It does what it says in the advert, you can put an iPod on it and get direct digital output into a DAC of your choosing. But there is no analogue output so you must have a DAC or an amp with a digital input, e.g. an AV amp like Onkyo (and most of these can be connected to give an onscreen display showing track info, etc.).
 
Okay an iPod isn't the ultimate hifi source but it is very convenient. This unit and a good DAC will sound close to a CD player, subject to the other gear in your system. Your high bitrate and lossless files will sound pretty good and almost certainly better than they do with an analogue dock or cable that uses the iPod's internal DAC.
 
The remote control is basic but effective with play, pause, skip/FW buttons and other buttons.
 
I like it because my iPod is my main media player. I have a portable device with my music and playlists that also gives very good sound on the hifi. It's a fine niche product if you have a use for it.

Brilliant for sheer storage size but it fills up quickly if you like videos, or have a lot of music at high bitrates or lossless. It's an iPod so the interface is easy.
 
Sound great for trains and other mobile use, worth pairing up with decent in ears to get some isolation and reduce the sound levels for sustained listening.
 
For stereo/hifi or in-house use buy a dock or cable that plugs into the bottom. The internal DAC is pretty good but is a compromise that is quite reasonable in such a small device. It gives pretty decent stereo rather than hifi - this becomes more apparent when you've heard an iPod through a digital dock and DAC, like the NS-D1 or the Wadia. For lossless and high bitrate music, this gives very good quality sound from a portable convenient device.
 
Note the limitation to 48kHz although it seems to play 24 bit files. And it won't play WMA or FLAC as most people know already.

Bought in UK at reduced price £499. Bargain in my opinion so 5 stars.
 
Sound is very clear and transparent through speakers or phones. Deep bass, clear midrange, and slighly lifted/airy treble. It resolves the different instruments in the mix well. The sound is very neutral, which I liked.
 
The left to right imaging is very good but I was most impressed by the depth of the sound field on speakers. Voices do sound forward of speakers when dry of reverb. It fills the room with "surround" like sound like reverb tails and effects.
 
I have modified mine with new PSU caps and a replacement voltage regulator for the DACs. I also put sound absorbing pads (Vibramat or Anti-vibe) onto the larger areas of the casework. With all this I think it sounds even better, giving a little more detail and punchier/dynamic on drums and other transients.

I carry these everywhere with my IPOD Classic. It's hifi on the move, especially on trains. They give a clear full-range sound and the isolation from the double flanged tips is very good. They are very comfortable to wear compared to the Senheiser and Bose IE's I had previously.
 
It's a lot cash for something so small but I'd buy them again if I lost mine.

I have had these for about 5 years. It is not the most exciting sound when compared to the Grado 80's in similar price range for UK. But the sound is reasonably detailed and neutral enough for home recording use.
 
The closed back design and cushions do keep most of the sound in so spillage into mics is minimal. The same applies to nearby friends and relatives!
 

I had built and enjoyed the Novo amplifier kit from GSP. I wanted to upgrade to get one of the best headphone amps available.
 
The Solo Ultralinear is remarkably musical, it opens up the sounds within a mix and brings details out without being harsh. It does a fine job on guitars, acoustic and amplified. The detail and stereo soundstage make individual vocal tracks clear, I could hear vocal backing parts that were previously lost in the mix.
 
The individual drums and percussion were clearer than before on tracks I knew well, but the punch and resonance of toms surprised me. Basslines have body and clarity, with the track being clearly audible in the mix.
 
I was impressed with the intial sound which was pretty clear, if a slightly bright new electronics sound. It quickly mellowed with some detail and sounded full with good bass. Over the next couple of weeks the low level details emerged and the positioning of parts in the stereo mix became better and better. The burn-in is 3 or 4 weeks of being left powered up, some users say 500 hours. It is well worth waiting for the end results.
 
There is a light soft hiss but it is unobtrusive at normal listening levels.
 
The two inputs and switching arrangement is ideal for my use for phono and CD/DAC inputs.

These were recommended by local dealer HifiSound who had just received his first order of LCD-2's. I compared them to Grado RS1 and other headphones in my price range in the UK.
 
Love the deep and punchy bass, it is full but tight with no sign of the one note bass in other phones.
 
The midrange and treble are very clear and sound natural. Strings, percussion, guitars and vocals are all clear.
 
They are heavy but quite comfortable for me. I could and do listen for ages because the sound is really relaxing and musical.