I got my Redwine iMod-ed iPod today,WOW!

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryAR Item 2) is very real I think, and this is why PC-based audio systems are getting so much attention on all the audio forums lately.

I don't think so... I think it's mainly because of convenience.

Quote:

PC-based playback just sounds better,

That's quite a strong (blanket) statement, and I have to disagree with it. PC-based playback does have some advantages over the classic CD player method, but some modern CDPs are using these advantages themselves these days (buffering w/error correction, etc).

Quote:

and you have to spend a lot less to get high-fidelity sound than you would with a standalone player or transport/dac.

I don't think that's necessarily the case. My (unmodded) Toshiba SD-3980 DVD player sounds better to my ears than M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 soundcard, and cost $47 shipped (1/3 to 1/2 the price of the card). Not that either of them constitute high-end sound, but they're both certainly of a reasonable level of fidelity.

If the iModded iPod really sounds better than a $6k setup, people who care about good sound will be trading in their high end setups for the iMod. Except I don't see that happening anytime soon... although I haven't heard the iMod, I think this thread needs a reality check of some sort here...

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch My (unmodded) Toshiba SD-3980 DVD player sounds better to my ears than M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 soundcard, and cost $47 shipped (1/3 to 1/2 the price of the card). Not that either of them constitute high-end sound, but they're both certainly of a reasonable level of fidelity.

My guess is that must be that Toshiba is using a better DAC chip, since I cannot imagine that the analog output stage after the DAC is better in the Toshiba.

But Fewtch I agree with you. I think stand along audio players as a rule sound better than PC-based playback systems -- there is too much crap in a PC that can pollute the analog output. Heck, even early ipods, the HD noise was audible in the output.

That said, the iModded iPod sounds as good to me playing CD audio as either my $1500 Sony 555ES SACD player or my $2000 Denon DVD-5900.

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab My guess is that must be that Toshiba is using a better DAC chip, since I cannot imagine that the analog output stage after the DAC is better in the Toshiba.

Don't forget also that the soundcard is limited to 3.3v PCI voltage, and the DVD player isn't. As far as analog stages, I agree that they're probably comparable in that department -- maybe a bit better for the DVD player since space isn't as limited as it is on a soundcard and it could have a better circuit layout. I do think the DAC in the Toshiba is a lot better (newer Burr-Brown 24bit/192KHz DAC).
Quote:

That said, the iModded iPod sounds as good to me playing CD audio as either my $1500 Sony 555ES SACD player or my $2000 Denon DVD-5900.

Fair enough, I certainly can't argue with someone's direct experience. Sounds like a very nice product, no matter how you slice it.

 

[robster]

After my Redwine iMod iPod has 200 hours on it to burn in the black gates I will post my thoughts on how it compares to my Upscale Audio Ah' Njoe Tube CDP player with upsampler and nos tubes,it's in the $1200-$1400 CDP category. And my thoughts how the iMod sounds with my Senn 650's with Moon Audio Blue Dragon cable.
Also my TT sounds better than my CDP,but not by that much. Using a VPI HW-19MKIII Rega 300 arm incognito wired,dyna 10x5 cart and a Ken Lyon Neuance isolation platform.

Cheers,
Robert

 

[jtevol1]

Thank you, Robert.

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Also my TT sounds better than my CDP,but not by that much. Using a VPI HW-19MKIII Rega 300 arm incognito wired,dyna 10x5 cart and a Ken Lyon Neuance isolation platform.

Yeah, my analog front end is also better than any of my digtal stuff, IMO.

 

[meat01]

This is sounding just like when the Toshiba DVD players with a few mods (3480's?) sounded like $2K CD players, yet it doesn't seem like many people are still using their Toshibas. I know there are still some people using them, but not as many as when they came out.

 

[GaryAR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meat01 This is sounding just like when the Toshiba DVD players with a few mods (3480's?) sounded like $2K CD players, yet it doesn't seem like many people are still using their Toshibas. I know there are still some people using them, but not as many as when they came out.

Well, for reference I had a battery-powered Scott Nixon NOS dac upgraded with Black Gates that I considered an order of magnitude better than my Samsung 941, which is, I belive, the same player as the Toshiba (to be fair, mine is stock so mods may have improved it somewhat). I consider the modded iPod to be a similar improvement over the nixon dac, and comparing the iPod to the Samsung is just not fair. It's like going from the ear buds that came with my iPod to my ultimate ears.

Gary

 

[jtevol1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robster After my Redwine iMod iPod has 200 hours on it to burn in the black gates I will post my thoughts...

I'm eagerly awaiting your feedback.

 

[boodi]

I'm into the iMod process too . The hype seemed just too good to pass on it , and a hi-end portable sound is what i seek from the beginning of my head-fi journery.
I'll leave a feedback too when it arrives here ; I'll compare it to my shuffle , to the 5g and to the Karma .

 

[robster]

O.K. I have had my www.redwineaudio.com imodded 4G 60GB Photo iPod that I bought brand new back from Vinnie for 11 days now.
I've let it run non-stop hooked up to my Ray Samuels Hornet amp 24/7 to burn in the Black Gate caps,for 250 hours thus far.
The sound is awesome,on my Senn PX-100's and my newly purchased Grado RS-1's,after about 100 hours the change does take place in sonics,much more detail in the highs and tighter bottom end.
Plus I need to add Vinnie is great to work with,I had my iPod back within 10 days! Great communication,packed it up well for the return and answered all my questions in great detail. You can't ask for a nicer person to work with.
The music I listen to is wide and varied to Americana Roots to Reggae to Rock to Blues. From The Truck Stop Preachers,Steve Earle,Bob Marley,Deep Purple,John Lee Hooker,Kim Richey.

Allison and Kraus and Union Station sounds fantastic,Rock The Doors LA Woman makes me tingle! And that's all on my Senn PX-100's.
So how does my iMod comptete against my Upscale Audio AH' Njoe Tjoeb CDP with upsampler and NOS tubes,well the iMod holds it's weight against the CDP.
The CDP has better overall clarity and cleaner highs. The Bass is nice and tight on the iMod,mids are controlled and focused.

But if I only had the iMod as a source I would be very happy.It definitley Butters My Biscuit!
My CDP is a $1200-$1300 player and I should give the Imod another 75 hours plus of burn in time. Folks have said wait until you have 300 hrs. plus on the Black Gates. So hmmm..could it equal my CDP? 'll know in a few more days by this Sunday/Monday.
With the Grado RS-1's and the iMod I'm a very very happy camper. A great combo and compared to using the RS-1's with my CDP the Imod holds it's own.


I'm using a Silver Resolution Signal Cable IC from www.signalcable.com for the Imod connected to my www.juicymusicaudio.com Blueberry preamp with all NOS tubes,which includes a Mullard 10M and Amperex PQ Pinch Waist 6dJ8 linestage and tube mono amps called VRD's (Valve Rollers Dream) from www.nosvalves.com 60 watt in ultralinear using Ei KT-90 type 2's for output.
Speakers are 98dB effecient single driver back loaded horns from www.thehornshoppe.com. and a panamax 150 line conditioner from www.2baudio.com.
All in a all a very high resolving system.

Sorry I haven't thrown in a bunch of audiofilia terms on the iMod,but really I only care about is the overall sonic package to my ears. And I'm very pleased. I'm not selling my CDP,but the iMod is a very very nice source and after 75 plus more hours of burn in it could prove to be a GREAT source.
But as a portable source I don't think it can be beat. The 5G I had with Turbo Dock 2 before sounded good but but was lacking in clarity and the iMod has clarity,focus,detail all rolled into one,like hauling a CDP around in a small package.
I'm also using a RnB Diamond mini cable form the iMod conected to my Hornet amp and all music is Apple Lossless from my CD collection.
I will be getting a used Crystal Piccolo IC cable to hook the Imod up to my system within 2-weeks. Geeze I could never afford to pay new for that cable. Even used I had to break my change jar. But the Silver Resolution Signal Cable sounds very nice,better than the copper Signal Cable IC that I have hooked up to a Marantz 2250B with Klipsch Chorus II's in the den. The Imod hooked up to that system gets a lot of play time too and sounds great on my Klipsch Chorus'.

More to follow after this weekend. And I'll try to describe the sonics and list exact music tracks.
But again all in all this a wonderful mod for a iPod. I don't feel the need to look for other mods,players,cables,headphones yada yada.

Cheers and thanks for reading this.

Robert

 

[boodi]

Thanks for the head-up , robster

 

[GaryAR]

That was a great write-up, thanks for posting it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robster The CDP has better overall clarity and cleaner highs.

I'd be very curious to see if this changes in another couple of weeks. The clarity I'm hearing in my system is unreal, when you mate the iPod with a battery-powered amp the noise floor is completely gone... and what's left is a transparency and realism that has to be heard to be appreciated. The placement of instruments in space across and into the soundstage is eery, and it lets me focus on any single instrument or voice as if it was the only thing I was hearing. This makes my system more engaging than anything I've heard, and lets me get completely lost in the music (which is, audiophile terms aside, what I've been after for the last two years).

I also I had Frank at Signal Cable make a cable for me, and I agree that he does great work. Mine was made with the Silver Eichmann's, and forgetting about the sound the looks and craftsmanship alone make it worth what I paid.

Gary

 

[robster]

Hi Gary,
what amp are you using to drive your speakers with? The Clari-T?
The Redwine iMod review in www.americanwired.com is supposed to show up sometime today. I just check and it's not up yet.

Cheers,
Robert

 

[GaryAR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robster Hi Gary, what amp are you using to drive your speakers with? The Clari-T? The Redwine iMod review in www.americanwired.com is supposed to show up sometime today. I just check and it's not up yet. Cheers, Robert

Yeah, I have a heavily upgraded Clarit-T for now. I'm looking to move to a higher level though, the Clari-T is almost there but I need more body & weight on vocals. I'm building a Patek SE clone, along with the Clari-T I'll try that with a tube preamp to see if it does the trick, and I'm also anxious to see what Vinnie's new 30W amp sounds like.

Gary