How to get the best sound quality from iMac to speakers?

[jian]

So recently, I purchased a set of Monster Clarity HD Model one. It's a very old product and Monster never updated the 30-pin connector on the top to a lightning connector, but it is what it is, I have several older iPods that will work with it.

Right now, it's connected to my iMac via a Monster's auxiliary cable, which sounds pretty good.

When I plug my iPod on though, I notice a difference in sound quality.
Basically, an aux cable connected to iMac playing iTunes is very good, but when it plays straight from my iPod video 5th Gen via the 30pin connector, it sounds way richer.

Any thoughts besides getting lossless format music (which I will do, once I figure out the hardware problem)?

I have attached a picture of the connection ports, which none of them would work straight out of a cable, I assume, and any adaptor will probably degrade the sound quality.

Thanks in advance.

 

[yjchua95]

So recently, I purchased a set of Monster Clarity HD Model one. It's a very old product and Monster never updated the 30-pin connector on the top to a lightning connector, but it is what it is, I have several older iPods that will work with it.

Right now, it's connected to my iMac via a Monster's auxiliary cable, which sounds pretty good.

When I plug my iPod on though, I notice a difference in sound quality.
Basically, an aux cable connected to iMac playing iTunes is very good, but when it plays straight from my iPod video 5th Gen via the 30pin connector, it sounds way richer.

Any thoughts besides getting lossless format music (which I will do, once I figure out the hardware problem)?

I have attached a picture of the connection ports, which none of them would work straight out of a cable, I assume, and any adaptor will probably degrade the sound quality.

Thanks in advance.

Tweak around with the iTunes equaliser?

 

[Bruno09]

Basically, an aux cable connected to iMac playing iTunes is very good, but when it plays straight from my iPod video 5th Gen via the 30pin connector, it sounds way richer.

It sounds like the iPod's DAC is better than the iMac's one...

You would likely have a great improvement in sound quality by using an external DAC.

I use the one below between my Macbook and a pair of Audioengine A5+.
Its much much much better than the headphone output of the Macbook connected to the speakers !

It's also much better than an Airport Express through Airplay.

http://audioengineusa.com/Store/D1-24-Bit-DAC

 

[Mac32]

Also try Boom (see App Store) when using the iMac speakers.