Is the iPod good enough for a good pair of headphones or is a external DAC a must?

[Boerd]

Let's say someone has a pair of AKG 701/BEYER 880/Senn hd650/etc.
Would you be able to get the best sound out of them from an iPod using lossless music?
The measured performance of the latest iPod is around -70db THD and -84 SNR.
The first number is quite respectable (.03% THD) - but I don't know about the second.
In my experience there is NO DIFFERENCE between decent dacs - anything with SNR better than 100db and a good THD is perceived the same. (I am so not interested in answers from people who can hear differences between (decent) DACs - for all I care that is BS).
Just in this case SNR is (around) -84/-85 - I don't know what to say; it's not like I am comparing 105 db SNR and 110 db SNR.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Before we start getting to violent fights regarding external dac I have two points:
1) How does one connect external dac to ipod?
2) Assuming internal dac is decent, isn't a better idea would be to use external headphone amp since most of headphones you mentioned aren't very sensitive ones (aka not designed for mobile devices aka ipod)

 

[Boerd]

Before we start getting to violent fights regarding external dac I have two points:
1) How does one connect external dac to ipod?
2) Assuming internal dac is decent, isn't a better idea would be to use external headphone amp since most of headphones you mentioned aren't very sensitive ones (aka not designed for mobile devices aka ipod)

OK. I have to a lot to explain.

1)

In my case - I ordered the Beyer 880 Manufaktur. I talked to the Beyer people and they said measurement-wise 600 ohms would not be better than 32 ohms - drivers are a bit different; so in the end I choose 32 ohms - easier to drive.
Even the measurements published hear look awfully close:

Second - I am listening mainly at work while programing. Given this I do have the choice of an external USB (even spdiff) DAC like EMU 0404.
Should I come up with another 200$ for something like the EMU 0404???
Would that make an AUDIBLE difference?

2) That might be a good idea.
Would that make an AUDIBLE difference? Why?

Thanks