So after setting up the new 6G iPod Classic I found the sound pretty shrill and lacking bass, and virtually no stereo staging at all.
I have to say I am really picky about sound quality. I stayed away from iPods and other MP3 players for years as I find MP3 compression just flattens the sound, just like listening to AM radio.
It wasn't until I started using Exact Audio Copy and testing different encoders that I managed to get an MP3 file that I could live with. Once I set up the DAAPD server on my Linux box, I reripped all of the CDs in the house and bought my first iPod, which was 2 years ago. The first thing I did after getting the iPod was scrap the horrible horrible earbuds and ordered a set of Westone UM-1 earphones. These aren't for everybody but they do drop ambient sound by around 20 db and make walking downtown or flying much less fatiguing. They have also proven to be extremely durable considering the pulling and tugging that typical earphones are subjected to. These phones come the closest to the "British sound" of Mordaunt Short, KEF or Celestion speakers (very transparent bass).
Very disappointed indeed. Seriously considering taking it back for something else or ordering an older refurb from Apple. Too bad we can't get the Zune in Canada.
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2 years ago
3 comments:
I wholeheartedly agree. I killed my 2003 iPod last month and replaced it with a 2009 model. The sound is definitely more shrill and sounds flat. This is playing back the same AAC files. I have my iPod connected to a Creek OBH-21SE headphone amplifier, and a pair of Grado SR325i headphones.
My local Apple store offered me a repair of my old iPod for £159, £20 less than the cost of a new iPod.
@james:
I just bought a new iPod nano 8 GB for my son. I'll be posting a review in the weeks ahead. I'm wondering if Apple has been tweaking sound quality in light of all the complaints.
I'm finding this an unfortunate trend in Apple products in general, the latest crop of Macbooks being a fine example of botched ergonomics, especially with the screens.
I've heard that the latest generation Touch have improved sound quality, but I haven't had a chance to get my hands on one.
I am curious about your setup, have you tried using a different file format? I would think that using lossless compression might help with the sound quality.
For a while I was also interested in how it might be possible to bypass the built-in DAC through the dock connector. The opinions I found on the 'net were varied.
I don't think its possible to bypass the DAC, just the internal amp... obviously then you'd have to use an external headphone amp for volume control, but it will make a huge difference in sound quality.
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