Pure i-20 iPod dock

[bmwr75]

The Pure i-20 dock sells for $99 in the U.S. A Cambridge Audio DacMagic runs $429. The Pure i-20 extracts a digital signal from the iPod line out jack on the bottom of the iPod. It has an internal 24 bit/196 kHz DAC. Also will put out a coaxial or optical digital signal to an outboard DAC.

I did an A/B comparison between the Pure i-20 and a Cambridge Audio DacMagic today. The Pure i-20 was being fed Apple lossless files from a 160 GB iPod Classic. The DacMagic was being fed the same exact files via iTunes streamed wirelessly to an airport express using the optical digital out. Compared many passages of my favorite list of high fidelity recordings. Amazingly, the volume between the two sources matched exactly (to my ears anyway). The amp was a Matrix m-stage running a GD-Audio OPA-SUN opamp. Headphones were AKG K702s. The Matrix has two inputs and a front Source 1 & 2 switch. So, I could switch sources on the fly.

Bottom-line: I could hear no difference between the $99 i-20 using its internal 24/196 DAC and the $429 DacMagic DAC. IMO, the Pure i-20 is a killer deal.

[schwarcw]

I heard Scott's i-20 this weekend.  It sounded terrific!!!

[bmwr75]

Carl,

You actually heard the HRT iStreamer.  I need to do a comparison of the iStreamer and i-20.

Scott

[schwarcw]

I'm such an ass!

[bmwr75]

Honest mistake Carl.   

Tonight I did an A/B comparison between the Pure i-20 using its internal DAC and the HRT iStreamer.  Sources were both iPod Classics with the same Apple Lossless files.  Once again, compared many passages of my favorite high fidelity recordings.  Used the Matrix mstage and K702 phones.  Switched the sources using the front switch on the mstage.  The volume level was the same between the two sources to my ears.
 
The difference in fidelity between the two DACs was small.  The iStreamer may sound a little better, maybe a little more musical, maybe a little less smearing of the transients.  Is the iStreamer twice as good as the i-20 (it costs twice as much)?  No way, not even close.  The i-20 is more flexible since it outputs optical digital, coaxial digital, analog and component video.  The i-20 also includes a remote, so you are not tethered to the device, as you are with the iStreamer, to control it.  The remote is not perfect, but it is good for the price.  I do however find it easier to just control an iPod from the click wheel.
 
Had the wife do an A/B comparison also.  She didn't hear any difference between the two devices.......granted she wasn't as interested in the project as me.  But, she does have good ears.
 
Bottomline:  Both the Pure i-20 and the HRT iStreamer are better deals than anything else out there that pulls a digital signal from an iPod, because both are also DACs, and pretty decent DACs at that.  AND, both devices sound as good in this system as a Cambridge DacMagic that costs 2x-4x as much.