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Point at which iMod would be worth it? (aka quality of amp)

post #1 of 11
5/14/07 at 4:07am
Thread Starter 
Hey guys, I'm thinking about getting my 20GB iPod 4G Color Display iModd'ed.

But... I only have a cmoy... LOL.

Would the iMod still be worth it with a cmoy?

I'm planning to build a portable Pimeta next, and then a PPAS (ppa in your pocket) (that is, if the parts for it are available) after that.

At that point - pimeta/ppas - would the iMod be worth it? Or would I need a better amp in order to make the iMod "worth it"?

Or would the iMod still be worth it with a lowly cmoy?
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post #2 of 11
5/14/07 at 5:59am
It all depends on what's your cans are.

SYNERGY is the keyword here. Even if you have an iMod, feeding it with lousy amp will end up lousy sounding.

But my experience with a well built CMOY is that, if you cater your CMOY for Opamp rolling, and depending on the type of headphone being used, you can get Audio Bliss on the go.

But if you are really serious about it, the following can be a rough guide:
iMod > SuperMicro-IV > ETYMOTIC ER-4S
iMod > SuperMini-IV > ETYMOTIC ER-4P
iMod > SuperMacro-IV > ETYMOTIC ER-4P and S & Many choices of big cans
iMod > RSA Tomahawk > Westone UM2 or Shure E500
iMod > RSA The Hornet > EVERYTHING you can think of
iMod > RSA SR-71 > ETYMOTIC ER-4S or UE Triple-Fi
iMod > Larocco PRII MK2 > Many choices of big cans
iMod > HeadAmp AE-2 > Many choices of big cans
iMod > Go-Vibe V6 8620/8610 > ETYMOTIC ER-4S

Just a rough guide based on my own synergy analysis
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post #3 of 11
5/14/07 at 12:10pm
A better source is still a better source which is always better IMO. You can hear it on any headphone or amp.

Since you DIY, you'll eventually formulate your own opinion on amps. IMO, amps are overrated. Synergy and how you build it are important and in that regard, you can make a "lowly" CMOY sound pretty different.
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post #4 of 11
5/14/07 at 12:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lan View Post
A better source is still a better source which is always better IMO. You can hear it on any headphone or amp.
Agreed
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post #5 of 11
5/14/07 at 12:36pm
I haven't done extensive comparisons, but I believe I heard a bigger difference going from a stock 5g iPod with Total Airhead to an iMod with Total Airhead, than I did when I replaced the Total Airhead with a Hornet. But that may just be due to the fact that I wasn't using a line out cable with the 5g iPod.
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post #6 of 11
5/14/07 at 7:50pm
EFN, why "everything" with the hornet? Is it so powerful?
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post #7 of 11
5/14/07 at 8:45pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies, everyone.

So I've heard that the Go-Vibe V5 synergizes well with the ER-4S, if I recall correctly?

I'm still going to DIY regardless; my soldering iron is just sitting there collecting dust, so I need another project, now (pimeta)! I'm going to build a pimeta soon anyway.
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post #8 of 11
5/14/07 at 9:45pm
vYu223 I do not want to rain on your parade but why do the iMod on a 20 Gb 4th Gen iPod. I mean get a 60 gB 4th Gen iPod and then drop the $215 on it! The cost per GB will be a bigger bang for the buck IMO.
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post #9 of 11
5/14/07 at 9:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrarroyo View Post
vYu223 I do not want to rain on your parade but why do the iMod on a 20 Gb 4th Gen iPod. I mean get a 60 gB 4th Gen iPod and then drop the $215 on it! The cost per GB will be a bigger bang for the buck IMO.
Thing is, I don't have a 60GB iPod... (while I DO have a 20gb) Is it at all possible to convert my iPod to a 60GB?
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post #10 of 11
5/14/07 at 10:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vYu223 View Post
Thing is, I don't have a 60GB iPod... (while I DO have a 20gb) Is it at all possible to convert my iPod to a 60GB?
Yes, but it will cost you a fair amount of money.

The real question here is do you need the extra space? My music collection in lossless was only about 20GB and it was comprised of plenty of music that I could remove as I didn't listen to it much, which would give me room to add more as I see fit. Plus its not like its terribly difficult to add/remove songs and 20GB should be able to offer plenty of variety as it is.
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post #11 of 11
7/3/11 at 7:23pm

What about connecting the iMod directly to speakers such as the i-Audio Cx5 ? noticeable difference?

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