Hooking Headphones To i-Devices : Which 3.5mm Headphone Output Jack Gives Best Sound Quality - iPhone, iPod or iPad?

[ryder78]

If hooking up headphones up to $250 to an iPhone, iPod Classic, iPod Touch or iPad, which device will yield the best sound quality? I presume the quality of 3.5mm headphone jacks is not similar throughout the various i-devices.
 
Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[system11]

Does it absolutely have to be an Apple product?  Cowon players sound a lot better.

 

[ryder78]

Thanks for the suggestion System11. It doesn't have to be an Apple product provided the Cowon sounds *a lot* better than the Apple devices. If the difference is subtle I would be more inclined to go with the Apple.
 
Thanks.

 

[ryder78]

I am not too familiar with Cowon products. I would appreciate if you can list down the Cowon equivalents for the Apple iPod and iPad.
 
Thanks.

 

[Slaughter]

I can tell you the iphone4 has a pretty good headphone out. But you would need to match it with the right headphones. It's a little light in the bass and vocals are pushed back just a bit. The highs are nice and airy. The iPhone has a nice Wolfson dac, not sure what the others have. The sansa clip is one of the goto portable devices you will see people using here.

 

[ryder78]

Quote:

I can tell you the iphone4 has a pretty good headphone out. But you would need to match it with the right headphones. It's a little light in the bass and vocals are pushed back just a bit. The highs are nice and airy. The iPhone has a nice Wolfson dac, not sure what the others have. The sansa clip is one of the goto portable devices you will see people using here.

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't know that the iPhone4 has a built-in Wolfson DAC as I can't find the description on the Apple website. The Wolfson is good stuff. Since you are using the iPhone, may I ask which headphones you like better with it, the Sennheiser HD-580/555 or the Audio Technica ATH-M50? I am actually looking at the M50.
 
I just roughly browsed through the Cowon products and although sound quality may be better the build quality appears to be inferior compared to the Apple.

 

[Pangaea]

I have had Cowons, Sansas, and Sony DAPs and I find the newer Apple DAPs to be on the same level if not better.  The iPhone (3Gs forward) and iPad in particular are great sounding directly thru the headphone out.  I use a variety of IEMs with them- Klipsch, Shure, Ety and all bring their own personality - but ultimately sound great.
 
If you are tied into the Apple ecosystem there really is no reason to look for another difficult work around (anymore) to get better sound.  3-4 years ago you would have had to as the the iPods back then were pretty bad in SQ dept.

 

[ryder78]

Pangaea, thanks for the much needed information. Apple is the way to go.
 
Cheers and Merry Christmas.

 

[Slaughter]

The M50 actually pairs nicely with the iphone, the 555 not so much and definitely not the 580 at 300 ohms. The M50 has a neutral to warm sound signature, so the iphone works nicely because its not bass heavy and the airyness of the highs helps improve the soundstage since the the M50 is closed. You will enjoy it.

 
Quote:

Quote:

I can tell you the iphone4 has a pretty good headphone out. But you would need to match it with the right headphones. It's a little light in the bass and vocals are pushed back just a bit. The highs are nice and airy. The iPhone has a nice Wolfson dac, not sure what the others have. The sansa clip is one of the goto portable devices you will see people using here.

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't know that the iPhone4 has a built-in Wolfson DAC as I can't find the description on the Apple website. The Wolfson is good stuff. Since you are using the iPhone, may I ask which headphones you like better with it, the Sennheiser HD-580/555 or the Audio Technica ATH-M50? I am actually looking at the M50.
 
I just roughly browsed through the Cowon products and although sound quality may be better the build quality appears to be inferior compared to the Apple.