Opinions Please

[admin_exported]

Having just recently bought a new Hi Fi, it has set off one of my friends from work, as to renewing his system. But the question he asked me is, do Ipods played through a docking station, amp and speakers, give as good a qaulity sound as a CD player. If not, how different is the sound quality.

Finaly if they are considered good enough, has anyone got any recomendations on make of docking system.

Thanks

 

[robg1976]

hi.... ipods will never sound as good as a dedicated cd player, sure with a good set up it will sound good but never as good as a dedicated disc spinner, i guess it down to choice the convinience of ipod against the superior quality of a good cd player, thats not to put your friend off it he seeks out a good docking station and hi-fi set up im sure he will be pleased.

 

[Anonymous]

If he's not fussed about a cd player he could always go down the DAC route and stream from his computer (possibly via e.g. an airport express).

Then it'll all just come down to what bit rates he's used on his mp3's

(am presuming since he has an ipod he has a computer)

 

[Messiah]

robg1976:hi.... ipods will never sound as good as a dedicated cd player, sure with a good set up it will sound good but never as good as a dedicated disc spinner, i guess it down to choice the convinience of ipod against the superior quality of a good cd player, thats not to put your friend off it he seeks out a good docking station and hi-fi set up im sure he will be pleased.

Personally I think an iPod and dock can do a great job. Maybe not as good as the best spinners but I think it runs it very close.

I had a Cyrus CD6s CD player and ending up selling this as the sound I got from my iPhone via my Onkyo dock came very close indeed. The CD player did edge it but only when doing direct comparisons.

As has been mentioned, maybe get something like the Onkyo ND-S1 and a seperate DAC.

But as with all things, the best thing is to demo and see if they notice a difference.

 

[Anonymous]

im currently listening to billy joel , downloaded to a usb stick and played through my marantz cd6003 , it sounds better than some cds i own , i think the quality of the source material is more important than whether its played from an ipod , usb or cd ...

 

[AL13N]

maxflinn:the quality of the source material is more important than whether its played from an ipod , usb or cd

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your replys, I am sure that he will be able to make a decision from this, and possibly listening to a set up with CD and then Ipod and dock.

Once again thanks.

 

[jaxwired]

It really depends. First of all, 98% of all ipod docks use the iPods DAC to convert from digital to analogue and then the analogue output stage of the iPod is used. These are not designed for hifi use and it shows. The other factor as previously mentioned is the compression of the music. CDs contain 10 times the data that on a typical MP3 of the same song. That impacts sound quality.

So, yes, you can get CD quality sound from an iPod. You just have to do the following:

1. Store the music on your iPod is a high resolution format. Not 128kbs. Use at least 256kbs or better. Apple Lossless is outstanding, but will take a lot of space. 256kbs can sound excellent, but higher is better.

2. Use an iPod dock that outputs a pure digital data stream. These docks don't use the analogue circuitry of the iPod at all. They just pull out the digital data. Wadia, Onkyo, Naim, and Peachtree all have docks like this. Almost every other dock you see does not have a digital output.

3. Buy a stand alone DAC. You don't need a high end one, the Cambridge Audio DAC magic or the Beresford 7520 are both great and don't cost that much. There are many other fine choices. Feed the all digital signal from your dock into the DAC.

4. Feed the stand alone DAC into the CD input of your amp or preamp.

Done. CD quality sound from an iPod. Some people would argue it's possibly better than CD sound since there is no spinning disc to cause electrical noise, vibration, and read errors.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Jaxwired, very interesting I am sure this will lead him in the right direction.

Thank you very much.

 

[JoelSim]

I did an A/B test using the same tune through the same amp an speakers. One a compressed format on an iPod, one on CD. Switched between the two constantly - the iPod running with a 5 second lag so that direct comparison could be achieved as well as possible and the differences were incredible. The iPod sounded very poor indeed compared to CD on every count (CDP was an Arcam Alpha 7, album was Rumours by Fleetwood Mac).

 

[Anonymous]

JoelSim:
I did an A/B test using the same tune through the same amp an speakers. One a compressed format on an iPod, one on CD. Switched between the two constantly - the iPod running with a 5 second lag so that direct comparison could be achieved as well as possible and the differences were incredible. The iPod sounded very poor indeed compared to CD on every count (CDP was an Arcam Alpha 7, album was Rumours by Fleetwood Mac).Rumours? This was your night for masochism, obviously

 

[JoelSim]

I did the test about 3 years ago over 4 or 5 tracks incluiding Dreams, The Chain and Never Going Back Again. The difference was like taking off a balaclava.

Nice album Tarquinh, NGBA is a good tune to test kit.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd have been wearing the balaclava, because I'd have been outside in the cold.

There is no excuse for later Fleetwood Mac.

 

[JoelSim]

Tarquinh:
I'd have been wearing the balaclava, because I'd have been outside in the cold.

There is no excuse for later Fleetwood Mac.

lol, Rumours is one of the most loved albums of all time.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Joel, Love the banter on this forum, and I have to admit to thinking that Fleetwood Mac Rumors is a classic album, I cant wait till I can afford to go out and get a turntable to go with my new system, then I can listen to it.

What else do yo listen to.

By the way my name is Daryl

 

[JoelSim]

A bit of everything, from Jack Johnson to Seb Fontaine, through Gorillaz and Angus & Julia Stone, with a bit of Elton John and Stereophonics thrown in, oh and some Elbow and Floyd, and The The, and not forgetting Tracy Chapman and Massive Attack or Leftfield. I do sometimes like a Cafe Del Mar too...or a bit of James Lavelle or LCD Soundsystem.

 

[strapped for cash]

Rumours is a classic album, but sounds very much of its time; whereas Peter Green Fleetwood Mac... timeless...

 

[JoelSim]

I haven't got that but will look out for it.

 

[Gusboll]

I can't help about the shape I'm in
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin
But don't ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that you want me to....

 

[Anonymous]

Yes I have to say that I like most of them, I also like the Eagles, Linkin Park, Oasis, Jimi Hendrix, Jay Z, Usher, David Bowie, Alicia Keys,Harry Connick JR, Shamen, Yes, The Smiths, Eric Clapton, to name a few, I would like to get into some Jazz and Blues, but need pointing in the right direction with them.

 

[Anonymous]

strapped for cash:Rumours is a classic album, but sounds very much of its time; whereas Peter Green Fleetwood Mac... timeless...
Precisely.

 

[Anonymous]

Gusboll:I can't help about the shape I'm in
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin
But don't ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that you want me to....Pure poetry. Now that's the real Fleetwood Mac...Oh well.