The Budget i-Audiophile System

After many many months of walking around high end audio stores auditioning music systems, sitting up nights researching and trying to wrap my head around the new world of iPod based audiophile sound - here's what I've found. It's a decision making nightmare. Very pleasant, air conditioned and all - and tons of reviews and opinions out there - but utter technological chaos. 

The only reason we are looking at dock based systems is to by-pass the "headphone out" port of the iPod/iPhone/iTouch - since that is receiving the audio signal via a tiny little amp and DAC which is built into the iPod/phone/touch. If you want to connect your i-device to a music system via the headphone out - then just use a 3.5mm cable - you don't really need to read any further. 

BUT if you want to bypass the 'corruption' of the signal - then you want to run it via the  30 pin port in the base of your device - thus it needs to talk to a dock/cradle - then read on... 

Why is it that you can get an all in one system? - dock (with charging ability), remote, DAC, amp, and speakers - in a tiny set up like the

Altec Lansing - 

Octiv Mini      = $33-60 

to the inMotion Max   = $120

or

 the Bose - sound dock series 2  = $400

which sound worse than the computer speakers they make - the Companion 20 

 which are surprisingly nice sounding. = $300

or the Klipsch - iGroove sxt  = $144

but they all sound like $50 boom-boxes.  (all prices above from Amazon.com) 

I have an iPod - I want to make it sing!!

But if you try and break up the components, and assemble something nice at home - on a budget - then you are left wondering why it's so difficult. 

iPods start at - $122 for the 8gb nano(6th gen) - and go all the way to the iPhone 4s 64gb at a whopping $1100 USD.

Here are a couple of different set ups - with their prices as of today - Nov, 2011. 

Without a dock - 

1 - Apple iTouch/ iPhone (your digital file = mp3/AAC)  in your hand - you charge it when it syncs to your laptop, or on it's own charger = talking to the airport express through wifi(aka Airport) - will send signal through 1 wall. 

2 - Apple Airport express - this has a built in WiFi and a DAC (converting your digital file to analog) - and can give - 

a) RCA out or b) digital out  = $100

3 - almost any amp + regular speakers 

budget analog audiophile recommendations - 

Sonic Impact T-Amp Super (small out put digital amp)  = $60

+ Klipsch bookshelf speakers (high efficiency speakers) = $300

My first favorite - 

 - powered speakers AudioEngine A5  $325

shown here with Apple Universal Dock - sold separately $60 + you might need some cables. 

or you could pair it with the Fiio L3 cable - for $9  

or you can look at the Sendstation  for  $29 which will allow a line out and a USB charge. 

and this is what it looks like with the Airport express in the back - with a TOSLINK cable from it to the 

digital-in on the speaker.  

The question here would be - is there any loss by sending the audio file through the air (wifi)?

OR 

if you don't want to spend $100 on an Apple Airport Express - you want the iPod to sit on a dock and charge while it plays you it's songs all day and all night then here are the options with a DOCK - 

a -  ipod/itouch/iphone

b - dock with or without  DAC 

My 2nd favorite -

Klipsch iFi   = $400 

dock + sub-woofer + 2 satellite speakers + remote

Apple Universal Dock   = $60

(will need to get cables with this - additional $40)  

Pyle  = $ 32 - 57

Denon    = $ 66 - 130

Dexim   = $80

Onkyo  = $110

Cambridge Audio    = $179 

and you start to notice that ALL OF THE ABOVE = =  DAC + dock --> RCA out (analog) 

then it's time to look at the big boy of the group 

the Wadia 170i TRANSPORT     = $199

(the only 'dock' with an optical OUT!! which will then talk to the optical IN of a nice dedicated DAC) 

so you can get a decent DAC like the 

Music Fidelity V-DAC  = $299

or you can get a cheaper DAC - 

FIIO D3  = $28 

with the help of a TOSLINK cable 

Aurum   = $6 for 3 meter 

now if you've already spent $200 + 300 + 6 = $506 then you might wanna look at 

c - tube amp 

Mini Watt   = $385

or 

if you want to really make 'em sing - then you'll have to discard the word 'budget' and spring for one of these  - 

Decware Zen   

outputting 2w/ch SET (!) = $775 direct from manufacturer 
can be ordered with a lovely wooden base. 

with highly efficient speakers  = $995 

so to come back to the math - we were at $506 + 775 + 995 = $2276 and you will never need to upgrade anything - ever. Your ipod may die in 3 years - as they often do - but the rest of the system can be part of your heirloom! 


will this sound better than the Odyssey Khartago system for $1500 - we will have to compare them side by side one day. I know the Odyssey well, we have one at home. It makes an ipod sing even through it's headphone out port. 

The reason you have been reading all this - 

The reason any of this is important is that digital files pick up some level of jitter - even in the highest end CD players that's what they are constantly battling. So the elimination of jitter, and the purest conversion of Digital to Analog is the holy grail - the rest - amplification and output being an ongoing battle and debate - regardless of 'source' of the music. 


So there you have it - the sum of all of my learning and understanding of the world of budget audiophile sound. There is  no one perfect system. Buy and enjoy what suits your budget and tastes. The journey to finding a great piece of gear can be frustrating, yet extremely gratifying. And when it all comes together, and you sit down at home to listen to songs you've heard a million times, and you start hearing things you've never heard before - then you know you're in the zone, and it's been worth the hunt and the wait. 

* - all images and names are registered trademarks of their respective companies - no copyright infringement implied. This blog is purely instructional. 


came across interesting article - http://beavishifi.com/articles/headphonejack/