4th Gen iPod with SM3

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdawgg83 

How would an un-amped, Rockboxed 4th Gen iPod sound with the Earsonics SM3s? Can the player perform well enough to make the SM3s sound as amazing as they were intended to? Or do I need to get a later gen iPod?

 

Thanks!

I think you will get a good sound out of the HO but IMO there are better players out there that give a better overall sound than iPods. I would suggest getting a LoD and a really good portable amp to get better SQ out of the SM3s..... or go with a different DAP all together. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdawgg83 

How would an un-amped, Rockboxed 4th Gen iPod sound with the Earsonics SM3s? Can the player perform well enough to make the SM3s sound as amazing as they were intended to? Or do I need to get a later gen iPod?

 

Thanks!

I haven't heard the SM3s (not enough money, but I'd really like to try them some day), but I can provide some insight on the source. I've got two 4th gen iPods (20GB monochrome and 60GB Photo), Clip+, Fuze, 120GB Zune, and an 80GB 5.5G iPod whose logic board seems to have crapped out on me but I was able to listen to it for a very short time. A couple of days ago, I did a short comparison with my iPod Photo (line out) and my Clip+ with my mini3 and HF5s; audio files used were q-0.8 (VBR ~256) OGG Vorbis. The difference was barely noticeable. I think the Clip+'s alleged pitch bug made it play slightly slower, but that could be my mind playing tricks on me. Unless you have a dollar store brand MP3 player or one that hisses alot (Zune...), I really don't think the source matters much. That's assuming the audio files are high-bitrate lossy (I don't like going under 256) or lossless and properly encoded (secure mode where available). Although I didn't do a real comparison of my Photo with my 5.5G, I think the 5.5G sounded a tad nicer. Just a tiny bit though, and that was months ago. YMMV. Keep in mind I haven't heard an iMod, HiFiMan, or S:flo2.

Will you be using the SM3s through the iPod's headphone out or with an amp with an LOD? If not and you've got about $160 or so to spare, a mini3 and an LOD would help you milk the last little bit of SQ out of your iPod. The amp could still be used with another MP3 player if you decide to upgrade.

They should sound great with the iPod 4G. I have a Nano 1G that sounds great with the SM3. Even the 4th gen will have a good stereo image, but it will lost a bit of bass. Overall however, it isn't really worth upgrading your source if the iPod is still working. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bba1973 

A couple of days ago, I did a short comparison with my iPod Photo (line out) and my Clip+ with my mini3 and HF5s; audio files used were q-0.8 (VBR ~256) OGG Vorbis. The difference was barely noticeable. I think the Clip+'s alleged pitch bug made it play slightly slower, but that could be my mind playing tricks on me. 

That's the point; you can't do a comparison with a medium rate quality file and expect results. When comparing, you should use the highest quality pieces of equipment that you have to get the best out of whatever it is you are comparing. It would be the same as comparing the improvement of adding an amp to the LO of the T51 or not but using iBuds to analyze the change in sound.

I could say to make that same comparison with ALAC for the iPod and FLAC for the Clip as they're both lossless formats. Use the same song and see if you can pick anything up. 

What pitch bug are you talking about? And yea I didn't think of the Rockboxed iPod; that would work too. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young Spade 

That's the point; you can't do a comparison with a medium rate quality file and expect results. When comparing, you should use the highest quality pieces of equipment that you have to get the best out of whatever it is you are comparing. It would be the same as comparing the improvement of adding an amp to the LO of the T51 or not but using iBuds to analyze the change in sound.

 

I could say to make that same comparison with ALAC for the iPod and FLAC for the Clip as they're both lossless formats. Use the same song and see if you can pick anything up. 

 

I did a test with the best equipment I had and could afford at the time (RE0s), and it turned out I couldn't tell the difference between FLAC level 8 and OGG Vorbis q-0.8 VBR files. Turns out I still can't. Even if I wanted to, I still wouldn't rerip all my stuff (which would probably end up being ~200GB) just for a placebo effect (for me and my equipment anyway). As much as I want to, I don't have nearly enough money to invest in my system as you seem to do (based on the gear you have in your profile). Also, OGG Vorbis q-0.8 files are fairly high quality lossy files. It's still not lossless, but it's a pretty good mix of quality and quantity.

I know about putting care and effort into comparisons, even for a "short comparison." Please don't be so condescending next time. HF5s are no iBuds.