All,
I apologize for the delay in me reponding to this thread...
I understand that there are some of you interested in having the 1st Gen Nano modded, but I have decided not to offer this for the following reasons:
1) Limited storage space. When using an modded iPod, you are going to want to use Apple Lossless, or WAV (or FLAC if using Rockbox)... all of these take up a lot of space and 2GB or 4GB is not that much storage for Lossless encoded or WAV files.
2) There is no space inside of the Nano to fit the upgraded signal capacitors. The one Nano that I did mod used a "pigtail" cable that was hard-wired to the motherboard in the Nano, and the upgraded capacitors were installed in the cable itself.
My biggest concern with this is reliability. I have discovered early on when I first started offering the iMod with the pigtail option was that it is not reliable and I stopped offering this. Also, I'd have to make different length pigtails (someone might want 3", another might want 3 feet, etc.).
3)
Quote:
He didn't keep making them because it took too much time. It's the same reason he won't imod the 5g Ipods- it's not that he can't, it's just not enough space to work with. The labor takes much longer making the operation financially less profitable. |
This is very true. I have performed the iMod on the Nano (as well as the iPod Video). The Nano is very difficult to mod and even more delicate than the 4th Gen iPods, and MUCH more time consuming. The same holds true for the iPod Video... they are an extreme PITA to mod and I couldn't do it for $199.00.
My prices would be much higher, and that wouldn't be attractive because you can get a 60GB iPod Photo + iMod for less $$$.
I just posted here (
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/i...?topic=38537.0) that I have a new batch of 60GB iPod Photos in stock and ready for the iMod, so I will be sticking with modding these for a while
60GB is pretty large, but regarding even larger hard drives, if anyone finds them for sale online (100GB Toshiba or 120GB Seagate, I believe) with ATA interface, please let me know because I will order one and try it with the 60GB iPod Photo.
Regarding the sound quality of the various iPods, it is important to clarify if you are referring to the stock headphone output of the iPod vs. the line-out (using headphone amp or home audio amp). The iMod is intended to be used with a headphone amp or home audio amp... the modded output is a line-out and the volume cannot be adjusted via the iPod. All of that is bypassed (along with other components in the signal path), but you need a headphone amplifier with volume control.
If anyone has any other questions, please feel free to email me.
Again, thanks for all your interest and support!
Best regards,
Vinnie