Russ Andrews GQ-24 + IPOD Opinion

[Sliced Bread]

This is why I don't trust other mags

I was considering buying a Russ Andrews GQ-24 after reading the what hifi review for this cable, plus some good feedback from other forum users, however the deciding factor was reading this quote from another magazine posted on the Russ Andrews website:

"Test tracks on an iPod Nano played through this lead, were impressive and very close to that of a good £500 CD player"

After reading this I thought that the combination of my ipod touch and the GQ-24 cable should give my CA 640 cd player (£250) a good run for it's money, so I dove in and ordered one.

When I started listening to lossless music through the ipod, I definitely noticed an improvement over the 3.5mm jack that I had been using previously, however I could in no way describe the sound as close to a £500 cd player. Out of curiosity I played several tracks through the IPod, at the same time as through the cd player so I could switch between them for direct AB-comparisons. I tested it with Elbow - live at the abbey road and some tracks from Live Lounge 3 and Jonny Cash (all apple lossless). With Elbow's Loneliness of a tower crane driver, the ipod / GQ combination sounded more confused than the 640. in fact on listening to all three CD's the the GQ-24 / ipod combination was inferior to the 640 cd player with dynamics, timing, stereo-imaging and separation. Overall it just wasn't as clear or natural than the CA.

I'm not saying that it was bad, it was not, for what it is the sound was very good and the GQ-24 was definitely a noticeable improvement over the 3.5mm jack I had been using previously (so well done to Russ Andrews). It is just that it is not as good as my £250 cd player, so I really struggle to see how it would compete with a "good" £500 player.

What are other peoples experiences of this?

Edit: The good news that came of this, is that I have started appreciating my CD player all over again

Edit 2: I should have also mentioned that vocals were also thinner and lacked body compared to the 640C.

 

[idc]

Over the past year or so I have changed kit an dlistened to CDs, ipods, a Creative Zen, itunes, Spotify and allsorts of bit rates and file types. Over riding all other considerations is synergy. I left CDPs and CD listening to go ipod and now PC based music becuase I found an ipod Classic 80gb with the GQ-24 sounded on a par with an Arcan CD62. So not quite a £500 CDP, but still a big surprise at the time.

Looking back I found to my ears a synergy with ipod, AAC and Lossless files and now my X-CAN amps. I have that same synergy with laptop, Spotify and the amps. Itunes on the laptop does not like the X-CANS and I find the sound is poor with crackles, echos and distortions. There is no obvious fault and no good reason why this should be. But, scale down my present itunes sound issue and I can see full well why some will try an ipod connected into an amp and think, 'what is all the fuss about?'

I have recommended the GQ-24 on various occasions and feedback has always been positive. But, there is no one product out there which is guaranteed to satisfy all ears.

I see you agree using the docking port as opposed to the headphone jack is a big improvement John. I have just bought a Line Out Dock cable which connects to the dock and the sound improvement over the headphone jack is again huge.

 

[Sliced Bread]

Yes, this thought crossed my mind too. It could simply be the case that the ipod is not a good match for the 905 amp (or possibly that the 640C flatters the 905). Also personal taste certainly plays a part, however in this case the ipod seemed to be worst at...well everything - but as you say synergy could be a big part of this, although I wouldn't expect synergy to effect areas such as separation (I may be wrong on this...I have been 1000 times before

).

The thing is, I agree that it is a very good cable. It is not the cable I'm knocking as it is the best I've herd the ipod when pipped through my hifi, rather, the suggestion that the ipod played through the cable will match a good £500 cd player.

I think I would have been more impressed with it, if I wasn't expecting a £500 performance. It's a bit like watching an over hyped film, it just can't live up to your expectations

 

[idc]

As I see it, ipod Classics are £170 odd. So as a start they compare very well against £170 CDPs, especially if you take into account features. Sound wise, from what I have heard and what I have read, an ipod in a setup where there is synergy is reasonably considered to be the equal of CDPs up to about £500, as opposed to a £500 CDP. I think that is more realistic. I also think it is an astoundingly good achievement by the ipod IMHO.