IPodPJ
MOT: Bellatone Audio
Caution: Incomplete customer orders
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2006
- Posts
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New poster here, and proud to be a part of your forum, if you'll have me.
Time and time again I hear people say that good IEMs aren't much better than the supplied iPod earbuds. Well, they are 100% incorrect.
I will be referring to my Super.Fi 5 pros in this advice post.
They are so good in fact, I just ordered the soon to be released UE Triple.Fi Pro 10 (which have a price tag of $399.99 and have triple balanced armatures in each ear, as you all know by now) and I got super lucky by e-mailing Jeanette Coffey (super nice lady) on Monday, October 2 at 12:00:05 (yes, that's 12:00 a.m. and 5 seconds) and I still came in 2nd place. So yes, I will receive the #2/1000 limited edition complete with #2 hockey puck, personalized roadie case that says Bomb Inside.... Please Do Not Touch!, and my $25 discount.
Yes, the iPod amp is weak and it will distort your music no matter what IEMs you have. But there is a little secret I have discovered. Now pay careful attention here, please:
I have done this on my Mac-based systems, but you can easily do it on a PC once you understand what to do and what software to look for - so keep in mind that all the following tools are for Mac:
Insert your CD (legal purchases only of course) into your Mac and copy the AIFF format songs from your CD onto your hard drive.
Download a shareware program called "Audacity". It is a great little utility for doing lots of great things to your audio files/waveforms/scopes. Import your
AIFF track into Audacity (the quickest way to do this is place the Audacity application icon in the Application Dock, launch the application, and drag the AIFF file right onto the Audacity icon in the dock... Then Select All (usually the keyboard shortcut for this is the Command Key (also known as the Apple Key) + the letter A . Thie will select the entire song's waveform/scope.
Find the filter/effects menu (I believe it's the filter or effects menu) with a filter/effect called "Amplify". A little window will pop up with some text entry fields in it. Decrease the top of the two input boxes by typing in: -2 (the bottom box will adjust by itself, and also DO NOT checkmark the box that says "allow clipping"). Entering a value of -2 lowers the entire song by 2 decibels. When the filter is done, Select Allagain (the entire waveform). Then go to File menu, and select Export Selected Track as WAV file or something similarly named. A WAV file is just another name/short name for Windows Audio/Video file. I'm not sure why even a Mac shareware program would export it's CD-DA (CD Digital Audio) resolution option (44100 kHz at 16 bit) to a PC based format, but then again if scientists can't unify a true definition for a planet (yet they say Pluto isn't one), nothing surprises me. Save this WAV file to some convenient folder on your desktop appropriately named something like -2db file converts.
Import this WAV file into iTunes (by dragging it out of the folder you created on your desktop). You can do this by dragging it right into your music library. You can choose to keep it as a WAV file, but I prefer to convert it to an Apple Lossless Audio File which saves space on your iPod hard drive and won't sacrifice any sound quality.
Now you are ready to label the track and artist, add the album cover, give it the appropriate song number on the album, (if you intend on importing the entire album which might be a good idea) and do anything else you want to do to it. You can even include song lyrics by typing them in. To get to the menu where this all can be assigned, highlight your track in iTunes, and do a Command (Apple Key) + i keystroke (that will access the Get Info window).
Repeat these steps as many times as necessary until you get as many songs as you want to convert for optimum sound quality on your iPod. Once you get the hang of it, it should take you anywhere from 2 - 5 minutes per song. Yes, that's a long time but until Apple puts a much better amp in their iPods, this seems to be the best solution that I have yet discovered. If you know of a better way, PLEASE share it with me.
Also, the "Amplify" -2db filter can be repeated every time after (as long as the program remains open) by selecting Repeat Last Effect, so that you don't have to manually type in -2 every time.
Well, now you are ready to copy the song from your iTunes music library on to your iPod. I always suggest doing a soft-reset on your iPod if you are inputting lots of information such as artist names, album art, etc. On my 5th generation 30GB black video iPod, I can do this by pressing the menu button and the center button simultaneously.
When your iPod reboots, you may want to go to your EQ settings. What seems to work best for me is the "Rock" preset most of the time, and also the "Acoustic" and "Electronic" presets, depending on the type of music I am listening to. I wish they would let us customize our own EQ setting, as well as Balance control (from left to right ear) but Apple doesn't seem to answer all prayers, and I find it very unfair that they include a new search feature on iPods purchased after 9-12-06 which contain identical hardware (from what I've been told by Apple tech support representatives). Sorry for the ranting there.
You are now ready to play your newly adjusted song on your iPod. The results may in fact surprise you. In my opinion, the difference is night and day and I could never go back to the old way of listening before performing these steps.
A bit of info for you Head-Fi pros (from just a Head-Fi amateur):
Your Super.Fi 5 pros will now sound better from your iPod than ever before, and this is due to the fact that the iPod amp is no longer receiving a "peak" signal, which most CDs are mastered for to achieve the highest signal-to-noise ratio. Good amplifiers can handle high peak signals. The iPod amp cannot.
I find my UE Super.Fi 5 Pros to have a wonderfully dynamic balance of highs, great tonal balance in the midrange, and although tight on some songs, overall the bass lacks just a little for my taste (I think the Super.Fi EB would be too overkill for me). My main disappointment with the Super.Fi 5 Pros has always been the sound staging. Because of this, I am seriously contemplating purchasing the JVC SU-DH1 which for $120 is supposed to be a pretty rewarding Dolby Surround, DTS, Dolby Prologic 2, and Dolby Headphone encoder for any pair of headphones in the world. Ok, you Head-Fi purists... please don't shoot me now!!!
Any true audiophile will appreciate the rewards that come with the sound quality as a result of these steps, and who doesn't wishes to lug around a quality headphone amplifier with them (which might not be too much good anyway if the iPod is not putting out a clean, distortion-free signal). If you do insist on a headphone amp, then you will also find these steps very valuable for use with your headphone amp/iPod combo.
Thank you for letting me make my first contribution to your excellent forum.
I have been a non-posting but reading member for awhile now, and I finally decided it was time to take my place in the headphone circle of life.
PJ the Slug
Los Angeles, CA
[size=xx-small]HEADPHONE EQUIPMENT:
UE Super.Fi 5 Pros in Clear (revision 2.0), Shure E2C, Sony CD3000 (damaged),
COMING SOON! [size=x-small]UE Limited Edition #2/1000 Triple.Fi Pro 10[/size]
PORTABLE AUDIO GEAR:
Apple iPod Video 30GB in Black, 5th Generation, with Agent18 Hard Plastic Shell
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT (for Home Audio use only): iMac G5 with 20" display[/size]
Time and time again I hear people say that good IEMs aren't much better than the supplied iPod earbuds. Well, they are 100% incorrect.
I will be referring to my Super.Fi 5 pros in this advice post.
They are so good in fact, I just ordered the soon to be released UE Triple.Fi Pro 10 (which have a price tag of $399.99 and have triple balanced armatures in each ear, as you all know by now) and I got super lucky by e-mailing Jeanette Coffey (super nice lady) on Monday, October 2 at 12:00:05 (yes, that's 12:00 a.m. and 5 seconds) and I still came in 2nd place. So yes, I will receive the #2/1000 limited edition complete with #2 hockey puck, personalized roadie case that says Bomb Inside.... Please Do Not Touch!, and my $25 discount.
Yes, the iPod amp is weak and it will distort your music no matter what IEMs you have. But there is a little secret I have discovered. Now pay careful attention here, please:
I have done this on my Mac-based systems, but you can easily do it on a PC once you understand what to do and what software to look for - so keep in mind that all the following tools are for Mac:
Insert your CD (legal purchases only of course) into your Mac and copy the AIFF format songs from your CD onto your hard drive.
Download a shareware program called "Audacity". It is a great little utility for doing lots of great things to your audio files/waveforms/scopes. Import your
AIFF track into Audacity (the quickest way to do this is place the Audacity application icon in the Application Dock, launch the application, and drag the AIFF file right onto the Audacity icon in the dock... Then Select All (usually the keyboard shortcut for this is the Command Key (also known as the Apple Key) + the letter A . Thie will select the entire song's waveform/scope.
Find the filter/effects menu (I believe it's the filter or effects menu) with a filter/effect called "Amplify". A little window will pop up with some text entry fields in it. Decrease the top of the two input boxes by typing in: -2 (the bottom box will adjust by itself, and also DO NOT checkmark the box that says "allow clipping"). Entering a value of -2 lowers the entire song by 2 decibels. When the filter is done, Select Allagain (the entire waveform). Then go to File menu, and select Export Selected Track as WAV file or something similarly named. A WAV file is just another name/short name for Windows Audio/Video file. I'm not sure why even a Mac shareware program would export it's CD-DA (CD Digital Audio) resolution option (44100 kHz at 16 bit) to a PC based format, but then again if scientists can't unify a true definition for a planet (yet they say Pluto isn't one), nothing surprises me. Save this WAV file to some convenient folder on your desktop appropriately named something like -2db file converts.
Import this WAV file into iTunes (by dragging it out of the folder you created on your desktop). You can do this by dragging it right into your music library. You can choose to keep it as a WAV file, but I prefer to convert it to an Apple Lossless Audio File which saves space on your iPod hard drive and won't sacrifice any sound quality.
Now you are ready to label the track and artist, add the album cover, give it the appropriate song number on the album, (if you intend on importing the entire album which might be a good idea) and do anything else you want to do to it. You can even include song lyrics by typing them in. To get to the menu where this all can be assigned, highlight your track in iTunes, and do a Command (Apple Key) + i keystroke (that will access the Get Info window).
Repeat these steps as many times as necessary until you get as many songs as you want to convert for optimum sound quality on your iPod. Once you get the hang of it, it should take you anywhere from 2 - 5 minutes per song. Yes, that's a long time but until Apple puts a much better amp in their iPods, this seems to be the best solution that I have yet discovered. If you know of a better way, PLEASE share it with me.
Also, the "Amplify" -2db filter can be repeated every time after (as long as the program remains open) by selecting Repeat Last Effect, so that you don't have to manually type in -2 every time.
Well, now you are ready to copy the song from your iTunes music library on to your iPod. I always suggest doing a soft-reset on your iPod if you are inputting lots of information such as artist names, album art, etc. On my 5th generation 30GB black video iPod, I can do this by pressing the menu button and the center button simultaneously.
When your iPod reboots, you may want to go to your EQ settings. What seems to work best for me is the "Rock" preset most of the time, and also the "Acoustic" and "Electronic" presets, depending on the type of music I am listening to. I wish they would let us customize our own EQ setting, as well as Balance control (from left to right ear) but Apple doesn't seem to answer all prayers, and I find it very unfair that they include a new search feature on iPods purchased after 9-12-06 which contain identical hardware (from what I've been told by Apple tech support representatives). Sorry for the ranting there.
You are now ready to play your newly adjusted song on your iPod. The results may in fact surprise you. In my opinion, the difference is night and day and I could never go back to the old way of listening before performing these steps.
A bit of info for you Head-Fi pros (from just a Head-Fi amateur):
Your Super.Fi 5 pros will now sound better from your iPod than ever before, and this is due to the fact that the iPod amp is no longer receiving a "peak" signal, which most CDs are mastered for to achieve the highest signal-to-noise ratio. Good amplifiers can handle high peak signals. The iPod amp cannot.
I find my UE Super.Fi 5 Pros to have a wonderfully dynamic balance of highs, great tonal balance in the midrange, and although tight on some songs, overall the bass lacks just a little for my taste (I think the Super.Fi EB would be too overkill for me). My main disappointment with the Super.Fi 5 Pros has always been the sound staging. Because of this, I am seriously contemplating purchasing the JVC SU-DH1 which for $120 is supposed to be a pretty rewarding Dolby Surround, DTS, Dolby Prologic 2, and Dolby Headphone encoder for any pair of headphones in the world. Ok, you Head-Fi purists... please don't shoot me now!!!
Any true audiophile will appreciate the rewards that come with the sound quality as a result of these steps, and who doesn't wishes to lug around a quality headphone amplifier with them (which might not be too much good anyway if the iPod is not putting out a clean, distortion-free signal). If you do insist on a headphone amp, then you will also find these steps very valuable for use with your headphone amp/iPod combo.
Thank you for letting me make my first contribution to your excellent forum.
I have been a non-posting but reading member for awhile now, and I finally decided it was time to take my place in the headphone circle of life.
PJ the Slug
Los Angeles, CA
[size=xx-small]HEADPHONE EQUIPMENT:
UE Super.Fi 5 Pros in Clear (revision 2.0), Shure E2C, Sony CD3000 (damaged),
COMING SOON! [size=x-small]UE Limited Edition #2/1000 Triple.Fi Pro 10[/size]
PORTABLE AUDIO GEAR:
Apple iPod Video 30GB in Black, 5th Generation, with Agent18 Hard Plastic Shell
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT (for Home Audio use only): iMac G5 with 20" display[/size]
