[slowth]

Just out of curiousity's sake, I tried to A/B my nano's headphone out vs the lineout without an amp.

I used a sendstation dock at the lineout and my freq shows into the dock. At the risk of my ears, I listened to some lossless/high encoded songs. To my amazement, the difference was stark!!! Of course the volume was almost at my listening threshold so I did not leave it in too long.
The sound's definitely better, very much clearer than through the headphone out. Of course due to the volume, it was abit harsh but musically wise it was good I must say.

In fact, my bro and I concluded that the diff b/w headphone w/o amp and line out w/o amp was greater than the jump between headphone out w amp and line out w amp. I.E. same comparisons between headphone out and line out but 1 with amp and 1 without amp.
the amp in this case was my headsix.

Now.. do you think it's possible I used a level attenuator, connected it along with my earphones to the sendstation dock and live with this set up?
Maybe some others who've been crazy enough risk their ears can lend their impressions too =)

 

[Drag0n]

Try the level attenuator. I was going to suggest that as i was reading it,until i got to the part where you asked about it.

 

[slowth]

yeah i'll give it a shot.. but I wonder why more ppl haen't talked about it... =)

 

[jinp6301]

Probably because a lot of headphones need a lot more power (not volume) then what the ipod line-out can put out

 

[slowth]

i see.. I understand the headphone part.. but for like earphones and some in-ear monitors? usually powerful enough no?

 

[Drag0n]

People love to buy toys,like headphone amps, whether needed or not, and if it sounded good without it, that would ruins everyones fun!

Personally i love having my little toys around, and i collect small amps.

 

[slowth]

haha that's true.. when i start workin then perhaps i'd start thinking like that

 

[nc8000]

When i had a 4th gen iMod I sometimes couldn't be bothered to bring an amp and used it with E4C and the Shure atenuator and the sound was actually very good. Recently I had a pm from antonyfirst who had tried the same with his iMod and big cap dock and also found it surprisingly good.

 

[slowth]

I should start promoting it.. haha

 

[elmer_42]

I tried once going from the line-out on my Zen Vision: M directly to my EP630s. It was loud.

 

[Ypoknons]

I'm okay with sensitive IEMs straight out of portables. A big phone (in my case K701/HD595) will never do without an amp, however...

 

[ok computer]

slowth what phones were you using?

 

[slowth]

Freq shows =)

 

[ok computer]

great i'm strongly considering getting a pair of freqshows or livewires so let us know how the shure attenuater works out.

 

[slowth]

I've tried them already =)

It definitely is a step up from the headphone out but sometimes it's a lil uncontrolled... not totally harsh per se... just not very smooth, just a lil edgy..

an amp sorta smoothens it out =)