Car stereos that bypass your iPod's built-in digital-to-analog converter
Heads up!
Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.For some time now, we've been offering two tips to people who want to get great sound when they connect their iPod to a home audio system:
- Import (rip) your music at a higher bit rate, preferrably in the Apple Lossless format.
- Bypass your iPod's built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC), by means of the Wadia 170iTransport. It's the only home dock that lets you send music directly to your receiver or outboard DAC in the digital realm. When the digital-to-analog conversion is done by the receiver's DAC or a high-end outboard DAC, you get much cleaner, fuller sound.
It's about time we offered the same advice to car stereo fans.
There are quite a few car stereos on the market now that come with a high-speed USB connection designed to work with most iPods. This includes many of the newer car stereos from Alpine, Pioneer, JVC, Eclipse, Kenwood, Dual, Sony and Clarion. Like the Wadia home audio dock, these car stereos bypass the iPod's built-in DAC, which does a decent job for listening with earbuds, but can't match the performance of the advanced DACs found in some car stereos.
Here are links to a few stereos that include both the high-speed USB connection for iPod and a high-grade 24-bit DAC:
Alpine iDA-X303
Alpine iDA-X305
Clarion VX709
Clarion Z709
Eclipse CD7200 mk II (After this post was published, we learned that this stereo does not bypass the iPod's DAC)
JVC KD-PDR80
JVC KW-AVX720
Kenwood KDC-HD942U
Kenwood Excelon KVT-819DVD
Editor's note, 11/30/10: Most of the items listed above are discontinued. Please see Crutchfield's current lineup of stereos that bypass your iPod's DAC.
by Crutchfield's
Meet Jim Richardson
Why do we write? So you can find gear that makes you jump and shout.
I edit the home A/V and pro audio articles on Crutchfield.com. It's a cool gig for a guy who's been seriously into audio since way before 1974.
I started buying records, guitars, and gear with the money I made mowing lawns and delivering newspapers. Now the way I earn my money has changed for the better, but where it goes hasn't changed too much.
I was employee #007 when I started at Crutchfield back in 1976. Seriously, I was the seventh person Bill Crutchfield hired. Back then we all did a bit of everything. I spent time answering customer calls, packing boxes for shipment, purchasing merchandise, and writing catalog pages.
I left Crutchfield in 1983 to finish college. Then I worked as a newspaper reporter and editor before returning to Crutchfield in 1993.
I returned just in time to participate in the launch of Crutchfield.com, the first big ecommerce site in consumer electronics. Having a hand in that process was a thrill and an honor. And just look at how much we've grown since then. It blows old 007's mind.
About Jim
More from Jim Richardson
Is Dolby Atmos good for music?
What you need to know about ATSC 3.0
Rear channel speakers for home theater
Best TV stands for 2021
Center channel speaker buying guide
Sonos One vs Sonos Move