Use of B & W Zeppellin with older generation ipods

[Mickgw]

Hi, I've recently purchased a B & W Zeppelin and i am currently using an older generation ipod, not sure what generation though, i bought it when video was first introduced on ipods, i was just wondering if i upgraded the ipod to the latest generation would it make a big impact on the sound quality or non at all, as i wont upgrade if i dont need to although i could do with more capacity!!!

Does anyone have any tips on how to get the best out of the Zeppelin?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike Worrall

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Mickgw

Thanks for buying a Zeppelin.

As I think this is more of an Apple iPod than a Bowers & Wilkins question I'll stay out of it.

But, I would say that one of the advantages of having a newer, and therefore more capacious iPod, partnered with a Zeppelin is that if you're not already doing so, you can rip your music at higher quality formats such as Apple Lossless. This would improve your over all sound performance.

Hope that helps in some way.

Cheers

Shaun

 

[Mickgw]

Thanks for the reply Shaun, most of my cds i have imported as Apple lossless, but anything off itunes is only 256k, i dont think you can convert it to lossless.

If anyone could answer from the what hi fi team regarding the ipod issue i would appreciate it.

Thanks again

Mike

 

[Clare Newsome]

Newer iPods have incrementally improved, but not by step-change levels of performance - well, not on 256kbps files.

However, as Shaun says, the biggest difference would be downloading/ripping your music at higher bit-rates- in which case, a 32Gb iPod Touch or even-bigger Classic would work a charm!

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:

However, as Shaun says, the biggest difference would be downloading/ripping your music at higher bit-rates- in which case, a 32Gb iPod Touch or even-bigger Classic would work a charm!

..only in terms of having greater capacity. As the OP already has ripped to lossless and correctly understands you can't convert the 256k downloads to a superior format there is no benefit to changing the ipod.

I too have the first 'video' iPod (5th generation of the classic) and it has a 30Gb drive anyway....

 

[Big Aura]

Perhaps a question for the more techy among you, but I was once told that Generation 4 and Generation 5 iPods use a wolfson DAC, whereas the later ones use a much cheaper processor...? True/false?

 

[Anonymous]

Big Aura:Perhaps a question for the more techy among you, but I was once told that Generation 4 and Generation 5 iPods use a wolfson DAC, whereas the later ones use a much cheaper processor...? True/false?

This lot say as much but also suggest the Wolfson DAC is wasted due to poor circuitry and they offer their own modification to improve audio quality...all seems a bit extreme IMO !

 

[Big Aura]

ahh, that's where I heard it. A chap here sent off for a modified iPod from them, and couldn't hear any difference....

 

[Mickgw]

Now we are getting somewhere!!! would i be right in saying that the sound quality in a 3rd gen ipod (which i think is the one i own) is inferior to the latest ipod, due to the Woolfson DAC? and if so would it warrant a change?

I understand file formats and everything else, i'm just talking hardware

Thanks for all the replies!!!!!!

 

[manicm]

rogueelement:

Big Aura:Perhaps a question for the more techy among you, but I was once told that Generation 4 and Generation 5 iPods use a wolfson DAC, whereas the later ones use a much cheaper processor...? True/false?

This lot say as much but also suggest the Wolfson DAC is wasted due to poor circuitry and they offer their own modification to improve audio quality...all seems a bit extreme IMO !

You have noted they are only modifying iPods with the Wolfson DAC, don't you?

Which is why I can categorically state that the current Classic sounds like horse-poop and I have since flogged it.