iPod 3Gen iPod Nano

[Fabienne]

I still have my little 3rd generation nano and I have to say it is still the cutest machine and I love it. It is so light weight, slender, and has 8 gigs of memory. It plays movies and just about anything you like. OK, so I can't have apps on it, but everything else is really super on it.

So, I wanted to post a positive review of an older and much loved 'Pod. I do have an iPod Touch, and am getting an iPhone, but I just have to think how nifty that tiny 'Pod is.

 

[Mr. McMac]

I'm sorry I sold my 3rd gen nano to get the 5th gen. The the Equalizer sucks on the new one.

 

[Fabienne]

That is bad. Sorry to hear that. Other than that, how do you like the 5th gen? Was it a huge improvement, or did the equalizer problem wreck it for you?

 

[Peterson8765]

The newer iPod Nano 5G is probably a big improvement over the 3G, I've had a few iPod Nano 3G's, and I'm going to lie they're good devices despite being 3 years old, but the 5G is just better. I can't wait until the 6G comes out.

 

[Mr. McMac]

That is bad. Sorry to hear that. Other than that, how do you like the 5th gen? Was it a huge improvement, or did the equalizer problem wreck it for you?

Other than my dislike for the 5th gen nano's EQ, it's a very nice player. The FM tuner is a great feature and so is the built in video camera. The screen quality is also better. What I don't like about the EQ is for example when you select bass boost, instead of boosting the bass, it attenuates the midrange and treble which lowers the overall volume. The other EQ selections are equally disappointing. My opinion is that Apple changed the EQ settings to save on battery usage.. The 3rd gen actually gave you a nice bass boost, etc etc....

I forgot to mention, I don't use Apple Earbuds. I use either Sennheiser PX100's or Sony MDR V6's which require more power than Earbuds.

 

[dXTC]

Other than my dislike for the 5th gen nano's EQ, it's a very nice player. The FM tuner is a great feature and so is the built in video camera. The screen quality is also better. What I don't like about the EQ is for example when you select bass boost, instead of boosting the bass, it attenuates the midrange and treble which lowers the overall volume. The other EQ selections are equally disappointing. My opinion is that Apple changed the EQ settings to save on battery usage.. The 3rd gen actually gave you a nice bass boost, etc etc....

I forgot to mention, I don't use Apple Earbuds. I use either Sennheiser PX100's or Sony MDR V6's which require more power than Earbuds.

My 5th Gen does what I want it to do very well. As quoted here, the FM tuner, camera and screen are very nice.

The difference in EQ algorithm follows what many professional audio engineers would do. On the aforementioned "Bass Boost", for example, if the bass were boosted too much, it could distort the low end. The way many hit CDs are mastered in these days of the "Loudness War", even a small bass boost would cause "clipping" (makes speakers sound busted, even at low volume, and trust me, it sounds even worse in the digital realm). So instead, Apple's engineers reduced the signal from the mid and high frequencies, approximating the same EQ curve as a bass boost without noticeable signal distortion, but with the effect of reducing overall volume.

I can definitely see where the Sony headphones Mr. McMac uses might require more power than, say, my V-moda Vibes. Perhaps a small headphone preamp might be in order...?

(Whatever you do, music lovers, take care of your ears-- they're the only two you'll have. Honestly, I'd probably have a tougher time losing my hearing than losing my sight.)

 

[Mr. McMac]

My 5th Gen does what I want it to do very well. As quoted here, the FM tuner, camera and screen are very nice.

The difference in EQ algorithm follows what many professional audio engineers would do. On the aforementioned "Bass Boost", for example, if the bass were boosted too much, it could distort the low end. The way many hit CDs are mastered in these days of the "Loudness War", even a small bass boost would cause "clipping" (makes speakers sound busted, even at low volume, and trust me, it sounds even worse in the digital realm). So instead, Apple's engineers reduced the signal from the mid and high frequencies, approximating the same EQ curve as a bass boost without noticeable signal distortion, but with the effect of reducing overall volume.

I can definitely see where the Sony headphones Mr. McMac uses might require more power than, say, my V-moda Vibes. Perhaps a small headphone preamp might be in order...?

(Whatever you do, music lovers, take care of your ears-- they're the only two you'll have. Honestly, I'd probably have a tougher time losing my hearing than losing my sight.)

I see your point as far a clipping with new over modulated, zero dynamic range music being put out today. I'm a 58 year old who doesn't listen to much of anything recorded today. I mostly listen to classic rock and jazz which are recorded at normal levels that retain dynamics. I understand the reasoning Apple decided to change the EQ algorithm, but for me it doesn't cut the mustard unfortunately.

 

[dXTC]

I see your point as far a clipping with new over modulated, zero dynamic range music being put out today. I'm a 58 year old who doesn't listen to much of anything recorded today. I mostly listen to classic rock and jazz which are recorded at normal levels that retain dynamics. I understand the reasoning Apple decided to change the EQ algorithm, but for me it doesn't cut the mustard unfortunately.

I can understand your point of view, then. Jazz, new age, acoustic rock and certain classical genres would certainly suffer from this engineering decision. It would have been nice if Apple had implemented some sort of user-customizable EQ setting rather than just presets.

I've taken a look at some of those pre-amps I mentioned earlier, but they all require an external source (battery, AC or USB) for power. I wonder if any company has released a headphone amp that plugs into the Dock Connector on an iPod and draws additional power from the battery to power another jack on the amp...

 

[liamkp]

I dont know what it is about the 3rd gen nano that i like so much, i think its the way it feels in my hand. But i think im going to get a 4G over the 3G, i dont want to pay $40+ just for a camera that only takes video. (Im going to my 4G off eBay. They run for like $70-$80!) The 4G just looks alot.... newer. Plus it has more color options (im thinkin blue). Can someone please post a actual (not stock) pic of a blue nano, i wanna see if theres any color difference from the stock photos, thanks!

 

[dXTC]

I dont know what it is about the 3rd gen nano that i like so much, i think its the way it feels in my hand. But i think im going to get a 4G over the 3G, i dont want to pay $40+ just for a camera that only takes video. (Im going to my 4G off eBay. They run for like $70-$80!) The 4G just looks alot.... newer. Plus it has more color options (im thinkin blue). Can someone please post a actual (not stock) pic of a blue nano, i wanna see if theres any color difference from the stock photos, thanks!

There is not much difference from the stock photos on the shade of blue on the 4G nano; it's that brilliant, and the brushed aluminum finish makes it look all the better. I almost bought a 4G Blue, but ended up getting the 5G for the camera; however, I must admit the blue on the 4G is a livelier shade than on the 5G, and perfectly matches the color of my "midnight blue" V-moda Vibe earbuds more closely.