iPod to a Benchmark Media DAC-1 D/A

I'm planning to do this, but only in conjunction with my Pace-Car reclocker that outputs I2S to an I2S DAC. I believe I can bring-out the I2S interface of the iPod on the docking connector.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer

MSB has a docking station for iPod that outputs S/PDIF. Not as good as I2S IMO, but digital anyway. I believe it's around $2K.

Dbk wrote:
"Why is direct I2S connection better than s/pdif?"

Because the S/PDIF encoding and decoding adds more jitter. Using I2S, you can avoid encoding the clock and data into a single signal.

The optimum solution is to locate the master clock at the D/A chip and then send this clock back to the source, which will be a "slave". This achieves the lowest jitter. I have this solution for Squeezebox, and soon Sonos and Olive.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio