Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Question about digital iPod docks

Who needs a dock?

Get a 2nd hand Apple Airport Express (AEX), connect the optical output to your 568 (configure the input too).

Give your guests access to your home wi-fi; they can now stream music from their iPod, iPad or iPhone straight to the AEX.
AEX is bit perfect with 16/44 files, although this won't matter as the material will probably be MP3 or AAC files.

It is rumoured that Apple will have an update to allow streaming without a network, it could be called Airplay Direct.

All the best,

Steve.

Hi,

I agree with Steve. Another alternative is to pick up a second hand 1st generation Apple TV and use that as a "speaker" attached via optical to your 568.

Brian

Hi everyone!

Thanks for all the interest. When everything was turned to standby I unplugged my SqueezeBox & plugged the dock into the same input & then turned it back on but the system crashed & wouldn't respond to anything for some reason (this may have just been random though) after I switched all the speakers & 568 off at the power & back on again it seemed to work fine in the same input.

I think from now on I'll just keep it unplugged until its required (when friends & family come over) then I'll just unplug my SqueezeBox cable & put it into the Pure dock. A bit fiddly to do behind the cabinet but it's ok to do on the odd occasion when people visit. I'll have to take it into a dealer or have someone come look at it & check to see if that digital input does infact not work at all or if it's a software/hardware problem or something else has happened.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll let you know how I get on when ever it gets sorted.

Regards,
Marc

It struck me reading this thread and the original comment that "only DIGITAL iPod dock available is the Pure i-20" there was perhaps a need to list the other docks which can provide a digital output - this list probably isn't exhaustive either...

Pure i-20
Wadia i170 and i171
Onkyo NS-D1
Cambridge Audio iD100
Arcam drDock
Teac DS-H01

In addition, the following are DACs / Headphone amps for iOS devices which also have SPDIF digital out. Both are connected via standard dock connector to USB.
Nuforce iDo
Foxtex HP-P1

As far as I know, the Wadia i171, CA iD100, Arcam drDock, Nuforce iDo and Foxtex HP-P1 all support iPad as well as iPhone/iPod. The Pure doesn't officially support the iPad though there are reports that it works.

Eloise

Adding an Apple TV will give you what you want and cost less than �100.

Regards
Brian

Hi,

Current Apple TV upsamples 44 to 48, so probably isn't the best option for music.

Another option (an analog one) to allow guests to play their music would be to use one of the QED U-Play devices which uses bluetooth. You can pick these up for around �60 from Richer Sounds (they also seem to have a good selection of digital docks).

Brian