I have a 2G iPod Mini, 5.5G iPod Video and a 7.5G iPod Classic and like the sound out of the Mini the best.
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iPod Best sounding ipod?
- Thread starter boateng
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Thanks for that - very helpful. Considering sending my 4G for a Red Wine mod now.
In the UK, I'd say ebay probably, or local pawn/exchange places like Cash Converters, CEX etc.
I sell refurbed 5.5G iPod Videos upgraded to 256GB SDXC for $325 shipped in the USA.
What about the iPod Mini 2g? It also has a Wolfson DAC but as far as I know it's a different DAC than the one found in the 5.5 or the early Nanos.
Both generation Minis have the Wolfsons. Not sure if it's the same one as the iPod Video but they sound about the same.
If you're using the Earpods you want to change that EQ to Treble Boost to get closer to an actual flat and even mix, and it sounds good. That's on the Touch, I wish I knew about the latest Nano, but 16gb is puzzling for such a thing..
I just noticed at how hollow the 7th gen Nano sounds with the same music playing on the iPod Touch 5th gen with the same headphones. 
The iPod Touch 4th Generation has the same DAC as the 4 and 4s which is arguable the best DAC released for mobile devices. Granted the HTC One beats it but it doesn't have the best music software which the iPod Touch 4th Generation has under iOS 6. The newer iPod Touch has better 'sound quality' but it seems the ohms are higher and I believe the stereo output is actually worse (how much the right side and left side leak), which is more noticeable than the sound quality generally.
Oh yeah, you're definitely right about that. That is the first thing I noticed when I was listening to a streamed Mastered for iTunes album, and then got the actual CD and loaded it onto my iPod. I was so disappointed that it didn't sound as amazing.
Now that I load those tracks on my iPhone 5S, it's a HUGE difference!Oh yeah, you're definitely right about that. That is the first thing I noticed when I was listening to a streamed Mastered for iTunes album, and then got the actual CD and loaded it onto my iPod. I was so disappointed that it didn't sound as amazing.
Yeah, I'm not finding any crosstalk result for the iPod Touch 5 but one can safely assume its between the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4/4s due to the model of DAC that was used. The iPhone 5s has a very good stereo crosstalk of -76.1 compared to the iPhone 4's -68.4 but it does have higher ohms which would be a problem with more powerful headsets. The iPhone 5's DAC is absolutely horrendous compared to the typical Apple product. Apparently another reason people enjoy the iPod Touch 4 was due to the 'warmer' sound the device generates by the particular DAC also found on the iPhone 4/4s, iPad 2, and other iPods released in the same year. Not too sure but the newer models are said to have a more sharp cold sound which I hear with my 5.
With the mods I've done on my iPods, I've listened to the iPod 3G (Touch Wheel), iPod 4G (B&W), iPod 5.5G, and iPod mini - all with audiophile capacitor diyMod performed - and my favorite is the iPod 3G with an additional 20Hz HPF. The sound is just really rich and crisp from it. My daily iPod is a 64GB 5.5G though, since I plug it into my car stereo via USB, and I don't have a FireWire 12V adapter in the car yet, but if I get one, I'll likely switch to using the 3G full time.
![retroMod 3G 128GB Internal View.jpg]( "retroMod 3G 128GB Internal View.jpg")
![retroMod 3G 128GB - Rockbox.png]( "retroMod 3G 128GB - Rockbox.png")
![retroMod 3G 128GB Actual Disk Space.png]( "retroMod 3G 128GB Actual Disk Space.png")
![iPod 5G Audiophile with HPF - 1.jpg]( "iPod 5G Audiophile with HPF - 1.jpg")
![iPod 4G CF Card and Audiophile Upgrade - 1.jpg]( "iPod 4G CF Card and Audiophile Upgrade - 1.jpg")
![iPod mini 2G Audiophile SD Card - 1.jpg]( "iPod mini 2G Audiophile SD Card - 1.jpg")