High Priced Line-Outs and the Ipod Classic. A Waste?

[tonyfiore75]

Having just recently sold an ALO Jumbo Cryo Dock I ran into an 'interesting' discussion with another Head-Fi member.

He was considering purchasing my ALO Jumbo Cryo Dock but ultimately decided against it from the advice of a more seasoned member. The reason he did not buy it from me was primarily because the new iPod Classics do not use the Wolfson DACs anymore. The conclusion drawn was that a quality cable would be a waste and that a cheaper cable would do the same job at a lesser price without compromising SQ.

I disagreed. My main analogy, dumb as it may have been, was that if you had a Yugo and put expensive tires on it at least you would get the very MOST out of that Yugo even though it wasn't going to run very well. This, as I said, may be a dumb analogy. I just figure a good cable is a good cable and even though it may not be a precious Wolfson DAC you're still going to improve your sound to some degree by using the best cable possible.

I'm no expert, though, and could be totally mistaken. I figured a lot of you could chime in on this topic and let everyone know what you think.

Thanks in advance. Enjoy!

-T

 

[stevenkelby]

I'm with you, a quality cable is never a waste if it's in your budget. Sure it won't sound as good as it would on an imod but it will won't be the weak link. Anyway, there's a whole lot more to a nice cable than any sound differences/improvements. Things like flexibility, durability, strength, cost, convenience, wait time from ordering, resale value, form factor, quality of components used, quality of workmanship, feel, looks etc. Sometimes that's all there is to a cable...

 

[soloz2]

I tend to agree. Granted it would be a waste to spend a few hundred on a cable in this situation, but if the cable in question is in your budget and it sounds good to your ears then go for it and enjoy the absolute best your setup has to offer. Overpaying for something is another thing though...

 

[meat01]

A good cable no matter how much it costs or what it is made of, is not really going to turn a bad source into a good source. I have not heard the Classic Ipod, so I am not saying it is bad, but if it is, a cable will not change that. Cables may improve that last 3% of sound quality at best.

 

[tonyfiore75]

I agree with that statement, meat01. 100%. BUT... let me say this- a good cable is going to get the very most out of the source, no matter how good or bad the source is. That's kind of my point. I guess the argument is this:

Is a sub-par source and a great cable equivalent to a sub-par source and a sub-par cable?

I happen to think that the great cable does, in fact, help the source out. Dramatically? No friggin' way. But it does help- at least I think it does.

Anyway, hence the discussion.

-TF

 

[stevenkelby]

Whilst he does have a valid point, Meat's a big anti-cable man if you didn't know, so take it with a grain of salt.

Without wanting to attract too much anti-cable fundamentalism, good cables do make a difference IMO, of course.

 

[bigshot]

The quality of the DAC has nothing to do with it. (And by the way, there's nothing to indicate that the DAC in the classic isn't just a rebranded Wolfson...)

Think about it... A dock is basically a connector. Connectors don't generally affect the sound unless there's something seriously wrong with them. Don't spend a lot of money on a dock connector hoping for better sound. Get one that's built well and won't break.

If you want to improve the sound quality, use better encoding or listen to music that is well recorded.

See ya
Steve

 

[tonyfiore75]

So then what's with all the hooplah of ALO, Qables, etc? Is it just a hoax?

 

[meat01]

I was not saying cables don't make a difference at all, which has been my experience. I was trying to say if they do make a difference, they are not going to change the world and turn a poor sounding source into a good one. I think most will agree with that.

Spending money on a better source or headphones, seems like a smarter way to go, rather than spending a lot on a cable to change the sound. Again, most will agree, phones and source have a bigger impact on the sound quality than cables.

 

[jsmithepa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyfiore75 /img/forum/go_quote.gif let me say this- a good cable is going to get the very most out of the source, no matter how good or bad the source is.

Wo empirical measurement, lets give u the benefit of the doubt, AS LONG AS cost is no object.

Those of us who pay our own way and have other practical expenses are continuosly juggling... 0.5% better sound, or diaper for the baby.

 

[colonelkernel8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyfiore75 /img/forum/go_quote.gif So then what's with all the hooplah of ALO, Qables, etc? Is it just a hoax?

As much as I hate to say it, absolutely yes. You are dealing with about 3-4 inches of cable, its not going to make a difference.

 

[jbloudg20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonelkernel8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif As much as I hate to say it, absolutely yes. You are dealing with about 3-4 inches of cable, its not going to make a difference.

You know its one of those times where if you ahve nothign nice to say, shut the hell up. I dont care who thinks what about cables, and its not my job to make anyone think otherwise. Expressing your opinion is wonderful, except when you go out of your way to be an ******.

Why don't you drop it already.

 

[colonelkernel8]

I'm trying to save the guy a couple hundred dollars, I don't think its one of those times to "shut the hell up".

Edit: I guess since he already bought it, I'm helping him retain some the lost cash by asking him to sell it.

 

[jbloudg20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonelkernel8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm trying to save the guy a couple hundred dollars, I don't think its one of those times to "shut the hell up". Edit: I guess since he already bought it, I'm helping him retain some the lost cash by asking him to sell it.

If someone wants to throw away money, let them. In your case, you are not helping, but being a nuisance.

 

[colonelkernel8]

I simply told him that it will not make a difference. Is that not the point of this forum? To aid people in spending their money wisely? I don't think its fair that any one of us should let the other "throw away money".