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Got iPod, how to hook up?

Hello, I just got an Applie iPod, and am ripping like a mad scientist. Hooked it up to my stereo and it sounds dead, lifeless, no bass, even with the EQ set to pump up the bass and with uncompressed storage of the CDs. Is it just me? Any chance a nice adaptor would work to hook it up to the stereo? Any hook up recommendations?
south_park
south_park OP
105 posts
 
I have tried connecting it via line out on the base of the stand and via the headphone outputs to my line in. Not using the FM transmitter. I did not expect the quality to rival that of my other digital equipment, but I did expect it to sound a little nicer. No complaints, I know its not a high end component but I do want to try to extract the best performance out of it. That cable may be a good start.
troutki
40 posts
 
I have my iPod going into my Pre via the Monster iPod cable that runs from the base station. This way, it bypasses the internal "amplification" that the unit provides. In my set-up, the iPod blends quite well....it is not my "critical" listening choice, but it is wonderful for background music while working, cleaning or parties.

And turn the EQ off. Hope some of this helps.
bwhite
807 posts
 
South park, Just an FYI... I don't claim enormous miracle improvements with the Zu Cable but I do find it to be much better sonically than any stock or Monster type cable I used prior to finding the Zu Cable Pivot.

Since you do not use the FM transmitter, I presume you may find improvements by using a ripping software like EAC.

The iPod actually belongs to my wife and she's in charge of content. She rips to 192 using iTunes (i think) and I believe she selects AAC encoding (or whatever Apple's format is). At that bitrate, the iPod actually sounds quite good - believe it or not. While it lacks much of the dimension of CD's, it is certainly not as bad as I expected - especially at that bitrate.

I have not tried WAV files on the iPod.

Going back a few years, if memory serves me, I believe WAV was originally a Microsoft-specific format & at the time when WAV first appeared, Apple/SGI/Sun + others used AIFF for uncompressed audio storage - Microsoft used WAV only. As time passed, WAV became more of a standard which could be executed on almost every computer but...part of the problem could potentially be that Apple just doesn't put as much effort into how it decodes WAV files vs. its own proprietary format.

**I have not researched this and it is therefore pure speculation.
brooks
55 posts
 
1) rip something as an AIFF file..that is the same as a compact disc..no compression. Yes it takes up a lot of room, and yes it's harder on batteries, but at least you are starting with the best quality.
2) Use the base station and a mini to rca adapter from RatShack or similar. Do NOT keep the iPod plugged into your computer while it's plugged into your hi-fi...lot's of noise there.
3) Listen. It's not the greatest, but it's really not that bad at all..as said above it's great for parties or background tunes while you make dinner.
Enjoy, it's a cool toy.
Steve
edesilva
768 posts
 
I think bwhite may have hit it--you may have a bunch of bad mp3s. I'm a windows user, so I rip with EAC and LAME using -alt preset extreme for making "portable size" mp3s. You might try just ripping to a WAV and seeing how that sounds. If the WAV still sounds bad, I don't think you will get any better results using better software, since that (I thought) WAV is the native CD format. If the WAVs sound OK, but your mp3s sound better, try varying the ripping program.
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