IPOD USB 2.0 Interface Questions & More!

[FishTankX]

Anyways, Gurck, back to the AV710. The AV710 drives most phones beautifully, but you need to set it up to use the high res wolfson dac, which resides on a stereo channel. This is the same dac used in the MAudio Revolution series, you can just set it up to use the wolfson dacs, plug in your 280s, and set up Foobar to output to them. Select the right options, and you're in listening heaven. $30 isn't too hgih of a price to pay for what is essentially an mAudio revolution for headphone listening.

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: Gurck
Your response has been that everyone else is buying it and to
namecall. You obviously have no argument.

I believe that I did talk about the style of the product and the scrollwheel which in my (and many other) people's opinion alone makes the marginally higher price of the iPod worth it. As you said, style is down to personal opinion which is true. A point must be made that many (most) people appreciate the style and sleekness of the iPod (such that they wouldn't mind sacrificing a couple of hours battery life -only an hour less than the iRiver- to have a nice thin design). The design of the iRiver isn't so good: it's way too cluttered. For example, look at the screen trying to display loads of information simultaneously. Do you really need a volume bar on the screen when the thing sits in your pocket all the time? You don't need some visual aid to check if the volume is ok. Also, in all the time I've used an iPod I have never, ever wanted to know the bitrate or file type of the current tune. I want it to sit in my pocket and play music. I don't want it to tell me pointless information: it's not required. This is why apple products are considered the benchmark when it comes to design. As a side note you'll be interested to hear that U2 didn't charge apple at all for their ad campaign: they did it for free.

It can, however, be seen than the design has been inspired (to put it nicely) by the iPod: the navigation device smacks of the iPod's scrollwheel, although obviously it's a very clunky, clumsy imitation. Also, where do you think the inspiration for the prefix 'i' in iRiver came from? I think having the name of the device plastered on the front is very garish and consumes space which could otherwise be used for a larger interface so you could perhaps use the device more easily wearing gloves, for example.

Don't even get me started on the iRiver website...

As for sound quality, it's obvious that 99.99% of people will not be able to tell any sort of difference between the sound of an iPod over a CD or an iRiver or an MP3 encoded at 120 or at 160k. Coupled with the fact that you're going to be using your portable music device out in public where there's loads of background noise and I really don't think that some minor advantage in output quality to the iRiver is truly significant.

Just a couple of examples as to why the masses (and the award people) consistently choose the iPod over other devices. It's not because they are sheep or 'Hax0r k1dd13s' (why DO you keep going on about them? I don't understand why you think all iPod users are immature minors), it's because it actually is a better device for the vast majority of people. Not yourself, obviously...

It is true that there were problems with the iPod mini's headphone jack, but I believe it has been fixed now. Mistakes happen; fact of life. Of course the company wanted to keep it quiet, it would hardly make sense for them to fund an ad campaign letting everyone know when they could fix it ASAP, would it? Apple prides itself on top-notch design and build quality, that's why people love them so (I've not seen any examples of people tattooing the iRiver symbol on themselves, unlike these guys: http://theapplecollection.com/...n/objects/tattoo.shtml ).

Now, why do you keep going on about being older than 23? Why do you keep talking down to people and calling them son-o, kiddo, etc? You claim to be intelligent; surely you must realise that in acting like this you make yourself appear puerile and certainly do not gain any respect from anyone (hence why you've found people to be somewhat abrasive towards you). It's fair to say that you know a fair amount about the audio properties of electronic devices, but you're shooting yourself in the foot when you talk in a derogatory manner which makes people less inclined to take on board whatever point you were making.

Also, what's all this about people's parents buying their iPods for them? That is pure crap. Personally, I got a job and bought one with my own money 18 months ago. You can say 'mom and pop bought yours' or whatever, but it doesn't offend which is obviously your goal. It simply strengthens the fact that you do act very childishly from time to time. iPods aren't expensive; a couple of hundred quid. Big deal. Anyone who works regularly with a half decent wage (I bought mine after working at the place for 2 months, so I wasn't CEO or anything ) will have no problem affording one. Look at how many people have them already! Are all these people spoilt and bought gifts by their parents? I don?t think so.

Well that's all for now, I think this thread has been worn out pretty much!