High Resolution Technologies or HRT, maker of the award-winning Music Streamer II Asynchronous USB DAC, just launched a new iDevice digital audio interface which allows high quality streaming of iPad, iPhone or iPod's audio (basically all modern iDevices).
The iStreamer is the first Apple-approved outboard full-host-mode DAC (not camera kit work-around). It takes the digital output from your iPod and uses high quality d/a conversion rather than using iPod's internal conversion which is of lower quality. 99% of the iPod docks available takes out iPod's already converted analog signals, not digital.
To date, the first few units that extract digital data are Wadia 170i, Wadia 171i (iPhone compatible), and Onkyo ND-S1. However these are transports only, no digital audio conversions.
iStreamer's specifications:
- 16-bit only
- 32, 44.1, and 48kHz
- 2.25 v RMS output
- S/N ratio of 98dB
- Gold plated analog RCA output
- iDevice input
- Power port (USB A-type connector), which also charges device
- Compatible with all modern iPods, iPhones, and iPads
Priced at $249. Looks interesting and would be a killer device for iPad users. However, I would like to see a version with a digital output.
