Hey Guys,
Sorry for not posting sooner....I just finished a big move and have been busy unpacking and setting up shop.
I actually have sucessfully performed the iMod on an iPod Video, but it was far more difficult and time consuming that I decided not to offer it (it would be too expensive and time consuming and I have many other products to build and mod and not enough time). The internal layout of the iPod Video is a lot different and tapping the signal off of the dac is a serious PITA! Modding the 4G iPod is already a PITA, but the 5G is at least 10x the PITA!
After the iMod, the modded 5G sounded very similar to the modded
iPod Photo (4G), but I still preferred the sound of the iPod Photo's dac (WM8975)....it sounded a little less analytical and a little more sweeter in the top end. Both had adequate burn-in time on the Black Gate caps (> 200 hours).
They were still very close sounding and this is a matter of taste.
Also, keep in mind that ALL my comments are with respect to using the modded
line-out and NOT headphone outputs. I use the line-out to feed a home audio 2-channel rig, or you can feed it to a headphone amp but not directly to a pair of headphones.
Regarding the
stock 4G and
stock 5G
line-outs, I found them to sound very similar. The headphone output of the stock 5G is supposed to sound better than the stock 4G (less rolled off bass, but I never too interest in the built-in headphone outputs).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shmuel
So? is one better than the other?
i have to say that there is NO contest..........the 4g red wine modded ipod is far superior in every regard, and not by a small margin, to the new 5g ipod
If i can get the proper adapter, i will run the 5g with the line-output vs the 4g red wine.....maybe closer to eachother in quality, though hard to imagine with the truly huge difference it would have to overcome
hope this helps some make some decisions
i am amazed by the quality of sound from the 4g modded ipod
(as i am by the improvement in sound, again in all areas, found with brand-new RnB interconnect)
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I totally agree with Shmuel, but keep in mind that the stock 5G line out to the iMod 4G really is not a fair comparison. The iMod has the advantage of a much cleaner signal path from the dac to the output:
Signal path of iMod:
DAC chip > Black Gate NX Hi-Q caps > output jack (1/8")
Signal path for stock 5G:
DAC chip > stock SMD coupling caps > opamp stage (with resistors in the signal path to set the gain) > stock coupling caps (again), ribbon cable connector, ribbon cable, ribbon cable connector (again), tiny board traces to run down towards the dock connector > series SMD inductors > series resistors (I believe 100 ohm...possibly for short circuit protection?) > dock connector pins > dock connector adapter (ex. Turbo dock II)
Lastly, K2Grey's comment about me being biased is correct and I can't argue with that
I know which one sounds better to me and this is a matter of personal taste in sound and system synergy. The system that is being used must also have the capability to resolve the differences as well...
Regards,
Vinnie
