MarcadoStalker7
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2013
- Posts
- 138
- Likes
- 18
Head-Fi sucks
People have every right to make a comparison.
These docks must have their own DACs built in, as the 5G Lightning to 30 pin adapters do. The 5g iPhones and Touches have no native audio line out.
I also agree, I love the Cirrus Logic DAC built into the iPod Touch 5th. I tried using the lightning to 30 pin adapter to an LOD but I dislike the dark and muddy Wolfson DAC in the adapter. Now I just use a silver interconnect to my amp and the sound is fantastic.
Now I'm really confused. I thought a LOD was just a little device that you plugged into the lineout of your ipod/itouch/iphone in order to utilize an external amp and get a cleaner signal from the DAC?
Up until the advent of the lightning connector you were correct. However, since the lightning connector, in order to use a conventional LOD you have to use a lightning to 30 pin adapter to connect the LOD to the iDevice.
Sorry to confuse you further but the lightning to 30 pin adapter HAS a Wolfson DAC built into it (hence the $30 price). So if you use the adapter to connect to an LOD you are bypassing the internal Cirrus Logic DAC for the Wolfson DAC in the adapter.
For me the best sound is to use the headphone out straight to the headphones or IEMs or an interconnect to an amp. That is the set up I currently use in my portable rig as you can note in my signature.
Now you're really going to hate me...
Why didn't they make an adapter that simply serves as an extension to the usual LOD? That way one can continue to use the Cirrus DAC (while maintaining a flat frequency response (as detailed here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/ipod-touch-5g.htm )
See, I'd really like a crossfeed function, so utilizing a portable amp is an option for me. But if that means I have to use a DAC other than that which is inside the player then I defeat the purpose of buying the player in the first place.
The DAP market sucks. Seriously. Horrible competition.
Sorry to confuse you further but the lightning to 30 pin adapter HAS a Wolfson DAC built into it (hence the $30 price). So if you use the adapter to connect to an LOD you are bypassing the internal Cirrus Logic DAC for the Wolfson DAC in the adapter.
For me the best sound is to use the headphone out straight to the headphones or IEMs or an interconnect to an amp. That is the set up I currently use in my portable rig as you can note in my signature.
Okay, but then we aren't using another DAC.
Someone wrote that they didn't like using a LOD with the iTouch 5th Gen because the LOD had a Wolfson DAC and made the sound warm...
But using an adaptor, in order to use the 30-pin line out, isn't using yet another DAC. \
Now, I noticed that one guy freaked out about anyone derailing the thread even slightly...
But what sounds better? The headphone out? Or the lineout (assuming the lineout works as I have described)? I'd be willing to drop heavy cash on a portable amp with a wicked crossfeed circuit. Maybe.
First, I agree with you and Ken Rockwell's assesment of the iPod Touch 5th. I assume you want a cross feed function to avoid double amping the sound. All I can say to that is I keep the volume at 50-60% out of the iPod and let my amp carry the load. I avoid an clipping at high volumes and I detect zero distortion.