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LOD on iPod worse than Headphone???

post #1 of 32
7/21/09 at 1:40pm
Thread Starter 
Hi, I am baffled! I just bought a LOD for my 6th gen iPod. Running it through a Graham Slee Voyager amp. It actually sounds worse, to my ears, than the headphone jack. Hmmm. Any thoughts?
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post #2 of 32
7/21/09 at 1:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by krismusic View Post
Hmmm. Any thoughts?
Something is wrong!
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post #3 of 32
7/21/09 at 2:19pm
Thread Starter 
I have a couple of theories.
1) The LOD is cleaner and is showing up just how poor the SQ of the iPlop is.
2) The LOD that I have is poor quality. It uses Starquad cable.
3) I have tin ears and/or prefer the "distorted" sound from the headphone socket.
Whaddya reckon?
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post #4 of 32
7/21/09 at 2:38pm
1) doubt it, an ipod should come alive with a LOD
2) maybe, try the iBasso LOD, which can also be found from sellers on e-bay if you search under LOD as it is not eclusive to iBasso.
3) if you are a youngster that may well be true. Research shows that the younger ipod generation are so used to compressed sound that it is preferred. And there is nothing wrong with that. I prefer compressed Ogg Vorbis to itunes lossless or WAV.
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post #5 of 32
7/21/09 at 2:39pm
Can you describe how it's worse?

What are the bit rates of the files you're listening to? I would assume that perhaps the LOD is more revealing and perhaps you're finding out that lower quality files (<320kbs) are not very good?

IMO the starquad cable shouldn't be a problem, unless there's a poor soldering connection, if that's the case, it should sound like a distorted radio station that goes in and out.

Best way to test this I guess is to get another LOD
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post #6 of 32
7/21/09 at 2:41pm
what headphones are u using?
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post #7 of 32
7/21/09 at 3:36pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Guys, thanks for the replies.
I am an old git. 53! I would describe the sound from the LOD as thin and artificial. All my recordings are in Apple Lossless. The headphones I am using are Sennheiser CX300's.
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post #8 of 32
7/21/09 at 3:40pm
Maybe you have the equalizer turned on... does the LOD bypass the EQ? If so we may have your culprit.

Also, maybe the output impedance of the headphone out more properly matches your amp. I know that the RCA outs of the DVD player I use for CDs sometimes made my Bithead clip as it was way too loud.
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post #9 of 32
7/21/09 at 4:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by moogoob View Post
Maybe you have the equalizer turned on... does the LOD bypass the EQ? If so we may have your culprit.
Also, maybe the output impedance of the headphone out more properly matches your amp. I know that the RCA outs of the DVD player I use for CDs sometimes made my Bithead clip as it was way too loud.
No, EQ turned off. incidentally, the LOD does not bypass the EQ. I was trying different settings to improve things. Without success.
You could be onto something there. I thought it odd that even with the volume on the iPod turned right down, I was having to turn the amp down as well.
What would be the solution?
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post #10 of 32
7/21/09 at 5:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man View Post
1) doubt it, an ipod should come alive with a LOD
2) maybe, try the iBasso LOD, which can also be found from sellers on e-bay if you search under LOD as it is not eclusive to iBasso.
3) if you are a youngster that may well be true. Research shows that the younger ipod generation are so used to compressed sound that it is preferred. And there is nothing wrong with that. I prefer compressed Ogg Vorbis to itunes lossless or WAV.
To 3, I am offended! I'd take vinyl over 128kbps any day!

Anyways, I agree with 1, your LOD is fine, but I have no suggestion for 3.
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post #11 of 32
7/21/09 at 6:25pm
I noticed something similar with an iPod Nano 4th Gen. I thought the headphone out sounded better than the LOD w/ Predator. The opposite of my 160gb Classic experience.
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post #12 of 32
7/21/09 at 6:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by moogoob View Post
Also, maybe the output impedance of the headphone out more properly matches your amp. I know that the RCA outs of the DVD player I use for CDs sometimes made my Bithead clip as it was way too loud.
Thanks for all the replies guys. This one seems to have legs. Any more thoughts moogoob?
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post #13 of 32
7/21/09 at 7:19pm
Try a little Caig to clean the port? Might be a little dusty? I use the GN5.
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post #14 of 32
7/21/09 at 7:53pm
My CX300's are only a couple of months old and they are starting to sound pretty crap my first set were good but they were the older ones these ones aren't so good... maybe try some different headphones...

Got your plugs in the right holes??
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post #15 of 32
7/21/09 at 8:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by crb View Post
Got your plugs in the right holes??
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