I Pod Sound Quality

Just goes to show, you cant believe everything you read

[Andrew]

Hi,

Yes, EU purchased iPods have emasculated outputs on them to stop any potential for auditory damage. I think there's a limiter on the volume control, but can anyone one confiirm exactly what is done to them?

No idea if this makes then sound worse.

cheers,

-- Andrew

[lilolee]

iPod forum can be found here http://forums.ilounge.com/

As far as I am aware the limiter is software based so you should be able to bypass it.

As for sound I blind tested a friend using Apple Lossless vs his CDP on his mega ££££ system. He was amazed at how close it was. MP3 sounded awful at anything less than 256kps.

I know it ties you into Apple, but I feel that Apples compression sounds better at the equivalent bitrate of MP3

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by lilolee

iPod forum can be found here http://forums.ilounge.com/

As far as I am aware the limiter is software based so you should be able to bypass it.

hmm...

If that's the case then I would guess re-installing the Apple firmware off their web site should remove the limiter. Its worth a try? As far as I know there's only one version of the firmware.

cheers,

-- Andrew

[david]

Hi Lee,
Are you suggesting the I Pod using Apple Lossless was indistinguishable from an expensive CD player with an expensive rig?

I use WAV files on my I Pod and using the good, freebie headphones provided by the HFW offer I can hear a distinct improvement with my modded Pioneer 575 playing CD compared to the Apple playing WAV files.

The Pioneer sounds more transparent and organic whereas the I Pod sounds more 'digital' and constrained.

However, I wonder if all line outs are equal for the I Pod? I just took mine apart to find the line out is both attenuated and shunted by two ceramic caps. They'll be the first out!
David

[lilolee]

Originally Posted by david

Hi Lee,
Are you suggesting the I Pod using Apple Lossless was indistinguishable from an expensive CD player with an expensive rig?

Yes I guess I am. The cdp was a slightly old McIntosh.

Interestingly enough a guy who used to post a lot on another forum always had problems with wav's and prefered Apple Lossless, so I just followed suit.

Mine is a 3rd Gen one by the way, so no needless video rubbish.

[Allen]

Just a couple of things. Firstly this might be of interest: Redwine Audio "iMod".

For listening to the Pod with headphones I find that it has a too feeble an output to drive any cans convincingly. I use one of these: Chu Moy Mini Headphone Amplifier I have to admit that after looking into the cost of building one I ended up just buying one off E-Bay for around £22 plus postage. It makes the pod a bit bigger to carry around, but it does transform the sound into something a bit more listenable.

[Andrew]

Hi Allen,

Was yours a EU pod? Wondering if I should expect the same problem with a US one....

cheers,

-- Andrew

[Allen]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Hi Allen,

Was yours a EU pod? Wondering if I should expect the same problem with a US one....

cheers,

-- Andrew

Hi Andrew,
Yes I bought it in the UK, it still goes louder than I can tolerate on its own, but the sound has a slightly thin fizzy quality, - the amp just seems to give the sound more 'body' and 'depth' and is much more comfortable to listen to over extended periods.
Allen

[david]

Hi Allen,
Thanks for the Red Winde link, which clearly explains why 4th generation I Pods 'sound better', which is because of the Wolfson dac.

That site also tells that doing what some of us did to our Pioneer 575s, ie removing op amps and upgrading caps to Black gates etc also works its magic on I Pods. It also explains why my modded Pioneer 575 sounds better than a standard I Pod.

It makes Lee's conslusion re his test even more surprising though: how can an unmodded I Pod outputting through its cheapo op amps and running Aple lossless sound as good as a decent cd player?

So, it looks like I'll have to take the lid off my I Pod and see what can be done. Anyone know what DAC the 5th genration I pods use?

A quick attack on my docking station has already reaped benefits to teh line out: I removed two parallel ceramic caps and two attenuating resistors and silver-wired from the plug to the line out spocket and already the sound is notably improved.
Cheers
David