[moonboy403]

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My problem is I already dropped $400 on the JH5 Pro's and I don't want to drop another $250+ on a portable amp unless I know using an LOD cable is a SUBSTANTIAL sound quality improvement over a mini to mini cable.
 
[size=x-small]I did a blind study with my wife to see if a portable amp (ibasso D2) improved the the SQ over a direct headphone out of an 3rd gen Ipod Touch (with JH5 Pro's IEM's).[/size]
 
[size=x-small]Using a mini to mini cable from the headphone out we found a degragation in SQ while using the amp. In other words the Itouch sounded better WITHOUT THE AMP (only slightly). I'm under the impression the headphone out is a garbage source signal.[/size]

 
How did you volume match the two?

 

[cooperpwc]

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How did you volume match the two?

What answer would you expect to this question?
 

 

[moonboy403]

Quote:

Quote:

What answer would you expect to this question?
 

Nothing in particular, I just wondered if the OP volume matched or not since the comparison wouldn't be valid if it wasn't done. I put the earpieces' sound bores against an SPL meter when I wanna volume match and if the OP got a better method of level matching, I wanna know about it so I can put it to use.

 

[illumineering]

The differences between a mini/mini and an lod are voluminous!  I just did a blind a/b test using mini/mini and SendStation lod on my iPad.  It was such a definitive difference that I can only say get the lod without question.  I agree that a bit of fiscal restraint is warranted.  If you can a/b a high dollar version later, that's great.  Creating a straight signal path is going to give you unquestionable benefits that your ears will hear.

 

[mythe]

I personally had a very weird experience with lod's.  When I used a 3.5mm double male headed interconnect to connect my itouch to an amp (fiio e5), I had the amp at about 3/4 max volume for a normal listening volume.  When I used a LOD, I was using like 1/8th max volume on the amp.  The amp also affected the sound a great deal more when I was using the LOD.  With a double 3.5mm interconnect, the bass boost gave the lower end a tiny bit more impact.  With the LOD it was roaring and also very distorted...
so in a nutshell, yes, I'd say using a lod is a huge difference

 

[logwed]

Quote:

I personally had a very weird experience with lod's.  When I used a 3.5mm double male headed interconnect to connect my itouch to an amp (fiio e5), I had the amp at about 3/4 max volume for a normal listening volume.  When I used a LOD, I was using like 1/8th max volume on the amp.  The amp also affected the sound a great deal more when I was using the LOD.  With a double 3.5mm interconnect, the bass boost gave the lower end a tiny bit more impact.  With the LOD it was roaring and also very distorted...
so in a nutshell, yes, I'd say using a lod is a huge difference

 
 The LOD doesn't bypass the amplifier of the iPod, contrary to popular belief, it bypasses the attenuation, so a high line level signal passes to the amp, resulting in the loudness. The Fiio is most likely the culprit in this problem.

 

[mythe]

Yea, it probably is.  But in the end it sounded better, and for 20$ I really can't complain.  I'm sure you'd have better results with a good amp.