5G Nano SQ - a Good Ending!

[SierraHotel01]

Caution:

I just got back from the Palo Alto Apple store, with my black (gorgeous finish)
5G Nano.

Loaded it up & ran it through my ALO SXC 18AWG LOD / Mustang / JH13's.

"Houston: we have a problem."
Sound quality sucks!!!

Also, Lineout gain is significantly lower than 4G.

Obviously, we're dealing with a new chipset / DAC here.

(am checking with local/industry sources, but so far, haven't got word on the new chipset I.D.)

Compared to 4G Nano:
- It's not even close!
- Lower Lineout gain
- Less dynamic
- Way less resolving!
- Bass turned into a cloud!
- Mids recessed
- Sparkle / air gone from the highs

My 5G Nano is going back tomorrow.

Going to buy a few spare 4G Nanos!

Anybody else have a chance to test 5G Nano for SQ, in a decent rig?

 

[Mediahound]

Well, at least it has a video camera.

 

[brotherlen]

Thank you for the early report. Hopefully (or not?) we'll have a few more confirm.

 

[RMPNG]

Interesting opinion. Did you A-B test both the 4g to the 5g? It's interesting that they would move to a worse sound chip, so I'm left a bit skeptical about your post.

 

[iriverdude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMPNG /img/forum/go_quote.gif Interesting opinion. Did you A-B test both the 4g to the 5g? It's interesting that they would move to a worse sound chip, so I'm left a bit skeptical about your post.

Well it's got a camera, so something has to go. 99% of people won't notice a inferior sounding DAP.

 

[SierraHotel01]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMPNG /img/forum/go_quote.gif Interesting opinion. Did you A-B test both the 4g to the 5g? It's interesting that they would move to a worse sound chip, so I'm left a bit skeptical about your post.

God, I wish I were wrong!
(maybe - I wish - I hope - it's a QC lemon???)

btw: the finish, and the tactile feedback / precision of the click wheel are outstanding.

Anybody else compared 5G Nano SQ, to 4G Nano?

 

[SierraHotel01]

Let me be specific:
To my ears, this isn't a case of sound signature (warm vs. nuetral, etc.).

And, it's not a subtle difference.

To my ears / in my rig, it exhibited a noticeably inferior SQ.
Blatantly so.

Compared to the 4G Nano,
a gross under-utilization of Ray's Mustang, and Jerry's JH13's!

 

[sno1man]

I'll disagree, in quick a-b test with same source files and same phones (ety 4) i think the newest model sounds slightly better.

I do agree that it does have slightly lower total output

this is comparing a new 16GB sliver with last gen 8gb blue. Maybe the neutral color improves the sound

 

[fuzhenyun]

Maybe the IPOD G10 will satisfy us in term of sound quality. I am hold on and waiting the upcoming of IPOD X generation.

 

[Clutz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iriverdude /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well it's got a camera, so something has to go.

I'm not sure I agree with that logic.

 

[SierraHotel01]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sno1man /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll disagree, in quick a-b test with same source files and same phones (ety 4) i think the newest model sounds slightly better. I do agree that it does have slightly lower total output this is comparing a new 16GB sliver with last gen 8gb blue. Maybe the neutral color improves the sound

sno1man,

what LOD & amp were you using with the ER-4(S?, P?),
for your a/b 4G vs. 5G Nano comparison ?

 

[shigzeo]

i have generally come to disbelieve 'sound quality' reports at headfi after many failed attempts to upgrade to a 'better sounding player' as advised here. i don't trust 'good sq' or 'bad sq' here any more simply because we have so many people who come from srs wow, bass boost regimes, or in the DAP games, just like any market, placebo, corporate hate, etc., keep brands from finding haven here.

sorry that you don't like the sound of the new nano, but until i hear it for a long time, i will not trust any but a very few people's recommendations, even here.

 

[Viper2005]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SierraHotel01 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Caution: I just got back from the Palo Alto Apple store, with my black (gorgeous finish) 5G Nano. Loaded it up & ran it through my ALO SXC 18AWG LOD / Mustang / JH13's. "Houston: we have a problem." Sound quality sucks!!! Also, Lineout gain is significantly lower than 4G. Obviously, we're dealing with a new chipset / DAC here. (am checking with local/industry sources, but so far, haven't got word on the new chipset I.D.) Compared to 4G Nano: - It's not even close! - Lower Lineout gain - Less dynamic - Way less resolving! - Bass turned into a cloud! - Mids recessed - Sparkle / air gone from the highs My 5G Nano is going back tomorrow. Going to buy a few spare 4G Nanos! Anybody else have a chance to test 5G Nano for SQ, in a decent rig?

I am an owner of a 4g Nano, and I can tell you the SQ of the 4g is far inferior to that of the Touch2g or Iphone 3g. It is actually worse than most media players I have tried (Archos, iRiver) From what you're telling me, the new Nano is even worse than the 4g.. I thought they would have improved things with this generation but I guess not..
I did read from iLounge review of the 5g Nano that they thought the SQ was just as good as that of the iPhone 3gs... guess we need a few more reviews.

Excerpt from the iLounge review of the 5g Nano:
"Sonically, the fifth-generation iPod nano is completely up to snuff with the fourth-generation model, the second-generation iPod classic, as well as the iPhone 3GS, all of which have almost completely eliminated low-level hissing noises from their amplifiers, creating cleaner-sounding audio that’s as close to audiophile-quality as any iPod we’ve previously tested. Even when using $1300 earphones to listen to the latest Beatles album remasters, which were given a fine-tooth combing for sonic imperfections by their producers, the fifth-generation iPod nano produced legitimately wonderful, “no complaints” sound on its default equalizer setting. We got lost in the music and really didn’t want to give up listening in order to write about it, consistently great performance"

 

[Ssnake51]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo /img/forum/go_quote.gif i have generally come to disbelieve 'sound quality' reports at headfi after many failed attempts to upgrade to a 'better sounding player' as advised here. i don't trust 'good sq' or 'bad sq' here any more simply because we have so many people who come from srs wow, bass boost regimes, or in the DAP games, just like any market, placebo, corporate hate, etc., keep brands from finding haven here. sorry that you don't like the sound of the new nano, but until i hear it for a long time, i will not trust any but a very few people's recommendations, even here.

Wise decision.

 

[BBY03evo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SierraHotel01 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Caution: I just got back from the Palo Alto Apple store, with my black (gorgeous finish) 5G Nano. Loaded it up & ran it through my ALO SXC 18AWG LOD / Mustang / JH13's. "Houston: we have a problem." Sound quality sucks!!! Also, Lineout gain is significantly lower than 4G. Obviously, we're dealing with a new chipset / DAC here. (am checking with local/industry sources, but so far, haven't got word on the new chipset I.D.) Compared to 4G Nano: - It's not even close! - Lower Lineout gain - Less dynamic - Way less resolving! - Bass turned into a cloud! - Mids recessed - Sparkle / air gone from the highs My 5G Nano is going back tomorrow. Going to buy a few spare 4G Nanos! Anybody else have a chance to test 5G Nano for SQ, in a decent rig?

How do the two compare straight out of the HP jack?