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#1 2008-05-14 12:39 pm
- Yer_Amish_Daddy
- Stick chuckin' Shammy
- Registered: 2003-10-17
- Posts: 191
Purest audio conduit from iPod to receiver
I'm really happy with my new iPod Classic except I was really hoping to never have to handle another physical CD once I ripped it to iTunes.
The problem is that I'm used to listening to CDs on my home stereo system:
Sony V444-ES receiver, Sony DVP NC85H DVD/CD player, Definitive Technology BP10 tower speakers & PF1500TL+ subwoofer. I've always used the Optical connection for audio and can really tell a big difference between an original CD and the same track coming from the iPod. Currently, I'm using a standard RCA cable from the minijack. I'm hoping someone's designed a better way to transfer the signal.
Also, I've ripped most of my CD collection in one of the two following formats:
Kind: AAC, Bitrate: 320 kbps
or
Kind: Apple Lossless
Will I ever get back to the audio quality I'm used to even if it means I go back and re-rip everything to AIFF (which I'm willing to do, if that and a different connection solution would achieve)?
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#2 2008-05-14 12:51 pm
- dvpierce
- Negusa Negest
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- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
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Re: Purest audio conduit from iPod to receiver
If you're comparing a mini plug and RCA cables to an optical connection, you'll always hear a difference, even if you re-rip as AIFF (and, fwiw, there should technically be no difference between AIFF and Apple Lossless.)
An optical or digital out for the iPod is... well, I've never seen one - although I guess some of those iPod boomboxes work that way (through the docking port) - if one of them had an optical out, you'd be in business.
You could try hooking your computers optical out to the stereo, though.
iPods are, sadly, very expensive music toys.
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#3 2008-05-16 9:08 pm
- SamGuy
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- From: SD
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Re: Purest audio conduit from iPod to receiver
There are a million articles out there complaining that the iPod Classic's DAC is not as good as the 5.5gen iPods.
The only thing you can do to improve upon your setup is add a dock and have the audio come from that. at least it will be line-level.
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#4 2008-05-17 8:10 am
- nayrk
- User Error
- From: Outland
- Registered: 2004-05-01
- Posts: 622
Re: Purest audio conduit from iPod to receiver
SamGuy wrote:
There are a million articles out there complaining that the iPod Classic's DAC is not as good as the 5.5gen iPods.
The only thing you can do to improve upon your setup is add a dock and have the audio come from that. at least it will be line-level.
I second this, or just stream using airport express and its optical connection... but then that kinda costs extra dollars.
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#5 2008-05-18 5:59 pm
- Yer_Amish_Daddy
- Stick chuckin' Shammy
- Registered: 2003-10-17
- Posts: 191
Re: Purest audio conduit from iPod to receiver
nayrk wrote:
SamGuy wrote:
There are a million articles out there complaining that the iPod Classic's DAC is not as good as the 5.5gen iPods.
The only thing you can do to improve upon your setup is add a dock and have the audio come from that. at least it will be line-level.I second this, or just stream using airport express and its optical connection... but then that kinda costs extra dollars.
Somehow I missed those articles 
. I guess I shouldn't have assumed that each new version would be at least as good if not better than the previous version.
Any idea how much better using a dock and getting the audio in at line-level will be?
As far as streaming via the Airport Express from my desktop in my office - I've considered it as probably my best option but now I'm scratching my head as to why I bought the iPod since it's main purpose was to allow me to put away my CDs and still control my music from the stereo - not the office at the other end of the house...
Save the Whales - Win Great Prizes!
1F u c4n r34d th1s u r34lly n33d t0 g37 l41d
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#6 2008-05-19 7:32 am
- nayrk
- User Error
- From: Outland
- Registered: 2004-05-01
- Posts: 622
Re: Purest audio conduit from iPod to receiver
Well there is always for the car, or while doing other outside-y things.
As for how much better it would sound, honestly I couldn't say. I would hope that you would notice a marked improvement.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I'm a schizophrenic
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#7 2008-05-19 7:59 am
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
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- From: JP, MA
- Registered: 2002-02-06
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Re: Purest audio conduit from iPod to receiver
Yer_Amish_Daddy wrote:
nayrk wrote:
SamGuy wrote:
There are a million articles out there complaining that the iPod Classic's DAC is not as good as the 5.5gen iPods.
The only thing you can do to improve upon your setup is add a dock and have the audio come from that. at least it will be line-level.I second this, or just stream using airport express and its optical connection... but then that kinda costs extra dollars.
Somehow I missed those articles
Any idea how much better using a dock and getting the audio in at line-level will be?
As far as streaming via the Airport Express from my desktop in my office - I've considered it as probably my best option but now I'm scratching my head as to why I bought the iPod since it's main purpose was to allow me to put away my CDs and still control my music from the stereo - not the office at the other end of the house...
If your goal was to put away CDs, yet still get music to your stereo, an iPod isn't really the best choice. It's built around being portable. If you want a home MP3 player you should be looking at slimdevices and roku. I've got an old SliMP3 but I have been drooling over that Slim Duet for months now.
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#8 2008-05-19 10:12 am
- mrreet2001
- Member
- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 2616
Re: Purest audio conduit from iPod to receiver
pottymouth wrote:
If your goal was to put away CDs, yet still get music to your stereo, an iPod isn't really the best choice. It's built around being portable. If you want a home MP3 player you should be looking at slimdevices and roku. I've got an old SliMP3 but I have been drooling over that Slim Duet for months now.
with that suggestion ... I love my apple TV
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