Kinda curious about the most weird or extreme combination of iPods with other amplifiers/surround sound/speakers/headphones etc.. that we play with.
My setup has a 2nd-gen iPod shuffle, with Litte Dot II+ valve amplifier(eBay), Grado 325i headphones, and low-end Monster interconnects (no better decent ones readily available for say $100). Approx costs (Canadian) $100 shuffle, $200 valve amp, and $400 headphones. Needed 100 hours of white noise (1 track on iTunes, recycled) to burn-in valve amp, and about 20 hours for the headphones. It's not very portable!
As reference- my own experience (best home system approx retail $60,000 for DC/turntable/tape/radio/pre-amp/amp/digital convertor/speakers/cables/connects- worked at manufacturer so 75% off). As reference, also the *experts* in trade magazines.
Reality, sounds wise, it's pretty close to good integrated systems such as Linn or Naim at C$5k-10k, without the CD/DVD/radio stuff. Detail, sound space, and real emotions. Sennheiser cans are a bit clinical and non-musical at this mid-upper end. The valve amp does not add massive volume- it's maybe twice as loud (iMac and MacBook duo)- but has more extreme levels, as well as more fluid dynamics of sound. I guess better interconnects would add maybe 25% to detail or dynamics, based upon experience with good hi-fi kit.
My setup has a 2nd-gen iPod shuffle, with Litte Dot II+ valve amplifier(eBay), Grado 325i headphones, and low-end Monster interconnects (no better decent ones readily available for say $100). Approx costs (Canadian) $100 shuffle, $200 valve amp, and $400 headphones. Needed 100 hours of white noise (1 track on iTunes, recycled) to burn-in valve amp, and about 20 hours for the headphones. It's not very portable!
As reference- my own experience (best home system approx retail $60,000 for DC/turntable/tape/radio/pre-amp/amp/digital convertor/speakers/cables/connects- worked at manufacturer so 75% off). As reference, also the *experts* in trade magazines.
Reality, sounds wise, it's pretty close to good integrated systems such as Linn or Naim at C$5k-10k, without the CD/DVD/radio stuff. Detail, sound space, and real emotions. Sennheiser cans are a bit clinical and non-musical at this mid-upper end. The valve amp does not add massive volume- it's maybe twice as loud (iMac and MacBook duo)- but has more extreme levels, as well as more fluid dynamics of sound. I guess better interconnects would add maybe 25% to detail or dynamics, based upon experience with good hi-fi kit.