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Replacing Nano with iPod for Best Sound

Despite the sleek, sexy design, I have decided I don't like my iPod Nano. It sounds terrible, has a wimpy amplifier, runs out of power quickly and clips offensively as the battery declines.

Perhaps I am out of date or a little old fashioned, but on reflection, I don't care if my iPod is smaller than a wristwatch, how it interfaces with tube amps and electrostatics, or whether or not I can store 50 million songs, TV shows or phone numbers.

I am not interested in sending it off to be modified for hundreds of dollars or connecting it to geeky, tweaky AC powered components on my desktop.

I don't want to "dock" it anywhere, use it in my car, take it to friends parties or fit it into the sleekest, slimmest of shirt pockets.

No, I simply want to use my iPod as a reasonably portable device - in particular when commuting and working out in the gym - while sounding as good as possible, and I dont mind if the device or my headphones are a bit clunky.

Therefore, could someone therefore please update me on the best iPod for portable use only:

* Generation V and VI or the newer "Classic" iPod?
* Which iPods can handle uncompressed or lossless best?
* Which lossless format is best for sound and battery life?
* What headphones can be driven directly and sound best?
* While remaining portable, has anyone experimented with a battery powered external amp and/or line out cable?

Thanks for ideas. I look forward to enjoying music again on an iPod.

Regards,
cwlondon
ballan
184 posts
 
The iPod can sound wonderful "if" you are using uncompressed (AIFF) or lossless (Apple Lossless) files, and use the digital output, which requires a product like the Wadia dock or Naim DAC. There are other products that allow this as well.

Make sure "SOUND CHECK" and "EQ" are turned off. These destroy the sound quality of an iPod.

If you need to use the analog output, get a dock connector that allows a true "line level" output. DO NOT use the headphone jack unless you are using headphones. As for headphones, I like the Etymotic HF2 headset or HF5 headphones. The HF2 just adds a mic and control for the iPhone/iPod Touch. A nice headphone amp will improve the quality if you want to dig deeper.

Tomorrow (September 1, 2010) Apple will introduce new iPods, so I recommend waiting to see what happens. My guess is that the "click wheel" will be going away. ;)
arni
313 posts
 
To help answer your question, the following is a quotation from Red Wine Audio, which does modification on certain iPods:
"What you may not know is that that the 4th and 5th generation iPods use a very high-quality internal Wolfson Microelectronics DAC (Wolfson DACs are used in quite a few high-end home audio CD players)."
And:
"Please Note — The iMod is only offered for the 4th Generation and 5th/5.5 Generation iPods, as they contain the high-quality internal Wolfson dac chip that makes doing the iMod worthwhile.
We DO NOT and WILL NOT modify any of the other iPods, including the new 6th Generation iPod Classic, iPhone, iPod Touch, or any of the Nanos."

So,there appears to be a difference between iPods; unfortunately, these older models may be difficult to obtain. I can tell you based on my own experience that the quality of the file format matters; Ballan's advice is excellent. I have also had good luck with Etymotic plugs, and Grado headphones work well too as these are easy to drive.
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 

Thanks for suggestions so far. Googling this topic suggests that the best iPod is not an iPod at all, but a HiFiMan HM-801....

Mapman, in other threads we have discussed that this is AUDIOgon, where people discuss the differences in magic marker colors applied to the edge of CDs.

When I first experimented with compressed vs lossless audio in an iPod years ago, I thought the difference was clearly audible, even when output through a car stereo.

Has anyone tried the HiFiMan device?
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,311 posts
 
I have trouble telling the difference between good mp3s and other sources on any of my systems, at least for the pop/rock types of tunes I occasionally buy in mp3. These are typically not audiophile level recordings however.

Never compared on earbuds but I am doubtful I would hear any difference that mattered at least with this kind of music.

I suspect Ipod digital out as a source to another device to make the sound could work pretty well, but then we are moving away from using the ipod for what is is designed for, ie producing portable music itself and towards making it just a source device for system that is better suited to make music more like what we are used to hearing on our good systems.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
When my ipod nano died, went through the wash actually so I should say drowned, I got an ipod touch. I absolutely love this thing. It sounds great with music stored via AIFF. The best earbuds I have used with it are Sony; not expensive and the most comfortable for my ears. I have a pair of Shure (fairly expensive) but nowhere near as comfy.
Another great thing about the touch is that I can listen to Pandora with it. It sounds great through a pair of Quad 11L active monitors.
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