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Apple iPod Family: A discussion of best sound quality

post #1 of 28
12/12/09 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 
I am curious if users can provide me with feedback about which Apple iPod within the current line (iPod shuffle, nano, classic, touch) has the best headphone out sound quality?

I am also curious which iPod model historically has the best sound quality.

Best,
iDesign
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post #2 of 28
12/12/09 at 9:22pm
Classic and touch. I believe it has a lot to with the design of the PCB. The shuffle using the smallest amplifier and most cramped PCB making it the least.

Correct me if I'm wrong please.
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post #3 of 28
12/12/09 at 9:33pm
My humble opinion is the current best IPOD family member is Classic, The best previous one is Shuffle 1G.
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post #4 of 28
12/13/09 at 12:26am
Currently is the touch 3g, based off of the 3gs' excellent HP out.

Historically..the 1g shuffle with the sigmatel chip and the 5.5g that can be imodded
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post #5 of 28
12/13/09 at 7:15pm
i thought the 5th gen and 5.5 gen had the best due to its audio chip
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post #6 of 28
12/14/09 at 7:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dazed&Confused718 View Post
i thought the 5th gen and 5.5 gen had the best due to its audio chip
From what I read, only if you mod it. The current Classic has less components between the DAC and Line Out. If I understand correctly.
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post #7 of 28
12/14/09 at 9:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aFo View Post
Currently is the touch 3g, based off of the 3gs' excellent HP out.

Historically..the 1g shuffle with the sigmatel chip and the 5.5g that can be imodded
Knew I should've waited to buy my Touch, I've got a 2g 16gb

How does that compare to the 3g?

EDIT: An LOD cable just overrides the iPod volume control when connecting to a portable amp and plays the music out of that, overriding any benefit gained from the improved HP out on the 3g iPod Touch, correct? Or was it the DAC on the 3g that was improved?
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post #8 of 28
12/15/09 at 2:32am
For unamp:
1st: Ipod Shuffle 1st gen for me
2nd is ipod touch 2G
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post #9 of 28
12/15/09 at 4:14am
The 4th and 5th gens with Wolfson DAC's.
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post #10 of 28
12/15/09 at 4:30am
I've been using the iPod Classic with Apple Lossless format for 4 years now.

Its quality is very lacking, even with great headphones like the Sennheiser HD25 MarkIIs. Music tends to mash into a mid-range maelstrom with very little instrument
separation. Even vocals can sound harsh or uncomfortable if sustained listening applies.

I'd be inclined to try a higher generation one like Fenix suggests with a Wolfson DAC. In the meantime, I put up with my iPod rather than love it. It's very handy.
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post #11 of 28
12/15/09 at 6:06am
1G shuffle and 5G ipod line out and amped.

must say the 1G shuffles with a 75 ohm impedance adapter plugged into them are astonishingly good, it what im using just now and regularly use round the house
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post #12 of 28
12/15/09 at 6:23am

Slightly OT

How would the best sounding iPod stack up against the Cowon S9 or other highly regarded DAPs out there?
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post #13 of 28
12/15/09 at 6:40am
An iMod goes a long way. I wouldn't say it's even close to a HifiMan HM-801 or something, but it holds it own pretty well.
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post #14 of 28
12/15/09 at 7:11am
Is it just me, or when the OP uses the phrase 'current line', is he not referring to the iPod line that await him at his local Apple reseller ? Many Head-Fiers are on autopilot, thread after thread.

OP, you have your answer - if you can audition the Touch/3GS iPhone and the Classic, I urge you to do so.
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post #15 of 28
12/15/09 at 11:27am

hahaha

^ what a total hijacker!
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