👍 Phones suck as music players. Plus an iPod with loaded music can’t track you, throw ads at you, cost subscription fees, interrupt you with texts, calls and tornado warnings. Just music, as god intended.
Just sharing this information: There are 3 different versions of the 6th Gen iPod Classic. The first one being the original 6th gen. The second version is the 1st revision of the original, dropping the 160GB and 80GB versions and only making it 120GB. The third version is a 2nd revision and only making it available in 160GB, I believe this is the version everyone refers to as the "7th gen" of the iPod Classic
I have owned both. The 5/5.5 Gen iPod sound very good especially at higher volumes. 9/10 The new iPod Classic is not bad but is a bit bright sounding, which makes it seem better sounding but at higher volumes does not sound as natural. 7/10 Best option is to replace the hard drive from the 5/5.5 gen with a higher memory drive. The parts are interchangeable from the new iPod to the Older iPod.
@@FancescaTanuki that might just be your preference, but almost everyone agrees that the wolfson dac is warmer than any subsequent dac's. Mileage may vary ofc, but generally speaking it is not cold. I have the 5th, 7th, original shuffle, a couple nano's and the 5th is the best sounding to my ears.
I agree 'it does just music' thats what an mp3 player should do... i personally cant stand all this touch screen stuff when playing music...i prefer the click wheel and simple selection then sit back and enjoy....thanks for the review... Chris.
Like you, I dislike touch controls when it comes to audio players. My experience with touch controls is that they don't work as well as tactile controls because they don't provide the physical feedback that pressing an actual button does. Plus, the player's interface often isn't as well designed as it should be for touch controls (such as some items on the screen being too small to be easily pressed with a finger). In addition the physical controls, one of the things I like about the iPod Classic (the only other player I've come across with this feature is the Sansa Fuze+) is the ability to hide the features that you don't use. Many players have a number of features that I won't make use of but they remain on the screen unused. But with the current iPod, you can select the items you want to appear on the Main Menu and Music Menu. It's allows you to customize the iPod to suit you, including hiding all of the non-music functions if you choose to.
The ipod classic 7th gen does have a more accurate sound but the 5.5th gen has a more real 3D sound compared to 7th which has a more digital sound. EDM sounds good on the 7th but everything else sounds lifeless on the 7th gen and thats why i sold mine. The only advantage of having the 7th gen is the Mic control and the newer processor and thats it. To get the sound thats on the 5th and the 5.5 Gen for the 7th gen you would have to carry around an external dac which seem to be an inconvenience when im out and about. that and the prices for the 7th gen are very high used ($100 and up).
so, wouldnt it matter too the quality of the mp3 also? Straight import off the cd is fine, but if you have a low quality mp3 would still sound like real 3d sound?
Cirrus logic bought out Wolfson, it's a different chip, but it's made by the same people at the end of the day, it's just the next generation. I definitely prefer the warmer sound of the earlier chip in the the 5/5.5 though.
@@6scorpio I've got modded 5th and 5.5 gens coming my way soon, better sound refitted with the large memory size I'm used to from later iPods, I look forward to getting them.
The digital-audio-output works on iPod Video 5.5 gen and the Wolfson DAC sound is warmer than the Cirrus Logic one. iPod's Classic 7th gen are much more difficult to open when a battery replacement or mod is needed.
Thanks for the informative video. I just purchased an iPod Classic and one of the reasons I purchased it is that it is a music-centric player, as you mentioned in your video. Others things I like about this player are: (1) the tactile controls, and (2) its size. Although touch screens are popular, I find them difficult to use and much prefer tactile controls. Likewise, so many digital audio players are very small and the larger size of the iPod Classic is a welcome difference from other players.
Had both these (well, still has the 7th gen) and the only downside of the newer one is louder HDD. When it starts to spin, it produces a weak high pitched noise. Usually you won't notice but when playing some quiet chillout, you know of it.
What a nicely explained review this is, I thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks a lot. Just got myself a 7th gen, and didn't notice either a difference in sound quality with my old 5th gen, although my gear is nowhere near as advanced. I plug the ipod on a home stereo amplifier (Onkyo + JBL speakers) using the dock line out. I find the mp3 320bit sound good enough for my needs. I 'll have a look at your review on the portable amplifier, looks like an interesting little gadget you got yourself there.
Not sure how people tell the difference from these iPods for sound. I have tried all from 4-7 and they all sound the same to me. I currently have the 6gen and yes it doesn’t sound as good as say my 7.1 surround sound but that’s fine. Still sounds better than listening through my iPhone. Plus I have the 120GB HDD. Was the 80 but I wanted more.
I have an old 5.5 gen 60gb but the space wasn't enough over the years so I had to go with a 7th gen 160gb... yes it's better built, more modernized menus and some more options but when it comes to jsut playing music 5th gen wins hands down... the 7th gen audio chip is alright but it honestly doesn't compete with a 5th gen cause sometimes on a 7th, even all the volume up isn't loud enough, but on a 5th gen I literally never needed to raise the volume to max cause about 75-80% of volume in it was already loud af...
Awesome Video ; ) I currently, and proudly own, a 5th generation 80 GB identical to the one in the video. Apple doesnt make no more such quality products...
***** lol.. there's a reason why people prefer the 5.5 Gen ipod over the newer versions. .. it's because they sound much more superior. It has much better base and a much stronger punch!! ... I know when an ipod sounds good.. and no ipod even comes close to the ipod 5.5 80gb. I love them so much that now I collect them as often as I could.. especially if the price is right. Cheers!!
***** .. Awesome info.. thanks. I haven't had the need to upgrade my battery just yet but I probably will do it anyway. I use one of my 8 ipod 5.5s everyday .. lol.. their almost like my children. I love them!! Whenever I can get them for an excellent price I can't help but buy them. Now I've got a lot of family members and friends buying them. It won't be too long before these old ipod become difficult to find in decent shape. That dac Wolfson chip makes all the difference. Thanks again for all that excellent information. I'm definitely going to use it!! CHEERS!
Good news ! I have the wolfson DAC on several of my Hi-Fi components and i love the smooth warm sound. I just purchased a new 7th generation iPod classic(in the mail) and I was worried about the sound, so this is good to know.
between the 5th gen and the 6th & 7th gen the difference is like night and day in terms of sound quality. You cannot say the 7th gen sounds like the 5th gen. I had all 3 at one point and did a comparison on all of them before i made my mind up on which one to keep. I kept the 5th gen due to bringing out the best on my sennheisers and my denon in ear headphones. Yes i miss the capacity on storage but for the sake of plugging it in to move music about a little more oftern is no hard task.
FiiO make some excellent solid state hi rez players with good amplifiers and DACs and expandable memory using micro SD cards. They also accept a wider variety of file formats
hi.what do you think about upgrading version 5.5 with bigger ssd and bigger battery? it's a lot of companies on a market and they do this kind of stuff. what about sound quality? I want to buy this hybrid but I am not convinced. or maybe I should buy 80g with old hard drive?
2:29 It doesn`t bypass your iPod's DAC, your Desktop DAC basically overrites it / makes it a double pass filter once the signal has passed through your Desktop DAC into your PreAmp/Speakers. In my Case it's a Motu M4 overriting every incoming signal, except from my Pioneer XDJ-XZ which has such good DACs built in that the Motu M4 makes my overall DJ Setup quiter compared to if i don't use the Motu M4's Line-In Inputs to pass it through the Motu towards my High End Vinyl Player PreAmp, so when only plugging in the Pioneer Mixing Deck directly into the Vinyl Player PreAmp it can go ~40 dB louder as with the Motu M4 linked additionally because the Motu DAC is inferior to Pioneer DAC.
On my 30GB 5th gen ipod (A1136) I can hear a noticeable static background noise while the volume is low. Is every ipod classic like this? Do you know if this noise can be eliminated by replacing the headphone jack? Thank you in advance.
what a load!!! clearly this guys doesn't know what sound quality is. I have both the 5th gen 60gb and the 7th 160gb. I can tell you for sure that to me the 5th gen ipod with wolfson dac's sound much better. The 7th gen ipod with cirrus logic dac's sounds lifeless and dry.
The Genius I’ll give my input. The 5.5 does sound better, but only when measured with expensive equipment. Your years will hardly hear a difference and you would need a really expensive pair of headphones.
@The Genius i prefer the 5 / 5.5. I have the 7th as well. Without tweaking, on my sony headphones, the 5 / 5.5 sounds richer and warmer, while the 7th sounds cleaner and brighter. I prefer the 5 / 5.5 especially on larger speakers. Casual listeners here in the house can also tell the difference
I will say that the 6.5th gen sounds better than the pre-5th gen, about the same as an iPod mini 2nd gen, but I won't say that it's the same or better than the 5th gen! The author is mistaken. With a headphone amp connected via line-out, the 6th gen (or 6.5 gen - no such thing as a 7th) will sound better than the 5th gen though.
Hello friend. I have two 160Gb iPods. One is model MC293 (White) and the other is MC297 (Black). I noticed that the Ipod MC293 has a stronger sound than the MC297. Does this sound difference have to do with the DAC? Is there any way to improve the MC297's sound range without needing accessories? Grateful!
when hooking your ipod classic up to a Yamaha amplifier, is there any benefit going through the Pico Power amp? Or does the Yamaha perform the same function? I'm asking cuz that's my preferred way to listen to ipod classic. please comments ???
i bought ipod classic 7G when EQ is off its ok but when you enable EQ thats the time when you have problem with sound quality. the bass is messed up. im using KossPorta Pro headphones and i tried Hds and beats Klipch same results Its DISTORTED
I have a 4th generation ipod. I'm going to buy a 7th gen. (just for the greater storage capacity). And I hope the 7th gen. EQ has a much better pre-set selection. Since with respect to sound quality, the biggest weakness for the 4th generation is the pre-set EQ selection (but my ALPINE car receiver takes care of that problem). You don't want to listen to an Ipod with just headphones or just speakers (amped or not). Though the Dance setting is the best EQ choice - none of the pre-sets are worthy of praise. There should have been an EQ setting that raised the low and high frequencies (but keeps the mid-range centered). This way you get clarity with a full sound. Just compare the difference of any rigid Ipod EQ setting and the flexible Itunes software (with frequency settings as I described above). Anyway, it's amazing how most of the people most of the time get fooled - even the "experts" at Apple.
i'm so so confused and really need help I need to buy an mp3 player for my car which plays music by USB connect, already had my IPOD 5th 30 gb I sold it and need an upgrade , on ebay i got 2 good offers .. one ipod 5.5 80gb refurbished AND ipod 7th 160gb in excellent condition ... both are the same price , and 80gb already so enough for me what's most important to me is sound quality and BASS , i got Nissan Maxima 2011 with awesome Bose speakers Shall i buy the 5.5 or the 7th ? do i will feel that much difference in sound to buy an older version with less capacity with the same price ? Need your pro advice ASAP Thanks
+Ahmed El-Said Hey AhmedYou can actually purchase Ipod 5.5 Gen in a variety of sizes there is one on ebay that is 1TB!! I bought a 1TB and its the best thing i ever bought! It has a huge battery in it (2000Mah) and it sounds so good. Its pricey but it worth it and it wont die on you like other ipods do because it uses flash memory like the new apple products.
If they were really serious about making a music device. They would make them alittle bigger than a 2ed gen iPod classic. They would have them accept a 2.5" SSD interchangeable from the outside so they need not be taken apart and do the batteries the same way. Swap out the batteries and hard drives by just opening a compartment door. Even better, have them accept a Kobalt 24v power tool battery, just slide/snap it into place. Swap out hard drive SSD like they were cassettes
no. the 7 has cleaner sound and sounds better on modern headphones than the 5.5. The 5.5 also has hiss if you use IEMs where the 7 is perfectly silent. 7s cost more for a reason
I love how audiophiles (myself included) can never stop needing new gear, not because "WE NEED THE LATEST IPRODUCT!!!" But because we want to find perfect sound - which, doesn't exist, but I think the info about the 7 being bypassed from the line out has persuaded me to take the plunge when I've saved up, just a question, the onboard DAC is bypassed with a portable amp like a FiiO e11 right?
If you use a line out doc to connect to an amp, you are using the built in DAC of the iPod. You would need an external combo DAC/Amp in order to bypass the iPod DAC.
Great video! But I'm a little confused..Why not just get a male 30-pin to 3.5mm female adapter or cable and bypass the bulk and need for additional sound processing and potential distortion using the Pico Power?
Hey if you bypass iPods dac by using some external, better, dac... what is the point of the iPod? Can't you use than any cheap device, phone or anything... Sound will be converted in dac and amplified so isn't that only thing that matters? Any device can decode the file it's not like you need ipod then, right?
Petar Stankovic Why buy a phone when you can just go up to something and talk to them? it's the same thing, not like you need a phone to talk to them, right?
Petar Stankovic Building you're own music player isn't a bad idea, like you said it's just a simple computer with a DAC and amplifier. People buy these iPods because of the 160gig harddrive, you can't get a portable media player with more space than that. (if you can please let me know)
MadJack122 I'm letting you know right now. Sony ZX2 (128 GB + 200 GB Micro SD = 328 GB), Astell & Kern AK100 mk1/2 (2 x 200 GB = 400 GB), AK120 mk1 (again 400 GB), AK120 II 328 GB), AK240 (456 Gb) and at least 10 other players (FiiO X5 with 2 SD slots, QLS QA360, Lotoo PAW Gold, ASC also and many more, probably even more than I know). Mostly with SD cards which is not a con but a pro since it is a faster memory than one found on the iPod; also AK240 has stock memory 256 GB flash, also more and faster than the iPod). Even in smartphones you can put 200 GB Micro SD card and have more than iPod and have better UI and one less device to carry around. My first question was: What's the point of having an iPod if you bypass both DAC and amp since anything can decode audio and there are much better UI solutions that this, also many cheaper. If you don't have anything smart to say or any argument than why spam here? Are you trying to be smart with questions like: "Why use a phone when you can talk"? I was searching for some reason why if at all is having certain player (in this case iPod) if you will bypass both DAC and amp.
Petar Stankovic I understand where you're getting at. People who're planning to use external dac/amp uses iPod cause they're used to their UI. It's friendly and easy to use (it's a matter of preference). But you're right. Any device that could carry the file would suffice.
Thanks for the review, very helpful! My current setup is an iPod Touch to an Audioquest Dragonfly DAC (a USB DAC) via an Apple camera adapter (i.e. lightning bolt to female usb adapter). I am looking to get a 7th generation iPod Classic for more space. Will the external DAC I have work with a 7th generation iPod class via the 30 pin to female usb adapter? Thanks :)
DAC is only for a USB connection i.e. your computer. Over-riding you computer's DAC or sound card, to make music sound better than your computer's original sound card/DAC. It is not used when connected to your moble device.
I've converted some FLAC files to ALAC using the XLD app or Amarra, and notice zero loss. This iPod comes with the old style earbuds. I just ignore them.
+Alan Santiago In this video he claims that the better dac can be found in the 7th gen ipod. You have the 5th gen ipod video 2005 which has the second best dac. The first goes to the 5.5 Gen ipod Video enhanced 2006
guys im just bought ipod 7th gen 120gb what i want to ask is what portable amp will go well with it?unfortunetly i have small budget left for bought the ipod+earphone(soundmagic e10 i will change it in the future thoughXD)
Just use it as is! You still might have to spend $200 to do better. If you’re at home you can get a cheap amp like Magni 3+ or Heresy, or Liquid Spark, or JDS Atom, or portables by Fiio is iFi. At this level you could use the headphone out to amp to power bigger headphones.
hi im planning to purchase the latest ipod classic 160gb.i just wanna be sure from you if the sound quality is very good but no bias coz im starting to go into mobile audiophile too.planning for an audio technica ath m50 for the headphones. what do you think combining both?very important for me the sound quality with a fiio e17 ass amp/dac?
If you're linking the iPod to a hifi with an internal DAC or a directly connecting to an external DAC then the 160gb iPod is the way to go. The iPods prior to the 6th gen. have been hobbled by Apple if you want to export pure digital sound. That is you get NO digital sound. Until I found this out I was going to sell my boxed 160gb iPod but now I'll be selling the 5.5 and iPod Photo once the batteries are replaced. And I'm trying to lay my hands on a good quality Pure i-20 digital dock. so I can export digital musical to my Rotel A11 (which has a high end Wolfsen DAC chip). If I want to carry music around then it's on a Nano or iPhone but if I want a "music server" then this iPod is the way to go. And I agree with other posters that the iOS devices for scrolling is a major PIA and the "Classic" scroll wheel is far superior.
I've just purchased a Cambridge Audio iD100 dock which transfers pure digital sound from the iPod/iOS device/Nano to a external DAC or an amp with an internal DAC and then out to the analogue speakers. The best cable to use in this situation is a S/PDIF Coaxial and apparently the music across the board is sublime. The thing to remember is that the internal "i" DACs are for portable use and are limited in how good they are. In other words these DACs are only good up to a point and the DACs in hifi systems are far superior. I've have a Rotel RA-11 with an internal Wolfsen chip which is far superior to what Apple provides if you want to link an iPod or iDevice to a dock and to use the former as music server. What I like about the 160gb iPod is the interface that is primarily linked to the process of accessing music. Believe me that when accessing music from a list of over 1200 albums the scroll wheel scrolling through a list.
@@drjealous4301 no ı am not dumb. for best sound quality you must buy 5.5th and if you want open it inside and change something you must select 5th/5.5th or older and dont say dumb to people just say you dont know anything about it just say it, can a math teacher give a lesson about history maybe if she/he know history.have a great day and sorry if ı made any mistake about english
I love my iPod classic 7th generation I have the 160gb in black. I was using headphones with a interchangeable aux cable but the cord got in my way and it was annoying. My grandma bought me a Bluetooth adapter so I can pair my Bluetooth headphones to my iPod and I like it better that way.
compared to a smartphone both of these ipods outshine a smartphone by far! the 5th gen will have a more precise sound to it and the 7th gen will have a more live Sound to it. both are incredible! I'm an s6 edge plus user. but my 5th gen ipod is my music player of choice
Awesome video! I'm visually impaired and I need something without a screen that sounds nice idk thinking about going back to mini disc or if if I had no choice I'd go with Pioneer xdp 100R
I have 2 iPod Classics late 2009. I bought them this year February 2013 160 GB. do I have what you are describing. I have all my music stored on both my iPods, both carry the same music. one stays in my truck and the other is for my house/portable use. most of my music is compressed except many select albums are apple lossless. most of my music is compressed 320 or 390 or higher. I know its not perfect but I feel that it sounds decent enough for someone like me.
XR6 Turbo The 5.5 indicates a revision Apple made to the 5th generation. The 5.5 will have a search function under music wile the regular 5th gens won’t.
Hi. I been watching your youtube videos on the difference between the 7th Gen iPod Classic and the 5th Gen iPod video, and theyre really good. I currently have a 7th Gen iPod classic, the 160gb version. I love it cause its hold so much music, but ive had to lower the quality on all my files to fit all my music on it, cause of more music than storage. I found online how there are modded versions of oth the 7th and 5th gen, with 1tb storage capacities and im looking in to buy one or the other. I was hoping to get your opinion on which you think may be best for me tho. I listen to a lot of contemporary music: hip hop, metal and hardcore, pop, and electronic (dubstep and techno). In your opinion, which ipod would sound best with these genres? I recall you said that the 5th gen has a darker tone, and that would be great when it comes to listening to metal and hardcore, but I would prefer to listen to the music as it was intended, so do you believe the 7th gen would be best? I hope im not bothering you with this long message. Thank you for your time.
It doesn't matter that much as long as you are playing lossless files. For best sound quality, use an external DAC and headphone amp. Although I've been fairly pleased with the sound out of my iPhone 6 and just my V-Moda M100s direct.
iPod can actually do 24/48. Those other players are options but the interface on them suck compared to Apples, and the iPod is industry standard so plugs into my car, my friends stereo system etc, etc. Further, the iPod is $250. Astrell & Kern is $1,300. No thanks.
I’m sad today after knowing from you that one should avoid the iPod Classic 6th gen. My order for this brand new iPod Classic 6th on eBay is now coming from China.
Hey how would I be able to find out which generation is my iPod. I bought it in 2008 I think. It's a black classic 120gb but I'm not sure which generation
phototristan saves battery and is lighter though. Was playing around with maybe getting one but will probably go with another brand or maybe an LG 30 or something.
Why do you need an extra device to enhance the ipod sound if the quality is already as good as the old 5th generation? I know that Apple put a volume limiter on their ipods from 6th gen onwards. This is a problem if playing through an amplifier as the user has to remember to reduce the amplifier volume when switching to tuner or CD. Otherwise you could blow your eardrums out! A definite deal-breaker for post-5th gen. devices.
👍 Phones suck as music players. Plus an iPod with loaded music can’t track you, throw ads at you, cost subscription fees, interrupt you with texts, calls and tornado warnings. Just music, as god intended.
This information is still valid in 2023. Splendid.
Just sharing this information: There are 3 different versions of the 6th Gen iPod Classic. The first one being the original 6th gen. The second version is the 1st revision of the original, dropping the 160GB and 80GB versions and only making it 120GB. The third version is a 2nd revision and only making it available in 160GB, I believe this is the version everyone refers to as the "7th gen" of the iPod Classic
I have owned both.
The 5/5.5 Gen iPod sound very good especially at higher volumes. 9/10
The new iPod Classic is not bad but is a bit bright sounding, which makes it seem better sounding but at higher volumes does not sound as natural. 7/10
Best option is to replace the hard drive from the 5/5.5 gen with a higher memory drive. The parts are interchangeable from the new iPod to the Older iPod.
The 5 sound cold. It give me headhacke
@@FancescaTanuki that might just be your preference, but almost everyone agrees that the wolfson dac is warmer than any subsequent dac's. Mileage may vary ofc, but generally speaking it is not cold. I have the 5th, 7th, original shuffle, a couple nano's and the 5th is the best sounding to my ears.
I agree 'it does just music' thats what an mp3 player should do... i personally cant stand all this touch screen stuff when playing music...i prefer the click wheel and simple selection then sit back and enjoy....thanks for the review...
Chris.
Like you, I dislike touch controls when it comes to audio players. My experience with touch controls is that they don't work as well as tactile controls because they don't provide the physical feedback that pressing an actual button does. Plus, the player's interface often isn't as well designed as it should be for touch controls (such as some items on the screen being too small to be easily pressed with a finger).
In addition the physical controls, one of the things I like about the iPod Classic (the only other player I've come across with this feature is the Sansa Fuze+) is the ability to hide the features that you don't use. Many players have a number of features that I won't make use of but they remain on the screen unused. But with the current iPod, you can select the items you want to appear on the Main Menu and Music Menu. It's allows you to customize the iPod to suit you, including hiding all of the non-music functions if you choose to.
I'll deal with touchscreens if it means I don't have to carry as much crap. Device convergence is nice.
Corinn Heathers I agree, unfortunately I listen to a lot of music. If my iPhone held music like my classic(s) do I would me so much happier.
Will Wade Agreed, the limited and non-expandable space on a lot of smartphones doesn't really let you have gobs and gobs of music.
This may be the first intellectual internet conversation for me in awhile. Thanks for that.
The ipod classic 7th gen does have a more accurate sound but the 5.5th gen has a more real 3D sound compared to 7th which has a more digital sound. EDM sounds good on the 7th but everything else sounds lifeless on the 7th gen and thats why i sold mine. The only advantage of having the 7th gen is the Mic control and the newer processor and thats it. To get the sound thats on the 5th and the 5.5 Gen for the 7th gen you would have to carry around an external dac which seem to be an inconvenience when im out and about. that and the prices for the 7th gen are very high used ($100 and up).
so, wouldnt it matter too the quality of the mp3 also? Straight import off the cd is fine, but if you have a low quality mp3 would still sound like real 3d sound?
For those wondering, the 6/7th gen DAC is made by Cirrus Logic.
Cirrus logic bought out Wolfson, it's a different chip, but it's made by the same people at the end of the day, it's just the next generation.
I definitely prefer the warmer sound of the earlier chip in the the 5/5.5 though.
@@6scorpio I've got modded 5th and 5.5 gens coming my way soon, better sound refitted with the large memory size I'm used to from later iPods, I look forward to getting them.
The 6G and 7G iPod Classic both use the same exact DAC, the Cirrus Logic CS42L55. They should sound identical.
The digital-audio-output works on iPod Video 5.5 gen and the Wolfson DAC sound is warmer than the Cirrus Logic one. iPod's Classic 7th gen are much more difficult to open when a battery replacement or mod is needed.
Thanks for the informative video. I just purchased an iPod Classic and one of the reasons I purchased it is that it is a music-centric player, as you mentioned in your video. Others things I like about this player are: (1) the tactile controls, and (2) its size. Although touch screens are popular, I find them difficult to use and much prefer tactile controls. Likewise, so many digital audio players are very small and the larger size of the iPod Classic is a welcome difference from other players.
Tbh I love the look of the 6th and 7th gen but the 5th gen is my absoulte fav
Digital out is available from the 5.5 gen if you Rockbox it. I play flac files on my Philips bedside player with the “Line Out” selected “On” .
Had both these (well, still has the 7th gen) and the only downside of the newer one is louder HDD. When it starts to spin, it produces a weak high pitched noise. Usually you won't notice but when playing some quiet chillout, you know of it.
Thank you for the more unbiased difference video between their sounds
The Sound Quality From The 5th Generation Classic Sounds Very Splendid, Clearly, Powerful, And Awesomely Incredible!
What a nicely explained review this is, I thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks a lot. Just got myself a 7th gen, and didn't notice either a difference in sound quality with my old 5th gen, although my gear is nowhere near as advanced. I plug the ipod on a home stereo amplifier (Onkyo + JBL speakers) using the dock line out. I find the mp3 320bit sound good enough for my needs. I 'll have a look at your review on the portable amplifier, looks like an interesting little gadget you got yourself there.
Not sure how people tell the difference from these iPods for sound. I have tried all from 4-7 and they all sound the same to me. I currently have the 6gen and yes it doesn’t sound as good as say my 7.1 surround sound but that’s fine. Still sounds better than listening through my iPhone. Plus I have the 120GB HDD. Was the 80 but I wanted more.
I have an old 5.5 gen 60gb but the space wasn't enough over the years so I had to go with a 7th gen 160gb... yes it's better built, more modernized menus and some more options but when it comes to jsut playing music 5th gen wins hands down... the 7th gen audio chip is alright but it honestly doesn't compete with a 5th gen cause sometimes on a 7th, even all the volume up isn't loud enough, but on a 5th gen I literally never needed to raise the volume to max cause about 75-80% of volume in it was already loud af...
I don't think there is the 5.5 gen 60g. It should be 80g. Or 60g 5 gen.
Awesome Video ; )
I currently, and proudly own, a 5th generation 80 GB identical to the one in the video. Apple doesnt make no more such quality products...
Just becouse you can report it, it doesn`t mean that you are right. I have them both, and the older version is winning by mile!
I agree 5.5 is the best ever
I respectfully disagree. . Ipod 5.5 80gb.. has much better sound quality. That Wolfson chip is awesome.
***** lol.. there's a reason why people prefer the 5.5 Gen ipod over the newer versions. .. it's because they sound much more superior. It has much better base and a much stronger punch!! ... I know when an ipod sounds good.. and no ipod even comes close to the ipod 5.5 80gb. I love them so much that now I collect them as often as I could.. especially if the price is right.
Cheers!!
***** im ordering my 1 tb samsung msata ssd for my classic 5.5 right now. :D
***** .. Awesome info.. thanks. I haven't had the need to upgrade my battery just yet but I probably will do it anyway. I use one of my 8 ipod 5.5s everyday .. lol.. their almost like my children. I love them!! Whenever I can get them for an excellent price I can't help but buy them. Now I've got a lot of family members and friends buying them. It won't be too long before these old ipod become difficult to find in decent shape. That dac Wolfson chip makes all the difference. Thanks again for all that excellent information. I'm definitely going to use it!!
CHEERS!
***** Thank you for the battery info! That completely slipped my mind. Is there a certain brand you recommend?
***** Thank you so much! I just have one more question. Will i need a thicker back for my ipod or can i still use the thin one i already have?
I love my iPod classic, good sound and alot of storage
so the 5th gen has the better audio quality??
Good news ! I have the wolfson DAC on several of my Hi-Fi components and i love the smooth warm sound. I just purchased a new 7th generation iPod classic(in the mail) and I was worried about the sound, so this is good to know.
between the 5th gen and the 6th & 7th gen the difference is like night and day in terms of sound quality. You cannot say the 7th gen sounds like the 5th gen. I had all 3 at one point and did a comparison on all of them before i made my mind up on which one to keep. I kept the 5th gen due to bringing out the best on my sennheisers and my denon in ear headphones. Yes i miss the capacity on storage but for the sake of plugging it in to move music about a little more oftern is no hard task.
IPod Classic on Bose docking speaker, doesn’t get any better. Works great in the car too. With Bose speakers, no commercials!
hey there! used this video (and other sources) and settled for an ipod video. The base is nice and loud on it
Can someone tell me if classic 5th gen has better sound than nano 5th gen and is it by far?
FiiO make some excellent solid state hi rez players with good amplifiers and DACs and expandable memory using micro SD cards. They also accept a wider variety of file formats
No fiio sounds like a wolfson dac
@@necrodh the DACs they use are probably made by Wolfson that's why
hi.what do you think about upgrading version 5.5 with bigger ssd and bigger battery?
it's a lot of companies on a market and they do this kind of stuff.
what about sound quality?
I want to buy this hybrid but I am not convinced. or maybe I should buy 80g with old hard drive?
I just bought the 5g and now i saw this video. Hope its like you told us with the quality. I subscribed after this video. Thanks mate ! :D
@The Genius Why would you reply to a 4 year old comment? dummy
2:29 It doesn`t bypass your iPod's DAC, your Desktop DAC basically overrites it / makes it a double pass filter once the signal has passed through your Desktop DAC into your PreAmp/Speakers.
In my Case it's a Motu M4 overriting every incoming signal, except from my Pioneer XDJ-XZ which has such good DACs built in that the Motu M4 makes my overall DJ Setup quiter compared to if i don't use the Motu M4's Line-In Inputs to pass it through the Motu towards my High End Vinyl Player PreAmp, so when only plugging in the Pioneer Mixing Deck directly into the Vinyl Player PreAmp it can go ~40 dB louder as with the Motu M4 linked additionally because the Motu DAC is inferior to Pioneer DAC.
On my 30GB 5th gen ipod (A1136) I can hear a noticeable static background noise while
the volume is low. Is every ipod classic like this? Do you know if this
noise can be eliminated by replacing the headphone jack? Thank you in
advance.
Thanks for the info. By any chance, what current external Fiio Model DAC/AMP works w/ your ipod classic that I can use for my car?
Can you make a sound quality test of iPod 5.5 gen and iPod Classic 7th gen :)
how much was the iPod classic back in 2013? Looking on eBay now they are 400 USD
what a load!!! clearly this guys doesn't know what sound quality is. I have both the 5th gen 60gb and the 7th 160gb. I can tell you for sure that to me the 5th gen ipod with wolfson dac's sound much better. The 7th gen ipod with cirrus logic dac's sounds lifeless and dry.
@The Genius Nah
@The Genius also wikipedia speack about the really worth quality of the 5.5 generation...
The Genius I’ll give my input. The 5.5 does sound better, but only when measured with expensive equipment. Your years will hardly hear a difference and you would need a really expensive pair of headphones.
@The Genius i prefer the 5 / 5.5. I have the 7th as well. Without tweaking, on my sony headphones, the 5 / 5.5 sounds richer and warmer, while the 7th sounds cleaner and brighter. I prefer the 5 / 5.5 especially on larger speakers. Casual listeners here in the house can also tell the difference
I will say that the 6.5th gen sounds better than the pre-5th gen, about the same as an iPod mini 2nd gen, but I won't say that it's the same or better than the 5th gen! The author is mistaken.
With a headphone amp connected via line-out, the 6th gen (or 6.5 gen - no such thing as a 7th) will sound better than the 5th gen though.
Hello friend. I have two 160Gb iPods. One is model MC293 (White) and the other is MC297 (Black). I noticed that the Ipod MC293 has a stronger sound than the MC297. Does this sound difference have to do with the DAC? Is there any way to improve the MC297's sound range without needing accessories? Grateful!
when hooking your ipod classic up to a Yamaha amplifier, is there any benefit going through the Pico Power amp? Or does the Yamaha perform the same function? I'm asking cuz that's my preferred way to listen to ipod classic. please comments ???
i bought ipod classic 7G when EQ is off its ok but when you enable EQ thats the time when you have problem with sound quality. the bass is messed up. im using KossPorta Pro headphones and i tried Hds and beats Klipch same results Its DISTORTED
Problem, i cant find any info on a 7'th generation. And that makes it impossible to figure out which version i have...can you help me out, please?
I have a 4th generation ipod. I'm going to buy a 7th gen. (just for the greater storage capacity). And I hope the 7th gen. EQ has a much better pre-set selection.
Since with respect to sound quality, the biggest weakness for the 4th generation is the pre-set EQ selection (but my ALPINE car receiver takes care of that problem). You don't want to listen to an Ipod with just headphones or just speakers (amped or not). Though the Dance setting is the best EQ choice - none of the pre-sets are worthy of praise. There should have been an EQ setting that raised the low and high frequencies (but keeps the mid-range centered). This way you get clarity with a full sound. Just compare the difference of any rigid Ipod EQ setting and the flexible Itunes software (with frequency settings as I described above). Anyway, it's amazing how most of the people most of the time get fooled - even the "experts" at Apple.
Right Chris, music should be the essence,for all other things we have our iPhone,isn´t it?
i'm so so confused and really need help
I need to buy an mp3 player for my car which plays music by USB connect, already had my IPOD 5th 30 gb
I sold it and need an upgrade , on ebay i got 2 good offers .. one ipod 5.5 80gb refurbished AND ipod 7th 160gb in excellent condition ... both are the same price , and 80gb already so enough for me
what's most important to me is sound quality and BASS , i got Nissan Maxima 2011 with awesome Bose speakers
Shall i buy the 5.5 or the 7th ? do i will feel that much difference in sound to buy an older version with less capacity with the same price ?
Need your pro advice ASAP
Thanks
+Ahmed El-Said Hey AhmedYou can actually purchase Ipod 5.5 Gen in a variety of sizes there is one on ebay that is 1TB!! I bought a 1TB and its the best thing i ever bought! It has a huge battery in it (2000Mah) and it sounds so good. Its pricey but it worth it and it wont die on you like other ipods do because it uses flash memory like the new apple products.
Can you provide a link to purchase that line out cable?
If they were really serious about making a music device. They would make them alittle bigger than a 2ed gen iPod classic. They would have them accept a 2.5" SSD interchangeable from the outside so they need not be taken apart and do the batteries the same way. Swap out the batteries and hard drives by just opening a compartment door. Even better, have them accept a Kobalt 24v power tool battery, just slide/snap it into place. Swap out hard drive SSD like they were cassettes
How many storage variants does the iPod 5.5 generation have? What will be his model number? Will there be any special recognition of iPod 5.5?
I own the 7G and I wonder if I should buy the 5.5 because of its DAC... What do you guys think?
no. the 7 has cleaner sound and sounds better on modern headphones than the 5.5. The 5.5 also has hiss if you use IEMs where the 7 is perfectly silent. 7s cost more for a reason
I love how audiophiles (myself included) can never stop needing new gear, not because "WE NEED THE LATEST IPRODUCT!!!" But because we want to find perfect sound - which, doesn't exist, but I think the info about the 7 being bypassed from the line out has persuaded me to take the plunge when I've saved up, just a question, the onboard DAC is bypassed with a portable amp like a FiiO e11 right?
If you use a line out doc to connect to an amp, you are using the built in DAC of the iPod. You would need an external combo DAC/Amp in order to bypass the iPod DAC.
Oh so something like the eo7k?
I just fixed a iPod video and it sounds a lot better than my iPod touch.
very informative comparison between the 2 ipods, my question is can you play songs downloaded from spotify in those ipods?
you can play songs downloaded from piratebay.
Does the 5th generation have good sound quality? Please help
in my opinion yes
Yep
yeaaah
The 7th generation one has more of a mid range bump and a little less high end. It can be a bit annoying, depending on what you're listening to.
Great video! But I'm a little confused..Why not just get a male 30-pin to 3.5mm female adapter or cable and bypass the bulk and need for additional sound processing and potential distortion using the Pico Power?
Hey if you bypass iPods dac by using some external, better, dac... what is the point of the iPod? Can't you use than any cheap device, phone or anything... Sound will be converted in dac and amplified so isn't that only thing that matters? Any device can decode the file it's not like you need ipod then, right?
Petar Stankovic Why buy a phone when you can just go up to something and talk to them? it's the same thing, not like you need a phone to talk to them, right?
MadJack122 No. It's not the same thing. You can talk to someone on distance with phone, for example.
Petar Stankovic Building you're own music player isn't a bad idea, like you said it's just a simple computer with a DAC and amplifier. People buy these iPods because of the 160gig harddrive, you can't get a portable media player with more space than that. (if you can please let me know)
MadJack122 I'm letting you know right now. Sony ZX2 (128 GB + 200 GB Micro SD = 328 GB), Astell & Kern AK100 mk1/2 (2 x 200 GB = 400 GB), AK120 mk1 (again 400 GB), AK120 II 328 GB), AK240 (456 Gb) and at least 10 other players (FiiO X5 with 2 SD slots, QLS QA360, Lotoo PAW Gold, ASC also and many more, probably even more than I know).
Mostly with SD cards which is not a con but a pro since it is a faster memory than one found on the iPod; also AK240 has stock memory 256 GB flash, also more and faster than the iPod). Even in smartphones you can put 200 GB Micro SD card and have more than iPod and have better UI and one less device to carry around.
My first question was: What's the point of having an iPod if you bypass both DAC and amp since anything can decode audio and there are much better UI solutions that this, also many cheaper. If you don't have anything smart to say or any argument than why spam here? Are you trying to be smart with questions like: "Why use a phone when you can talk"? I was searching for some reason why if at all is having certain player (in this case iPod) if you will bypass both DAC and amp.
Petar Stankovic I understand where you're getting at. People who're planning to use external dac/amp uses iPod cause they're used to their UI. It's friendly and easy to use (it's a matter of preference). But you're right. Any device that could carry the file would suffice.
Alright. Thanks for the tip and converter app suggestions!
picko power amplifier where can i buy one do you have a link please?
Can we bypass the internal dac by connecting fiio e17 using LOD?
Nope. You would have to to connect it to another DAC either portable or in a dock, etc.
Yes, if it's connected to an external headphone amp (like the author's Fiio)
Thanks for the review, very helpful! My current setup is an iPod Touch to an Audioquest Dragonfly DAC (a USB DAC) via an Apple camera adapter (i.e. lightning bolt to female usb adapter).
I am looking to get a 7th generation iPod Classic for more space. Will the external DAC I have work with a 7th generation iPod class via the 30 pin to female usb adapter?
Thanks :)
DAC is only for a USB connection i.e. your computer. Over-riding you computer's DAC or sound card, to make music sound better than your computer's original sound card/DAC. It is not used when connected to your moble device.
I've converted some FLAC files to ALAC using the XLD app or Amarra, and notice zero loss.
This iPod comes with the old style earbuds. I just ignore them.
Hello , please send a link for ipod line out adapter , Thanks.
Hello, please have the download link for the XLD program, I would appreciate it. Greetings.
I have a 60gb black model from '05 or '06, is that with the better dac?
+Alan Santiago In this video he claims that the better dac can be found in the 7th gen ipod. You have the 5th gen ipod video 2005 which has the second best dac. The first goes to the 5.5 Gen ipod Video enhanced 2006
excuse me, which Generation is better quality sound? im going to get my ipod classic in black color this week.
guys im just bought ipod 7th gen 120gb what i want to ask is what portable amp will go well with it?unfortunetly i have small budget left for bought the ipod+earphone(soundmagic e10 i will change it in the future thoughXD)
Just use it as is! You still might have to spend $200 to do better. If you’re at home you can get a cheap amp like Magni 3+ or Heresy, or Liquid Spark, or JDS Atom, or portables by Fiio is iFi. At this level you could use the headphone out to amp to power bigger headphones.
why do you need another device my headphone fit directly into my I pod ??
I have the 7th gen (just bought yesterday). I also have the 30gb white 5th gen video. Do you think there is much of a sound difference?
hi im planning to purchase the latest ipod classic 160gb.i just wanna be sure from you if the sound quality is very good but no bias coz im starting to go into mobile audiophile too.planning for an audio technica ath m50 for the headphones. what do you think combining both?very important for me the sound quality with a fiio e17 ass amp/dac?
If you're linking the iPod to a hifi with an internal DAC or a directly connecting to an external DAC then the 160gb iPod is the way to go. The iPods prior to the 6th gen. have been hobbled by Apple if you want to export pure digital sound. That is you get NO digital sound.
Until I found this out I was going to sell my boxed 160gb iPod but now I'll be selling the 5.5 and iPod Photo once the batteries are replaced. And I'm trying to lay my hands on a good quality Pure i-20 digital dock. so I can export digital musical to my Rotel A11 (which has a high end Wolfsen DAC chip). If I want to carry music around then it's on a Nano or iPhone but if I want a "music server" then this iPod is the way to go.
And I agree with other posters that the iOS devices for scrolling is a major PIA and the "Classic" scroll wheel is far superior.
I've just purchased a Cambridge Audio iD100 dock which transfers pure digital sound from the iPod/iOS device/Nano to a external DAC or an amp with an internal DAC and then out to the analogue speakers. The best cable to use in this situation is a S/PDIF Coaxial and apparently the music across the board is sublime.
The thing to remember is that the internal "i" DACs are for portable use and are limited in how good they are. In other words these DACs are only good up to a point and the DACs in hifi systems are far superior. I've have a Rotel RA-11 with an internal Wolfsen chip which is far superior to what Apple provides if you want to link an iPod or iDevice to a dock and to use the former as music server. What I like about the 160gb iPod is the interface that is primarily linked to the process of accessing music. Believe me that when accessing music from a list of over 1200 albums the scroll wheel scrolling through a list.
Girls till Me that I have a real nice "DAC"
Did you maybe compare the Iphone 5 sound quality to the Ipod? Especially when using them by just plugging the headphones in, without separate amp.
umm dude can you tell ı will buy ipod classic but 5 or 5.5 or 6 th gen which is good for what ?
you must be a dumb fk to ask this question. you don't deserve an ipod
@@drjealous4301 no ı am not dumb. for best sound quality you must buy 5.5th and if you want open it inside and change something you must select 5th/5.5th or older and dont say dumb to people just say you dont know anything about it just say it, can a math teacher give a lesson about history maybe if she/he know history.have a great day and sorry if ı made any mistake about english
@@justchill4886 your mistake is that you're dumb. Nothing you just said means anything.
I love my iPod classic 7th generation I have the 160gb in black. I was using headphones with a interchangeable aux cable but the cord got in my way and it was annoying. My grandma bought me a Bluetooth adapter so I can pair my Bluetooth headphones to my iPod and I like it better that way.
compared to a smartphone both of these ipods outshine a smartphone by far! the 5th gen will have a more precise sound to it and the 7th gen will have a more live Sound to it. both are incredible! I'm an s6 edge plus user. but my 5th gen ipod is my music player of choice
How can I tell if I have 6th or 7th generation? Mine is 160gb
What is the fiio model?
The iPod touch 5th also sounds pretty good. In many ways its better than 5.5.
I'm thinking of repairing my 1st gen ipod nano. I love the flash memory but how does that compare to the DACs in the 7th and 5.5 gen?
Awesome video! I'm visually impaired and I need something without a screen that sounds nice idk thinking about going back to mini disc or if if I had no choice I'd go with Pioneer xdp 100R
The iPod 120 GB is seventh generation ?
x2
Thank you this puts my head to rest.
Dat geloof ik gelijk.... Weinig cable Hihi
I have 2 iPod Classics late 2009. I bought them this year February 2013 160 GB. do I have what you are describing. I have all my music stored on both my iPods, both carry the same music. one stays in my truck and the other is for my house/portable use. most of my music is compressed except many select albums are apple lossless. most of my music is compressed 320 or 390 or higher. I know its not perfect but I feel that it sounds decent enough for someone like me.
+PHOTOTRISTAN How can I check which generation Ipod mine is? Thanx!
+Eduardo Macedo Check it here: support.apple.com/en-us/HT204217
What do you think about Rockbox for ipods? Have you tried it for sound quality
What do you mean 5.5 ? Is it different from iPod classic 5th generation?
XR6 Turbo The 5.5 indicates a revision Apple made to the 5th generation. The 5.5 will have a search function under music wile the regular 5th gens won’t.
what headphones you use??
Hi. I been watching your youtube videos on the difference between the 7th Gen iPod Classic and the 5th Gen iPod video, and theyre really good. I currently have a 7th Gen iPod classic, the 160gb version. I love it cause its hold so much music, but ive had to lower the quality on all my files to fit all my music on it, cause of more music than storage. I found online how there are modded versions of oth the 7th and 5th gen, with 1tb storage capacities and im looking in to buy one or the other. I was hoping to get your opinion on which you think may be best for me tho. I listen to a lot of contemporary music: hip hop, metal and hardcore, pop, and electronic (dubstep and techno). In your opinion, which ipod would sound best with these genres? I recall you said that the 5th gen has a darker tone, and that would be great when it comes to listening to metal and hardcore, but I would prefer to listen to the music as it was intended, so do you believe the 7th gen would be best? I hope im not bothering you with this long message. Thank you for your time.
It doesn't matter that much as long as you are playing lossless files. For best sound quality, use an external DAC and headphone amp. Although I've been fairly pleased with the sound out of my iPhone 6 and just my V-Moda M100s direct.
wich Fiio is that?
iPod can actually do 24/48. Those other players are options but the interface on them suck compared to Apples, and the iPod is industry standard so plugs into my car, my friends stereo system etc, etc. Further, the iPod is $250. Astrell & Kern is $1,300. No thanks.
I’m sad today after knowing from you that one should avoid the iPod Classic 6th gen. My order for this brand new iPod Classic 6th on eBay is now coming from China.
I just bought 7th gen classic a week ago and yes it has this sound but I can only notice it in a quiet room.
The 6th generation (ipod classic, 2007-2014) is the best ever.
Sorry.. but that's FALSE!
Hey how would I be able to find out which generation is my iPod. I bought it in 2008 I think. It's a black classic 120gb but I'm not sure which generation
It's a 6½ gen.
Are you running SSD on them or a spinning drive?
Stock. That doesn't matter though since either way it loads the song in to RAM first.
phototristan saves battery and is lighter though. Was playing around with maybe getting one but will probably go with another brand or maybe an LG 30 or something.
thinking of buying the sennheiser hd8 dj headphones they are 95 ohm. Can the ipod classic 7th gen drive those headphones with out an amp?
I was told by someone on Head Fi that and iPod/iPhone SHOULD be able to drive the HD8 DJ's.
The Wolfson DAC is not darker, it's more clear and profound, and the Cirus Logic DAC is more high mid and less low end, or like a forced low end.
What's that thing called you hooked the iPod up to?
Dac
+Rock'ca Holic This one is actually just a headphone amplifier, no DAC.
@@phototristan The DAC is built-into all external amps actually
Phototristan, can you recommend any cheaper alternatives to the pico power headphone amp that I can use the same configuration with?
Fiio
Why do you need an extra device to enhance the ipod sound if the quality is already as good as the old 5th generation?
I know that Apple put a volume limiter on their ipods from 6th gen onwards. This is a problem if playing through an amplifier as the user has to remember to reduce the amplifier volume when switching to tuner or CD. Otherwise you could blow your eardrums out! A definite deal-breaker for post-5th gen. devices.
Does anyone know of any portable DACs that can hook directly up to an iPod's digital out so that the iPod's DAC is completely bypassed?
See my video: Reviewed- Centrance HiFi-M8 - My Current Audiophile Portable iPod Rig There's also the V-Moda Vamp Versa. Probably a few others as well.
I wish apple Still sold it... Right now I'm using an iPhone 3gs for music which is way better than any (current) ios device's DAC
that's because you lack an imagination.
and 2nd question, what is the newest generation in present day of ipod classic?, thanks.