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Best sounding solution for Ipod

Hello 'Goners:

Like many of us out there I have succombed to the 'Ipod bug. I am emabarrased to admit but I have large amounts of jazz, rock, and acoustic stuff on WAV files that are wonderful due to the ease and convenience of it's access. However I find the sound slightly lacking in dynamics, soundstage, and transparency especially when listening to jazz (Art Blakey and the jazz messengers come to mind), etc.

I have heard about Krell's new "Kid" ipod preamp but I am not willing to for over 1k of my hard earned cash for a overpriced gimmick Krell is pushing on it's consumers to stay in the augio game. I am also not keen on purchasing a DAC that will just complicate my analog set-up.

I am currently running a recapped C-28 (Mcintosh) preamp, Mcintosh MC-2155 amp, and my laptop is connected via it's headphone jack into the back of my preamp's aux input. I have read about "audiophile"-like tubed ipod set-ups (preamp/amp from FATMAN) but I am not willing to rid myself of my Mcintosh gear or spend $700 on an mass produced, over-hyped, over-priced set-up from China.

There has to be a solution out there that I can use with my current set-up without robbing my wallet or sacrificing my source components.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
splittie
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
Without buying a DAC (I assume from your previous thread that your CD player is up for grabs), the easiest way might be to get a decent 'interconnect' which converts the output to dual RCAs. I think Monster makes one and for some reason 'Stefan AudioArt' rings a bell. You might check the website.

I don't know what mods/accessories are available from RedWineAudio without getting a serious iPod-changing mod, but you could check there.

And IF your new CD player has a digital input (coax or BNC), you could get a HagUSB from hagtech (no affiliation, etc etc) and that would convert your PC's USB output to something your DAC could read. There are a few similar products out there.

Otherwise, as you say you are sick of your CD player and want to buy a new one for less than $1k, you might consider whether you actually need a CD player at all, or whether you could use your laptop into a HagUSB into a DAC of your choice for your future CD-playing (first you rip it, then 'play' it off the hard disk when you need to). And if you went down that route, there are plenty of USB DACs out there for around that dollar mark, which should be able to do your CDs ample justice (in which case you would not need the HagUSB (sorry Jim)).
jax2
3,031 posts
 
All the iPod solutions but one still rely upon the less than stellar iPod DAC to convert the digits. Even the RedWine line-output option (which I believe renders the headphone jack useless (converts it to line-out), still uses the internal DAC. The one company out there taking the digital signal out of the iPod charges over 2K to do so, which is ridiculous IMO for a device that has a limited MTBF. I'm with T_Bone; get a USB DAC. There are plenty out there that will give your transport/player a run for its money. I like the Paraisea at around $600. Other options exist at the same pricepoint (Lavry, April Music, and others).

Marco
eddaytona
216 posts
 
Are you running a line level output from multiplug at the bottom of the ipod or taking your signal out from the minijack at the top?

Things sound a lot better from the line level. If you are coming from the headphone minijack you are getting signal from the ipod's amp which is not too hi-fi to begin with and you add a layer of noise on top of things that way.

I go line level from my ipod into my hi-end system and it's not too bad for casual listening. Not a $1200 CD player for sure but then again you would be suprised how close the sound comes to one.

I use a monster RCA plug set-up that also includes the video out should I ever want to run to my TV.

I put all of my CDs into my 160gig ipod and leave it on shuffle. Like I said, for causual non-critical listening its the bomb.
reubent
7,061 posts
 
Splittie,

After reading your post, I don't see an iPod listed at all? You do however mention that your laptop is connected to your system via the headphone output.

So, are you using an iPod or are you using iTunes output from your laptop? There's potentially a big difference in how to execute a good sounding solution.

TIC
tobias
1,534 posts
 
A simple step up in sound quality from your computer involves using a better connection cable from the headphone output. (This goes for the iPod too.) T_bone mentioned a couple, and I have had fun with the Zu Pivot.

Next step up (or skip right to it if you like) is an outboard processor (a DAC). You can get one with a USB input built-in, like the Apogee Mini-DAC, the Benchmark DAC-1, and lots more. You can alternatively use any DAC at all with a S/PDIF input, but in this case you have to buy another cable and another box--a USB converter--to link your DAC to your computer. The Hagerman HagUSB T_bone mentions is one such box, and there are more at different price points. The most upscale one I know of is the Empirical Audio OffRamp.

Personally I use an Apogee Mini-DAC without USB as my main converter. In the office I use an M-Audio Audiophile USB, because it also does analog-to-digital conversion. It is smooth-sounding but a bit short on detail. However it is still a good deal better-sounding than the computer's headphone jack, even with a Zu Pivot.
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