[blazin_it_alwyz]

I think we all know by now that a 4th or 5/5.5th Generation iMod'd iPod is one of the best products out there on the market. I have heard rave reviews from anyone who has owned one.

But I have never heard a DEFINITIVE answer. Is the iMod the definitive DAP for audiophiles?

I have been reading through all the threads here on Head-Fi, and I am noticing that there are a couple of people that usually will have something to say that would make me think otherwise. For instance in a recent post, a person new to the forums wanted an iMod, but was really confused, and also dazed at all the money she was going to be spending on the extra stuff (just like I was, damn you Head-Fi). Then a member popped in and posted

"...Why not just get a better DAP from the start?"
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showpo...6&postcount=10

I also tend to see more members owning Cowon A2', iClix, Archos, Zune, also definitely a lot of Creative Zens.

I also hear a lot of things from certain members about the battery, durability, saying it can't fit enough lossless for their needs, etc. Personally to me, for people who will drop $2000 dollars on a pair of headphones in a second

, it doesn't make sense that iMod's aren't dominating this forum when the imod only costs like 245 + the price of the iPod.

So I just would like to hear from people. If you like another DAP over this one, if you could explain why you do, that would be very helpful to me (and maybe someone else who is reading this).

 

[dr.morton]

If you agree with other "audiophiles" that a most neutral sound is imperative, then the iMod is the DAP to go.

A lot of people have special preferences about how music should sound like. So if you are a basshead you might prefer a different DAP one that has the emphasis on bass.
The Cowon products are great IMO but I do not consider them neutral sounding.

We all do not know what the future will bring. So maybe next month some company will offer a product that will put the iMod to shame. But I doubt that.
Honestly I do not think that the new 5.5G iMod is the best option. You can still get a 4G for a very fair price and have it modded. You will possible end with around 350-400$ which I consider very reasonable for a DAP.

But this is for audio only. I would never exchange my A2 with an iMod for watching my videos. But again this is based on my own preferences.

 

[Assorted]

There's a general consensus that it has superior SQ, but that's only if you have an amp. So it might be too bulky for some audiophiles.

I can confidently say that the 30GB9 is the definitive answer if you're going ampless, and it will never fully take advantage of an external headphone amp like the iMod's line-out.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think the big reason you see people going for DAPs other than an iMod is that they want real portability. Yes it can still be pretty portable, but some people just want a player they can take running or throw around and not care about. Most people aren't too keen on throwing around a $400+ electronic device. Also factor in not the best battery life since you'd want to be running lossless to take advantage of the iMod.

Also, with the iMod you're leaving out several factors, such as the end quality depends on the amp you use to power it and so thats another cost that is necessariy to take advantage of the sound quality. I would say at a minimum you're going to want to spend $100 on an amp (and very likely two-to-three times that). Minimum cost for an iMod would easily be $400+, and climbs pretty quickly depending on what capacity, what cable, what amp, and if you add cases or higher capacity battery.

Lastly, as you point out while it is certainly up there, it puts itself in competition with dedicated stationary setups. For the cost of an iMod you can get some pretty nice quality DAC and amp combos. Line-out from a PC where the software is more powerful and customizable than any DAP (including rockboxed ones), and where mass storage is even easier (and you can stream it over a network really easily).

So, the iMod is competing against portable setups (where its at a disadvantage because its not as portable) and home setups where you have more variety. It's a great device but its not necessarily the end all be all for everyone. Some people use it mostly as a transport so they can have high quality audio at home and at work, where it might be just as easy to just carry a USB DAC/amp with their laptop.

Then yeah, you have to factor in that not everyone loves the basic iPod interface, iTunes, or the alternatives for those (rockbox battery life is even lower than the regular interface). Its also not the best for watching videos on the go.

 

[bellsprout]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazin_it_alwyz /img/forum/go_quote.gif only costs like 245 + the price of the iPod.

only...

and then, they require an amp. there goes $100-$400, and the cost of portability and ease of use. 5g imods also require a specialised dock, which goes for $120

u have to wonder how good it must be for it to get any attention here at all

 

[Kabeer]

Well, I was considering buying a Micro DAC to go with my iriver h140, and this setup should pretty much blow any commercial DAP out of the water.

And I have been told that the imod can compete with this setup, if not even best it.
So purely as a line out source it would seem the overwhelming consensus is the imod is the best portable line-out source.

If your not using an amp then its a completely different story, and goign ampless you will always know that the amped are potentially better.

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabeer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, I was considering buying a Micro DAC to go with my iriver h140, and this setup should pretty much blow any commercial DAP out of the water. And I have been told that the imod can compete with this setup, if not even best it. So purely as a line out source it would seem the overwhelming consensus is the imod is the best portable line-out source. If your not using an amp then its a completely different story, and goign ampless you will always know that the amped are potentially better.

I had the MicroDac+MicroAmp(higher end module first edition). I now have the iMod 5g. I can't make any direct comparisons with sound between the two since the period of time between having the two has been so long but there are a couple of things that I remember and can make a comparison about. There are a couple of things that limited my enjoyment of the MicroDac+MicroAmp setup.

One was the terrible battery life of the MicroDac. It has only about 3-4 hours per battery set. I can go all day with my iMod and amplifier.

Another thing that undermined the MicroDac was that while on batteries (not AC), the MicroDac+MicroAmp (first editions and higher end amp module) combination had issues with distortion on some tracks which made the sound quality poor in my estimation. My iMod with the Super Cotton Dock is pushing my Lavry DA10 hard while the MicroDac never would have. With about 100 hours on my iMod I can say that the Lavry still has the advantage. Being so portable the iMod has its own advantages. For me this shows that the iMod is simply in a level above the MicroDac.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

That's quite a criticism on the HR MicroDac... but then again, to be fair, it was quite a bit cheaper than the iMod (in fact, about half the price, so you can't really consider them in the same league so to speak).

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dept_of_Alchemy /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's quite a criticism on the HR MicroDac... but then again, to be fair, it was quite a bit cheaper than the iMod (in fact, about half the price, so you can't really consider them in the same league so to speak).

Well you may be right, but the post I was responding too was doing just that as I took it. The distortion that I heard was not from the MicroDac but the MicroAmp while on batteries. The newer modules may not have this problem.

 

[Kabeer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dept_of_Alchemy /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's quite a criticism on the HR MicroDac... but then again, to be fair, it was quite a bit cheaper than the iMod (in fact, about half the price, so you can't really consider them in the same league so to speak).

I think its a fair comparison. The micro DAC is specifically only a DAC. The iMod is a DAP; storage unit for music, grapchical UI, ipod DAC, Vinnies modifications, etc...

So obviosuly theres a price difference, one is just the DAC component, the other is more components.

iriver+micro DAC, would be in a similar price range to iMod.

 

[wolfen68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well you may be right, but the post I was responding too was doing just that as I took it. The distortion that I heard was not from the MicroDac but the MicroAmp while on batteries. The newer modules may not have this problem.

I've used the MicroDAC with an SR71 (and H140) for over a year and have had no issues with distortion that you describe. So far it blows away any portable I've ever heard...but I've never heard an iMod....

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfen68 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've used the MicroDAC with an SR71 (and H140) for over a year and have had no issues with distortion that you describe. So far it blows away any portable I've ever heard...but I've never heard an iMod....

May I say it again, the distortion came from the MicroAmp that I had not the MicroDac.

 

[artears]

I guess you are not using Micro Amp with your iMod right now. This comparison would not be fair then, if you are not comparing them using the same amp.

As wolfen68 has said, MicroDAC is much better than other portables I have listened to. And no, I did not have the chance of listening to an iMod, however this might change as soon as tomorrow in the Chicago meet. I have a 4th gen ipod and a female dock. Using the same mini to mini cable and Hornet M, I can easily say that the MicroDAC is far superior than the standard line-out of a 4th gen ipod. The lineout of 4th gen is also much warmer to my ears and although I like a warm sound, I did not like it this much. This was the reason that I did not pull the trigger on iMod, since I was not sure, if iMod will sound less warm or not. I hope I will get answers to my questions in the meet...

 

[wolfen68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif May I say it again, the distortion came from the MicroAmp that I had not the MicroDac.

I know...just re-enforcing for other readers.

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfen68 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I know...just re-enforcing for other readers.

Sometimes I get myself mixed up ans say things backwards. So no problem for you clearing up what I said.