Ipod to old amp

[capitanfigueras]

Have an Ipod nano and want to connect it to my old amp (no usb).

One suggestion is I should just use a male to male lead and another is to use a docking to RCA.

Thoughts?

 

[hamster]

I use a simple headphone to RCA lead to connect mine to an old Cambridge P40.

 

[Skeelsie]

3.5mm stereo to phono lead.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-5m-3-5mm-Jack-2 ... 5885ce5619

 

[fingers]

what he said ^ works well.

 

[drcarlos]

Only problem is a decent amp and speakers will expose how bad the sound is from the ipod, but it's good for parties and such like.

Carl.

 

[stewlewis]

A line out dock will take the signal from the line out directly and not through the Ipods inferior (to an external) headphone amp. You'll get better sound quality, albeit still very low powered signal, beware if changing sources on your amp.

As simple as it gets:

http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/ibasso-line-out-dock-adapter-for-ipod-iphone-prodid-1201.html

 

[Easy_Rider]

I guess the overall amplified sound quality also hugely depends on the level of compression of the songs on the iPod too.

 

[fingers]

I dont bother that often - as said, its ok for parties, but put a CD in and the difference is amazing...

And then theres Vinyl...

 

[legrandefromage]

Use a docking station for the iPod as the audio is at a better voltage for the amp.

As to audio quality, this all depends on the sampling rate at which your music was sourced. 128 is the usual settings as this is pretty much 'CD Quality'. anything sampled bellow 100 kbps and you'll hear the compression. iPods and any other HDD / solid state sourced players can be more than a match for the average CD player. Most CD players from about 1998 onwards use CD ROM based mechanisms and sound bloody awful.


I'm running my iPod via a 5 pin DIN plug to a very old amplifier...

BTW - 'CD Quality' is a big misnomer as the actual quality of CD is pretty naff when compared to the quality available from DAT, Vinyl and Reel to Reel recordings. CD has a 'brick wall filter' which means any information above around 21 kHz is lopped off where as Reel to Reel can go way up to 26 kHz, vinyl is the same and even the humble Compact Cassette can do 22kHz. Those who say we cant hear above 20kHz are deaf... (we can hear way above that)


From memory, sampling rates http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_rate_conversion are as follows:

CD was 44.1 kHz

DAT was 48 kHz or 96kHz

DVD is 48 kHz or (rarely) 96 kHz for two channel giving huuuge resolution

I think but cant confirm that Blu-Ray is 192 kHz or more.


at least according to the dusty vaults of my memory

 

[teebsgt]

Yep CDs were designed with quite a lot of limitations from the outset due to manufacturers erring on the conservative side, this then became industry standard. Hence the whole (failed) SACD thing later on.

Personally I think an MP3 or MP4 at 196kbps is indistinguishable from a CD, what bothers me far more is the trend for loudness in the mastering industry these days making a large amount of modern recordings very unpleasant to listen to! :x