Ipod/MP3 through and amp

[exsevener]

Finally succumbed to realise MP3 is the way to go and have a load of MP3 stuff ready to download.........I've already stuck some on to CD's but some is Burn protected so I need to use the Ipod to put it through the main hifi.

I haven't got one but will get one after Christmes........or before if Santa is still playing ball

Anyway questions are...............

1) I have a nice Naim set up and have been informed I can link IPOD via 3.5mm Jack to 5pin din for amp.........so far so good.......agree?

2) Will the Ipod do anything like as good a job as the CD player quality wise?

3)Which Ipod to go for and is it possible to get a remote control to switch tracks etc.

4) Anything else to bear in mind considering I'm an MP3 numpty? i.e. so I can use it just like the CD from across the room.

All experiences, comments and help very much appreciated.

By the way a very Happy Christmas and New Year to all posters.

Cheers,

Kenny

PS didn't know how to edit spelling error in title

[Captain Colonial]

Finally succumbed to realise MP3 is the way to go and have a load of MP3 stuff ready to download.........I've already stuck some on to CD's but some is Burn protected so I need to use the Ipod to put it through the main hifi.

I haven't got one but will get one after Christmes........or before if Santa is still playing ball

Anyway questions are...............

1) I have a nice Naim set up and have been informed I can link IPOD via 3.5mm Jack to 5pin din for amp.........so far so good.......agree?

2) Will the Ipod do anything like as good a job as the CD player quality wise?

3)Which Ipod to go for and is it possible to get a remote control to switch tracks etc.

4) Anything else to bear in mind considering I'm an MP3 numpty? i.e. so I can use it just like the CD from across the room.

All experiences, comments and help very much appreciated.

By the way a very Happy Christmas and New Year to all posters.

Cheers,

Kenny

PS didn't know how to edit spelling error in title

1. Can't comment but sounds right.

2. That depends on a lot of things.  It can sound as good as a CD if you have the settings correct, i.e. 320 bps.  Most iPods default to 180-192 bps and don't sound as good as a CD, so you have to change this if you're demanding, as the sound will be compressed and a bit thin compared to a CD.

However, higher bps = more disc space = fewer tunes on the iPod.

You need to determine how many individual songs you have.  My 30 GB iPod is set to 192 bps with MP3 files, and has 1,500 songs on it which has only used 8 GB.  If I bumped that to 320 bps, it would take a lot more disc space.  Video files REALLY soak drive space.

3. Which one to go for is anyone's choice.  All I can tell you is my Philips one was cr@p and my 30GB 5G iPod has been perfect.  Two things - the standard headphones will always be rubbish and you'll need another £40 minimum for decent ones, and buy the best carrying case you can - the screens scratch VERY easily.

Not too sure about remotes, but you can set up playlists on the player so it only plays the songs you want to hear anyway, so it's not really an issue if you're at least organised.

4. iTunes songs from the Apple web site are MP4 - a real pain.  If you want to burn them to a CD, you'll need software to convert them to WAV files.  More dosh.

Battery life is wildly variable.  Whatever the manufacturer says, cut that by 50%.

You'll want a FM transmitter for the car, no doubt.  Buy one that recharges your player as you drive.

Haven't heard a decent docking station set of speakers yet.

Buy a What HiFi? magazine for product ratings - almost impartial and good for info.

Your mileage may vary. Avoid where prohibited by law.  Your house may be at risk if you set fire to it.

Hope that helps.

[exsevener]

Captain, Stunning reply and very, very helpful, many thanks.

I will not be using it with headphones much and I won't be watching films on its screen.

Probably about 1500 tracks/mixes so I'd set it to the higher rate you alluded to.

I don't think, or at least I cant find one with a remote, but again as you suggest the pre programming of tracks negates the need for one.

After a quick swot the IPOD Classic black 80gb machine looks good.......especially if they knock a few bob off in January.....although all look like they'll do the job. It looks like you pay a premium for storage as per usual.

Again, great info. many thanks,

Kenny

[Major Stare]

I-pod docks vary in quality, depends on your budget £10-£200 is the norm. I think Arcam do a very good dock.

Buy What HiFi magazine, it reviews everything !

I have the Cyrus Mini Link 2 for my i-Pod, £80.00. Fills the lounge but isnt a true hi-fi for volume.

Gets a good review and the remote is fully functional.

[exsevener]

Thanks major, without me baffling myself swotting up even more.....what is a docking station required for and what are the advantages over simply running the IPOD straight though the amp?...........as I said a numpty question, but I'm on a catch up course on these things which is not usually like me..............never thought I'd ever need one, just thought they were a modern Walkman full stop!....how wrong!

Thanks again,

Kenny

[jedi]

fat man itube   they even do them in carbon fibre

[exsevener]

Just checked that.............looks nice and trick ....it makes you need one

Cheers,

Kenny

[davew]

I've got an Onkyo DSA2 Ipod dock.  It comes with a remote control and works very well.  Hooks up to an amp or whatever you want via RCA.  It can also output ipod display to tv screen for track info etc.

[amc_black]

4. iTunes songs from the Apple web site are MP4 - a real pain.  If you want to burn them to a CD, you'll need software to convert them to WAV files.  More dosh.

Not in my experience mate. I can burn straight from iTunes to CD for use in the car etc. Granted you can't take them off the CD without authorizing the computer of the person you give them to to play your purchased music, and you only get 5 authorizes but for normal CD burn purposes I have never converted to WMA.

Am I missing something??

In terms of docks look no further than here....

Bose SoundDock II

Sounds awesome and comes with a remote which has been significantly upgraded for the Series II model. I have the Series I model.

Although the Bose sound system sounds great it doesn't compete with my Marantz amp playing though some Mission floor standers. I link it to that system using this....

Apple dock with remote

I use a 30Gb 5G iPod and recommend it highly although, as has been said, use some form of protection from day one. I haven't and whilst functionality remains 100% it is now "aesthetically challenged" due to skiing/cycling trips being dropped the odd time etc etc.

Hope this helps.

[Hammy]

Mp3 will never sound as good as lossless, whatever the bit rate  - there will be a certain harshness to it and the stereo image is very 2D, both easily spotted on a half decent hi-fi.

MP3 is great for ipods and in the car but is *not* hi-fi. Best results I've heard, however,  is through one of those ipod valve amps, the smoothness/distortion  of a valve amp somehow makes the end result sound pretty good.

[exsevener]

Hammy, interesting comments.

I've heard the saying "lossless" before but what does it mean and what format achieves this?

You also say that MP3 played over a decent hifi will be inferior........this is exactly what I thought, but speaking to others and chatting with the guys at the hifi shop they say a high bit rate MP3 will be indistingiushable from a bought CD...........is it just one of those subjective things?

Have to admit the few albums I've just burnt from MP3 to CD to in fact sound inferior (slightly) but I know that these tracks were in fact from vynel to MP3 in the first place so I expected a small loss, still b****y good though.

Thanks for the comments,

Cheers,

Kenny

[Hammy]

MP3 files use compression and its the loss in quality stems from the compression loosing some data plus the processing of the data.  The term lossless is really just saynig as per the origional uncompressed CD. You can actually download "lossless" music now from various sites ( so I'm told) whcih when burnt to Cd is and *identical* copy to the oriogional CD you might by from a shop. losselss is in fact the origional .wav file you would have had on a CD before you "ripped" it to MP3.

As some data was lost in the conversion process from .wav to MP3 , if you recreate a .Wav  from your MP3 file it will have lost some data and not sound so good -worth trying actually rip a Cd to MP3, convert it back, create a new CD  then listen and compare with your origional.

The difference is most noticable on complex tracks ( lots of instruments e.g. thrash rock type stuff), with a siingle singer on his/her own you will be hard pushed to spot the difference.

Wiki has somegood links on the subject MP3. interesting reading .

Having said all that MP3 can sound very good in the right places and is so useable  ( I've got an Ipod and love it) , but is not "hi fi " in my book.

So I don't think  its subjective. The other thing to consider is that Ipods and the like will have fairly cheap circuitry inside, and a poor interconnect to your amp and won't  do the same job as a good quality CD player - if you could compare like for like.

At the end of day there is a lot of snobbery on Hi-fi and the important think is being happy with what you are listening too- if you are that's all that matters, and stay away from the "mines bigger than yours" games

[exsevener]

Another question guys. Can you use Windows media player with an IPOD or do you have to use Itunes which some people say is a PITA.

Also, Is there an equivelant MP3/MP4 80 gb player as an option to apple, which is highly rated? Problem is, am I right in thinking non IPODS won't fit in the trick docking stations mentioned in this thread...............questions b****y questions, sorry.

Thanks,

Kenny

[Hammy]

A very good question -I'm looking at this now -I've just got an Ipod and have loaded Itunes which has in turn b*******ed up another application -Phillips Streamium, an application I use for wirelessly transmitting music to my Hi-fi.

[exsevener]

Keep us posted Hammy, you seem to know what you're on about so I'm sure you'll find an answer to this.

All the best

Kenny