[milkpowder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfB That refers to the iModded 4G iPod, Bob. The stock 4G sounds terrible out of the head phone jack with one of the better IEMs. The iPods infamous reputation for bad sound quality is based on this. I am just wondering, if the "hiss" issue with low impendance sensitive IEMs has been resolved on the new iPod.

I think the iPod's infamous reputation should actually be blamed on the first three generations more than the 4G. I personally think that the 4G iPod sounds OK, especially when amped. I'm hanging on to my 4G until 6G comes out (I could be in for a long wait)!

The 5G is generally regarded to have a better SQ than the 4G. I haven't done any A'B'ing, but many others have.

 

[FaBoLoUsRmX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfB The iLounge reviewer didn't mention the hiss we are talking about here, though he tested with UE-10s.

Hes a NOob

I have been using the original FW on my 5G for the past 2 weeks and that hiss is starting to get annoying out of my er-6is again.

 

[zowie]

One thing I can tell you is that the 5G I just got running stock firmware does not sound nearly as good through the phones out as my now ancient Nomad Jukebox 3 (roughly contemporaneous with the 1G). The 5G has less hiss and slightly deeper bass, but gives up a lot of clarity, detail and timbre to the NJB3.

 

[dr.morton]

Quote:

The iLounge reviewer didn't mention the hiss we are talking about here, though he tested with UE-10s.

I will tell you as soon as my new 80 GB iPod is here. Should be any day now.

 

[SlackerClerk107]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr.morton I will tell you as soon as my new 80 GB iPod is here. Should be any day now.

Mine will be here in a few hours, can't wait!

 

[wolfB]

@milkpowder

My post refers to the head phone out performance only. On the 4G, there is not only the bass roll off, but more so the dreaded piano sound bug, causing noticable distortion of solo piano notes with sensetive IEM.

Excerpt from the iLounge 5G review:

Piano Solos: Clean. The third of three key audio improvements is what appears to be a complete fix for a “piano solo distortion” issue in 4G iPods recently identified by iLounge readers. Previously, in certain tracks, distortion (a light sizzling) could be heard around the silent edges of piano notes. Comparative testing with one of the sample identified piano tracks ("Bladiator") shows that the distortion has been completely eliminated.

 

[SlackerClerk107]

Well I've never heard the 4G, but I must say that the music sounds real good on my 5G video right now. I don't have the most discerning ears, but the bass is there, the highs are clear, and that's all I can really say about it.

 

[applebook]

When stripped down to their guts, all DAPs use cheap and tiny DACs and amps that are seriously compromised for portability, so IMO, any significant preference for any DAP over any other is just that, personal taste.

To my ears, the difference between an amped iPod and an amped mid-range Wadia is big. The difference between the greatest sounding consumer DAP and one of the worst is probably small.

 

[Skylab]

The headphone out of the 5G 80gb iPod sounds decent enough with my AKG K81DJ's. But the line out through my RSA Hornet sounds WAAAAAAY better. ANd the iMod 4G sounds better still. Much better.

JMO.

 

[h-man]

I can vouch for the fact that the hiss on my new nano is barely noticeable (my 5G's hiss drives me mad through UE sf5pros), and combined with its gapless playback, it has become my player of choice. I find it to have the usual, well-balanced, neutral ipod sound through the headphone out. I much prefer it to my iaudio x5l which i am selling.

 

[dr.morton]

Quote:

I am just wondering, if the "hiss" issue with low impendance sensitive IEMs has been resolved on the new iPod.

There is no detectable "hiss" so far. I went through a couple of albums and the sound seems ok.
But as some have mentioned before, the 5G is absolutely no match for an iPod with iMod.