I didn't think you could bypass the iPod's DAC with any available cable. I thought you needed the Wadia i70 or similar dock. As far as I know, there are only a few that do this - and they all cost more than $100 new.
Ipod 30-pin-to-USB cable
Here's a query that forums are surprisingly quiet about: what's a good-to-great Ipod USB cable? I'm looking for a 30-pin-to-USB, rather than (e.g.) headphone-to-RCA or firewire-to-USB. For some reason, I'm not seeing a lot of discussions of that sort of cable.
I have a Marantz CD6004 cd player, which has a USB input on its face, so you use the player's DAC. I rip all of my files to lossless formats; listening to music from my Ipod(s) is very convenient (no messing with cds), and the sound quality is great - certainly better than headphone-to-RCA. If I can improve SQ with an aftermarket cable, all the better.
I'd like to spend less than $100, at least to start, but I'd be happy to hear recommendations for more expensive cables. I've been looking at (e.g.) the Audioquest Forest, which is very inexpensive...almost...too inexpensive. Any other suggestions?
I have a Marantz CD6004 cd player, which has a USB input on its face, so you use the player's DAC. I rip all of my files to lossless formats; listening to music from my Ipod(s) is very convenient (no messing with cds), and the sound quality is great - certainly better than headphone-to-RCA. If I can improve SQ with an aftermarket cable, all the better.
I'd like to spend less than $100, at least to start, but I'd be happy to hear recommendations for more expensive cables. I've been looking at (e.g.) the Audioquest Forest, which is very inexpensive...almost...too inexpensive. Any other suggestions?