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Use the headphone jack or line out on iPod (5th Gen) for new amp'd setup?

post #1 of 19
10/25/11 at 10:39am
Thread Starter 

So first post here. I have done some searching and reading but I was hoping to get a more direct answer than what I have found. I have a 30GB 5th Gen. iPod that I currently use at work with a set of AKG K430 on-ear headphones, but I'm finally ready to upgrade my sound at work.

 

The iPod will continue to be my source (all at least 320kbps files) and I am planning on picking up a BSG CMOY amp and a set of Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro (250 Ohm) headphones next month.

 

My question is, should I just run from the headphone jack of the iPod to the amp or is it worth the money to get a line out adapter (like the Sendstation adapter with usb) and run that to the amp?

 

Reason I am looking at the Sendstation is because the battery in my iPod is old and only holds a charge for about 3 hours, so I need the charging capability while listening to music. So a normal line out only adapter won't really work.

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post #2 of 19
10/25/11 at 11:29am

Absolutely, use an LOD.  With it you bypass the limited (but still fine) amp of the iPod. Thus allowing the cleanest sound to be channelled to your amp. (also this drains a portion less battery power from the iPod). The effect of the LOD will be more pronounced with each new level of amplifier that you use. e.g. with your home set-up if you are using either a dedicated headphone amp, or an integrated amp for your headphones.

This has been my experience both with my mobile set-up, and especially with my home set-up.

I also am looking to get the sendstation , as soon as I find it somewhere that is not going to charge me $16.50 for shipping it simply to Canada.

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post #3 of 19
10/25/11 at 1:15pm

How's Sendstation's LOD output quality? Any experienced users care to take a stab?

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post #4 of 19
10/25/11 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxtcc View Post

Absolutely, use an LOD.  With it you bypass the limited (but still fine) amp of the iPod. Thus allowing the cleanest sound to be channelled to your amp. (also this drains a portion less battery power from the iPod). The effect of the LOD will be more pronounced with each new level of amplifier that you use. e.g. with your home set-up if you are using either a dedicated headphone amp, or an integrated amp for your headphones.

This has been my experience both with my mobile set-up, and especially with my home set-up.

I also am looking to get the sendstation , as soon as I find it somewhere that is not going to charge me $16.50 for shipping it simply to Canada.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

Anyone else feel the same way who has used both (esp. with an iPod)?

 

 

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post #5 of 19
10/26/11 at 4:57am

ALWAYS use an LOD with ipod/amp combo.  (not good to double amp).

 

Also the Fiio L9 is a good low priced LOD.

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post #6 of 19
10/26/11 at 6:08am

I just recently bought a clip+ and I remembered I still had my ipod video 5th gen 30gb with a headphone jack that was destroyed.(Pro tip: don't stick a 3.5mm splitter in an ipod).  I also purchased a fiio e11 to use with my clip+.  Would I get better sound running a clip+ & e11 or ipod video 5th gen & LOD e11?  I would of course have to run rockbox on my ipod so I could use my .flac music and absolutely have to use an LOD since my 3.5mm jack is useless. 

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post #7 of 19
10/26/11 at 9:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by randomstranger View Post

I just recently bought a clip+ and I remembered I still had my ipod video 5th gen 30gb with a headphone jack that was destroyed.(Pro tip: don't stick a 3.5mm splitter in an ipod).  I also purchased a fiio e11 to use with my clip+.  Would I get better sound running a clip+ & e11 or ipod video 5th gen & LOD e11?  I would of course have to run rockbox on my ipod so I could use my .flac music and absolutely have to use an LOD since my 3.5mm jack is useless. 



Whats wrong with using a splitter?

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post #8 of 19
10/26/11 at 9:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by quisxx View Post



Whats wrong with using a splitter?



Exactly.  That's a nonsensical comment.

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post #9 of 19
10/26/11 at 12:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoulSyde View Post



Exactly.  That's a nonsensical comment.



 



Quote:
Originally Posted by quisxx View Post



Whats wrong with using a splitter?



I Believe Random was commenting on the extra strain on the 3.5mm port and thereby his not being able to use it.

(Perhaps his partner gat a little to excited and yanked on the cord.) LOL

 

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post #10 of 19
10/26/11 at 12:55pm

Funny.

 

In all seriousness, it is important to elaborate when making comments like that.  Without a correction, newbie Head-Fi enthusiasts could take those comments as fact.

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post #11 of 19
10/26/11 at 1:54pm

I might as well throw out why I put that comment there.  The reason is that when taking out a splitter from my ipod, I lost stereo output by damaging the jack.  Obviously that was my own fault.  Either way that comment had nothing to do with my actual question and I should have worded it to say "be more careful with placing 3.5mm cables into your ipod jack or you end up with an useless ipod".  

 

Though since I could use a LOD to DAC and then DAC to Headphones, I can now actually listen to my old ipod.  That was why I was asking about the sound quality of a clip+ vs. an ipod video 5th gen running through a fiio e11.  

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post #12 of 19
10/26/11 at 7:28pm

From all the posts i've read here for the past 2 weeks the clip+ is supposed to be better than the ipod

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post #13 of 19
10/27/11 at 6:18am

Better is all subjective. 

 

Pros for the Clip+:

-- Size

-- Ability to Rockbox (if that's something you're into)

-- Use of expandable memory

 

Pros for the iPod

-- Better battery life

-- Ability for apps (Touch only)

-- Amazing storage capacity (Classic = 160GB)

-- Great playlist integration with iTunes

 

I think they sound very similar with flat EQ.

 

I also think they are different animals and do a good job of complementing each other.  That's why I own both.

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post #14 of 19
10/27/11 at 7:06am
Thread Starter 

So before we get completely side tracked into the clip+ vs. iPod discussion......a LOD for my iPod like the Sendstation is definitely worth the $25-$30 in terms of increased sound quality through a cmoy amp?

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post #15 of 19
10/27/11 at 7:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoulSyde View Post

Better is all subjective. 

 

Pros for the Clip+:

-- Size

-- Ability to Rockbox (if that's something you're into)

-- Use of expandable memory

 

Pros for the iPod

-- Better battery life

-- Ability for apps (Touch only)

-- Amazing storage capacity (Classic = 160GB)

-- Great playlist integration with iTunes

 

I think they sound very similar with flat EQ.

 

I also think they are different animals and do a good job of complementing each other.  That's why I own both.



Well said!

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