Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
The horrible frequency response is even worse on a high end system.
Now that Krell has <A HREF="http://blog.stereophile.com/he2007/051307ikid/">added one</A> to its product lineup, should an iPod dock be considered a standard component for a high-end audio system?
First let me preface my statement by saying that I know little regarding the iPod or its dock and am a huge fan of Krell products. I don't have an iPod. With that said, if the dock is proprietary like everything else Apple then NO for it leaves me only one path, that of the iPod. This path chosen by Krell may leave every other manufacturer and competing lossless out in the cold. What if I rip my own music at a higher standard? How does Krell work with that, it looks like Krell does not have a solution for me. I am surprised that Krell didn't come up with a better solution. The DRM & 128kbps quality also leaves much to be desired.
IF you're going to listen to digital, and IF you rip at high-resolution (uncompressed), and IF you can pull the digital stream off of the iPod instead of having to rely upon it's internal conversion - THEN the iPod as a delivery medium holds the same promise as the CD as a delivery medium. Further, if you rip your LPs at high resolution, like Mikey does, and then transfer them to the iPod - with the above original conditions withstanding - the potential exists for sonic quality to exceed commercial-release CDs. iPod as a storage and delivery medium is every "bit" as legit as CD or DVD so long as you're pulling off the digital data and converting it ex-vivo. My Spidey-Sense tells me that the flash-driver Nano would probably be a better transport than the micro-drive iPod - no moving parts in the Nano - but I don't have any of these docks yet.
No!!! Just buy a Squeezebox, an external hard-disk with losseless riped files and you may keep your player (I use Creative Zen, not iPod) in the charger or your pocket when you are at home. The quality difference is big and friendliness of the interface is inmense.
The key term here is "high-end." If sound reproduced fits the bill, then, yes. As of now, there is nothing we have read about that can improve the iPod's sound without extensive equalization. So, no, it does not belong.... yet.
If you have an iPod, you are going to need a computer to load music into it. You might as well use a Mac Mini. It's only $500 or so, and has a digital output, and Front Row software makes it behave like an iPod. Just plug in your iPod and it syncs in a few minutes. It's better than an iPod, has remote control and digital out built in, and you are going to need it or something like it anyway.
I have plugged my iPod into my system. Painful is the only way to describe how it sounds. Compression + cheap D to A = Poor Quality. iPods are great on the plane and when I work out, I have just over 500 Albums on mine. The higher data rates might sound better (I use default) but I have no interest in finding out.
Y'know...I;m just not sure about this one.I don't like the idea of compressed and lossy music.It seems a contradiction in terms,especially for a high resolution system and gear we seem to aspire to.Yet I admit,I am a tech junkie and would add one if I could get uncompressed,very high res and high quality music out of it.
It is the way forward. I have my system upgrade on hold until the music industry resolves the format (SACD,Audio DVD) issue. The ability to travel with my CD collection in an iPod is a real benefit. I would also like to have a quality iPod dock for my car music system.
I have an ipod and love it. I use it as a portable music server. If I want background music on the main level of my house I plug it into that stereo. If I want music pumped outside to the pool, I plug it into that system. Mowing the lawn, on go the headphones. But plugging it into my dedicated 2 channel system is something I just wouldn't use it for. If I'm going to sit and listen in my listening room I'll get out the cd or vinyl and enjoy. For me the ipod is about convenience and portability of a vast amount of my music collection.