Is an IPOD hi-fi?

An iPod is just a small, portable hard drive with some software installed to manage music files. What the output of the iPod sounds like depends completely on the fidelity of the bits you put on the hard drive and what you choose to do with them as they come off the hard drive.

If you play mp3 files ripped at low bit rates through the headphone jack you're going to get low-fi, or maybe mid-fi, depending on the bit rate and your own standards for reproduction.

If you play lossless files through the line-out connection, then through an external DAC with good jitter control, most people would certainly consider what they're hearing hi-fi.

The point is that your question is impossible to answer because it makes the same sense as asking the question, "Is a speaker hi-fi?"

Dave Wilson used an ipod running straight into parasound amps and thence to some new speakers of his that he was demoing for the hifi press. That would count as hifi in my book.

Never heard a normal iPod in my system, but the Red Wine iMod is really great. Easily beat my $1000 CDP.

I wanted opinions from the audiophile community. The possibilities are:

1. The IPOD is really better than I thought.
2. The guys system can't resolve the difference.
3. The guy can't resolve the difference.
4. I've wasted thousands on CD players and cables!

The guy is definately happy with his IPOD but is it hi-fi as critical audiophiles would define hi-fi? Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanx,
Russ

Biggest variable is how he ripped and stored the music. If it was MP-3 files and he can't hear the diff, then its 2 and/or 3. If he is playing lossless files then might be pretty good, although still could not rule out 2 and/or 3. AS far as 4 goes, a lot depends on how much downloading you want to do. As far as 1 goes, it is a relatively user friendly device that provides excellent portable music. It is pretty darn good at it, IMO. Of course, there ARE problems with the software and download interface, IMO, but most of it is probably a matter of my limited practice.