iPod Classic... DAC and output stage info from Vinnie of RWA

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spraggih /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do we get a pension?

Or sick/vacation days?

 

[Genetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef Medeski /img/forum/go_quote.gif I heard that availability and price wise you might be better of just buying an iPod for the 160GB HD. It atleast goes for over $250. And Im almost sure you can get the $100 back by selling the body without the HD or close to it. Plus you can get it now as opposed to hunting and searching for one for months. And if you slipped int he 80 GB.... well someone would be really confused. I thought the 80GB 6G is only .43" thick. Yeah about that..... So Im not too sure but it seems the best way to secure the HD is just to buy the iPod.

For me the perfect solution could be in buying the new iPod and: put the 6G 160GB in my 5.5G iMod and simply install my almost new 5.5G 80GB in the new 6G.

So simple and cost effective that it surely wont work. It's way too easy....

Amicalement

 

[bigshot]

Can someone run a tone sweep through the new iPod classic and find out whether it has a flat response or not. Whenever I hear "a little less warm", I suspect that it just has a flat response, which I would much prefer to EQing through hardware tweaks.

See ya
Steve

 

[kiwirugby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinnie R. /img/forum/go_quote.gif All, The Apple Dac chip appears to have an integrated push-pull output stage built into it. It runs on +/- voltage rails, so this is why they don't use coupling caps after the dac... there is no dc offset voltage to block. So picture a dac + opamp output stage (for both the line-out and headphone output) all in one chip. This approach is cleaner than the previous iPods line outs and headphone outs (except for the headphone out of the 1st gen shuffle, which is reported to have the same sort of design). From what I am hearing with my 6G -- Compared to the line out of the stock 4G, 5G, and 5.5G units, the line-out of the 6G is certainly closer to that of the 5.5G iMod using the ALO iMod dock cable... black gates), ... but do I believe once people do the comparions between the iMod and the line out of the 6G, you'll hear where the line out of the 6G falls short. Its a little thinner sounding and not quite as warm. When you use the Vcap dock with the 5G/5.5G iMod, it is even easier to hear the gap in performance between them. I see on the ALO website that Ken just put up a package deal... the 80GB 5.5G iMod + iMod Dock cable for $575. This is very sweet package deal, and I'm sure he'll do something similar with the Vcap docks. If your priority is getting the very best sound, the 5.5G iMod is the way to go. If your priority is getting 160GB, the 6G offers that, but... ... speaking of 160GB, the drive in the 160GB iPod is the Toshiba MK1626GCB. Does anyone know where these can be purchased online? I like to try it in my 80GB 5.5G iMod, just to verify it will work because there is growing interest in having this done. I can try calling Toshiba on Monday, but I doubt they will sell in small quantities Best regards, Vinnie

And in this mix, Vinnie, where does the tried and true 4th generation iMod fall?

It seems like you're suggesting that the 5G/5.5G iMod is better than the 6G. Where would you place the 4G iMod?

As always, thanks for your remarkable work on trying to get iPods to a better SQ place and for keeping all 59,000+ of us well informed!

 

[Chef Medeski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genetic /img/forum/go_quote.gif For me the perfect solution could be in buying the new iPod and: put the 6G 160GB in my 5.5G iMod and simply install my almost new 5.5G 80GB in the new 6G. So simple and cost effective that it surely wont work. It's way too easy.... Amicalement

Hmm thats actually genius. You could use the 6G on the go with smaller files and then for the full sound and lossless you go to the iMod with the best sound and most storage. Only problem is the 6G battery life might decrease with the old HD. I would be interested to see how much though comparitvely is due to the battery. So if you ever do that, could you make sure to do battery tests before and after.

 

[Genetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef Medeski /img/forum/go_quote.gif So if you ever do that....

I'll let Mr. Rossi time to figure out his next move HD wise and I'll certainly will be following closely any good news on that topic.

Amicalement from Québec...

 

[matt8268]

I'm bummed there's no way to get the best sound quality out of the latest iPod. The battery life and hard drive of the 6G means it's ideal for listening to a huge lossless audio collection.

I also wanted the new UI, mostly for cover flow. Anyone know how cover flow is sorted on the iPod classic? Is it by album title or artist (or configurable)?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

The way I see it, it is so close to just right that it gives you the the best sound yet from a stock iPod and should please even the most discrinating audiophile.

For the 5% who are't pleased, buy a used 5.5G and iMod it, since there wil likely be more hitting the market as people upgrade it should more affordable.

In my case, I have 27 Gb of music material on hard drive and the other half of my music is on CD. Spending $150 on a refurbished iH120 with optical out, $85 on a Sony pcdp with optical and $229 on an iBasso protable DAC/amp made more sense. I can listen to lossless and 320kbps files on the computer, or take a fair bit of what I'm in the moodfor with me between the iH120 and CDP. I'm not sure whyanybody needs to take EVERY SONG in their library with them, but that is an option if i take my Macbook and 320mb ext HD with me.

BTW, I am buying a classic and a touch because I have 150gb of tv and movies

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt8268 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm bummed there's no way to get the best sound quality out of the latest iPod. The battery life and hard drive of the 6G means it's ideal for listening to a huge lossless audio collection. I also wanted the new UI, mostly for cover flow. Anyone know how cover flow is sorted on the iPod classic? Is it by album title or artist (or configurable)?

 

[KB]

I have a limited supply of 5.5G 80 gig imods bundled with a Jumbo Cryo X Silver cable for $575. I do not have a whole bunch of them so when these are gone no more iMods as I will also be done with iMods.

you can pick one up at

www.ALOaudio.com

Thanks

Ken

 

[trose49]

I assume that this means iMODs from Vinnie once your inventory is gone but you will still support cables for the products correct?

 

[KB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trose49 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I assume that this means iMODs from Vinnie once your inventory is gone but you will still support cables for the products correct?

Yes.

Ken

 

[rxc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinnie R. /img/forum/go_quote.gif I see on the ALO website that Ken just put up a package deal... the 80GB 5.5G iMod + iMod Dock cable for $575. This is very sweet package deal, and I'm sure he'll do something similar with the Vcap docks.

Would this be an iMod + Vcap dock deal or a Vcap dock + cable deal?

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxc /img/forum/go_quote.gif Would this be an iMod + Vcap dock deal or a Vcap dock + cable deal?

What is included is the modded iPod with the needed cable. The only thing you still need is an amp.

 

[som4ew]

Sorry wrong topic

 

[skyline889]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxc /img/forum/go_quote.gif Would this be an iMod + Vcap dock deal or a Vcap dock + cable deal?

The V-cap docks are $400-550 by themselves so I don't think the $575 includes one of those.