3rd Gen. iPod Nano Bass Response

[blsj1486 10+ year member]

Hi. I'm currently using an Alpine x200 head unit with built in iPod compatibility. I'm using a 3rd generation iPod Nano and after reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod I've discovered that the unit has a weak bass response.

"The third generation iPod had a weak bass response, as shown in audio tests.[35][36] The combination of the undersized DC-blocking capacitors and the typical low-impedance of most consumer headphones form a high-pass filter, which attenuates the low-frequency bass output. Similar capacitors were used in the fourth generation iPods.[37] The problem is reduced when using high-impedance headphones and is completely masked when driving high-impedance (line level) loads, such as an external headphone amplifier. The first generation iPod Shuffle uses a dual-transistor output stage,[35] rather than a single capacitor-coupled output, and does not exhibit reduced bass response for any load."

My question is: Is this weak bass response sending improper signals to my head unit, which are making my subs produce a lower amount of bass than normal? I'm not sure if my head unit just receives the music data from the iPod and is then adjusting the sound, or if the iPod is the initial amplifying source for my sound.

If so, how could I properly test this? I suppose my only fixes would be to change the EQ on the iPod to "bass booster" or to buy another iPod >.

Sorry if I've confused anyone and thanks for your time.

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[Rashaddd 5,000+ posts]

Direct connection FTW

If you want to see if your iPod isn't responding as low as your CD player would...just switch between them at a constant say 30hz tone. Have a cd in playing a 30hz tone, switch to ur iPod playing a 30hz tone, and see if there's a difference in output (make sure all other levels are exactly the same), try a few tones to make sure its not just an overall output difference also, to be sure its actually the low low end bass that's attenuated

 

[blsj1486 10+ year member]

I assume by direct connection you're referring to adding a hard drive to my system.

And the x200 doesn't play cd's. I don't even use cd's anymore //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Since its not hooked up using the headphone out, then no, it's probably not affecting your sound.

 

[drpimpvandal 10+ year member]

Wow! Glad I don't have an I-pod. I knew those things were junk! How we were ever convinced to listen and pay for inferior audio I'll never understand?

 

[blsj1486 10+ year member]

Wow! Glad I don't have an I-pod. I knew those things were junk! How we were ever convinced to listen and pay for inferior audio I'll never understand?

Haha. The sound quality might be bad, but being able to carry around your entire music collection in such a small package with a great interface is amazing.

Anyone else with a definitive answer?

You made a good point Jman. It's not using an aux cable, but a direct connection through the dock port. Hopefully it's just pulling the data from the iPod, and then the head unit is handling the eq.

 

[Rashaddd 5,000+ posts]

I meant as in using the docking port to connect it, if that's already what you're doing then no it doesn't affect your sound

 

[titanle 10+ year member]

i converted every file on my ipod to apple lossless and its conencted to the ai-net connection on the back of my hu. It sounds prety good to me

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

If you read what the wiki actually says it clearly states that there is no loss when driving a line-level load (high impedance) or high quality headphones. My 3rd gen Nano sounds good with good headphones, better than my iPod video did with the same headphones and similar to my iPod Classic. Since the x200 uses the docking port, this is totally moot, though.