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Question about iPod Classic

If it's loaded with lossless files (e.g., .wav or ALC), what do you think about the sound quality of an iPod Classic vs. a CD player of $500 or less? Have any of you paired an iPod with the Wadia 170iTransport and an external DAC or used an external preamp such as the NuForce Icon Mobile to improve the signal strength coming off the iPod? What do you think of the sound quality potential?

I like the sound of my iPod Touch with ALC, and the output seems to at least equal the quality of my Sony ES SACD/CD player (at least when playing CDs). I've also heard a Classic and a Nano docked to a Wadia 170iTransport feeding the DAC in a Peachtree Nova, and the sound was quite remarkable.

Yet I've encountered an acquaintance who says his iPod Classic, playing .wavs and ALC files can't match the quality of his $50 Discman, and that doesn't match my experience.

Thoughts? Feelings? Opinions?
johnnyb53

Showing 1 response by ckoffend

ckoffend
684 posts
 
I would disagree with your friends statement. I have run my 160 GB Ipod through my headphone amps without any external DAC and it sounds very good.

That being said, the same songs on my hard drive played through my Logitech/Slim Devices Duet going digitally into my DAC sounds much better.
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