Using an ipod w/your system

[BottomFeeder]

This has probably been covered, but I couldn't find it specifically when I searched.

How much of a drop off in SQ do you notice when you connect your ipod and run it through your system? I'm guessing it's a lot, but I sure like the convenience of having all my songs on one device!

So hit me with it - big time loss of SQ?

[michael_w]

Best way is to try it yourself. I frequently used my pocket pc to stream my entire music library to my system. The main things I noticed in comparison to my cd player were that the bass was sloppier and it sounded a bit more compressed. The dynamics come right back even with those same mp3's burned onto a cd. 15000 songs on random is a beautiful thing, but it comes at a price.

[McCelery]

If listening to the actual CD is a 10 and listening to the AAC or MP3 file is a 1 (just to illustrate a continuum), I've found that the Apple Lossless format is a 7 or and 8 in audio quality. And this is probably due as much to the lower quality miniplug connection I have with my Ipod as opposed to the better cabling with the CD player.

Listening to 128bps compression recordings from an Ipod is definitely a small but noticeable sacrifice in SQ. So yep, it comes at a price.

[Sherardp]

I have to agree with Micheal, the bass does come across as sloppy and boomy. I can listen to it but after awhile the quality just seems like ass. Kind of reminds me of being in a car with a crappy stereo turned up very loud, the quality just isnt quite there. But indeed its good for convenience sake.

[Shizelbs]

There is no definitive answer to your question. There are too many variables. What equipment is in your system, what bit rate did you encode at, how good was the original source material to begin with, how revealing are your speakers? Stuff like that.

Anyways, my opinion is, Mp3/iPod should not be a replacement for dedicated listening of music. In my experience, the lesser quality of MP3 is shown in attenuated highs and lows, and total absence of soundstage and seperation and imaging. It will play the music, it just won't do it well. However, if your speakers aren't the most revealing, you might not notice too much if any difference.

The convenience can be great, and for that reason alone I use it for casual listen in my HT, but MP3s will never touch my dedicated 2 channel system.

[VXR8]

G'day all,

My latest Yammie (RX-V2700) has an iPod dock connection and a compressed sound enhancer programme. Although the sound quality isn't as good as CD / SACD, for the convenience of running it through your AVR, iPod menus on the big screen, it sure is nifty. I have the setting on the iPod to Apple's standard but more recently have started listening to the iPod through Yammie's "Pure Direct" as opposed to the Hi Fi DSP on the AVR and have been very pleased with the sound. Having said that, I haven't been just sitting and listening to the music either, more a nice "background" noise.

I understand Marantz also have a an iPod dock on some of their AVRs too, so it is the way of the future and I am sure more will follow.

[hljones821]

I have an audiophile cable that connects from the Ipod dock connector to L/R RCA. The sound is greatly improved over the miniplug cables.

[Gaara]

Funny you bring this up, someone over at AV123 was just asking about the Imod (http://www.redwineaudio.com/iMod.html) which is a upgraded Ipod. They only offer it on 4th gen units because they use Wolfson DACS, mods include converting the headphone jack to a line out jack and some part swapping. Many of the reviews compare it favorably to $1000+ players.

[mldennison]

main downside of the Imod (which i have heard good things about!) is that is removes the headphone jack, so now you only have a line out. imho, seems strange to have an ipod and then not be able to take it with you wherever you go...

[bknauss]

Forget 128kbps... go with Apple lossless! :) Not one bit different from the CD it was ripped from.

[Sami]

A PC streaming lossless audio through digital soundcard connection is a much better option, but like said it all depends on the quality of your system. Decent mid-fi and up, definately go with lossless formats and a media server.

[bknauss]

I saw there's an iPod dock with a digital output, and that would be the best way to go, but its friggin $1k!! And I should mention is takes the digital signal off of the iPod and passes the digital signal through the dock, so its not the analog output converted to digital.

[markmarc]

Brian is right on, the sonic difference is plainly audible between compressed mp3 and Apple Lossless.

Now, if Brian would develop a selfpowered set of Lsi9's, that would be awesome.

[dkg999]

I use Apple Lossless to put tunes on my iPod, then I use a line-out connector to RCA's to connect to my ASL headphone tubed amplifier. Using the line-out gives much better SQ than using the headphone jack. It really doesn't sound half-bad. Not as good as using my Jolida CDP, but not bad for casual late night listening!

[bknauss]

Now, if Brian would develop a selfpowered set of Lsi9's, that would be awesome.

Just take the amps off of the IP speakers and put it on the LSi9s. You've got that sort of cash floating around, right?? ;)