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Not satisfied with sound of iPod... what to buy?

post #1 of 18
12/30/10 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 

I'm no longer satisfied with the sound of my iPod touch so I want to get either a better player or portable DAC. I've been looking at the Nationite s:flo2 and Fiio E7. The s:flo2 would replace my iPod, and it would be used with my iPod as the source and connected via a line out adapter. Which is going to sound better? I like that with the s:flo I would need just 1 device, but it's nearly twice as expensive (I'm in the unfortunate position of teenage audiophile). The headphones I'd be using it with most are the Klipsch S4 and Audio Technica PRO700.

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post #2 of 18
12/30/10 at 7:48pm

In my opinion, you would be better off buying some new headphones. I just got an E7, and it's DAC won't really give you any benefit out of an iPod, but the amp will. The problem is that Klipsch Image S4's don't benefit at all from an amp, they are quite efficient. I can't say much for the PRO700's though.

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post #3 of 18
12/30/10 at 8:35pm
Thread Starter 

I definitely don't think the problem is my headphones. I bought the S4's because they received several rave reviews, and the PRO 700's are a higher model than the A-T M50's that are so well liked here (although I can't say if they're better, I've never heard M50's to compare them to). They sound great when they're plugged into a different source (my receiver, computer, even an old Walkman CD player), but with my iPod I can never get the sound to a point where I'm happy. At least part of the problem is the lack of a customizable EQ. Off/flat just sounds tinny, Bass boost has a lot of clipping, treble reducer reduces the treble so much that it sound like it's playing through a pillow, Rock/hip hop/electronic boosts the bass and treble which solves the problem on the low end but I can't stand the piercing highs whenever a cymbal crashes and everything else just makes it sound terrible. That's where my problem is. The user adjustable EQ on the s:flo would fix that, and the better quality components wouldn't hurt either.

 

Sure, I could invest that money in better headphones, but then the faults will only become more obvious. Besides I like the way the sound and the closed design is nice because they don't leak or let in very much sound. Are there better headphones? Of course, but at 17 I don't have disposable income so I'll spend the little I have on the area(s) that need it most.

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post #4 of 18
12/30/10 at 8:47pm

You could try finding a line out dock and a nice portable amp...that's pretty much the standard

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post #5 of 18
12/30/10 at 8:50pm

You could try making a CMoy, or buying one pre-built. They are pretty good little amps. Also, a Sansa Fuze is only about $79.99 and has great sound quality, especially after Rockboxing. It has LOD support so it is kind of future proof if you decide to get an amp such as a CMoy or even an E7.

 

I'm only 18, So I was in the exact same position as you. Get a Job! It helps a lot hahaha

 

EDIT: Again, I'm not super familiar with your headphones.

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post #6 of 18
12/30/10 at 9:07pm
If your iPod touch is 3rd-4th generation, download EQu from the app store. It's custom EQ with overall level adjustment, so you can avoid clipping distortion. It's only $3, still missing a few things, but it's very nice already. The late-model iPod touch DAPs have respectable noise and distortion figures, even with low-impedance loads. So there's a good chance that what you're dissatisfied with is the frequency balance.

BTW. If you're not a basshead, the ATH-M50 is anything but bass light. The bass reducer preset (a -6 dB shelf filter) makes them sound better to me on every iPod I've tried. EQu does a better job though.

 



Edit: There's also another custom EQ app, called Equalizer. It's a bit harder to use, but it may work with 2nd-gen models. I'd research this online before spending another $3. Also, if you can use EQu, you need iOS 4.x.
Edited by yuriv - 12/30/10 at 9:19pm
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post #7 of 18
12/30/10 at 9:19pm

+1 on EQu  - spend the $3 before you go replacing your DAP.  it has made a huge difference for me.

I own s4's and use them on both my ipod touch 4g, and my rockboxed clip+ and with proper EQ they sound pretty good (relative to their price/quality range)

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post #8 of 18
1/13/11 at 9:00pm
Thread Starter 

My iTouch is a 1st gen so that a no on the EQ. I have a $100 gift card to Best Buy so if I could use that it would be great. BB doesn't have the last gen Fuze, and from the reviews of the Fuze+ it doesn't look to be a good choice.

 

My ideal player would have at least 8gb, play Flac, Ogg, and various lossless formats, and have a micro SD slot for expansion. It doesn't need internet, apps, or anything else. I just want a good, dedicated music player.

 

How do the various Archos, Zune, Samsung, and Sony models compare?

 

Here is everything they offer:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/iPod-MP3-Players/MP3-Players/abcat0201010.c?id=abcat0201010

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post #9 of 18
1/13/11 at 9:06pm

get a clip+, rockbox it, and get a big micro sd card best bang for the buck, and clip+ has excellent sound quality especially with rockbox eq

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post #10 of 18
1/13/11 at 9:39pm
Thread Starter 

I'll consider it. The small screen is a minor annoyance, but the buttons could be a problem since I have 300 something artists and if I can't scroll quickly (like I have to push it 150 times to get to the artist I want) it's going to drive me crazy. I'm going to go to best buy and play around with the ones on display.

 

Does Rockbox work on the 1st gen touch?

 

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post #11 of 18
1/13/11 at 11:02pm

rockbox does not, and likely wont ever work on ipod touch... 

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post #12 of 18
1/14/11 at 12:54am

save for a J3

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post #13 of 18
1/14/11 at 1:49am

I think your headphones are good enough and so I would recommend the fiio E7 with direct line cable (you can get the small direct line cable from the same manufacturer to fit the ipod dock connector). This will bypass the dodgy soundcard in the ipod and give you a much fuller dynamic sound. The dac inside the E7 is very good for the price, it also has a quality bass boost with 3 levels that doesnt distort much. 

I use mine with my Sony X which has a very hard sound. It warmed it up and gave the sound much more body and realism. The distant hiss from the cheap headphone line-out has also gone. 

 

You could buy as many headphones as you want but if your source is still the Ipod then....   

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post #14 of 18
1/14/11 at 2:22am

Lugbug1 is giving you some pretty silly advice. First of all, you're going to be carrying a pretty hefty portable kit since the E7 is very bulky. And if I understand his reply correctly it seems he doesn't realize he's just using the E7 as an amp and thus amplifying his X1050 own sound signature. The DAC only works through USB. Just get a decent DAP! Cowon S9, J3, S:Flo2, Hifiman 601, Sony X1050. Any DAP with a decent build-in amp and a custom EQ. Even a Rockboxed Sansa Fuze can sound pretty good. normal_smile%20.gif

 

In my opinion:

Ipod Touch + Fiio E7 (amp) < S:Flo2, Hifiman 601, X1050, S9, J3 (all unamped)

 

If you want a good portable amp, get a v2.02 bass boost CMOY from Ebay or if you have some more cash to spend, the Arrow 12HE or Fischer Audio Mystify (when it's released). 

 

Cheapest and most sensible solution for a low-budget audiophile would be a secondhand/refurbished Rockboxed Sansa Fuze, a Fiio L6 Sansa LOD and a Cmoy v2.02BB. This entire package could cost you $100 in total if you shop around and will let you drive every portable can out there. 

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post #15 of 18
1/14/11 at 2:37am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by yuriv View Post

If your iPod touch is 3rd-4th generation, download EQu from the app store. It's custom EQ with overall level adjustment, so you can avoid clipping distortion. It's only $3, still missing a few things, but it's very nice already. The late-model iPod touch DAPs have respectable noise and distortion figures, even with low-impedance loads. So there's a good chance that what you're dissatisfied with is the frequency balance.

BTW. If you're not a basshead, the ATH-M50 is anything but bass light. The bass reducer preset (a -6 dB shelf filter) makes them sound better to me on every iPod I've tried. EQu does a better job though.

 



Edit: There's also another custom EQ app, called Equalizer. It's a bit harder to use, but it may work with 2nd-gen models. I'd research this online before spending another $3. Also, if you can use EQu, you need iOS 4.x.


So which of these EQ apps would work best on my 4th gen Touch? At the moment I have enough credit left on my iTunes card for one or the other. Also, is there a battery life hit for either one, and if so, how severe?

Edit: just found out about and added the free version of Equalizer for a trial run.

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