ALL Things IPOD


There have been a few threads on specific issues. As audiophile who travels a lot and at times uses the IPOD for background music for parties thanks to its playlists etc, I am just creating this thread for any IPOD related discussion: we can be free flowing in our discussion.

I will start: I saw in 6moons and someone's comment in another thread that using the dock instead of the headphone jack of the IPOD to connect to your main system provides better sound quality. Really? How much? Why? How do you connect via the dock? Doesn't it just have USB/Firewire connections?
henryhk
but when you connect it via the headphone out the signal must first make it through the ipod's amplification, which due to size limitations is not very good. However, when you use the 3.5 output on the back of the dock the signal bypasses all amplification and feeds nothing but a line level output. therefore running it via the dock adds less jumble to the signal path thus making it easier to resolve better sound.
Even if the ipod doesn't sound the best... it is the only portable mp3 player with a good interface. Apple hit gold with the design and the interface.
Good for Apple. Pamper's hit gold with their diapers, but what's that got to do with us?

I prefer sound over interface.

Which one sounds the best?