iMod/Zune Comparison?

[AudioDwebe]

Is there anyone out there who has both the iMod and a Zune, who can give us a realistic comparison between the two? Everything I've read seems to indicate that the iMod basically blows the Zune out the water, with one person even claiming that out of 1000, the regular iPod is, like, 42 or something, the Zune 60 or so and the iMod 760.

Having been in audio for a while, I realize that improvements are more often than not very subtle, and was looking for a level-headed comparison versus some fanboy, shout from the mountaintop, iMod is the best thing there is, blah...blah...blah...

Is there anyone who can do this?

Thanks.

 

[wgr73]

Yeah, that would be cool...

 

[big-fi]

iMod's aprox. $500
Zune's aprox. ~$200

Zune's great for what you pay.
You get what you pay for for an iMod...

 

[dissembled]

The Imod's signature is directly affected by the amp being used so it'll sound different for everyone who has it.

 

[EFN]

I Love zune, for a DAP that's meant to be used as it is out of the box, zune easily pawns iPod in terms of Sound Quality.

But zune, being a DAP still sounds very digital to my ears, despite very good sounding. That said, the only DAP that sounds Analogue is iMod + Amp.

 

[zip22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by big-fi /img/forum/go_quote.gif iMod's aprox. $500 Zune's aprox. ~$200 Zune's great for what you pay. You get what you pay for for an iMod...

2.5 times the quality?

 

[wgr73]

Lol

 

[Mors]

Don't forget, once you've had the iPod iModded, you've then got to buy an amp, and most people Rockbox them to use lossles. It's not a fair comparision really. They're not alike in price bracket or setup.
But, saying that, from what I've read, once you've got one of these close on $1000 iMod setups - Yes they do completely blow the Zune out of the water.

 

[zip22]

you can use lossless without rockbox.

 

[stevenkelby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissembled /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Imod's signature is directly affected by the amp being used so it'll sound different for everyone who has it.

But so is the Zunes signature affected by the amp most of us would use with the line out of the Zune. Also, most of us would use lossless files on the Zune too.

By "us" I mean weirdo audiophiles like me!

 

[zip22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenkelby /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also, most of us would use lossless files on the Zune too.

the zune does not support lossless files.

 

[stevenkelby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zip22 /img/forum/go_quote.gif the zune does not support lossless files.

Really?!

Wow, thats pretty crap. I thought they were good players. Not even .WAV or something?

 

[zip22]

nope. WMA, MP3, and AAC (all up to 320kbps)
http://www.zune.net/en-us/meetzune/techspecs/player.htm

 

[rockin_amigo14]

yeah, the lack of lossless is pretty weak. but 320kbps MP3 still sounds pretty dang good.

 

[buddha911]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zip22 /img/forum/go_quote.gif the zune does not support lossless files.

Yup, I spent a couple days ripping all my cd's to "WMA Lossless", just to find out that they were converted to 128kbps. That's why I'm getting an iPod when a new one comes out in august/september.