Ipod nano 4th generation bad audio quality

[sky777]

Hey guys just wanted to see what you guys think about this. I had the nano 4th gen for about 2 to 4 years. The battery is obviously dying out and the lcd screen is breaking down. However, the biggest problem I have with the nano is the audio quality. Not sure if it was always like this but whenever I compare it to my laptop the audio quality on the nano is pretty bad. Every time a heavy bass song is played the bass distort and so does the vocals/mids. Also I use fiio e11 portable amp with the nano. If I were to get a lod do you think it will get better or stay the same. 
 
I know its not my headphone because it works great on my laptop. Also if I were to buy a new mp3 should I get the new nano or should I go for something else?

 

[sky777]

Yea thx for the reply I think the internal amp of the nano is interfering with the audio quality so using a lod to bypass the amp will increase the quality.  However I wasn't quite sure. Also Fiio have some lods that are much more cheaper.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Yea thx for the reply I think the internal amp of the nano is interfering with the audio quality so using a LOD to bypass the amp will increase the quality.  However I wasn't quite sure. Also Fiio have some LODs that are much more cheaper.

I vote buy the Fiio L (LOD) cable.

 

[JK1]

Spend $50 total and buy a 2GB Sandisk Clip+ and a 32GB micro SDHC card to put in it, giving a great $50 34GB player.

 

[sky777]

I was thinking about getting sandisk but can u use itunes with it? 34gb is about i only need 18gb at most. 

 

[shockdoc]

+1 on the Clip+ and micro sdhc card. And no you can't use iTunes with the Clip+. IMO the SQ on the Nano has gone downhill since the 2nd gen. I have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th gen and like the sq of my 2nd the best using it with LOD and FiiO E6.

 

[gilency]

I have gone through several generations of iPod Nanos including a 4th gen and sound quality has not been an issue for me. Currently using a 6th gen, listening via out jack (audiobooks mostly) or music (jack or LOD).

 

[JK1]

The Clip+ doesn't need any software. You can use it in MSC mode and drag and drop folders of music to it using Windows Explorer(if you don't have protected files. For protected files, Windows Media player and MTP mode is used). It won't play AAC files though, just mp3, wma, FLAC and OGG. If you need to play unprotected AAC files, the Sandisk Clip Zip will do that. It is similar to the Clip+, but is a bit more expensive. Many who get the Clip Zip rockbox it, while some who get the Clip+ Rockbox that. Rockbox is an alternative firmware(operating system) which gives more features, but also more complexity.

 

[sky777]

getting fiio l9 lod for now. 

 

[sky777]

receive the fiio l9 and it did improve overall sound quality but bass still distorts and bleeds into the mid, causing distortion in the mids. Oh well maybe im asking too much when i have the fiio e11 bass booster at 2 and max bass booster on the ipod

 

[JK1]

Which headphones are you using?

 

[proton007]

iPod tends to distort the sound when using EQ. Check if its on.
Line out may not solve the issue if the EQ is on.

 

[sky777]

not the headphone problem but i think proton007 is right. Ipod just distorts when eqing. does this happen with the sandisk mp3?

 

[bowei006]

Why would you get a Sandisk, if you already have an iPod and has yet to isolate the problem?
 
So is your EQ on or not? Check your iPod settings as well as iTunes.

 

[sky777]

itunes works fine with bass boost on max as well as the laptop bass booster. i already figured the problem. Like proton007 was saying when you have the eq on for the ipod it tends to distort when using the fiio e11. I have the eq at flat right now. Working fine but bass can be lacking on some songs.