New iPod Touch, Nano, and Classic released - Page 11

Originally Posted by estreeter

I really cant comment on the older Classics, as this is the first that I've owned. My first gen Shuffle had great SQ, my first gen Touch is woeful and my 2nd Gen Shuffle is somewhere in the middle - the Classic blows them all out of the water.

Like you, I've read a lot of opinions re the change to the Cirrus Logic DAC, but until recently they were mostly positive. I know how well regarded the name 'Wolfson' is in audio, but a chip is a chip and I like what I'm hearing. The Wikipedia entry on the iPod is quite specific as to which chip is in the 6G Classic:

Sixth generation iPod Classic Cirrus Logic Audio Codec Chip

I've seen many of the same complaints that you have, but I'm not willing to buy every revision of the iPod to prove/disprove someone else's findings. Even if I did, what would it prove ? It still comes down to individual preferences.

Hardware aside, I think Apple made a conscious effort to work on the sound in this release of the Classic, but I dont have your ears or musical tastes. All I can say atm is that its the first iPod that I have been able to use without any EQ, and that it lacks the sheer grunt of Sony's flagship DAP : beyond that, I need to do a lot more listening across a few more genres beyond melodic metalcore ...

Ultimately, you really need to hear one with your IE8s and find a store that will allow you to return the iPod within a few days of purchase - I had a Nano for exactly 23 hours earlier this year, so I know it can be done. So far, I have to say that the Classic is a keeper

estreeter

Originally Posted by Mystere9

There was another user in the JH-13 thread just today who compared the new 160 gig iPod to the 3gs in SQ Shane D. I wonder if there's any truth to that?

Originally Posted by estreeter

Shane, I spend a lot of time here and elsewhere recommending alternatives to the iPod, so you can imagine my surprise that I am sitting here converting a mountain of FLAC to AAC for my new 160GB Classic. Apple seem to have put some money back into SQ with this player - the Nano still sounds abysmal to my ears.

For those who are vaguely interested, I will be doing a comparison between the Classic and my X1060 sometime over the next week. Good to see Apple back in the music business. (flame-retardant pants on, he sprints from the building)

Originally Posted by estreeter

Comparo posted, he dons his cape and wizard hat ...

Seriously, I dont know how much value the comparison will have for yourself and your wife - I go to great lengths to point out that nothing beats an audition except an audition with your own music in your own home. Still, if you can at least listen to several players, it might help you shortlist a player or two. Good luck.

Originally Posted by pfillion

IMO, the new iPod Classic 160gb sounds as good as the iPhone 3GS with my JH13s.

Can't wait to try it with the Elite SCSCag Viablue LOD (from Whiplash Audio) and my RSA Mustang.

Originally Posted by estreeter

Comparo posted, he dons his cape and wizard hat ...

Seriously, I dont know how much value the comparison will have for yourself and your wife - I go to great lengths to point out that nothing beats an audition except an audition with your own music in your own home. Still, if you can at least listen to several players, it might help you shortlist a player or two. Good luck.

Originally Posted by pfillion

IMO, the new iPod Classic 160gb sounds as good as the iPhone 3GS with my JH13s.

Originally Posted by estreeter

This will annoy those who maintain that the move from Wolfson to the Cirrus Logic DAC was a backward step - I disagree with those folks. As I said in my comparison with the Sony, this Classic is a very capable music player.

From Wikipedia:

Audio Chip
All iPods (except the iPod Shuffle, 6G Classic and 2G Touch) Audio Codecs developed by Wolfson Microelectronics
Sixth generation iPod Classic Cirrus Logic Audio Codec Chip

This is the same DAC that many laughed at when they saw the parts list for the 3GS (Apples's iPhone 3GS Costs $178.96 to Manufacture) :

Cirrus Logic Low Audio Codec
Ultra Low Power, Stereo, with Headphone Amplifier $1.15

Like many things, the whole is more than the sum of its parts - I'm betting that Apple have put some work into the sound on both devices that goes well beyond the $1.15 they paid for the DAC (ring Cirrus Logic and ask them if they'll sell you one at that price....). If you know anything about software or R&D in general, the cost of the hardware pales next to the development costs - Apple have some bright guys working in Engineering (I've met a couple of the OS X guys, and they are sharp - not your typical geekazoids by any means), and I'm confident that they don't work for 50K a year. Hopefully, Steve's health will improve and Apple can return to a tradition of technical innovation over marketing.

estreeter (Grado fanboy/Sony fanboy/Apple tryhard)

Originally Posted by estreeter

Sid-Fi, the only way to settle this is for me to buy a LOD and hook the thing up to my integrated - I tried it from the headphone out but the results just werent as convincing as they are from my Sony or Samsung players. Ultimately, as I said in the comparison, the D10 should give it the body it lacks in places, but it wouldnt matter what kit I paired it up with : for some, this DAP just wont meet their expectations. I respect that, but I think you'd agree that we have some excellent choices in terms of portable players as we near the end of the Noughties. My fervent hope is that projects like the Amp3 and HiFiMan inspire some of the big guys to throw more R&D dollars at DAPs that put SQ above fashion cred. Hope springs eternal.