iPod-Mini-Ety4s Bass problems

[nanahachi]

Gear:
2nd Gen 10Gig iPod
Xin SuperMini v3 (maybe?) -- 3 AAA PowerEx 700 mAh rechargables
Etymotic 4S
DIY mini-mini (switchcraft 90degree plugs & Canare starquad)

While I never have had a problem before, in the last week or two I've noticed that when the bass gets pretty heavy, it comes out distorted/garbled. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the bass isn't being produced as it should be.

I've used my 4S straight out of the iPod with no problem on MANY occasions, and only once noticed the staticy bass. I'm rather surprised that it has happed a few times with the use of the Mini. The current batteries are freshly charged, yet it still occurs with very prominant bass notes.

Any ideas? It is not that common an experience, but I'd love to resolve the issue if possible.

I am going to experiment a bit to see if the bass distorts b/c the iPod's volume is too low and the Mini's volume up too high, and vice versa.

thanks!

 

[bangraman]

Make sure you haven't got the Bass Booster on.

 

[austonia]

there are several EQ settings that will cause distortion on the bass hits, make sure that thing is off

 

[enzoferrari650]

I agree. I believe almost all of them do. None of the ipod presets are good.

 

[nanahachi]

Thanks guys for the fast replies!

All presets on the iPod are off, and there are no control on my mini except for the volume control.

hmmm, what next?

 

[enzoferrari650]

So it doesnt happen straight through the ipod headphone out. If thats the case then theres something wrong with your xin. You should get it checked.

 

[nanahachi]

no, i'll try to clarify. It HAS happened while straight out of the iPod (i.e. ER-4S unamped). However, it's just that recently I have been using an amp (Supermini) almost all of the time, whereas before I was not.

In either case, I am getting distorted bass when the bass is really heavy (think bass in DnB, or techno, etc).

 

[earful]

have you asked at apple/support/discussions?i believe there was, at one time, a lot of concer about mini headphone jacks working loose after awhile and not functioning correctly. could be related, though i assume when you're using your amp you're not using the headphone jack. (just had to throw that part in so no one yells at me on that issue.)

 

[go_vtec]

Have you use the line out? I find the lineout to be more accurate and better bass response than the headphone out when using an amp and ER-4s.

 

[toaster]

definitely try to aviod the presets, even on the new 4th gen ipods.

 

[nanahachi]

Hmmm, what am I missing...the 2nd Gen iPod that I have has NO line-out, AFAIK....

I know the new models have one in the dock or the Sikdin...but i have neither...

thanks for the suggestions though

 

[Kirosia]

Did you check your ety filters? Possibly a bad recording(s)?

 

[Spankypoo]

Speaking from 3G iPod experience, I can tell you there's a bug which can allow the EQ setting to appear to be set to 'off', when in fact it's still on. You have to switch it to something else, then back to 'off' again. Happened to me once with treble-boost being left on - bathroom speakers aren't very good

- and had me scratching my head for a few minutes after I hooked it back up to the Etys. (I thought, 'The Shure camp on Head-Fi's right after all - they ARE too bright sounding!' Ha, ha.) Worst thing was, I was listening to it while falling asleep, and was pretty bummed at how harsh the Etys were.

Anyway, you may want to try that - don't know if it applies to the 2G at all, FWIW.

Other 3G bug: Make sure nothing's playing (or even paused - let it finish out the last song an album to be sure), go select a song to play and hit pause within the first 1/2 second before it plays. It still plays the audio, but the iPod shows it as paused.

Anybody else's 3G do this, or was it just from my run? (Sep/Aug '03.)