[rev]

Hi, I ordered an iMod a few weeks ago which I've only just started using (after my amp arrived) but I can't really notice a difference at all...What are the right settings on the iPod to make the iMod shine??

[Vinnie R.]

Hi, I ordered an iMod a few weeks ago which I've only just started using (after my amp arrived) but I can't really notice a difference at all...What are the right settings on the iPod to make the iMod shine??

Hi rev,

Welcome to Audiocircle and the RWA forum!

I highly recommend that you use Apple Lossless Files and set the EQ to off. 

What are the other components in your system?  Have you burned-in your iPod?  If you connected it to your amp and let it play an album on repeat for > 100 hours, that would be a good start.  You don't need to leave your amp turned on, but the modded iPod's line out should be connected to the amp (for loading). 

Also... the volume control should have no influence on the sound.  Please double check this (set the volume to min, and then to max..... the sound should not change in any way).  See this post I made regarding a small (but very noticeable) mistake that I made on the last batch:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=33116.msg314309#msg314309

Hopefully you don't have this problem, but I I just want to make sure...

Hope this helps and please keep us posted,

Vinnie

[rev]

Thanks for the reply. Haven't really had enough time to listen, too busy at work. As I understood, accepted scientific wisdom was that capacitors do not "burn in," only headphones/speakers do (as someone said on another thread). But will give the iMod a chance.

[cfcjb]

Hey Rev,
I had my Ipod modded by Vinnie and would respectfully suggest that you burn it in for a minimum 100 hours. You'll find that there will be smaller incremental changes up to about 200 hours. There should be a noticeable extension of both the treble and bass. Also, depending on your headphones, the soundstage will open up considerably. The music should also have a better "Flow", for want of a better word. Using Apple Losselss or Flac by loading Rockbox onto your Ipod will optimize your listening experience. I'm using Flac and Rockbox and find it to sound cleaner and a little more detailed than Apple Lossless. Do not take the term detailed to mean etched or sterile, it isn't.
I won't comment on the validity of conventional scientific wisdon but will say that with regard the Blackgate caps that Vinnie uses they do need to be broken in and the proof will be there for you to listen to after a couple hundred hours of playing time.

Regards,

J.

[Vinnie R.]

Hey Rev,
I had my Ipod modded by Vinnie and would respectfully suggest that you burn it in for a minimum 100 hours.

cfcjb brings up a very good point, and no matter what accepted scientific wisdom tells you, give it a try and listen for yourself. 

The iMod has been very popular on www.headfi.com.  I did a seach and found a few long threads there about it:

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=164121&highlight=%22wow%22+%22iMod%22
 
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=197511&highlight=iMod
 
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=195089&highlight=iMod
 
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=203157&highlight=iMod

Quite a few of the iMod customers have commented on their experience with the burn-in process of the iMod (if you have time to read through all of those posts!  ).  Black Gates (especially when used in the signal path, like the NX-HI-Q series) are NOTORIOUS for long burn-in time, but are well-worth the wait!

If you really want to speed up the burn-in, connect the iMod line out to 5k loads and let it play an album on repeat mode for a few days... this does the trick very nicely! 

Best regards,

Vinnie

[rev]

Thank for the replies, guys. I haven't been using my iMod for a while because I was suspicious the problem might be the amp I was using. However, I've waited until my new amp arrived (Larocco PR-II) and I have the same problems. I'm using Shure E500s and an ALO Jumbo Cryo dock cable

I'm not sure my problem can be corrected by burn-in because the main thing I was hoping the iMod would change is hiss. In fact, the hiss on the iMod is extremely loud. Far louder than either my normal portable player (Cowon iAudio F2) or my Sony laptop (there is almost no hiss whatsoever on the laptop).

Changing the volume on the iPod doesn't make any difference so I don't think this is the problem. I have graphic equalizer set to Off. I'm using Lossless files (although I don't think the audio quality will impact on the level of hiss).

The iPod makes a lot of hiss when I listen directly from the line out (I mean the modded headphone out line out). All the amp does is amplify this hiss.

What's wrong with it?

Thanks,

John.

[rev]

I'm suspecting it's some sort of technical problem because a lot of posts on head-fi said the iMod was completely hiss-free - that's probably the main reason I bought it.

[gary]

It's definitely something wrong, your iPod shouldn't sound like that... mine has no hiss whatsoever, and background noise is absolutely minimal.

Gary

[Vinnie R.]

I'm suspecting it's some sort of technical problem because a lot of posts on head-fi said the iMod was completely hiss-free - that's probably the main reason I bought it.

Hi rev,

This does not sound normal at all.  Please contact me via email and we'll discuss having you return me your iMod and I'll have this taken care of ASAP.  I apologize for the inconvenience, but until I get my hands on it, I am not sure what the problem is.  I'm sure it is one that can be fixed quickly.

Thanks,

Vinnie

[rev]

I may have prematurely put the blame on the iMod - the amp (as well as the old amp) hisses like a snake when I use it with my Cowon player. This is annoying - everyone told me amps were really quiet, even with sensitive headphones.

[TheSloth]

everyone told me amps were really quiet, even with sensitive headphones.

Headphone amps in general? No way. Good amps - there you have a chance.

[ClownBoy]

Thank for the replies, guys. I haven't been using my iMod for a while because I was suspicious the problem might be the amp I was using. However, I've waited until my new amp arrived (Larocco PR-II) and I have the same problems. I'm using Shure E500s and an ALO Jumbo Cryo dock cable

I'm not sure my problem can be corrected by burn-in because the main thing I was hoping the iMod would change is hiss. In fact, the hiss on the iMod is extremely loud. Far louder than either my normal portable player (Cowon iAudio F2) or my Sony laptop (there is almost no hiss whatsoever on the laptop).

Changing the volume on the iPod doesn't make any difference so I don't think this is the problem. I have graphic equalizer set to Off. I'm using Lossless files (although I don't think the audio quality will impact on the level of hiss).

The iPod makes a lot of hiss when I listen directly from the line out (I mean the modded headphone out line out). All the amp does is amplify this hiss.

What's wrong with it?

Thanks,

John.

Hey John,
quick question.
The ALO Cryo Dock uses the flat line out ipod connector and not your headphone out jack (mini plug)? If you have a iMod dont you want to be using a mini to mini to connect to your amp? Or did I read you wrong?

Thx
KB

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Hey John,
quick question.
The ALO Cryo Dock uses the flat line out ipod connector and not your headphone out jack (mini plug)? If you have a iMod dont you want to be using a mini to mini to connect to your amp? Or did I read you wrong?

I think you figured it out. Sounds to be he bought an overhyped $150 dock cord when he should have bought a $10 mini-mini lol.

Biggie.

[Vinnie R.]

All,

I'm using Shure E500s and an ALO Jumbo Cryo dock cable

I can't believe I missed this!     

All that lack of sleep is really showing 

YES, ClownBoy (welcome to Audiocircle and the RWA forum, and thanks!) and NotoriousBIG_PJ are correct!...

Rev, the modded line-out is via the 1/8" stereo jack (formerly the headphone output), NOT the dock connector.  The dock connector was used for the stock line out.

If you weren't using the modded line out (the 1/8" stereo jack on the top), you weren't hearing the iMod 

Sorry for not catching this sooner,

Vinnie