Would I have better sound quality by upgrading amps?

[AcuDefTechGuy]

IMC nailed it. Assuming that the "source is an iPod", that means that most people will simply plug a 3.5mm to dual RCA cable in. That is the worst way to handle this. IMC has given the only way to use an iPod for anything remotely approaching critical listening.

If it sounds as good as a CD, why wouldn't it be "critical" listening regardless of method?

Who says "critical" listening requires a wire?

 

[j_garcia]

Are standard economic RCA cables just as efficient and lossless as higher end ones?

"lossless"? For short runs, which would be the case in 90% of all systems, loss isn't an issue. The only thing you are buying in "higher end" cables is a name and fancy cover.

 

[adk highlander]

Well my ipod's music is the least compressed as possible, and the ipod's internal dac is bypassed so I use the receiver's dac and it does sound good. I'm really just wandering if that stronger amp could produce more mid bass and produce a more defined bass?

Ok, so how are you doing this. You still have not told us how you have connected your iPod to your receiver. If your way of bypassing the iPods internal dac is to connect it with a 3.5mm cable via the headphone jack then you are no where near getting the best sound.

Would it be possible to connect your system to the computer that contains all of your music and then purchase a USB DAC to connect to the Receiver?

 

[slipperybidness]

If it sounds as good as a CD, why wouldn't it be "critical" listening regardless of method?

Who says "critical" listening requires a wire?

You missed my point, probly popping too many pills

Using the DAC in the iPod to output over 3.5mm to RCA input on the stereo is the WORST way to handle this. I can tell you this from my personal experience. This is not the way to do critical listening, it will NOT sound as good as a CD.

A data stream / bit stream can be fine for critical listening (if done correctly).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You missed my point, probly popping too many pills

Using the DAC in the iPod to output over 3.5mm to RCA input on the stereo is the WORST way to handle this. I can tell you this from my personal experience. This is not the way to do critical listening, it will NOT sound as good as a CD.

A data stream / bit stream can be fine for critical listening (if done correctly).

Oh, yeah, I missed the 3.5mm wire part.

I was only referring to wireless streaming of lossless audio files. To me this sounds as good as CDs.

But, yeah, 3.5mm wire is not good in my experience.

 

[RichB]

Oh, yeah, I missed the 3.5mm wire part.

I was only referring to wireless streaming of lossless audio files. To me this sounds as good as CDs.

But, yeah, 3.5mm wire is not good in my experience.

Are you streaming over Wifi or something else?

- Rich

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Are you streaming over Wifi or something else?

- Rich

Yah. Wi-Fi iPad to Apple/Denon.