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New iMod for the iPod 5G: A Red Wine Audio/ALO Collaboration - Page 8

post #106 of 456
5/14/07 at 10:40pm
If the sound quality rivals that of the original iMod then this should be excellent.

For me personally, I'm not really too interested in a 120GB drive, but I would be interested in a higher capacity battery. The 5G iPod is slim enough that I wouldn't mind at all it gaining some thickness if it allowed for 15-20 hours of lossless playback. In fact, I would think that would've enabled an iMod similar to the original one since I believe space constraints was one of the issues on modding the 5G, but the cost of making a similar back that allowed for the extra thickness (and maintain the relative toughness that the stock one has) would probably be pretty high.

I would actually take it a bit further and say my ideal high end portable would be a popular amp, an iModded 5G, and high capacity battery all ensconced in a single ruggedized case. That's really wishful thinking on my part though and I know it wouldn't suit everyone.
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post #107 of 456
5/14/07 at 11:27pm
Thanks scrypt, Vinnie and Ken for this exciting news. I've been resisting the iMod temptation until now. My 5.5 G may be taking a vacation soon.
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post #108 of 456
5/14/07 at 11:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by darkswordsman17 View Post
If the sound quality rivals that of the original iMod then this should be excellent.

I would be interested in a higher capacity battery. The 5G iPod is slim enough that I wouldn't mind at all it gaining some thickness if it allowed for 15-20 hours of lossless playback.
My thoughts exactly. And regarding the sound differences between iMod version 1 against 2, I have high hopes for the new iMod. I will quote from the link Vinnie provided in his post:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinnie R. View Post
Regarding sound quality, at the HE2007 we compared the new 5G iMod to the 4G iMod playing the same WAV file. These were connected to a RWA Signature 30 amp, and driving the Omega Max Hemp speakers.
The 5G iMod barely had any burn-in time on the BG caps (under 10 hours) and the 4G iMod was very well broken-in. Even without the burn-in, the 5G iMod was just good as the 4G, but appeared to have even better bass attack! I am really excited to see how good this 5G will sound with more use! It has the potential to sound quite a bit better as the BG caps burn-in. (happy jumping smiley inserted)
Later versions with better quality means Vinnie is doing his best to improve his products as time moves on; so please, 4G iMod owners (am one of them), please don't feel sad if the newer version would sound slightly better. It's like an iPod Mini owner complaining that the Nano is slimmer. Improvements has to be taken down the line. Another good thing about this dock is that it has more options for improvement, like the silver cotton Ken mentioned. Plus the possibility for this to be used for future models or even for iPhone owners (unless Apple changes its future dock designs which is unlikely). And Vinnie, you rock!!!
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post #109 of 456
5/15/07 at 2:40am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltron View Post
I am not sure if you are just getting defensive from trying to keep this thread focused, but you have mistaken my support as an attack.
That's probably true on both counts; please accept my apologies. The problem wasn't your comment but, rather, the direction the thread took just after and the way in which your comments were construed. I could explain further, but then other people would respond again and I'd be forced to report their posts, which could result in massive deletions that might compomise the thread's flow. Let's leave this where it is -- particularly since Vinnie and Ken are now responding directly.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltron View Post
. . . you seem determined to make me out as a villain by assuming that my statement of thanks was insincere.
Actually, I'd rather not see you as villainous, since we have a history of mutual support rather than acrimony.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltron View Post
In either case, given that I had held the item and talked to Vinnie about it, I thought I would add some details that could be helpful to those reading your fine thread.
And your comments were indeed helpful and welcome. Vinnie has expanded on and clarified my attempt to explain the circuitry involved; I'll be adding his explanation to the first post after reading what he and Ken have had to say in my absence.
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post #110 of 456
5/15/07 at 2:56am
Thread Starter 
I'll be adding the following explanation from Vinnie to the first post in the thread:

Quote:
The new modification will bypass the stock line-out components (opamp stage, coupling caps before and after the opamp, resistors/inductors in the signal path, tiny board traces) by taking the line-out signal directly from the Wolfson DAC and hard-wiring it to the line-out dock connector.
Here's a question for Ken:

Are any of your previous LODs at all compatible with the 5G iMod? I realize that key elements of the iMod proper would be missing (caps, etc.), but I wonder whether it would be possible to use your other docks in odd circumstances (part of one's rig left at home by accident, etc.) and still enjoy some improvement.
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post #111 of 456
5/15/07 at 4:52am

LOD compatibility with new iMod

Hi:

I do not know whther this answers the question:

"The 5G/5.5G iMod will require that I modify the unit as described above, AND you must use the custom ALO 5G iMod cable (with installed BG caps). Otherwise, there will be DC offset voltage on the line-out pins of the dock connector. This cable will be sold by ALO Audio. I will not be making these cables. ALO will be selling fully modded 5G units with his custom cable. For those that already own the 5G unit, they can be sent to me for the 5G iMod and you can order the cable from Ken."

taken from Vinnie's answer in audiocircle

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/i...;topicseen#new

Regards
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post #112 of 456
5/15/07 at 4:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
im sorry mate, i thought your avatar was a pair of high-heels then i looked more closely and i saw superfi... sorry!
and you got it wrong again. It a TripleFi
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post #113 of 456
5/15/07 at 2:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scrypt View Post
That's probably true on both counts; please accept my apologies. . .
No apology necessary, but appreciated nonetheless.

I am itching to send my iPod to Vinnie right now, but I will watch this thread for more info from Vinnie and Ken and pull the trigger soon.

Cheers.
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post #114 of 456
5/15/07 at 3:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rodaballo View Post
Hi:

I do not know whther this answers the question:

"The 5G/5.5G iMod will require that I modify the unit as described above, AND you must use the custom ALO 5G iMod cable (with installed BG caps). Otherwise, there will be DC offset voltage on the line-out pins of the dock connector. This cable will be sold by ALO Audio. I will not be making these cables. ALO will be selling fully modded 5G units with his custom cable. For those that already own the 5G unit, they can be sent to me for the 5G iMod and you can order the cable from Ken."

taken from Vinnie's answer in audiocircle

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/i...;topicseen#new

Regards
This is correct; so using a non iMod Enabled Dock with a 5-5.5G iMod, or modded Nano should that pan out, will not work and possibly cause problems with your gear, namely your cans.

I am on track to have 3 variants (possibly 4) iMod Enabled Dock cables to offer by the time the new iMods are ready to roll. I also will carry one 2 foot dock to RCA cable for the 5-5.5G/nano? imod; this can be made longer by the foot.

cheers!

Ken
Audio Line Out ALO Forum ---> http://www.head-fi.org/forum/list/70 www.ALOaudio.com Physical Location -32 Ohm Audio http://www.32ohmaudio.com
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post #115 of 456
5/15/07 at 3:34pm
FWIW - There will be an electrical current coming out of dock...that's why you don't want to use a non-iMod Enabled Dock.
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post #116 of 456
5/15/07 at 3:48pm
This is fabulous news, Vinnie/Ken/scrypt/Al/etc!

Ken, I'm not sure if this specifically has been asked already, but any chance of you being able to modify an existing (Cryo) dock with a new connector incorporating the BG caps? If so, how much length would I lose?
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post #117 of 456
5/15/07 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KB View Post
This is correct; so using a non iMod Enabled Dock with a 5-5.5G iMod, or modded Nano should that pan out, will not work and possibly cause problems with your gear, namely your cans.
If I understand your product correctly, it's an audio out dock only. However, the iPod also has to charge the battery, as well as connect to a computer to load and delete music. That can be done either through a dock or direct hookup to computer. If using a standard dock, presumably all of the DC will be at the line out, which would make that line out useless, but would leave all other functionality intact (and not affect a USB or Firewire connection). However, connecting the iPod directly to a computer without a dock would not divert the DC to line outs. Do those line outs hook to a computer when the iPod is connected? Asking this another way, is there a possibility that a computer directly hooked to the 5g iMod might be exposed to DC through the USB or Firewire connector?
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post #118 of 456
5/15/07 at 4:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BRBJackson View Post
This is fabulous news, Vinnie/Ken/scrypt/Al/etc!

Ken, I'm not sure if this specifically has been asked already, but any chance of you being able to modify an existing (Cryo) dock with a new connector incorporating the BG caps? If so, how much length would I lose?

It’s possible but only through a connector decapitation job and this is time consuming to do. This would also shorten the length of the cable; moreover we would have to re tag the mini plug. All of these iMod enabled dock cables will have a special tag on the plug to ID them as for an iMod.

Ken
Audio Line Out ALO Forum ---> http://www.head-fi.org/forum/list/70 www.ALOaudio.com Physical Location -32 Ohm Audio http://www.32ohmaudio.com
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post #119 of 456
5/15/07 at 5:29pm
Thanks, Ken. Looks like I'll be picking up an iMod compatible LOD when it officially launches. Will you be offering your usual customization options (RA mini connector, custom cable length, etc.)?
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post #120 of 456
5/15/07 at 5:37pm
Can the Nano be Imoded or not? It doesn't seem like there is a clear answer. Also besides the new cables that Ken is making for these new Imods. Will we still be able to use our amps right? (I know seems like a silly question but just making sure.)

Thank you very much,

Sincerely,

bigizzy75
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