Ipods?

Zembonez · October 17, 2007

OK...

I wanted to get caught up with the "newest technology" in music reproduction. Daughters have 80gig iPods with tiny useless video screens... Son has another type of MP3 player made by Creative Labs. So I thought I should probably get me an iPod to use in my truck... or at least that is what I THOUGHT... until I listened to them!

YUK YUK YUK YUK Double Frikkin YUK!!!

I listened to several iPods and other MP3 players. I listened to many types of music and spent several hours comparing. To my surprise, they sounded like total crap! The sound quality is pure junk. I have a Tivoli radio that sounds better. Nothing even approaching high fidelity reproduction! We plugged 2 of them into my truck and they sounded even worse. I then went to the web to learn about the audio compression methods used in squashing files down to a reasonable size... No wonder they sound like crap. Much like the invasion of cheap Chinese junk replacing our American made goods, we are trading QUALITY for QUANTITY. I realize they are portable and convenient but I can't understand how anybody could say they sound good. Obviously nobody that is accustomed to listening to fine home audio gear would utter such a phrase.

We must have a population of tone deaf individuals... that or nobody cares about quality anymore.

What say you iPod fans?

gibbons948 · October 17, 2007

might be the cable your using. i have the Bose system and mine sounds great.

Zembonez · October 17, 2007

might be the cable your using. i have the Bose system and mine sounds great.

Let's just say we disagree on what sounds great.

I'm not really knocking the iPod. It has its place I guess. Even Apple says in their press releases that sound quality wasn't the driving force in its design. People just wanted more hard drive space.

More songs... MORE SONGS...

Quantity over Quality. It is fast becoming the American way.

overlord1 · October 17, 2007

OK...

I wanted to get caught up with the "newest technology" in music reproduction. Daughters have 80gig iPods with tiny useless video screens... Son has another type of MP3 player made by Creative Labs. So I thought I should probably get me an iPod to use in my truck... or at least that is what I THOUGHT... until I listened to them!

YUK YUK YUK YUK Double Frikkin YUK!!!

I listened to several iPods and other MP3 players. I listened to many types of music and spent several hours comparing. To my surprise, they sounded like total crap! The sound quality is pure junk. I have a Tivoli radio that sounds better. Nothing even approaching high fidelity reproduction! We plugged 2 of them into my truck and they sounded even worse. I then went to the web to learn about the audio compression methods used in squashing files down to a reasonable size... No wonder they sound like crap. Much like the invasion of cheap Chinese junk replacing our American made goods, we are trading QUALITY for QUANTITY. I realize they are portable and convenient but I can't understand how anybody could say they sound good. Obviously nobody that is accustomed to listening to fine home audio gear would utter such a phrase.

We must have a population of tone deaf individuals... that or nobody cares about quality anymore.

What say you iPod fans?

I tend to agree. I have a 30GB (new style) ipod and the sound quality is OK at best. I've played the same albums back to back on my home audio system, first on the Ipod then the original CD. Without a doubt the original CD sounds better, noticeably better. I use the standard Ipod compression process so that I can store as many songs as possible. I believe that you can select a different recording method in the options menu that is suppose to reproduce the quality of the original CD almost exactly. Only thing is it takes MUCH more space on the hard drive. I would only use my Ipod in my truck on a long road trip for the convenience of having hundreds of songs at my fingertips without having to bring dozens of CDs.

thecraft · October 17, 2007

Are you complaining about the quality of the iPod or the MP3 format in general?

I always encode my MP3s using Exact Audio Copy and LAME at ~192kbps VBR. You'd need a very high-end system to tell difference from the original CD.

pwall · October 17, 2007

I can't really comment on the sound difference between the ipod plugged directly into a stereo vs a CD.

I use my iPOD in the truck all the time, and use a FM transmitter. Definitely a sound reduction, however.....it'll hold 1000 songs. I don't ever carry CD's anymore.

So, I'll put up with slightly lower sound quality. ;)

carneyman · October 17, 2007

I agree. Some friends have an Ipod and I have the direct connect to the stereo, so we tried that...sounded pretty bad. I have a little 150 song Sansa something and it plugs in through the earphone jack and it sounds almost as good as a cd. I use WMP to put songs to it (only easy way to get songs on it directly from a cd) and they sound good. Took a bit to get the equalizer on it set how I like it, but it works for me. Now it it only held more songs, but for $60, I can't complain.

Zembonez · October 17, 2007

Are you complaining about the quality of the iPod or the MP3 format in general?

I always encode my MP3s using Exact Audio Copy and LAME at ~192kbps VBR. You'd need a very high-end system to tell difference from the original CD.

Good point. I am not against compression software like MP3. The Apple is proprietary software that sucks the life out of the sound for the sake of more songs per gig.

I realize I am a nut. My background is in music and audio gear so I probably put more importance on it than some people might. I'm not cutting anybody down with my opinion... I was just surprised by how bad the iPod sounded. (to me) Prior to that I really wanted one.

I can't really comment on the sound difference between the ipod plugged directly into a stereo vs a CD.
I use my iPOD in the truck all the time, and use a FM transmitter. Definitely a sound reduction, however.....it'll hold 1000 songs. I don't ever carry CD's anymore.

So, I'll put up with slightly lower sound quality. ;)

That's why I wanted one. I was just hoping for better quality.

I agree. Some friends have an Ipod and I have the direct connect to the stereo, so we tried that...sounded pretty bad. I have a little 150 song Sansa something and it plugs in through the earphone jack and it sounds almost as good as a cd. I use WMP to put songs to it (only easy way to get songs on it directly from a cd) and they sound good. Took a bit to get the equalizer on it set how I like it, but it works for me. Now it it only held more songs, but for $60, I can't complain.

Perhaps I need to look into other MP3 players instead of the iPod. If they will support a lossless format, I might just be willing to put up with a little loss in quality to get all of my CDs in one small player.

Thanks everybody for the input.

carneyman · October 17, 2007

Are you complaining about the quality of the iPod or the MP3 format in general?

I always encode my MP3s using Exact Audio Copy and LAME at ~192kbps VBR. You'd need a very high-end system to tell difference from the original CD.

Good point. I am not against compression software like MP3. The Apple is proprietary software that sucks the life out of the sound for the sake of more songs per gig.

I realize I am a nut. My background is in music and audio gear so I probably put more importance on it than some people might. I'm not cutting anybody down with my opinion... I was just surprised by how bad the iPod sounded. (to me) Prior to that I really wanted one.

best thing to do (to get sound in your truck) is hook up your laptop to it (if you have one). Second best thing is to go and try out as many different kinds as possible. I looked at a zune, and if I would have had the money, I probably would have bought one.

asilverblazer · October 17, 2007

Not sure if its the ipod or the stereo in my truck but it sounds pretty bad. I think it is the stereo, listening to FM is awful. As for the iPod, it's so much easier to carry the ipod than a huge stack of CD's... Not sure what I set my copy/compression quality at.

Checked, mine is set to copy compress at 192 kbpmxz's whatever...

it can go as high as 320 of the little zubber deals.

At that quality (192) it sounds fine for head phones and the stereo in my truck, I can tell no difference between the CD or the Ipod. So seems fine to me.

ZR Rider · October 17, 2007

I'm going to disagree here. Your using the 1/8" jack right? So your now using the volume on the iPod along with the volume on your stereo. Plus you can go into the menu and change the sound quality for the headphones (ie. bass boost, bass reduction... Jazz which I find works best for the 1/8" jack) Did you adjust the volume on the iPod so it doesn't distort?? Think of the iPod as a small preamp! If you have it crankup... of course it is going to sound bad!

Now, if you are using a FM modular your not getting the best quality either, I had one and turf it!

Now running an iPod interface, takes all the iPod controls away and hooks it directly to the Bose system in my truck. I find mine sounds very good, far better then running a changer full of CDs and a case full for long drives.

Also, if you take a MP3 and make cd that will play in your truck, you loss alot of the bass.

I guess it comes down to what you are after. I wanted good sound and my entire cd library... and that's what I got!

Zembonez · October 17, 2007

I've never heard a Bose "system" in a vehicle that was worth the upcharge. Above average for sure but nothing stellar. Their home stuff is mid pack at best. Clever marketing... but certainly not HiFi.

I do agree with everybody that says they are really more convenient than having to carry CDs around. AND iPods work pretty well with earbuds while you work out or walk, etc. Fidelity isn't really an issue there. Where they fall short is when you try using them for something they were not originally designed for... like HiFi audio.

Lets just agree to disagree when it comes to our definition of high quality sound.

I think average quality (like any OEM stereo system) is all you can expect out of one. If you want better than that, you have to look elsewhere. I also realize that many people are not after high end sound quality in their vehicle... not saying they should be, just that I am.

Everybody has an opinion.

Zembonez · October 17, 2007

Not sure if its the ipod or the stereo in my truck but it sounds pretty bad. I think it is the stereo, listening to FM is awful. As for the iPod, it's so much easier to carry the ipod than a huge stack of CD's... Not sure what I set my copy/compression quality at.

Checked, mine is set to copy compress at 192 kbpmxz's whatever...

it can go as high as 320 of the little zubber deals.

At that quality (192) it sounds fine for head phones and the stereo in my truck, I can tell no difference between the CD or the Ipod. So seems fine to me.

I think its the compression that my ears can't take. The sound is flat and lifeless. It's loud. It has bass. But YUK. If my home theater system sounded like that I'd box it all up and take it back...

I'm not trying to get everybody to circle the wagons and start firing at that guy with the clown avatar. I was disappointed in the performance when I really thought I wanted one. That's all. For casual listening in the car I'm sure they serve a purpose.

I'm not cutting down anybody... I was just hoping for more. (especially considering what they charge for them)

asilverblazer · October 17, 2007

So what system are you running in your vehicle and home to notice this quality loss. I'd like to build a quality system that sounds the way it is supposed to. I know the way I like my music, but I'd like to hear it the way it is supposed to sound...

-Devil- · October 17, 2007

i have one, for a few reasons ...

1. the price i got it at ...

2. convience, one item that has all my fav music on it ...

3. CD's are still safe at home not getting scratched up in the truck ...

there are compression alternatives that you can use that do not loose the 'sound' but of course the file size increases ...

i notice a 'small' difference between a CD and my ipod ... that difference got smaller when i upgraded to an aftermarket radio ... but mostly i listen to the radio in my truck .. to have some noise going on ... when i wan't quality repro of music ... i get it at home .. with the lights off .. and i am relaxed in a chair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossless_data_compression there is one of the compression options that keeps 99% of the quality (again the quality of the sound depends on the orig recording and compression before it was even put on a CD)