[lextek]

At what point does the iMod get bested by a CD player? Say the Arcam FMJ-33 or Rega Apollo range. I love having my music library available on the iPod. I'm talking about a speaker and headphone set-ups.

 

[Icarium]

I wouldn't be surprised if a 200-300 dollar cd player could crush the IMod. I have yet to hear a mp3 based solution that can equal a 15 year old Sony cd transport. It just sounds better. I don't think you would need a 1k level player to best it.

Edit: I have heard the iMod before at the national meet in the quieter room while it does crush all other DAPs and possibly most soundcards, I wouldn't get carried away.

 

[Filburt]

I personally don't think the iMod is much of a match even for fairly banal CDPs. It sounds fine for a DAP, but I think it's pretty lofty to expect that it's going to perform up to the level of a decent deck. Soundwise, I actually prefer what I've been able to get out of some of the iRiver DAPs, but that's at least partially due to availability of custom EQ; I don't like how any of the DAPs sound without it.

 

[Sherwood]

I'm interested in this as well. I'm going to be unable to run a CDP for the next year, and I want the best possible sound quality for my traveller's dollar. Would I be better served with a iMod or an equally priced USB DAC?

 

[Pangaea]

I gotta be honest, I started listening to my Sony D33 (vintage 90s model PCDP) and it sounds amazing, even without an amp. But with one- its no question. But I am also not going to carry around 200 CDs with it, so the iMod has its advantages.

 

[Filburt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherwood /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm interested in this as well. I'm going to be unable to run a CDP for the next year, and I want the best possible sound quality for my traveller's dollar. Would I be better served with a iMod or an equally priced USB DAC?

If sound quality is of utmost importance, I'd go for a USB DAC then. There are some projects out there now that maybe you can find a builder to build up for you.

 

[Sherwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filburt /img/forum/go_quote.gif If sound quality is of utmost importance, I'd go for a USB DAC then. There are some projects out there now that maybe you can find a builder to build up for you.

Yeah, sound quality is all that matters to me in this case. I lugged a portable rig around for a year, and in the end realized that I was happier just plugging in some IEMs and going, so the iMod wouldn't be used portably. I think i answered my question just writing that... Man, it's eaqsy to get caught up in the crazy here.

I know MASanto is building some Alien Dacs. What else is out there?

 

[Filburt]

Well there's that USB adaptation of the EZDAC out there, for one. Probably some other stuff out there as well.

 

[Kabeer]

Well, I have heard numerous times people compare the iMod positively to medium/high end cdp's. Vinnie and Ken claim this (although they obviously sell them). And differing views from some here...

If the Sony D-33 is really better than the iMod then thats not very inspiring.... I guess Ill have to demo myself.

 

[itsborken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pangaea /img/forum/go_quote.gif I gotta be honest, I started listening to my Sony D33 (vintage 90s model PCDP) and it sounds amazing, even without an amp. But with one- its no question. But I am also not going to carry around 200 CDs with it, so the iMod has its advantages.

This is really what its all about, carrying around hundreds of CDs lossless in a small form factor (when the laptop is too big, the battery life not long enough). Is iPod audiophile, not so much. iMod is just trying to raise portable sound up a notch. It's not meant to be the be all, end all solution.

 

[krmathis]

I would not be surprised if an equal priced CD player perform at the same level, or above, the iMod.

 

[Hardwired]

The iMod is an excellent DAP with good SQ for a DAP. It lacks some bass on the very low end and is missing a slight amount of detail throughout. It's great sound for a portable solution but it isn't better than a dedicated sound system. How can it be? If it was, why would any electronic sound device need to be bigger than a deck of cards, other than to provide room for connectors?

 

[Febs]

Has anyone ever run anything like an RMAA analysis of an iMod and compared it to either an unmodified iPod or to a standalone CD player? I would be interested to see what sort of improvements the iMod makes in the measurements compared to an unmodified player, or how it stacks up against a standalone CD player.

 

[mrarroyo]

Has any of you listened to the iModded iPod w/ lossless files and a good IC? I ask because it truly is an amazing sounding unit.

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardwired /img/forum/go_quote.gif The iMod is an excellent DAP with good SQ for a DAP. It lacks some bass on the very low end and is missing a slight amount of detail throughout. It's great sound for a portable solution but it isn't better than a dedicated sound system. How can it be? If it was, why would any electronic sound device need to be bigger than a deck of cards, other than to provide room for connectors?

You would just be amazed with the bass my iMod and Xin Reference gives me. I have a Lavry DA10 and AT-HA5000 and the bass extension is just as good with the iMod and Xin Reference. The headphones that I used to do this comparison is my UE9s. So bass reproduction is not the issue with this comparison. Maybe the home setup is a bit higher in performance but the difference has to be heard to be appreciated for the performance of the portable setup.

I am planning on bringing both setups to the Washington DC area met if anyone wants to hear both on July 14.