[Irwin]

Which will give the best audio connection to a portable headphone amplifier,headphone output or lod?I've read on the internet somewhere that the audio out on the 4th gen's lod was altered or changed,resulting in a less than optimum sound quality.

[jrebman]

IMO, no contest -- LOD is far better than the audio out for feeding an external amp.  As to how it compares to other iPods I can't say, but other than using something like the iStreamer or Cambridge ID-100, the LOD is the preferred way for me by a substantial margin.

BTW, using an ALO Cricket LOD cable and Continental amp with Shure SE 425 iems and it's a really nice combo with lossless audio files.

-- Jim

[mcgsxr]

The LOD is the only way for me too, but I have a 3rd gen.