Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict
(1) The CD optical out to DAC/AMP was THE reference point to see which iPod sounds closest to the point of reference - Not to see if lossless sounds better than lossy. I'm sure you understand that.
It's easier for one person to claim whether he likes the 5.5G better than the 6G, but without a point of reference it is too subjective (i.e. more subjective than what we did).
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It may be the case that all iPods can be improved w.r.t. some chosen reference, but that doesn't make a comparison between the 5G and 6G less subjective.
Selecting some reference doesn't make a comparison more valid. You could for instance ask yourself how close an iPod sounds to an 78rpm disc player, that doesn't make it more objective.
The results will also depend on the music and headphone chosen. For instance, my Sennheiser HD650 reveals much more than my Sennheiser HD497, or my Etymotics ER-4P/S. The outcome will be subjective anyway if sonic observations are not performed under double blind test conditions, or without performing measurements as a backup for some observations. So there as well, any chosen reference doesn't add anything to subjectiveness, it is the procedure that matters.
There is also a reference called experience. When I visit an acoustic live concerts, or when I hear good audio equipment, there is one important aspect that can be observed. Things sound "acoustic", "stress-free" and without an electronic haze. My audio in my living room has this property, the Sennheiser HD650 has this property, the iPod 5G has this property. The 6G has not. It sounds electronic, whatever other electronic reference I take.
Whether that sound characteristic adds a positive flavour to (some) music is a personal opinion. Some people seem to like a crisp sound, esepecially when they play shut-in and muffled rock recordings, that require some crispness to add a bit of dynamics to the recording. I wouldn't mind such a mode of operation (I have plenty of these type recordings as well which I happen to like a lot), but it would be great to have it as an option, instead of as an obligation everywhere.
Marc