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Best iPods for AUDIOphiles


My circa 2005/2006 with video iPod appears to be dying today, so I am wondering what version would be the best replacement.

My top three priorities would be 1) sound quality 2) sound quality and 3) sound quality so if any devices perform better with WAV files, that would be great to know.

After that, my main concern would be battery life. I suppose this relates to the point above if WAV files drained the battery on any particular versions?

I think I want a full size iPod but storage space is otherwise of minimal concern to me, and video and photos are of no concern - will never use those features.

Thanks for any ideas, particularly if good versions are available used or NOS ("new old stock") very inexpensively.
cwlondon
larryken
537 posts
 
Wait until September since this is when Apple always upgrades the Ipod lineup....usually lower costs, more memory or other changes...they may be going to a a touch screen like the Itouch model.

Larry K
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 
All very interesting and thanks.

I already have Sennheiser HD580's and a Grado headphone amp, as well as a vintagey Headroom amp. I have Shure headphones, Etymotics headphones and Bose noise cancellation headphones.

For the iPod, my main concern is working out and long haul airplane flights.

For flights, I have just received a pair of the Sennheiser PXC-450s.

These seem to to have a higher build quality than Bose, more robust noise cancellation, and also seem to sound much better and more detailed.

Glad to know that the newer and higher storage capacity iPods have not cheapened the sound.
johnnyturbo
39 posts
 
in terms of sound quality directly from the ipod, the consensus is that the 4th, 5th and 5.5 generations work off the best dac chips. some people have then moved forward and had their pods modded by vinnie rossi at red wine audio.

l.a.
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