How to use portable amplifier with iPod?

[tk6]

Will begin my first post with an apology as I’m sure this will have been discussed before but like many new users when I try searching, I’m swamped with results, none of which seem to answer my question.

Anyway, I am now waiting for delivery of my first headphone amp. Initially I will be using the headphone out socket of my iPod as the input for the amp going to a set of Triple Fis. My question is at what level should I be setting my iPod’s volume?

Any help would be gratefully received and sorry if the answer is obvious.

 

[TickTockMan]

Full volume, or just slightly below for the headphone out. I use the max setting on my iPod Classic with the Total Airhead amp.

You just have to remember to turn the volume back down before using it unamped, so you don't get an unpleasant ear blast.

 

[JimSmiley]

I'm not sure what iPod volume would equal line out (someone else surely does), but you are double amping the signal, which isn't going to help sound quality.
Eventually, you should get a dock or LOD to a mini or RCA depending on your amp.
I'm surprised the Triple Fis aren't loud enough straight from the headphone jack?

 

[JimSmiley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TickTockMan /img/forum/go_quote.gif Full volume, or just slightly below for the headphone out. I use the max setting on my iPod Classic with the Total Airhead amp. You just have to remember to turn the volume back down before using it unamped, so you don't get an unpleasant ear blast.

I would have thought the opposite--turn the amp to about 3/4 full and then adjust the iPod volume to suitable listening levels..I could be wrong.

 

[thebikingengineer]

I'm personally using a LOD straight to the line in on my Bithead. Bithead set on low gain, about 25-30% of the volume knob fed into my super-fi 3s. My iPod's volume is all the way down and I'm getting ridiculous battery life. This is a pretty solid setup and I'm happy with it.

If you're not using a LOD you'll want to turn the volume on the iPod almost all the way up to maximize the SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) and adjust the amp volume control to get your desired volume level.

When setting your volume start with your amps volume all the way down, get your IEMs seated well, turn your player on, and then turn the volume up to your listening level. Having the volume turned up when you turn the player on is a really good way to blast 120dB straight into your sealed ear canal, not a fun thing in anyone's book and potentially harmful.

 

[TickTockMan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimSmiley /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would have thought the opposite--turn the amp to about 3/4 full and then adjust the iPod volume to suitable listening levels..I could be wrong.

I could be wrong also. I'm just going by what the instruction manual for the Total Airhead says. Although when I have tried running the iPod with the volume at a lower setting and the amp at a higher setting, the sound doesn't seem quite as crisp.

 

[Chris OH]

Another qualified "as I understand it" here, at least as far as the technical terms go (not about what level to set the ipod though)

It is absolutely the case that you shoulld turn the iod volume up to maximum to get an approximation to a line out. As it has also been said it might sound better if it is slightly less than maximum.

What the volume control is doing is to attenuate the signal and by "turning it up" you are reducing the attenuation ie when the volume is at maximum there is minimum attenuation and this is near to a line out.

Regards

 

[Assorted]

You should see the 11 threads worth of portable amp + iPod pictures in the Portable Audio forum. The title of the threads are "Pictures of your Portable Audio Rig Part x"

You will see that many people "double amp" their iPods/other players, and portable amps are not something strictly for use with LODs. On the iPod I would go with max volume, but when dealing with other DAPs, it will be a hit and miss kind of thing. I've had certain DAPs clip at max, when used with an amp.