[YoungClayB]

I was looking at this one:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-4VQeHkn...0&I=580TXS805B

But I think I can only afford this one:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-4VQeHkn...0&I=580TXS605B

Tweedy said it best - "Why is there no breeze?....No currency of leaves?"

 

[slwiser]

http://hifiipod.co.uk/wp-content/upl...d_5G_video.htm

So this is what is coming off the DAC that Vinnie has to work with...not bad..I think.

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungClayB /img/forum/go_quote.gif What sort of reputation do the Burr-Brown chips have? I am looking at a receiver that uses these DACs.

Check this set of tests out for one answer to your question.

http://www.audiodesignguide.com/DAC_final/DacFinal.html

 

[trose49]

I would love to see a comparison to a rega planet 2k or apollo or some other well known players around here.

Looks impressive but would more impressive if we had something to compare it too

 

[antonyfirst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by antonyfirst /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm pretty sure that the iMod doesn't sound 200$ better than the original iPod's lineout.

Okk guys, I've seen that some people took badly my statement. I hate when people talk about things they don't know, and this time I seem to have fallen into it.
Let me explain why I wrote it. If the 5.5 gen iMod uses the same DAC as the stock iPod, how much room for improvement can there be, by only making a better quality path from the DAC to the lineout? This is why I find odd that the improvement is thi s huge.
Anyways, I'd like to try one, and compare it with my Kenwood HD10GB7, since some people have heard them both, but have very different opinions about the matter. For now I've tried to amp the Kenwood, and the result was pretty good.

 

[unclejr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif http://hifiipod.co.uk/wp-content/upl...d_5G_video.htm So this is what is coming off the DAC that Vinnie has to work with...not bad..I think.

Interesting measurements. Anyone have any experience/comparisons, as trose49 mentioned?

 

[slwiser]

Make sure that you compare the 44.4/16 numbers cause that is what is coming off the iPod DAC.
I think the signal coming off the iPod dac would degrade some from what is shown in the link
above but I have no ideal as to how much. But the issue is a comparison. The Alien DAC, LynxTWO-B,
ESI Waveterminal and TI PCM1701U are most interesting.

Need to compare analog out results since this is what Vinnie is working with to hand off
to our out-board amplifiers.

It sure is obvious that I don't have much to do..right now.


USB DAC:
http://magsy.net/headfi/laptoppowered.htm

Creative Zen Micro at the headphone out that would go into your outboard amp:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1725113,00.asp

E-MU 0404:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1753462,00.asp

Alien DAC
http://www.calroth.net/alien_dac_rmaa/

RightMark Test Results Page:
http://audio.rightmark.org/test_results.shtml

LynxTWO-B
http://audio.rightmark.org/test/lynx-two-b-1644.html

ESI Waveterminal 192x
http://audio.rightmark.org/test/esi-...192x-1644.html

TI PCM1710U Audio DA Converter
http://www.pp.iij4u.or.jp/~shu-nkmr/DAC-1/DAC-1-test-data.html

SqueezeBox 3 Analog Output
http://mysite.verizon.net/forumwebsp...3%20analog.htm

 

[immtbiker]

I hate to sound naive (I know that I should know better), but on Vinnie's site it says:
"Do NOT use any other dock cable with your 5G/5.5G iMod or damage *may* occur to your amplifier and/or headphones/speakers. We are NOT responsible for any misuse".

Does this mean that I wouldn't be able to use my existing wall charger dock that came with my 3G or the USB dock cable that came with my 4G to charge the Ipod or download songs?

Also it says:
"For burn-in, we recommend connecting the external power cable (so the internal battery does not discharge) and playing an album (or playlist) on repeat mode".

How can you have it hooked up and running to a portable amp with Ken's dock cable for burn-in and have it charging at the same time?

 

[trose49]

Ican help you here biker. First off some of the verbage does need to be changed on Vinnies website because it refers mostly to the 4GEN imod.

Since the 4gn used the headphone out the unit could be charging at the same time (great for burn-in) even if you dont leave the power plugged in while listening (adds noise to the system)

You can safly use you wall chargers, apple docks (for charging only) etc but DO NOT PLAY ANY AUDIO FROM THE iMOD thru regular dock connection. These stock type connections do not have the black caps in the cable and will send voltage via your audio in jacks on whatever you are using. (reciever, amp etc)

This can cause a major problem with both your gear and speakers so dont try it.

I use my stock dock for chargeing only and run completly on Battery power which is what Vinnie prefers.

Ok the issue of burn-in the only way to do this is Ken at ALO have special dock cables with power supplies attached to them so you can use AC power to burn-in and then unplug the wall power for normal listening. I think that will be available soon if not already. check the alo page: http://www.aloaudio.com/imod/5gimod.html

And of course by the end of the month Ken is trying to have the ultimate iMOD dock made from nice woods using the V-caps which are supposed to bring th imod up a few more pegs closer to the grail of holy tone we are all searching for. If I left anything out let me know.

If I messed anything KEN or VINNIE come on down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TheMarchingMule]

I'll try to be the cliffnote version of trose49's response.

1.) For charging, the iMod can still recharge with the wall charger, as well as the USB cable. Reason is because the charging utilizes different pins than the line-out dock.

2.) Ken of ALO is making a special dock that you can listen WHILE charging the iMod. For a picture of it: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=244408

 

[unclejr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll try to be the cliffnote version of trose49's response. 1.) For charging, the iMod can still recharge with the wall charger, as well as the USB cable. Reason is because the charging utilizes different pins than the line-out dock. 2.) Ken of ALO is making a special dock that you can listen WHILE charging the iMod. For a picture of it: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=244408

Along these lines, does a regular USB/charging cable have any line out pins? That is, will something be damaged, etc. if you play the iPod while plugged into the wall/computer (while charging, not syncing) via the USB cable?

 

[slwiser]

^No, nothing will be damaged if you only use the original USB for charging and updating files. I am doing this all the time for charging and when needed for file updates. While charging, I can't play my iMod as the cable that provides music to the amp takes up the dock plug space that the original USB dock takes while charging. It is not both but which do you use at a time.

The ALO Super Cotton Dock is used to provide the feed into the amp when listening to music.

ALO is working and may (not yet) already have one or two device interfaces that will allow charging at the same time as listening but this is not the Dock station with the V-Caps yet. The V-Cap Dock should be something to hear once it gets out. I may be what people want for most of their listening even in an office/home environment since it uses the V-Caps and the promise that they hold for the listener. I just checked the ALO web site and it does not appear that the dual use device is available yet.

Prototype shown here:

Link to where this was found is here:http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=244408

 

[unclejr]

Hey thanks for the info. I read about that, though I am skeptical that it will be clean. It seems like a pretty basic implementation of it that goes against the whole idea of "battery powered purist hi-fi" that seems to be RWA's whole deal.

But when the iPod is charging (and the dock is occupied by the charging cable), there still is the headphone jack output that was left untouched in the 5th gen mod. Soo. My question is, when charging, can you use the headphone jack and play the iPod without ruining anything connected to the iPod?

 

[immtbiker]

Thanks guys for your clarification. This is what I thought, and makes perfect sense.

unclejr...Using your theory (when charging, can you use the headphone jack and play the iPod without ruining anything connected to the iPod?) would work, but seems to me, would defeat the purpose of being able to burn-in the Black Gates for the necessary 200 hours.

So it appears that for now, in order to burn in the dock caps, you would have to do it 12-15 hours at a time using the battery and then wait while recharging the battery.

I use Ephpod to transfer my songs to my Ipods (don't like that Itunes blanks out folders of songs that have been moved to other directories, when doing a new synch). However, Ephpod allows you to play the songs on your Ipod through your computer using FooBar or whatever, so the verbage on Vinnie's site would make it seem that this should not be done with the 5.5G modification, otherwise the pinouts used to play the music through your dock cable to your USB port, would receive the higher voltage. Am I making sense?

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclejr /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hey thanks for the info. I read about that, though I am skeptical that it will be clean. It seems like a pretty basic implementation of it that goes against the whole idea of "battery powered purist hi-fi" that seems to be RWA's whole deal. But when the iPod is charging (and the dock is occupied by the charging cable), there still is the headphone jack output that was left untouched in the 5th gen mod. Soo. My question is, when charging, can you use the headphone jack and play the iPod without ruining anything connected to the iPod?

With mine when the original dock is in place the iMod is not available for music. It is doing something else like being available for file updates and has this big graphic meaning No-go on the screen.