09-22-2010, 02:37 PM
Wow, and I had the impression from reading around (which may be wrong) that Apple had good (audiophile level) DAC's.
The iPod's measured behavior is better than many CD players—ironic, considering that most of the time it will be used to play MP3 and AAC files, which will not immediately benefit from such good performance. But if you're willing to trade off maximum playing time against the ability to play uncompressed AIFF or WAV files, the iPod will do an excellent job of decoding them. Excellent, cost-effective audio engineering from an unexpected source.—John Atkinson
Apple does use good DACs. Great, maybe not. Steller, no.
Some audiophiles may call them crappy, but I'd take them with a pound of Leslie's Iodized. There is a HUGE market in the "audiophile" world for external DACs. Apple's OEM gear will not measure up to any of that. Nor will most most of Denon's, Yamaha's, or any other consumer based product.
Read a few issues of Stereophile and you'll see there is always somebody who will find fault with anybody's OEM circuitry. That is the nature of the "audiophile".
Many if not most of those who lay claim to that title lack the ears to support said claim.
Others don't banish objectivity in pursuing their love of music.
The iPod's measured behavior is better than many CD players—ironic, considering that most of the time it will be used to play MP3 and AAC files, which will not immediately benefit from such good performance. But if you're willing to trade off maximum playing time against the ability to play uncompressed AIFF or WAV files, the iPod will do an excellent job of decoding them. Excellent, cost-effective audio engineering from an unexpected source.—John Atkinson
Apple does use good DACs. Great, maybe not. Steller, no.
Some audiophiles may call them crappy, but I'd take them with a pound of Leslie's Iodized. There is a HUGE market in the "audiophile" world for external DACs. Apple's OEM gear will not measure up to any of that. Nor will most most of Denon's, Yamaha's, or any other consumer based product.
Read a few issues of Stereophile and you'll see there is always somebody who will find fault with anybody's OEM circuitry. That is the nature of the "audiophile".
Many if not most of those who lay claim to that title lack the ears to support said claim.
Others don't banish objectivity in pursuing their love of music.