Quote:
Originally Posted by TenaciousO
I went from the X5 to the ipod lineout via sik din to pav2, and I felt there was more of an audible difference b/n the X5 hp out vs. ipod hp out than the ipod hp out vs. the ipod lineout. I know I'll probably be crucified by lots of ipod folks here, but I am 99.999% certain that there isn't any difference b/n the ipod hp and ipod lineout and that any difference you do hear is 100% attributable to the headphone amp that you are using.
You sound just like me from a few weeks ago. I thought the X5 sounded pretty decent overall despite its attenuated midrange, but I wanted the best in portable sound. I had read countless threads praising the lineout of the ipod and some even saying that it is superior to the lineout of the njb3. However, when I finally connected the amp and sik din, I was very disappointed because the difference in sound was very small. I felt that the bass was slightly more prominent, and vocals were slightly smoother, albeit a little distant, but the overall change in sound was miniscule. I tried the setup with both the e2 and hd485 and reached similar results. This struck me as very strange since my first hd mp3 player was the njb3, and there was a very noticeable difference b/n the hp out and the lineout. Since the difference I was hearing was so small, I got the hunch that the minor difference I heard was due solely to the characteristics of the amp and not because of any supposed difference in quality b/n the lineout and hp out. I hooked up the amp directly to the hp out and confirmed my suspicions: the hp out and lineout sound exactly the same when amped. Doing a search on this site has corroborated my findings. Do a search for the ipod amp "simpl a1" and read what the designer of that amp had to say about why they designed their amp to run from the hp out instead of the lineout.
So the short of it is whether you like the sound signature of the X5 or ipod hp out more. I say that if you really think the X5 is much more superior to the ipod hp out, then just stick with the X5. On the contrary, if you like the ipod sound better, save yourself $30, forget trying to get a lineout, and just amp the hp out with the player at 80% full volume. However, I should warn you that the difference in sound b/n amped and unamped ipod is very small if you plan on using an amp less than $100 and imo isn't worth it. I'm sure that there will be legions of people here who will try to present data/graphs from tests done on their computers and whatnot, but I really don't care about that. Your ears are the #1 judge.
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Extremely informative post. I've been waiting on something like this for a fairly long while now- so thanks. I realize while saying that, that you're talking about your own experience, so I'm not meaning to represent that you intended it under any other context.
I've been on the fence for a month or so about what I was going to do for a portable. I was sold on the X5, but then was skeptical after hearing reports of a poor line-out for the M3/X5's. I've invested in a Porta Corda mkII, and although it wasn't hugely expensive or anything- I was hoping that whatever portable source I decided on would mesh well with that amp.
Based on the reviews praising the Ipod's line-out, I was leaning closer to going with another Ipod, and just getting the Sik Din. I've tried amping out of the headphone jack of the Ipod, and I have a difficult time discerning the 'amped' vs. 'unamped' sound from each other. Granted, I'm not an audiophile per se, but I am reasonably sensitive to differences in sound.
I ended up getting quite a deal on an X5- $250 US for a 30GB X5 with two different cases...so that was too good to turn down. I'm thinking that maybe I'll sell the Porta Corda, because the headphone jack seems to be the best way to go with the X5. Does anyone else have experience with the X5's headphone out vs. the line-out?
Bangraman, I've appreciated your commentary on these subjects greatly during my research- what's your feeling on this? I really wanted to like the Porta Corda, but there needs to be an appreciable improvement with it, to make the added bulk of carrying it worth it, and if the line-out of the X5 is not a marked improvement over the HP, than what's the point?