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Turn your Ipod into a Wireless Music Server/Remote

I have not posted on Audiogon for several years since I have been very satisfied with my current system (Pass Labs, Gamut, Wadia, Martin Logan)

I recently discovered the Audioengine W2. This is an amazing component where a small wireless transmitter plugs into your Ipod dock and will stream music wirelessly from your Ipod to a receiver connected to your music system. It supports lossless quality music.

I amazingly purchased this item on Ebay for $70 however it sells retail for $169. I was skeptical when I hooked this up to my high end system. The only upgraded component that I used for hookup was a inexpensive monster miniplug to rca Y connector.

I was blown away! This thing reproduced music with huge dynamics, a big soundstage and clarity with absolutely no dropouts or degradation of sound quality. I am using an 80gb Ipod classic which has a warmer sound than my 5th generation 30gb Ipod video and sounds amazing. I rip cd's to my Ipod using AIFF lossless files via Itunes (IMO - the only way to go). These files are very large, but I can easily hear the difference through this setup!

Right now, I listen to music totally using my Ipod when listening to my system. Of course my Wadia cd player sounds better but not by much and this setup is soooo much more convenient.

So now I have 80 gbs of music at my fingertips at any time without having to get up and change single cd's.

Google Audioengine W2 for more info on this breakthough product!

Other amazing Ipod gadgets that I've been using for the music lover ....

- IQube Headphone Amp with Sennheiser headphones. The best out there for jazz, female vocals and classical. Expensive but worth it.

- Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones by Monster. These headphones have a built in amp and will blow your ears out(in a good way) with thumping high quality bass that's tight and never boomy. They also block out outside noise. Rock and Hip Hop music sounds amazing. Great for airplane travel and blows away the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones. Also expensive but worth it for certain music.

Ernie
ernio1

Showing 1 response by ernio1

ernio1 OP
15 posts
 
That Apple TV idea is extremely cool too, but more expensive and requires a TV.

I just wanted to share with other Audiogoners a use for your ipod that is inexpensive, works great and is an alternative to a $2000 music server. As I said, it will not sound as good as a high end Wadia cd player or running it through an external DAC, but is very adequate for non critical listening. I have plenty of more expensive toys for my critical listening!

Ejlif,

I also hooked up my Ipod using a y connector from the headphone jack of my Ipod to the back of my preamp. This was before I purchased the W2. I was so unimpressed with the sound that I never used it again.

The imaging was really hazy with no dynamics and too low of gain.

The Audioengine W2 transmitter plugs into the Ipod using the lineout(dock connection)rather then the headphone input.
The receiver plugs into the wall outlet and a Y connector goes from the receiver to the preamp. After hooking up the W2, it had a totally different sound compared to the hookup from the ipod directly to the preamp. Sorry, I can't really explain why the sound was that much better, but I know it doesn't use a separate DAC. I don't know, maybe it is a synergy thing with my system. Everything seemed to click in perfectly.

I experienced a similar effect when I switched to a line out dock connector from my Ipod to my IQube headphone amp
from a plain mini plug connector that plugged into the Ipod headphone jack.

Ernie.
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