distorted sound from ipod.
Posted by: wal riley on 06 September 2005
Can anyone give me a clue what's going on here? I don't think this is specifically ipod or i-tunes related, (although i could be wrong.)
When transferring songs from cd into i-tunes and playing back the same files before transfer to the ipod, the sound quality seems perfectly clear and acceptable, with no distortion apparent in the compressed file (i've been using apple's lossless coding.) However, upon transfer to the ipod, the transferred files crack up and distort whenever there are any sharp transients or heavy bass lines in the music. This is regardless of volume on the ipod, so it has to be an attribute of the file transfer process. I don't believe that the player is to blame, because it replaced a Creative Zen that i took back the shop and swapped for the ipod, believing it to be faulty with the same problem! This of course rules out i-tunes as being faulty as well due to the need to use Creatives (admittedly nightmare) software with that player, and getting the same result.
Headphones are Etymotic ER6i's, so it's not a case of the player's output stage running out of steam.
Maybe i'm missing something really obvious; please feel free to point it out if i am. I don't mind looking like a dork as long as I can listen to music on the go! Computer is xp pro amd xp2400 processor, 2 x 80gig hd's, pioneer dvdrw and 24 bit creative soundcard. I've tried both firewire and usb2 connections, and there is no difference between them.
Thanks
When transferring songs from cd into i-tunes and playing back the same files before transfer to the ipod, the sound quality seems perfectly clear and acceptable, with no distortion apparent in the compressed file (i've been using apple's lossless coding.) However, upon transfer to the ipod, the transferred files crack up and distort whenever there are any sharp transients or heavy bass lines in the music. This is regardless of volume on the ipod, so it has to be an attribute of the file transfer process. I don't believe that the player is to blame, because it replaced a Creative Zen that i took back the shop and swapped for the ipod, believing it to be faulty with the same problem! This of course rules out i-tunes as being faulty as well due to the need to use Creatives (admittedly nightmare) software with that player, and getting the same result.
Headphones are Etymotic ER6i's, so it's not a case of the player's output stage running out of steam.
Maybe i'm missing something really obvious; please feel free to point it out if i am. I don't mind looking like a dork as long as I can listen to music on the go! Computer is xp pro amd xp2400 processor, 2 x 80gig hd's, pioneer dvdrw and 24 bit creative soundcard. I've tried both firewire and usb2 connections, and there is no difference between them.
Thanks
That'll be the iPod! 
I'm using a gen 3 20 g iPod with the same headphones and all importing done at 256 on a Powerbook. Can't say i've heard what your hearing though. I've heard the odd comment about the sound quality of the latest Pods (colour) not being quite as good as the mono display but not to that extent. Sounds like you may have a faulty player. Again. 
Try transfering some files to a mates Pod or it looks like a trip back to the place you bought it from, is on the cards for a replacement.
Try transfering some files to a mates Pod or it looks like a trip back to the place you bought it from, is on the cards for a replacement.
quote:Originally posted by Nuno Baptista:
Didn´t you like the iPOD headphones?What´s wrong with it?
Nothing wrong with them. Until you plug in the Etymotic ER6i's
quote:Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
This problem is widely reported in ipod circles, specific to the new 20GB and 60GB colour models. The problem is one of impedance mis-match with the headphones.
So it is safer to buy the old monochromatic model,no?
Yep, the non-colour 20 gig one is the one i've got! 
As for carrying around headphone amps, it's a little impractical, as i really only listen to the personal walking to and from the car (it's parked about half a mile from work) and at dinner, when i go for a stroll to get out of the office and get some fresh air. Thanks for all your suggestions, though. Admittedly, the problem seems to be confined to only a few rogue tracks, but I never had any problem at all for a few months, and you know what it's like when you get a bee in your bonnet!!
As for carrying around headphone amps, it's a little impractical, as i really only listen to the personal walking to and from the car (it's parked about half a mile from work) and at dinner, when i go for a stroll to get out of the office and get some fresh air. Thanks for all your suggestions, though. Admittedly, the problem seems to be confined to only a few rogue tracks, but I never had any problem at all for a few months, and you know what it's like when you get a bee in your bonnet!!
As an addendum to this posting, i've found that you can amend the volume of all the tracks by highlighting one track and then ctrl + A to highlight all. Right click on the mouse to open up details and then reduce the volume control. Then download gopod, to get rid of the volume capping applied to all european ipods and fanny's your aunt! Goodnight!! 