Replcement for an iPod?

[DRC]

yeah, I know its a bit low fi... My 120gB iPod is terminal and I need to replace it. It is generally used in place (rather than portable) just for background music. I've 800 or so albums stored on iTunes so need to be able to interface with the apple system. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Mat-with-one-t]

A great cheap option (if you own a DAC or CD player with a digital-in option) is this:

 

- get an old iphone (I use an iphone 5).  You'd be amazed if you ask around - there seems to be loads of them sitting unused and it's likely you'll get a free one.  As long as it has the smaller lightning connector. you can then control it via wifi or bluetooth from your phone/ipad.

- buy an Apple "Lightning to USB camera connector".

https://www.apple.com/au/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter

DO NOT get an aftermarket one.  They just don't work.  I got a genuine one used on Gumtree for $20 or something.

- get a cheap USB>spdif converter.  Someone here should have one they don't need.  I have a Gustard U10 which was maybe $30 used.  Anything from Gustard (U12 would be a good choice) will be good.  Singxer will be too expensive. 

- get a USB-to-USB Type B cable (to go from the Camera connector USB Type A to the Gustard)

- Get an spdif digital cable (to go from the Gustard to your DAC

 

Now you can (for maybe $50 or so - add whatever you think to buy a DAC if needed) do the following for a more "permanent in-situ" setup at your stereo:

iphone>camera connector (also connected to power to keep phone charged)>converter>DAC>pre/amp

 

An even cheaper and simpler method which is surprisingly good is get a USB DAC (I can certainly recommend a Dragonfly Red), which you can also easily use as a portable device, and go:

https://www.audioquest.com/dacs/dragonfly/dragonfly-red

 

iphone>camera connector>USB DAC>amp

 

Good luck! 

 

 

[blybo]

3 hours ago, DRC said:

It is generally used in place (rather than portable) just for background music

What is it placed on/in? Are you using headphones directly or via a speaker of some sort?

 

Any bluetooth type speaker will connect to your computer and play your library. I use a Bose Mini when I travel and it will automatically connect to my phone and my laptop and play tunes from iTunes.

 

That said, if you are somehow connecting it to a stereo system there are many options. Chromecast Audio, Sonos Connect or Bluesound Node depending on budget. These will also connect to your computer to play your library, controlled via a smart phone app, or from the computer itself

[DRC]

Apologies, I should have provided some more info. The 120 gB iPod was used headphone jack out into the cellar door system. So headphone jack to RAC's into a preamp.

 

I do have an old iPhone and can load up some albums on to it, but there are 800 albums all up which is beyond the memory capacity of older iPhones..

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

Maybe grab an apple airport express and use its headphone output into your stereo.

 

then grab your iPhone and load the Apple remote app and use it as a remote control to control the music on your computer, the computer sends it via AirPlay/AirPlay 2 to ge airport express.

 

this is where I started years ago, works well if your wifi network is strong.

 

you could use AirPlay 2 speakers using the same setup to expand the music to other rooms if you wanted too.

[blybo]

15 minutes ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

Maybe grab an apple airport express and use its headphone output into your stereo.

 

then grab your iPhone and load the Apple remote app and use it as a remote control to control the music on your computer, the computer sends it via AirPlay/AirPlay 2 to ge airport express.

 

this is where I started years ago, works well if your wifi network is strong.

 

you could use AirPlay 2 speakers using the same setup to expand the music to other rooms if you wanted too.

@DRC this ^ or use a Chromecast Audio for about $50 if you already have network access at the cellar door. Again control via a smart device to control the library on the main computer where your music already is. This probably your cheapest option by using the 3.5mm to RCA output interconnect you already own to your system.