Wadia 170 itransport iPod Dock Level-1 Audio Upgrade

 The auction is for the modification only and does not include the Wadia 170 iTransport which must be purchased separately.

This is a service for modifying iPod Docks (please ask for other manufacturers & models)

Audio modifications for the Wadia 170 iTransport. The upgrades elevate lossless digital audio playback to the highest plateau. Our modifications improve the lossless audio performance from your iPod.

TheWadia 170 iTransport turns any currently available iPod player into a high-end media server by providing a bit-perfect digital audio output to an audio/video system, bypassing the player’s internal digital-to-analogue conversion (DAC) and analogue output stage. As a result, the audio signal remains pure and unadulterated, providing better than CD-quality resolution from full-resolution file formats such as .WAV and Apple Lossless (.m4a).

What the review say; “I can tell you this much, it sounds fantastic! The dream of the iPod being a true audiophile component has now been realized and the sound quality is limited only by the DAC you own….the iPod through the 170 [iTransport] fooled a lot of people at my place into thinking they were listening to a five figure player!” – Jeff Dorgay, Tone Audio, Vol #14 2008

Wadia 170 iTransport Upgrades

The upgrades are primarily for using the 170i via the digital output, although the improvements to power supply, regulation, decoupling, etc, will also give marked improvements to the L/R Audio out. We have two levels of upgrades available to take the stock unit to top flight audiophile status.

The first level-1 upgrade focuses on improvements to the DC power input, here we install a Bybee Slipstream purifier to reduce noise and AC contaminations on the input. The stock unit uses standard LDO regulators from ROHM, the BD39350 (3.3V) and 05CC0 (5.0V). The ripple rejection of these regulators in a poor 58 db up to 500 Hz which is reduced on the frequency range to a very poor 25 db at approx. 22 KHz. The output noise level is not quoted but we can calculate from the ripple rejection that noise is in the region of 60µV and increasing with frequency. We replace these regulators with “Super-regulators”, now in version 3 these discrete regulator’s have excellent rejection of noise at the input and delivers a wide bandwidth, clean, accurate DC output. Next we replace the stock Tantalum bypass capacitors with Speciality Polymer capacitors (S-CAP), this type of capacitor uses a uses a conductive polymer as its electrolyte and is superior to any Tantalum. The benefits are ultra low ESR, excellent transient response. Similarly, we upgrade the Tantalum capacitors with S-CAP which de-couple the PCM2706 chip, lowest noise here is crucial to execute the USB to SP/DIF conversion without losses. The next phase of the upgrades centres around the digital output. We replace the RCA phono socket for a high grade Neutrik RCA, wire with Audio Consulting cryogenically treated, pure Silver wire, and install a Bybee Slipstream purifier for the digital output signal.

The level-2 upgrades install every conceivable improvement to the i170. We replace the internal clock of the PCM2706 chip with a ultra-low jitter external clock, the Superclock 4. This removes jitter and noise at all digital processing and analogue levels of the PCM2706 enabling more accurate, error free processing. To finish we further upgrade Tantalum decoupling with the S-CAP capacitors.

Listening Tests

High performance music servers fairly expensive, and the standard iPod sound is good if not to be considered audiophile standard. This high performance docking station for the iPod bridges the gap for the use of portable audio and high-end sound, although the quality of the latter depends of the quality of the DAC. The stock iTransport is enough to fool you in to thinking you’re listening to a high quality CD player, by this I mean one in the four figure category. Having taken our stock iTransport, installed the upgrades and hooked it up to a Chord DAC 64, it strengthened its abilities as a high-end contender.

The overall sound quality is taken to another level, pushing it several steps ahead sonically and revealing shortfalls in the sound of the stock unit you may have considered a limiting factor of the iPod as a listening medium. The sound opens up marvellously; the music is now sweeter, less grainy, less ‘digital’ sounding. Tonally each note has greater substance, depth, whereas prior it could be considered slightly bleached, or pinched. The two D’s, detailing and dynamics are also improved, sounds that were masked or veiled in the stock unit are revealed with the layering of detailing less compressed.

How to Order

The Wadia 170 iTransport level-1 modification is supplied & installed by Audiocom for £297.50 inclusive.

Once you have purchased the level-1 modification please contact us to schedule and book your CD player for the installation. We can offer reasonable rates for insured courier collection & return to mainland UK from your home or workplace (excludes weekends).

The modification work is completed with 4-5 working days from receipt of the iTransport.. The level-1 modification is covered by a 2 year parts & labour guarantee, this guarantee excludes any OEM not replaced in the modification.