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1st gen iPod sound vs 2nd gen iPod sound?

post #1 of 11
12/2/03 at 5:57am
Thread Starter 
I tried two iPods, but using the same KSC35 headphones. Granted I wasn't able to try the same mp3 files on both iPods, I was disapointed in the sound from the 2nd gen iPod. The 2nd gen sounded really flat. Even with the EQ settings that didn't seem to change much. I thought the 2nd gen was suppose to sound the best???


The first gen iPod was the best sounding mp3 player I've ever heard and instantly made me forget all other players out there.


The 2nd gen iPod had dead batteries and was being powered by the wall adapter if that makes a difference.


Sorry, I have no clue what rev firmware each player had.


Someone please tell me the 2nd and 3rd gen ipods don't sound this flat and dull.
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post #2 of 11
12/2/03 at 9:08am
they don't

You really need to use identical mp3 files to be able to make a judgemente in a side-by side comparison like that...

Besides, the 2nd gen is identical to the 1st gen except the scrollwheel has been replaced with a touchwheel and THAT shouldn't make a difference in sound quality...

The chips, and processors are still the same..
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post #3 of 11
12/2/03 at 10:28am
yeah, what he said
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post #4 of 11
12/2/03 at 10:50am
yeah cause i'm right
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post #5 of 11
12/2/03 at 11:55am
Specs for both.
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post #6 of 11
12/2/03 at 12:21pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Aptmunich
Besides, the 2nd gen is identical to the 1st gen except the scrollwheel has been replaced with a touchwheel and THAT shouldn't make a difference in sound quality...
This is Head-Fi! You just admitted that you do not believe in true HiFi ball bearings!
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post #7 of 11
12/2/03 at 12:58pm
The other difference is the firmware, to which I attribute the difference in my listening tests. I owned both a 10gig and my new 40gig iPod simultaneously for a few weeks before I was able to sell the 10gig. During that time I had a chance to conduct several side-by-side comparisons using the exact same MP3 files. It's my opinion that the 3rd gen iPods sound slightly less flat than the 2nd gens, but the difference was negligible. My tests were not scientific at all, purely subjective. I'm really not sure why some people seem to think the 2nd gens sound better.
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post #8 of 11
12/2/03 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 
Is there a way I can tell what version firmware each iPod is running? Is there a "volume limitter" or something similar to conserve power when the iPod's batteries are low? The 2nd gen sounded so flat and I really needed to crank up the volume to get some sound out of it. Even then it still had no bass or highs. It sounded like the equalizer was shaped in an upside down "V". I tried several rock/pop/rap mp3's with both players. I find it hard to believe that the 2nd gen ipod had nothing but poor quality mp3's on it and the 1st gen had top quality mp3's. I'm very confused and bummed right now.
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post #9 of 11
12/2/03 at 9:59pm
Settings -> About

The latest firmware for 3rd generation iPods is 2.1.
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post #10 of 11
12/9/03 at 5:52am
Thread Starter 
Hey guys, I wanted to give you guys an update:


The awesome sounding 5gig 1st gen iPod is running firmware 1.3

I still haven't found out what version firmware the poor sounding 2nd gen runs.


I also had a chance recently to try out a 3rd gen iPod with firmware 2.0 using the same KSC-35's. It sounded better than the 2nd gen, but still didn't have the lows and highs I expected/desire.


Unforuntately I haven't been able to test the same mp3 files on all three players, and I doubt I'll get a chance to, so sampling sevral mp3's of various styles of music on each person's player is the best I can do.



All of this is making me want to take a serious 2nd look at the Rio Karma.
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post #11 of 11
12/9/03 at 11:45am
Quote:
I still haven't found out what version firmware the poor sounding 2nd gen runs.
When you do, please let us know!
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