Are IEMs < 32 Ohms a problem with 4G iPod?

[Ant1]

I am still trying to decide which canalphones to get for my photo Ipod (aka 4th gen.). I'm contemplating the Shure E4G, Super-fi5PRO, Super-fi5EB, Super-fi 3 Studio, Etymotics ER6i or the Shure E2G (budget...). Problem is, on the Apple forums, there has been a lot of commotion about the 4th gen. Ipod suffering from distortion, especially audible when using phones that are below 32 Ohms impedance or thereabouts. That would render the Etymotics ER6i (16 Ohms), the Super-fi 3 Studio (13 Ohms), the Super-fi 5EB (11 Ohms) and the Shure E2G (16 Ohms) problematic. I'm kinda nervous..However, i heard a lot of people commenting in this forum about how good the "synergy" is between the Super-fi 5PRO (21 Ohms) and the iPod. I'm looking for some advice on this problem. I don't know whether I would have sound quality problems if I got, say, the super-fi 5EB (11 Ohms!!).

A.

 

[chrisfromalbany]

how long ago did you get the photo ipod and what size is it. I have a 60 gig 4th gen ipod and don't have a problem.

 

[sbb]

Maybe there's some problem with the ipod output...

But I guess people say there's a better synergy with the superfi pro because it's a dual driver IEM.... and it makes a nice difference (particularly in the bass department)...

 

[halcyon]

With <32 Ohm headphones you will also lose bass output on iPod (<60Hz). You can compensate for this by using headphones with bloated bass, but it's not the same thing as a linear device with linear headphones.

Whether one finds it a problem, well that's a completely different thing.

 

[EdipisReks]

i have a 40 GB photo, and i think it sounds fine with the 27 ohm ER-4P.

 

[Firam]

I got chewed out by somone last timw I answered this type of question. The number of Ohms makes no difference, you should be talking about the sensitivity.

 

[K2Grey]

I believe in this case ohms matters. Sensitivity is how loud it goes; with ohms, in this case, the ohms refers to the well known iPod bass rolloff. IIRC.

 

[Ant1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisfromalbany how long ago did you get the photo ipod and what size is it. I have a 60 gig 4th gen ipod and don't have a problem.

I bought mine (20G iPod photo) less than 2 weeks before the new 5G model came out, so it's one of the later models, if that's what you mean. I listen for the moment through the earbuds that came with my previous iRiver mp3 player. I think they're Sennheiser - can't be sure because they have "iRiver" as logo on them, but the shape is distictively Sennheiser. I really like the sound produced by these earbuds; problem is, they sound great when I push them - and keep pushing them - in my ear: great bass! But, of course, they're not comfortable, I hate that short cable/long cable arrangement, and the cable is just too short. Plus, I assume that if IEMs are supposedly that much better than earbuds, and given that I already don't mind the Sennheiser earbuds, then I'll be in audio heaven once I upgrade to the proper ear-canal phones!

A.