IPod touch 1st gen has a wolfson dac

We have a 2G and a 4G touch. They are ok but not as good as a Clip or a Sony X Walkman or my old A818 for that matter. I've never heard any newer than a 4G Classic so can't compare. The 4G Classic wasn't great. I wouldn't be so hung up on DAC's. I would read a lot of Audiophile opinions and see which ones you agree the most with. People don't like the same kinda sound. 

Just get your bro a 5.5g and let him enjoy the music. Make sure you Rockbox the bad boy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky191 

We have a 2G and a 4G touch. They are ok but not as good as a Clip or a Sony X Walkman or my old A818 for that matter. I've never heard any newer than a 4G Classic so can't compare. The 4G Classic wasn't great. I wouldn't be so hung up on DAC's. I would read a lot of Audiophile opinions and see which ones you agree the most with. People don't like the same kinda sound. 

I wouldn't call the Clips better than a 4G Touch. I rated them as equal in SQ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpawluk91 

Does anyone here know how the 1st gen iPod touch sounds? I have an ipod 5.5 with a wolfson it sounds amazing. I was wondering if maybe the 1st touch was the best sounding itouch. I also have the new iPod touch 5th gen and its pretty nice there's never any distortion.

If you like the low bass roll off and hiss then i'd say yes. The Touch 1 will fit the bill.

If you like linearity and low noise floor then a Touch 4/5 will mop the floor with the first Touch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpawluk91 

My 5.5 with rockbox is a pain in the ass tho, It's quieter than my 5th gen itouch, I have eq on with rock preset precut at 8 cause it gets distorted, dithering on, 110% soundstage stuff like that. Mostly listen to metal. It sounds nice and everything but it doesn't get as loud as the regular apple firmware

Never use presets.I don't use precut or expanded soundstage either....ReplayGain is the answer. As for dithering, I don't know what it is supposed to do but i don't use it.

As far as it not getting as loud as with the Apple firmware, your precut and EQ preset is the reason for that. An alternative.....get an amp and use the line-out....no more issues with volume.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Achmedisdead 

Never use presets.I don't use precut or expanded soundstage either....ReplayGain is the answer. As for dithering, I don't know what it is supposed to do but i don't use it.

As far as it not getting as loud as with the Apple firmware, your precut and EQ preset is the reason for that. An alternative.....get an amp and use the line-out....no more issues with volume.

Dither is a necessary evil. Because EACH time you do a digital processing to the signal you are degrading it. Dithering kind of disguises the quantization errors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dither

That's why the less dsp's you apply the more resolution to the signal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpawluk91 

When I use replay gain it doesn't work and the preamp option does nothing

You have to scan the files so that they have replay gain tags first, before you can do that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Achmedisdead 

I wouldn't call the Clips better than a 4G Touch. I rated them as equal in SQ.

Each to their own. For me iPod is just ok. Nothing really sparkles with it, and I don't think it brings out the detail that the Clip or better Sony's do. Of course it depends what earphones you are using as well. Perhaps yours suit it better than mine. I keep returning to Sony's though I prefer the interface and sound. 

The Ipod Touch 1G (and everything before Video 5.5G) uses a Wolfson DAC, while everything newer uses a Cirrus Logic DAC (Classic, Touch 2G, Iphone).

Cirrus Logic has better audio precision, crisp, detail and an overall really clear sound. That's why some guys will recommand the Cirrus DAC over the Wolfson, because the clarity and detail are so amazing. But after listening for a long time, I think its quite fatiguing. Also the Cirrus Logic lacks of 3D imaging. You will feel you are surrounded by several instruments, but it seems that the instruments are all located very near to you. You cannot tell which instrument is nearer or farther than the others. That's why the 3D imaging effect of the Cirrus Logic is not so good.

What about Wolfson? I have to admit that in clarity and detail aspect, the Cirrus surpasses the Wolfson. The Wolfson lacks in audio precision too. But, for me the difference is not enough to go with Cirrus. The Wolfson and its 3D imaging effect is just wonderful, and it will never be fatiguing, no matter how long you listen to it.

So for me, the Wolfson DAC wins, but there's nothing wrong about the Cirrus.

Comparision done with following Setup:

(Both rockbox and lossless music only, going into Fiio E17 with LOD)

Ipod Video 5.5G --> Q701/B&W C5

Ipod Classic 6G Rev 2 (sometimes refered to as 7G) --> Q701/B&W C5 

I also had the chance to listen to a friends Logitech UE 900 and Heir audio 4ai and I came to the same conclusion, although i didn't listen long enough to make a clear statement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleinzel 

The Ipod Touch 1G (and everything before Video 5.5G) uses a Wolfson DAC, while everything newer uses a Cirrus Logic DAC (Classic, Touch 2G, Iphone).

 

Cirrus Logic has better audio precision, crisp, detail and an overall really clear sound. That's why some guys will recommand the Cirrus DAC over the Wolfson, because the clarity and detail are so amazing. But after listening for a long time, I think its quite fatiguing. Also the Cirrus Logic lacks of 3D imaging. You will feel you are surrounded by several instruments, but it seems that the instruments are all located very near to you. You cannot tell which instrument is nearer or farther than the others. That's why the 3D imaging effect of the Cirrus Logic is not so good.

 

What about Wolfson? I have to admit that in clarity and detail aspect, the Cirrus surpasses the Wolfson. The Wolfson lacks in audio precision too. But, for me the difference is not enough to go with Cirrus. The Wolfson and its 3D imaging effect is just wonderful, and it will never be fatiguing, no matter how long you listen to it.

 

 

So for me, the Wolfson DAC wins, but there's nothing wrong about the Cirrus.

 

 

Comparision done with following Setup:

 

(Both rockbox and lossless music only, going into Fiio E17 with LOD)

 

Ipod Video 5.5G --> Q701/B&W C5

Ipod Classic 6G Rev 2 (sometimes refered to as 7G) --> Q701/B&W C5 

 

I also had the chance to listen to a friends Logitech UE 900 and Heir audio 4ai and I came to the same conclusion, although i didn't listen long enough to make a clear statement.

That's a pretty good summation of the two....I agree almost completely. 

I don't get the fatigue factor from the Cirrus models that you describe, but I can see where it would be that way for others. I've owned both, and I currently have the 5.5....and it is my preference, although I could be happy with either one.