[Loftprojection]

Got myself an Imod from Vinnie a few months ago.  In the colder months I'm not much of a headphone or portable device listener so the Imod did not get a lot of listening time.  I did the usual 200+ hours of burnin and listened to it casually a few times but never did much critical listening until a few days ago.  My prime source is an RWA SB2 feeding an MHDT Paradisea DAC which has replaced an expensive CDP.  I did a lot of shopping to find a great CDP in the $1500-$2500 market and I'm convinced that my RWA SB2-Paradisea combo can rival any of the CDP in that market segment. 

Now, here comes the Imod at a bit less than half the price of my current source and probably 1/10 of it's size!

So started my listening session by using the Imod with the same IC cable I normally use with my Paradisea, an Electra IC cable with a Y adapter to plug it in the mini input of the Imod.  With that cable I was happy with the Imod, surprised that it was giving me that good quality sound but the SB2-Paradisea was clearly a bit better at everything sound wise.  Then I switched the IC cable to insert an Audiopath cable Vinnie sent me.  Well now we are talking!  This Audiopath IC takes the Imod to a new level.  With that cable the only thing that I can point out that is not on par with my SB2-Paradisea is bass.  Everything else, highs, mids, soundstage, image, voices, refinement,... it is all very very nice, a little different sound signature but not less quality sounding.  The bass however stays a bit mudded with the Imod compared to what I get out of the SB2-Paradisea.  With the SB2-Paradisea, bass notes are well defined, clear, crisp and go very very low.  With the Imod, not quite as good but not bad at all.

Bottom line, as Vinnie predicted, I am really surprised by the Imod.  It wont replace my RWA SB2-Paradisea combo in my main system but man is it close.  For about $500, the Imod is really an unbelievable source and please, take Vinnie's advise seriously, his Audiopath cable is really a must if you want to appreciate what the Imod can deliver.

[slwiser]

I have to agree that the iMod is a real jump over the standard iPod sound.

This is my iMod that I just got Friday before last.  With just over 50 hours this 5g with the Super Cotton Dock is doing fine as is.  This is what I have been seen with around my work area this past week.

[Vinnie R.]

Hi Loftprojection,

Then I switched the IC cable to insert an Audiopath cable Vinnie sent me.  Well now we are talking!  This Audiopath IC takes the Imod to a new level.

Thanks for your post!  The Audiopath Silver iPod Cable is an awesome match with the 4th Gen iPod and I'm glad you are enjoying it! 

With that cable the only thing that I can point out that is not on par with my SB2-Paradisea is bass.  Everything else, highs, mids, soundstage, image, voices, refinement,... it is all very very nice, a little different sound signature but not less quality sounding.  The bass however stays a bit mudded with the Imod compared to what I get out of the SB2-Paradisea.  With the SB2-Paradisea, bass notes are well defined, clear, crisp and go very very low.  With the Imod, not quite as good but not bad at all.

The 5G/5.5G iMod with the ALO iMod Dock cable offers improved bass response compared to the 4th Gen iPod... it is tighter and better defined.  The 4th Gen iPod is still very good and is also less expensive.

Bottom line, as Vinnie predicted, I am really surprised by the Imod.  It wont replace my RWA SB2-Paradisea combo in my main system but man is it close.  For about $500, the Imod is really an unbelievable source and please, take Vinnie's advise seriously, his Audiopath cable is really a must if you want to appreciate what the Imod can deliver.

Thanks again! 

This is my iMod that I just got Friday before last.  With just over 50 hours this 5g with the Super Cotton Dock is doing fine as is.  This is what I have been seen with around my work area this past week.

Hi slwiser,

That is a sweet little setup!  Thanks for posting that pic! 


Other iMod news:

There are two iMod reviews coming soon... one from Jeff Dorgay at Tone Audio (http://www.tonepublications.com/toneAudio.htm), and one from Ryan Clarin from 6moons (www.6moons.com)!

Ken Ball at ALO Audio is in the process of developing a special dock unit for the 5G/5.5G iMod... it will be handmade out of solid wood (different kinds will be available), will feature V-caps (http://www.v-cap.com/) that will be hard-wired to the dock plug and Cardas RCA jacks, a mini-jack output as well, power connection (for charging)... and Ken mentioned that the V-caps with the 5G/5.5G iMod (using WAV or Lossless files) really smokes some high-end CD players, so stay tuned!  This ALO "V-dock" will be submitted for review as well    It is kind of hard to imagine it getting better than the 5.5G iMod + ALO "SuperKind" RCA dock cable (this is one of my favorite sounding sources to date..see pic below), but I know those V-Caps are quite amazing and I'm looking forward to listening to a prototype soon enough!



Here is a pic of the back of the 5G/5.5G iMod:



Best regards,

Vinnie

[ALOaudio]

Hey Vinnie et al,

The ALO iMod Vcap Dock

I just wanted to update all on this. We have one prototype working, and charging. James Moore is a master wood worker and fabricator who works for me has really been working is @ss off on this making various deco styles of the base using black walnut, quilted maple and other wood, making special jigs and tweaking the fitting of everything. He is making these out of a solid chunk of wood, no joints and no glue! I can tell you that we are VERY excited about what we are hearing, these Vcaps are amazing. This will take the iMod to a totally higher level and make your CD player a lonely paperweight. So we are pushing hard to release these by the end of the month.

Thanks

Ken  @ ALOaudio

[ZLS]

Last night I did a side by side comparison of the 4th Gen Imod and the 5th Gen Imod, and I mean side by side-each was hooked up to my Preamp (Rebuilt Eico HF-84 running two 12AX7 tubes) and I simply had to switch sources to A-B them.  These are my thoughts and impressions.  
    The 4th Gen listened through a hybrid cable (I had the Audiopath silver and did not like the sound) is like a vintage tube amp and preamp.  When you listen you know that there are things that it can do better, but what it does, it does so well you just don't care.  The 4th Gen is first and foremost musical.  You just flat out enjoy yourself.  
    The 5th Gen listened through the ALO Super Kind hybrid cable has three technological advantages over the 4th Gen.  They are:
1. Greater capacity-80G vs. 60G
2. The ability to still use it as an Ipod-just stick earbuds into the headphone jack and you can use it exactly as any other Ipod.  
3. Ability to upgrade.  Vinnie Rossi has previously posted about the V-Dock that is coming out.  Having no specific knowledge, but based upon Vinnie's past history I am anticipating that it will be very good.  
    The 5th Gen with the Super Kind cable takes the streagnths the 4th Gen and improves upon them.  It is,
1. More Dynamic
2. Clearer
3. Presents a bigger soundstage with more space between instruments
4. More Open-The sound is less constrained
5. Better bass articulation if not better bass (My 5th is not fully broken in yet.)

    I was fortunate enough to hear the 4th Gen and a Meredian CDP that retails for $4500 played side by side.  IMHO while the Meredian was more open and spectacular  sounding, the 4th Gen was more musical.  The 5th Gen retains that musicality with both greater openness and the ability to allow the inherent drama of the music to shine through.  
    The portability of the 5th Gen as a music source makes it ideal for both Headphones and Home Stereo.  
    Sometimes, as audiophiles we must be able to recognize a true bargain when we see one.  The fact that the 5th (and 4th ) Generation Imod is tiny, and that it doesn't cost thousands and thousands of dollars does not mean that the Imod is not a high end product.  I mean high end in its ability to make music, not in terms of status or price!  Listen, Vinnie could build a big fancy ass case that is 10x the size of the Imod and charge 10X the price and audiophools would be raving about the clarity and purity of the sound and how you have to expect to pay dearly for such quality.  Fortunately for us, Vinnie does not do business this way.  
    I hope you have found this informative


P.S. I have a bright shiny new nickel for those of you who can tell me what famous name in high end audio would do exactly what I suggested.    

[Vinnie R.]

Hi ZLS,

Thank you for taking the time to post your 4G iMod vs. 5.5G iMod comparison! 

I hope you have found this informative

It was very well-written and to-the-point... and I have sent a link to those who were looking for 4G vs. 5G/5.5G iMod feedback. 

Listen, Vinnie could build a big fancy ass case that is 10x the size of the Imod and charge 10X the price and audiophools would be raving about the clarity and purity of the sound and how you have to expect to pay dearly for such quality.

P.S. I have a bright shiny new nickel for those of you who can tell me what famous name in high end audio would do exactly what I suggested.   

Maybe we should PM or email you our guess... otherwise this thread might get a little heated!   

Thanks again,

Vinnie