Analytical comparisons; ipod playback quality

[konfusion666]

For the original poster, here is one set of charts of frequency response.

http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/0,239...=110744,00.asp

Thanks, but as I indicated to Rehan already, I'm looking for a more audiophile-ish review.

Maybe some analysis of the accuracy of the iPod's MP3 codec... hell, I'll just find the stuff myself. :P

[konfusion666]

If anything, the Sony device reviewed has a pretty poor response in the high frequencies.

The ATRAC device, yes. The MP3 device has a chart almost identical to the iPod.

[JimG]

I would dispute this. First, you have to define what you mean by better.

By better, I mean, flat frequency response, and high degree of accuracy. Some people prefer a spike in lower bass, but that is actually distortion.

In order to judge the iPOD properly, take your set of headphones, plug it into your MP3 player, and then plug the same headphones into a reference quality system with a good headphone amp and compare.

Here is one set of charts of frequency response.

http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/0,239...=110744,00.asp

If anything, the Sony device reviewed has a pretty poor response in the high frequencies.

Well, I can only give you my qualitative opinion on the sound. The bass on the iPod isn't as "strong" as on my Sony player, or any other CD-Player I've ever used. By strong I mean that the bass doesn't stand out as much as it does on the other players. With some songs, there are very low tones, the ones which would give you the rummble on a stereo system with a nice sub. I just find that iPod doesn't play those low notes as loudly as compared to my Sony player. Fortunately for me, I'm mostly a rock fan, so I don't need too much bass, otherwise I'd be returning my iPod. I guess what I'm saying is that the iPod has a really crappy EQ, and practically no bass-boost capability, which is a common feature on even the cheapest of CD-Players.

Jim

[warpdrive]

Fair enough.

I do find that the headphone amp is a bit weak, so it wouldn't take a very complex load to hit its limitations.

In my experience, it can sound really really good when driving the right headphones or using the dock.

[Brandon]

Your statement seems a bit unclear - you don't think the iPod sounded any better/worse than the Rio players? So everything sounded the same to you?

In terms of my usage in real life, I didn't notice any differences. As I mentioned, most of the time when listening to it there is too much background noise to be able to pick out any subtle differences between the players...atleast for me. When I'm at home I listen to music through my computer, so that's really the only place where it would be quiet enough.

And most of the time, I use the iPod's eq set to "Hip Hop" mode. I can definately tell the difference when using decent headphones, even when in a noisy environment.

[eelfliw]

Well, if you're using the Fraunhofer codec, then even using 256kbps full-stereo has it's drawbacks. But I switched to LAME ages ago.

With an iPod, you have no control over the "dec" part of the MP3 codec. It's what comes with the iPod unless you know of some place where custom firmware for iPod can be obtained.

Don't get me wrong, I have an iPod and am not knocking the iPod. I just don't think it qualifies as a high end audio device for playing MP3s.

[XmsrpX]

here's the ipod frequency response. line out vs headphone jack



i think perhaps the ipod headphone jack has a high pass rolloff at 100hz. to get the flatter bass response, you need to use the line outs from the docking connector. this was probably done to minimize damage to the stock headphones.

http://members.brabant.chello.nl/~m....surements.html

http://members.brabant.chello.nl/~m..../compared.html

[warpdrive]

hey, the rolloff is pretty severe, which confirms what the above poster said. I've been using the dock most of the time, or my E2C headphones. And Apple Lossless quite a lot.

That is way to go to get the best sound out of the iPOD. Used in this way, I think the iPOD is really capable of high end sound.

I really do not like the sound of MP3's (on any device), it's really like chopping an arm off.

[konfusion666]

great, more info... thx