Onkyo Debuts DS-A1 Apple iPod Dock

Onkyo's new DS-A1 Remote Interactive Dock allows you to integrate your iPod into existing Onkyo receivers for iPod photo and music playback.

Onkyo has introduced its DS-A1 Remote Interactive Dock to provide seamless integration of iPod audio playback and photo display with millions of the company’s home entertainment systems, includingthe ability to control these functions with the existing Onkyo remote control.

While there are many adapters available to link iPod music to a home entertainment receiver, Onkyo’s Remote Interactive Dock adds the ability to operate key control functions using the receiver’s remote control. This allows Apple Computer’s iPods to function as a part of the home entertainment system as easily as if they were a home CD player or other traditional audio component. Because it employs the company’s long-running RI system, the DS-A1 dock is backwards-compatible with most of the Onkyo components manufactured in the past decade.

The Onkyo RI system enables users to operate an entire system of the company’s components with a single remote control. The DS-A1 dock provides a complete interface between these Onkyo audio/video components and the iPod. With the iPod placed in the dock, it becomes a source component for not only audio playback, but also for photography stored in iPod photo units. Basic iPod controls such as play, pause, stop, skip, and shuffle / repeat functions can all be operated via the Onkyo system remote controller. Additionally, the dock is capable of recharging the iPod batteries while it is in use.

The rear of the DS-A1 includes high quality stereo analog and S-Video connections, delivering the audio and video signals from the iPod to the Onkyo component. Additionally, an AC adapter supplies power to recharge the iPod batteries, and a 1/8″ RI jack is employed to carry control signals to the player. A switch on the bottom of the dock can be set to Tape/MD/CDR/or HDD, depending on the port being used on the Onkyo component.

Additional benefits to the DS-A1 interface include the ability to integrate startup and shutdown, timer and sleep functions, and alarm wake ups on compatible components. When playback on the iPod is initiated through the RI system, the Onkyo input selector is automatically adjusted to the iPod. When the iPod alarm function is employed, the Onkyo device can be set to automatically power up and begin playback. Using the S-Video output, a photo slide show can be reproduced from the iPod on connected display devices.

The DS-A1 RI dock is compatible with third and fourth generation iPods, iPod photos, and iPod minis. RI remote controlled components from Onkyo include nearly every audio and home theater receiver, processor, package systems, and all-in-one component systems the company has introduced in the past 10 years.

The Onkyo DS-A1 Remote Interactive dock for iPod features an attractive white finish to match most iPod models, and includes all the connection and cabling necessary for operation. It will begin shipping in May, and will have a suggested retail price of $100.

Showing 4 comments

  1. Mario at 4:36pm 18th July 2006 Already owning an Onkyo Receiver (TX-8511) I thought the DS-A1 would be a great addition. The Onkyo literature leads you to believe you have full functionality of your iPod through the Onkyo remote. However, it truly is not that simple. It is more like: play, skip forward, skip back, pause, and stop. The ability to navigate is NOT easy and the iPod display doesn't even illuminate (60GB ver) to show you where you are in the menus! I recommend the above mentioned $10 Radio Shack option out of the iPod Line Out rather than waste $100 on the DS-A1. Very disappointing!!
  2. Larz at 3:34am 24th December 2005 Sound quality is superior out of a docking station vs the headphone jack. You are getting a pre-amp signal instead. You don't however have to buy this docking station to take advantage of that benefit. Some docking stations are like $40 dollars vs $80-$100
  3. jason at 11:51am 28th April 2005 At $100, this is pretty disappointing. Why doesn't it support, through the S-Vid, an on-screen list of what's on your iPod (at least the article doesn't mention it)? My advice: get a $10 mini-to-RCA jack at Radio Shack, sit your regular iPod dock on the coffee table and run the line out to the receiver. You'll get the same practical effect (plus be able to scroll through the library without getting up) and save $90.
  4. James at 10:42am 27th April 2005 $100 dollars seems pretty reasonable to me, granted there is not much to the device. I have an Onkyo 701 receiver, but no iPod :(
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