iPod Classic vs Zune 1st gen (sq from headphone jack)

[stevenjchang]

Who's got an answer to this one. i'm not too happy w my zune...about to get apple trigger happy

 

[w0lla]

hmm interested in this question myself. heard Zune had great sq, so if 6g can match it its great.

 

[Sherlock19]

well i have no expierence with the zune...but i ordered my 80 gig ipod classic yesterday, ill let you know what i think

 

[hotsoda]

iLounge said something like the iPod classic was the best sounding iPod ever (and there's less hiss, which is a big thing for me), but I can't comment on how it sounds against the Zune.

 

[jdimitri]

The zune was completely quiet with my ES2 while the ipod classic has a little bit of hiss

It's a massive improvement over the old ipods though, the hiss was almost unbearable

As for overall SQ, i'm not sure on which is better.. Zune probably has more of a neutral sound while ipods has a more 'fun' sound
The ipod has an advantage, it can have a lineout

 

[stevenjchang]

i used super.fi 3 on a zune and ipod video...both had equal amount of hiss (moderate), i think ipod a but more.

 

[audiomagnate]

I hear no hiss out of a Zune om my UM2s, which hiss on almost everything else.

 

[manaox2]

The classic need rockbox. Dunno about the likely-hood, but it sure does do wonders about the hiss.

 

[mirumu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by manaox2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The classic need rockbox. Dunno about the likely-hood, but it sure does do wonders about the hiss.

The Classic doesn't have much if any hiss to begin with. The 4G by comparison sounds like a hiss generator.

 

[YamiTenshi]

How about the Classic just needs rockbox, period. I would consider buying the new iPod if it could run rockbox without being detrimental to the battery life.

Good to be hearing/reading all these positive reviews about the Classic's sound quality. It's making it harder to pass over the "buy now" button.

 

[manaox2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by YamiTenshi /img/forum/go_quote.gif How about the Classic just needs rockbox, period. I would consider buying the new iPod if it could run rockbox without being detrimental to the battery life. Good to be hearing/reading all these positive reviews about the Classic's sound quality. It's making it harder to pass over the "buy now" button.

My iMod needs a friend.

 

[ingwe]

Hiss (HD650 and E500; LO with RSA Hornet)
--Zune: HO=none, LO=N/A[1]
--iPod6G: HO= none, LO=NONE

*Very* difficult discerning SQ differences between iPod6G HO AND LO with e500s.


Take following with very large grain of salt...

My observations below utilize a DIY LOD and mini-to-mini not quite the highest quality (wire-wise).

ipod6G LO vs.Zune HO at full volume with both-->RSA-Hornet-->e500s and HD650 (volume matched)
--Zune: Very clean, good bloom, good depth, good air (ambiance), very non-fatiguing.
--iPod6g: a bit more forward, less depth, less air, less bloom, brighter, possibly fatiguing (jury still out).

For SQ I think I prefer Zune. Seems more like good high-end reproduction to me. But lack of HD space and lousy battery life is a major bummer.


[1] zune line out via doc is amplified via doc--no hiss though

 

[lustaficko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ingwe /img/forum/go_quote.gif *Very* difficult discerning SQ differences between iPod6G HO AND LO with e500s.

So according to your tests, the iPod 6g sounds basically the same HO and LO? interesting.

 

[ingwe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lustaficko /img/forum/go_quote.gif So according to your tests, the iPod 6g sounds basically the same HO and LO? interesting.

Jury still out. My LOD could be much better, and a different headphone amp might prove more revealing. Also, I didn't test with lossless, just tested with 320mp3.

So take qll this with a heaping big grain of salt.

 

[lustaficko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ingwe /img/forum/go_quote.gif Jury still out. My LOD could be much better, and a different headphone amp might prove more revealing. Also, I didn't test with lossless, just tested with 320mp3. So take all this with a heaping big grain of salt.

Oh, I know. I was deciding to buy one of these players and was planning to use just the headphone jack as my output. It seems like the Zune would be a better choice for headphone only, but the ability for the iPod to have an amp and the user interface just about decided it for me. Besides it probably doesn't sound *that* bad.