Apple iPod Touch, iPhone & iPad integration
For a Crestron system an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad can be used either as a source and/or as a remote controller via WiFi. Here is a link for some general info. In addition there is the IDOCV. And if your Provider allows it, it is also possible via 3G or EDGE networks to control your home systems when you are away traveling.
There are of course many other systems and components that can be controlled via an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad. For instance a number of music servers can be controlled via WiFi. For more info click here.
If you would like to plug an iPad or iPod into your home stereo system there are a plethora of choices available, with some options of course being more preferable. And should you wish to do so, both Naim and Arcam offer options to accommodate you. While using an iPod or iPad as a source will not rival a high quality dedicated home music server in terms of sound quality (especially when playing files with lossy compression!) it is certainly nice to have as an available option.
Arcam Solo irDock - iPod dock
The Arcam Solo irDock is an iPod dock which is pictured below:
Naim n-Link iPod Connection Cable for iPod & iPad
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Uncompressed vs. Compressed Files For Your Precious Music
If you are going to use an iPad or iPod as a source we would recommend that you use uncompressed or lossless compressed files. That way you can use the same files on your home music server without the loss of audio quality. Of course you can use lossy compressed files but then you will be sacrificing sound quality.
If you have limited capacity in your iPod or other portable player and you choose to use lossy files for it, then we recommend obtaining uncompressed or lossless compressed files, either through downloading or from CD ripping, and then compressing them solely for portable use. That way you have the better quality file for home use—plus in the future portable storage will become so much larger that there will simply be no reason for lossy compressed files to be used anymore. Also you won't have to purchase your music again in the future as lossless or uncompressed files as you will already have them!
- Uncompressed files are utilized in the recording studio to record with. Examples of uncompressed files are WAV or AIFF.
- Lossless compressed files simply compress the file size without throwing away any music information. Just like a zip file, when it is unpacked the file is replicated exactly. Examples of lossless compressed files are FLAC or ALAC
- In order to make files much smaller in size, lossy compressed files throw away some of the audio information such that nuances of the music are irretrievably lost. Examples of lossy compressed files are MP3 or AAC.
For more info you are welcome to call us at 781-893-9000.