Will the ipod be the death of the CD?

Marco, isn't the iPod digital in/out (the recharging and music loading in/out at the bottom of the iPod box) capable of producing a signal output? It does seem to have a USB out so one should be able to run it right into a USB-capable DAC. Thanks for the RedWineAudio idea - very interesting way to get dock functionality in a good quality package.

Marco, isn't the iPod digital in/out (the recharging and music loading in/out at the bottom of the iPod box) capable of producing a signal output?

Currently it is only capable of producting a line-output, which is marginally a better signal than the one through the headphone jack which goes through the internal op-amp. Digital output is not yet possible through any of the current iPods. this thread addresses that very subject directly. There are a few others as well. But that one dispells some false advertising on the part of either Monitor Audio or Audio Advisor that had suggested the contrary in their claims about the iDock.

Marco

Thanks much Marco. All of which means the way to go in terms of sound quality might be the RedWine mod + an outboard amp...

Anyone ever tried the Red Wine Audio mod for iPod?

I think that it is misleading to make a blanket statement about downloaded music not sounding as good as music from a CD. I know that compressed music (e.g., music downloaded from iTunes) is compromised in ways that audiophiles find objectionable. However, in listening tests (playing music from my MacBook Pro into a DAC via Toslink) I played songs imported from CD's via Apple Lossless and included a song downloaded from iTunes in with these CD songs, and have yet to have listeners correctly identify the downloaded song. These listeners have plenty of experience listening to highend gear, so that doesn't explain this finding, and my system (see virtual system description) is reasonably revealing, so that doesn't explain it. Could it be that the music I've used for this test is all in a limited frequency range (i.e., male or female jazz, folk, or Blues singers mostly)that doesn't display the limitations of compression? I don't know the answer to my question, I really would like to hear what you people think might explain this phenomenon.

T-Bone - haven't tried the Red Wine mod, but have tried drinking red wine while listening to music (but not on my iPod). I recommend a nice Zin or Chateau Neuf de Pap. Seriously, I haven't tried Vinnie's mods but I believe they've received some good press at 6moons. Vinnie is very responsive to emails as well. Knowledgeable fellow.

Bruce_1 - If you like the Parkay, have at it. I DO believe it's not butter though. Whatever works for you. Why are you concerned about these "listeners" you've enlisted to discern one from the other? What about YOU? Have you had someone try the same test on you. Take just one song that you're really familiar with and have someone play it back in both formats. Do it blind if you like. Listen through the entire song both times. If you can't tell the difference you've saved yourself a whole bunch of hard disk space, although that commodity is awful cheap these days. More to the point, try ripping a WAV file and a MP3 file of the same song and listen to it on your iPod with headphones. I'll bet you can tell the difference. If not, enjoy the music..whatever format it's in.

Marco