Quote:
Originally Posted by artmaltman
Although, I repeat: I did not use an amplifier with the iPod. Perhaps the amplifier changes the situation?
Art
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The main difference I hear in using my Zen's headphone out vs. using it's line-out to my amp is mostly in the 'thickness' of the overall sound, the clarity or 'blackness' of the background or 'canvas', and the imaging/soundstage.
A decent amp with the right OPAMP will seriously improve on the headphone out of a Ipod/Zen any day; it's a subtle difference but rather striking once you do some serious A/B listening.
The SE530's are hugely sensitive and I generally listen with the XM4 amps volume knob at about 9am (starting from 6am).
I haven't really done too many nitpicky tests regarding purity/tone of the various frequencies from one source to the other, but using the line-out/amp combo seriously affects the overall sound image, clarity and soundstage.
Worth some testing if you can bring your IEM's to a headphone meet, etc.