I pods
LeftCoast
Posts: 410
I'm thinking of picking up the I pod classic during the holidays. i've never owned once of these devices. I was wondering about sound quality. Any thoughts?
Post edited by LeftCoast on
Comments
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I have 3 iPod Classics (120GB, and 2 at 160GB). Two are identical (classical music), one is for work, the other is for home. The other is only for Lady Gaga, but she needs to increase her CD output. :biggrin:
Anyway, to answer your question, the sound quality is great if you have the right setup.
First, you need to store music as either uncompressed, or use Apple lossless compression. I use Apple lossless since it, in effect, nearly doubles your disk space.
Second, you need a dock that can extract the digital off the iPod so that it bypasses the $1.69 DAC chip on the iPod. The Wadia iTransport was the first dock to do this.
Third, you need a good external DAC to turn the digital into analog.
Fourth, a decent digital IC between the Wadia and the DAC really helps.
Once you get these pieces, you have a very nice, and inexpensive, music server. Buying the Wadia and iPod 2 years ago has been one of the best things I have done, and I play it almost every night. The only time I use the CD player is when I want to listen to an SACD, or I am audtioning a CD to see if it is iPod worthy. On the other hand, the iPod has cost me a lot of money as I keep buying CDs to put onto it. :rolleyes:Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
I have 3 iPod Classics (120GB, and 2 at 160GB). Two are identical (classical music), one is for work, the other is for home. The other is only for Lady Gaga, but she needs to increase her CD output. :biggrin:
Anyway, to answer your question, the sound quality is great if you have the right setup.
First, you need to store music as either uncompressed, or use Apple lossless compression. I use Apple lossless since it, in effect, nearly doubles your disk space.
Second, you need a dock that can extract the digital off the iPod so that it bypasses the $1.69 DAC chip on the iPod. The Wadia iTransport was the first dock to do this.
Third, you need a good external DAC to turn the digital into analog.
Fourth, a decent digital IC between the Wadia and the DAC really helps.
Once you get these pieces, you have a very nice, and inexpensive, music server. Buying the Wadia and iPod 2 years ago has been one of the best things I have done, and I play it almost every night. The only time I use the CD player is when I want to listen to an SACD, or I am audtioning a CD to see if it is iPod worthy. On the other hand, the iPod has cost me a lot of money as I keep buying CDs to put onto it. :rolleyes:
Blue Fox has given you some good advice. Follow it and you will be surprised at just how much you enjoy your Ipod and the quality of the sound. -
To echo Bluefox..
1. Use a LossLess Codec
2. Do not use the Ipod's DAC
Amazing music will you gain....
Jason2-Channel - So far...
Pre: Dodd ELP
DAC: W4S-Dac2
Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod -
What do you want the iPod for? An apple TV might be a cheaper option if you have a computer with iTunes in the house...(if you just want it at home)
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or an airport express for that matter (still external DAC is a must for decent sound)
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An iPod system that sounded right was to limiting and too much work for me, so I went the PC route. iPods can be done with good success, but it's not for everyone.
