Best iPod to Rockbox?

[spinali]

EQ is very important to me, and my 3g iPod (40mb) lacks this feature.

Which is the best iPod to Rockbox for an Apple user? How is the SQ after the conversion?

Thanks!

 

[drippydonut]

In my opinion the best iPod (well, the one I would get if it were me) for Rockbox is the 5th Gen 30gb or 60gb. Not the 5.5g because of the issues that were surrounding getting RB to work on it (I think the 30gb works now, but not the 80gb).

With Rockbox you'll have a fully parametric 5-band EQ.

 

[threEchelon]

Sorry, but rockbox doesn't work well on 3G iPods. I've tried it other people, have tried it, and the result is the same: audio cutting out, interface freezing, etc. It's a mess.

 

[Febs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippydonut /img/forum/go_quote.gif In my opinion the best iPod (well, the one I would get if it were me) for Rockbox is the 5th Gen 30gb or 60gb. Not the 5.5g because of the issues that were surrounding getting RB to work on it (I think the 30gb works now, but not the 80gb).

Yes, the 30gb 5.5g works fine now. Progress has been made on the 80gb, but it does not yet work.

And unfortunately, Matt is correct. Rockbox is not really very functional on the 3g.

 

[spinali]

Assuming I invest a 5 or 5.5g video, what kind of boost in audio should I expect? I've read on the Rockbox site that it's significant, but I trust Head-Fi users. I listen to pop and punk with a smattering of classical; I mostly want to open up the sound from the muddy EQ choices Apple provides.

 

[The_Duke_Of_Eli]

The general consensus is that the latest 5.x generation ipods sound "the best" out of the previous generations, with Ipod Minis and 4th generation ipods not able to sound as good, unless you shell out for RWA's mod for the 4th generation ipod. Realistically it doesn't make sense to go with an older generation ipod when refurbished models are so cheap. But the other part of rockbox isn't just the ipod but the f/w itself which allows for the .ogg and .flac I love (I have gripes with .alac, notably support and size issues) that sound much better than their .mp3 and .aac counterparts at the same bitrate. Plus with the 5.x generation you can get pacman. Everyone loves pacman!

 

[Genocide]

question for 5g and 5.5g rockbox user.

If i install rockbox into them (5g or 5.5g) must i rebuild my whole music libraries or just stick those are done via itunes??

 

[spinali]

Quote:

question for 5g and 5.5g rockbox user. If i install rockbox into them (5g or 5.5g) must i rebuild my whole music libraries or just stick those are done via itu

Actually, I'd like to know this, too. Obviously, I won't be able to use iTunes as my library for Rockbox. But the size of my current iTunes library is about 30gigs; I wouldn't want to have to duplicate any of these files on my hard drive. Also, it seems to have been an issue for at least a few users:

http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=8976.0

Any ideas?

 

[lt.milo]

im still waiting for someone to port linux to my zune! Apparently there are lots of people working on it. This would be more than Rockbox, this would be a full out linux distribution that would take full advantage of the wifi and other features that the zune has yet to bring to its full potential.

http://www.zune-linux.com/
if anyone can help, please do so!

 

[PouncePony]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genocide /img/forum/go_quote.gif question for 5g and 5.5g rockbox user. If i install rockbox into them (5g or 5.5g) must i rebuild my whole music libraries or just stick those are done via itunes??

RockBox supports file/directory based and tag based browsing. If you enable tag based browsing, RockBox will find the music placed on your iPod via iTunes. I just tested it out and it works.

Using file/directory based browing of your iTunes music isn't feasible since iTunes renames music files placed on an iPod.

-Pony

 

[Arainach]

I can't compare it to a 5G in terms of sound or features, but I Rockboxed a 4G B/W iPod today. Took maybe a minute for the whole procedure, and I'm loving it. Crossfeed, skinnable, plays FLAC, and I can Drag and Drop files without going through iTunes' BS.

 

[spinali]

This sounds very impressive, but I'm torn; not from this great advice, but from a combo of factors:

Since I have a 3G iPod, any EQ use means I have to upgrade to a 4g or 5g iPod, which means $150-200. But when I Rockbox, I end up potentially losing or handicapping some of my other features.

Suddenly, the Trekstor Vibe 12g looks really attracive - and it works with Mac OS X with no Rockbox intervention. And it has every feature on the book, with top audio. (But if I wait until September, I can get the superlight 30g flash iPod, though EQ is still uncertain on this model). But since I have to spend the same amound either way, why not get the full package that Trekstor provides?

I love their products, but Apple's dragging their feet on the one feature that means anything to me.

 

[Febs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinali /img/forum/go_quote.gif Since I have a 3G iPod, any EQ use means I have to upgrade to a 4g or 5g iPod, which means $150-200. But when I Rockbox, I end up potentially losing or handicapping some of my other features.

You gain far more features than you lose with Rockbox. Whether that makes Rockbox worth your while, of course, depends on the relative weight that you put on those features. Remember, though, that Rockbox allows you to dual boot, so installing Rockbox does not really remove any features.

 

[DrkRipper]

Just another vote against trying to use RB on a 3g...I had all kinds of trouble with mine and had to go back to the Apple firmware.

 

[Packgrog]

Rockbox on a 4G (B&W or Photo) with the iMod and an amp is probably the best route you can go, but obviously that adds up quickly. There's no question that it would be worth it, but if you can't afford that, you can't afford it.

I had a chance to hear the Trekstor Vibez at the recent NYC Meet, and it sounded GREAT. Recommended if you don't need more storage space. Great little device.

-Packgrog