voyager interconnects; Van den Hul Optocoupler.

professorhat
professorhat's picture
Offline
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Posts: 10255
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
JohnDuncan:
Yeah I tried....um......(has to look).......Salling Clicker which works fine provided I stand in the hall........does Remote work over the network or is it bluetooth as well (which I presume is the problem I'm having with Clicker)?


Remote works through the wireless connection created by the Airport.

John Duncan
John Duncan's picture
Offline
Joined: 8 Jan 2008
Posts: 20432
Re: wav files from phone/Ipod via usb to DAC - views, opinions,
Gerrardasnails:
I just called RS and will be popping down to the local branch at lunchtime to place my order!! I could have one tomorrow but def by Friday!!



Ooooooo

__________________

CA StreamMagic 6  |  CA 751BD  |  CA 651A  |  PMC DB1i

Moderator. mail: john.duncan.whf at the mail of g dot com