iPod Best sounding ipod?

[Solomani]

The issue is the Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). Older classics, though the 5.5, used DACs from a company named Wolfson. These are considered to produce a "warm" sound and, generally, these models are considered to have the best sound. The 6th and 7th gen Classic as well as most of the iPhone and iPod Touch families use DACs from Cirrus Logic which many feel produce a more "analytical" sound.

This is a situation, though, where YMMV depending on headphones/earbuds, your own hearing, etc.

Thanks for that information! This is what I wanted to hear, discussion of the manufacture and technical specs of the DACs that produce the sound on the iPods/iPhones!

 

[venomgt95]

From personal experience, i vote, 3rd gen nano. i cant really tell the difference in sound quality, but it certainly is the loudest!

 

[sracer]

From personal experience, i vote, 3rd gen nano. i cant really tell the difference in sound quality, but it certainly is the loudest!

My 3rd gen Nano sounds better than my iPod Touch 4G and iPhone 4. A very close 2nd is the 6th gen Nano. To my aging ears anyways.

 

[H3boy]

All this talk of iPods and Mp3 players is making me miss my 1st gen Zune. It was a bit of a brick but the sound quality was amazing.

 

[sracer]

All this talk of iPods and Mp3 players is making me miss my 1st gen Zune. It was a bit of a brick but the sound quality was amazing.

I still have my white Zune 30 and a 16GB Zune HD. I use my HD nearly every day, though getting videos on it is still a chore.

 

[Ffosse]

All my mp3/media players got sold/given/thrown out except my iPod Shuffle.

 

[venomgt95]

All my mp3/media players got sold/given/thrown out except my iPod Shuffle.

Shuffles are Soldiers. Ive had mine since 2010. (The orange one) Still works as it did on day 1

 

[Synchronicity]

I am in no way an audiophile, but recently I noticed that music played on iTunes/Spotify on my 2009 MacBook sounds far better than it does on my iPod. There's a greater depth of sound, I just hear far more. My iPod is an A1320, a 5th Gen Nano. Is it that my iPod is crap, or is it because it's old? I think I need to replace it, I would appreciate some recommendations.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I am in no way an audiophile, but recently I noticed that music played on iTunes/Spotify on my 2009 MacBook sounds far better than it does on my iPod. There's a greater depth of sound, I just hear far more. My iPod is an A1320, a 5th Gen Nano. Is it that my iPod is crap, or is it because it's old? I think I need to replace it, I would appreciate some recommendations.

Are you using identical headphones in your MacBook & iPod?

 

[Synchronicity]

Are you using identical headphones in your MacBook & iPod?

Yes I am. $60 in-ear Sennheiser headphones and $100 Sennheiser over-ear headphones. Basically, I'm disappointed that the sound on my iPod is a bit crap, and it would be great to know if this is because it's old, because it's an iPod or because it's a certain model of iPod. I don't want to buy a new iPod to find that the newer ones have a lesser sound quality than the older ones.

 

[sracer]

Yes I am. $60 in-ear Sennheiser headphones and $100 Sennheiser over-ear headphones. Basically, I'm disappointed that the sound on my iPod is a bit crap, and it would be great to know if this is because it's old, because it's an iPod or because it's a certain model of iPod. I don't want to buy a new iPod to find that the newer ones have a lesser sound quality than the older ones.

I have both 3rd gen and 6th gen Nanos and using my over-the-ear Sennheisers they both produce superior sound to my iPhone and iPod Touch devices. (using the same set of mp3 files as a control)

I was actually surprised by that as I expected the newer technology to be better sounding.

Perhaps it is a function of how the devices respond to the type of music (eg. Classical music is different than Electronica). Other than that, I don't have much more insight.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Much though I love my iPod Classic, I have to admit that my sense is that the sound on the iPod Touch is actually exceptionally good.

 

[SusanK]

Don't tell anyone but I still enjoy the sound on my first generation Shuffle

 

[jruschme]

Don't tell anyone but I still enjoy the sound on my first generation Shuffle

First gen Shuffle is considered by many to be one of the best, actually. Something about the design of the amplifier.

 

[SusanK]

First gen Shuffle is considered by many to be one of the best, actually. Something about the design of the amplifier.

Thanks. I didn't know that.

 

[Ccrew]

I still have my white Zune 30 and a 16GB Zune HD. I use my HD nearly every day, though getting videos on it is still a chore.

Definitely an underrated device though.

 

[qcmacmini]

For best sound quality go for an early nano v1, early classic v 4 or 5, or even first gen shuffle or touch.

Note that the old classics are getting pretty old now and hard drives can fail, and because of that the old gen1 nanos are creeping up in price - they currently around $100.

Wayne

http://macintoshhowto.com/ipod/which-ipod-has-the-best-audio-quality.html

I managed to find my nano v1, and it sounds amazing!

My headphones at the time sucked, so I never knew how good it was until today when I fired it up and hooked it up to my B&Os.

Apple is nice enough to even send me a replacement iPod because it's on the replacement battery program.

 

[venomgt95]

I managed to find my nano v1, and it sounds amazing!

My headphones at the time sucked, so I never knew how good it was until today when I fired it up and hooked it up to my B&Os.

Apple is nice enough to even send me a replacement iPod because it's on the replacement battery program.

i wanna snag up a cheap 1st gen nano on craigslist just so i can exchange it

 

[qcmacmini]

i wanna snag up a cheap 1st gen nano on craigslist just so i can exchange it

Yup I'm excited to get a brand new one, my old one started crazing around the buttons.

 

[qcmacmini]

i wanna snag up a cheap 1st gen nano on craigslist just so i can exchange it

Silly me, I didn't realise you end up with a current gen Nano

It's nice of them, but I wanted a 1st gen back!

 

[venomgt95]

Silly me, I didn't realise you end up with a current gen Nano

It's nice of them, but I wanted a 1st gen back!

Yeah haha, trade your 7th gen for a first gen on CL or Ebay

 

[qcmacmini]

Yeah haha, trade your 7th gen for a first gen on CL or Ebay

Yup, they go for similar money!

 

[qcmacmini]

So after complaining that I didn't realise how the replacement process went, as the website wasn't quite clear about it, Apple agreed to send me 25 pounds worth of accessories from the UK Apple online store! Very nice of them.

I also found an immaculate nano 1st gen identical to my one with only minor scratches for AUD$100 on eBay Australia. My ipod was starting to craze around the click wheel, so it looks a lot better than mine was.

Really pleased with the outcome. I ordered the griffin sweatband holder for the 7th gen so I can use it while running, eventually with bluetooth headphones, and I'll have the nano 1st gen for better sound quality when out and about

 

[MH01]

iPod 5.5 or 7

----------

The issue is the Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). Older classics, though the 5.5, used DACs from a company named Wolfson. These are considered to produce a "warm" sound and, generally, these models are considered to have the best sound. The 6th and 7th gen Classic as well as most of the iPhone and iPod Touch families use DACs from Cirrus Logic which many feel produce a more "analytical" sound.

This is a situation, though, where YMMV depending on headphones/earbuds, your own hearing, etc.

Great advice right here! Thumbs up

 

[magicMac]

I would take 320kbps mp3 over iTunes store quality any day.

You know 256kbps AAC and 320Kbps MP3 are the same quality ?