5.5G imod vs ipod classic

[taz00]

I managed to destroy my 5.5G ipod a few days ago and I am now looking for a replacement source.

I am about to pull the trigger on an imod but I still hesitate since the price difference is significant to an ipod classic not to mention the fact that I am not very fond of the fact that I would have to carry a 2 or 3 piece setup.
I checked into other options such as the amp3 (limited to 4+8gb, primitive UI, limited codec support), Sony 1060 (again limited space, not upgradable, limited codec support), Hifiman (not available yet, limited space).
It seems that my optionsare
-5.5G ipod 80gb
-5.5G imod 80gb + black gate capped cable + amp(?)
-5.5G imod 80gb + portable v-cap dock + amp(nuforce icon mobile for starters)
- ipod classic 120gb

The 5.5G ipod and imod have the advantage of being rockboxable which gives me flac and other codec support. Also I can upgrade to a 240gb HD which solves any space problems I could face in the future.

The ipod will be used also with my home stereo system (which is hi end-ish)from time to time but mostly with the line in in my car, at work and travelling.

I have some UE SF5Pro earphones and just received my UM3X (which by the way are so much better than the SF5 Pro than I ever expected).

So my question is are we talking night and day differences between these options or do I have to audition for more than a few minutes to tell the differences?
Will the sound quality difference make me want to lug around an imod with amp?

Thanks.

 

[ZARIM]

X1000 soundquality is close to iMod and it's also smaller with great battery lfe.

 

[taz00]

Come on guys. Surely some more of you have first hand experience with the SQ of the imod compared to other sources.
Help a fellow head fier

 

[dazzer1975]

you'd definitely want a vcap dock or better if going with the imod, it does make a huge difference over blackgates, but having said that, the imod and blackgates lod or similiar is a huge difference over stock ipod.

I would look into diymod personally.

Save you a ton of money and can be done by anyone...literally (if I can do it, anyone else can with a little practice. I did mine about 2 months after picking up a soldering iron for the first time.)

the difference between imod with vcap dock and ipod or others will be closer to night and day. I don't like the terms night and day, but once you've heard imod n vcaps you can appreciate what the fuss is about.

Alternatively, consider a minidisc player, I sold my imod and vcap after spending time with my mz rh1. Although as explained, I made my own diymod.

I think its down to price, the diymod is worth it, the imod with vcap dock probably isnt at around or close to 1000 dollars. imo anyway.

go diy and dont look back

 

[taz00]

It seems that another player has entered the game.
The iphone 3GS 32gb.
From what I read in the forum it seems to have the best SQ from the ipod line (from the headphone out at least).
On the other hand I got to audition one today for a few minutes and was not overly impressed but it was brand new (so not burned in) and I managed to do A-B comparisons to my current phone (HTC Touch Pro) with only one song Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocceli - Time to say goodbye (320kbps MP3).
It sounded more balanced than the HTC but going from memory my deceased 5.5G iPod sounded better.
The iphone is a candidate for two reasons
1. Portability
2. I could probably get my company to pay for it

 

[Golden Ears]

Well,

I have the 5.5 Imod, also had the 6g classic, ipod touch 3g 64 gig, all nanos, and heard ipod classic 120 gig.

-5.5G ipod 80gb
-5.5G imod 80gb + black gate capped cable + amp(?)
-5.5G imod 80gb + portable v-cap dock + amp(nuforce icon mobile for starters)
- ipod classic 120gb
-Iphone 3gs

The 5.5 g ipod... well without it being imodded...I think it loses to the iphone 3gs.

The 5.5 G imod with ALO 22 cyro guage Imod dock... compared to the iphone 3gs with the ALO 22 guage cyro ipod dock.... just compared that using a Millet TTVJ hybrid tube amp and APS V3 cabled ultrasone Edition 9's.

The 5.5 imod has better bass delineation and low end response. The Iphone 3gs is close..maybe 2db down under 60hz. The Iphone 3GS has slightly smoother less raspy midrange, and in the midrange area seems to have a slightly wider soundstage (both using the LOD). The High Frequency response of the Imod 5.5 is superior and cleaner.

The Iphone 3GS headphone jack sound is the best I have heard for a headphone jack- though still is not as good as the LOD... but not very far off... perhaps 8-10%? Loses bass in particular... and loses it very quickly.

If I were to do it all again.... I'd do this.

UE-11's + Iphone 3GS....done. errr weeellll...maybe a predator (more bass) or perhaps a Shadow as an amp with ALO 22 gauge cryo cable.

Even though the SQ using the Portable Hybrid tube Millet, 5.5g Imod, ALO LOD, APS V3 cable and Edition 9's is superior....and the bass response never leaves you feeling like you are missing out on visceral bass impact while wearing headphones (Really- this is a true statement)...

the cost..

$529 Imod, $95 LOD, $419 Millet, $275 V3, $1100-$1600 ED 9...YEOUCH!


(AND THAT W/O A VCAP...$$)

AND WEIGHT... + you have to carry a phone w/ you too.. (mine is a Nokia N95...so at least I gain a 5MP Carl Zeiss Lens and 30fps video and TV out (PAL and NTSC) and IR port, removable memory and battery, and its unlocked and tethers at 3.5 3g speeds- I also use Salling clicker's app (About $20) to control my itunes, dvd player, vlc, and home stereo, as well as launch email readers on the fly- itunes visualizer, and control my mouse as well as "front row"), and have FM radio (Who cares...) and a ton of internet radio stations (Again bad Nokia SQ who cares..)

and lack of Voice Control Support ..(The Ipod Touches with voice control sound like crap so forget those...I already returned my 64 gig ipod touch for a full refund)

and quasi lack of portability...

Makes the UE-11 + Iphone 3GS a good choice. The bass response is still fantastic... cost is your free phone and about $1200 for the Ultimate Ears or perhaps JH's UE-13's

If you ski/snowboard/do sports..... the voice control... is super cool. Not having to swap headsets when a call comes in...good too. AND...well you get the REMOTE app for free and that lets you control your computer's itunes and stream wirelessly to multiple speakers (Salling clicker does not do this) (Or headphone amps) and control this with your Iphone 3GS and see what is playing, use itunes DJ to take playlist requests, make genius playlists (salling clicker will not do this) on the fly (Even with voice control). REMOTE also lets you control your AppleTV (and is far better than the tiny white remote).

The draw back... you can't let share the fun with custom IEMS. Battery drain on an essential device (your phone)

The hidden cost of the Iphone 3GS (Cracked screens) and the contract cost... over $2000 over the life of the 2 year contract. (really expensive contract).

Actually you would be best off..... buying the Iphone 3GS 32 gig for $600 and not activating it (as opposed to the 2 yr contract price of $399) and buying a Nokia N95-3 ($399) which has a better camera than the N97 or perhaps the N86 which has a 8MP camera and video lights...and a cheaper contract.

Why is this last one a good choice? I found the battery to drain fast on the Iphone using remote- so if you use salling clicker on the Nokia you can use it all day without drain. I would use the REMOTE app for parties.

 

[elfary]

Did you have the chance of listening the 2009 Ipod Classic 160 ? There is a some people out there (Me included) who think that its sound is different than the one of the previous Classics. But being just a music fan with limited knowledge of digital audio and average ears the insight of somebody as well versed as you would be a pleasure to read.

 

[estreeter]

I have to ask if the OP isnt the exact market that the makers of the AMP3 and HiFiMan are targeting ? I enjoy both my Sony X and 6.5G Classic, but are either of these really a firm basis for the obsessive in their endless search for hi-fi bliss in a satchel ? When I look at the approach taken by Wadia and Onkyo in their transports, it quickly becomes apparent that the iPod became little more than an intelligent flash drive/hard disk the instant that Apple sold them the chip to bypass the DAC. I'm not iPod bashing - my Sony is much the same device - simply asking whether its time for some to look at alternatives.

 

[Bojamijams]

How is the hifiman space limited? It's actually UNlimited since it's SD based

if you want an all-in-one unit with great sound then the 3gs. That's assuming you have a need for all its features. If you just want a music player then hifiman 801.

 

[taz00]

I settled for the iphone 3GS 32GB.
The reasons for this were:
1. It was free, the company I work for paid for it (including the 1,5yr contract)
2. It seems the imod with the black gate caps is not much better that the 3GS according to what I read.
3. In the case of the imod with the P-V-cap dock I would have to carry around phone + DAP + P-V-cap dock+amp + 2 interconnects. This is too much for me. Other people might be ok with it but not me. This goes way beyond what I consider portable.
4. The 32gb capacity although limiting can be adequate if I start to build playlists instead of just dumping all my music in there.
5. I realized that no matter what I do I will never get the quality of my stereo system. Not even close.

So I went for the 3GS. It sounds decent with the UM3X.
If I wanted to upgrade I would go for the JH13 Pro and be done with it.

 

[estreeter]

I settled for the iphone 3GS 32GB.

3. In the case of the imod with the P-V-cap dock I would have to carry around phone + DAP + P-V-cap dock+amp + 2 interconnects. This is too much for me. Other people might be ok with it but not me. This goes way beyond what I consider portable.
4. The 32gb capacity although limiting can be adequate if I start to build playlists instead of just dumping all my music in there.
5. I realized that no matter what I do I will never get the quality of my stereo system. Not even close.

[\QUOTE]

Hallelujah ! I apologise for selectively dissecting your post, but I think its really easy to lose sight of why we buy portable kit in the first place. Even though I am using the Classic as the basis for a dedicated bedroom rig that will never leave the house, I absolutely agree with each of your points, particularly point 5. In my case, I found it hard to go past the luxury of being able to have so many Lossless files on a DAP, but I agree with you that most of us can get a good result with 32GB.