[Burpethead]

I just got one, are there no bass controls?

[G4ME]

yup there are not bass boost or preset equlizer everyone is hoping that there will be an update that will have somthing like that included.

[edddeduck]

I am hoping apple get some sort of bass boost sorted..

But for now some people say that if you select bass in iTunes then copy the song across to the iPod and it has more bass. I have not tested this my self though.

Cheers Edd

[dav]

i believe equalizer settings made in itunes carry over to the ipod. adjust your songs appropriately in itunes so they will play correctly on the ipod. lots of bass in itunes, none in ipod? - check your headphones.

[cdhostage]

iPod firmware 1.5 definitely should have this.

[mmarcos]

Equalization is not carried over from iTunes.

[Jansar]

Along with my iPod for Christmas, I received a set of JBL speakers so that I could hook up my iPod to them. There are bass and treble knobs on the speakers, which definitely alter the way the music from the iPod sounds. Other than that, I wouldn't know whether or not Apple will release a firmware update on the iPod concerning that issue.

Hell, I'm still using 1.0.2

[wulf]

I know I'm in the minority but, personally, I don't see a great need for EQ on the iPod. My experience is that EQs encourage people to make music sound sh!te. For me, the benefit of EQ in iTunes is to counteract the cr@ppy little speakers that you get built-in to desktops and laptops ... and bearing in mind that generally only cheap hi-fi amps have tone controls, never the good quality ones...

just my 2.279 eurocents

wulf

[wulf]

(of course, seeing as so many people want EQ, it would be nice if Apple could provide it via an update )

[zac4mac]

<only cheap hi-fi amps have tone controls, never the good quality ones...>

That's usually due to high-end systems being separate components, one of which is an equalizer.

Tuner- tape deck- turntable- CD etc.
pre-amp
EQ / spectrum analyzer
power amp(s)
speakers

An EQ for the 'Pod would be nice, but I don't find it necessary, personally.
Adding the EQ to iTunes 2 was a godsend tho, gotta have it for playback on my duallie's Yamaha's. They sound really crappy flat.
I stuck with SoundJam until Apple put the EQ into iTunes.

[dav]

Originally posted by zac4mac:
<STRONG>&lt;only cheap hi-fi amps have tone controls, never the good quality ones...&gt;

That's usually due to high-end systems being separate components, one of which is an equalizer.

</STRONG>

but i don't know any audiophiles who use an equalizer. sure if you've got crappy speakers it may deemphasize some of the crappiness, but you really need speakers, not an equalizer.

[sirlexelot]

but i don't know any audiophiles who use an equalizer. sure if you've got crappy speakers it may deemphasize some of the crappiness, but you really need speakers, not an equalizer.

That's because serious audiophiles have amplifiers that are powerful and accurate enough and speakers that can properly reflect that accuracy without any bias. Every time I ask for an EQ on the iPod, I get berated by people who already bought one and don't want to feel like they spent too much money on an under-featured product (but they don't want to admit that's the reason), but in any case, I too want an EQ and/or more powerful amp in the iPod before I buy one. Other than that, it's unquestionably the best mp3 player on the market - it just that it doesn't exactly make any sense whatsoever to buy a super-expensive portable music device, load up all your favorite tunes, and then have them all sound bad. Heh, it's the best mp3 player ever, except it sounds bad greaaaaaaaaaaaaat....

[lextek]

I don't think it sounds bad. To me 1.0.4 added a slight boost in the bass. I actually preffered the sound of 1.0.3. I don't use the Apple earbus. They do sound like crap.

Bob

[saxman]

Hi all

The basic problem here is that mp3 as a format is crap if you want good sound. The reason that you don't hear much bass is because there ain't very much there, it's all been compressed out!

Everyone says that it's near CD quality and they only remove what you can't hear anyway - it's all bollocks.

If you want good sound then get a CD.

Sorry to rant but it's how i feel.

warmest regards all

[Jansar]

I cannot tell the difference. And, CDs scratch. That's why I rip all of my CDs to mp3 or ogg.

And, yes, I can get bass. Nobody think that way, because there are no such controls on a computer. Buy speakers with the bass controls on them.

[dav]

Originally posted by mmarcos:
<STRONG>Equalization is not carried over from iTunes.</STRONG>

Default iTunes EQ settings DO transfer to the iPod, but custom settings do not. Even if you save a new preset. Hopefully Apple will fix this in a later firmware revision.

Clarification - EQ settings do transfer, but the iPod cannot use these settings. This will probably be incorporated in another firmware update.

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: dav ]

[dav]

Originally posted by sirlexelot:
<STRONG>

Every time I ask for an EQ on the iPod, I get berated by people who already bought one and don't want to feel like they spent too much money on an under-featured product (but they don't want to admit that's the reason), but in any case, I too want an EQ and/or more powerful amp in the iPod before I buy one. </STRONG>

don't pretend to understand the motivations of others, it's awfully arrogant. if you feel the current ipod is over-priced and under-featured, fine, don't buy.

[CMYKid]

if you cant tell the difference then you A) dont have very decent headphones or speakers, B) dont know what you're listening to and for or C) think that the radio is high-fidelity... saxman's correct, a large portion of the reason that there is a lack of dynamic range, especially in the lower frequencies, is simply due to the physical architecture of the mp3 format. as to 'being able to add bass' on yoru speakers...you're adding what you think is 'bass', really itsa a shelving boost of everything from about 315 on down...frequencies that make things sound pretty much like shit when boosted in equal amounts. thats all your "Bass Boost" walkman does...puts in the same frequencies that are the very first ones i take down 6 db when i'm mixin in a 100 person club or a 15,000 seat arena

[Leaping Gnome]

Personally I don't care if the iPod has an eq. I've had stereos before with equalizers and never used it. The only thing I use them in is winamp and iTunes and that's just because I don't have very good speakers.

MP3 can provide plenty of bass. It is all up to bitrate you encode at. If you're ripping everything at 128kbps then yeah, it's going to sound muddy and washed out. What do you expect, it's 128?! Compare the same MP3 ripped at 256 and you'll hear a world of difference. Yes, you will not be able to fit as much on the iPod, but at least it will sound good.

More powerful amp? Have you actually listened to an iPod and tried to turn it up? I can barely get it to 3/4 of the way up with my headphones before I can't stand it. It is one of the loudest handheld music players I've ever heard!

[sirlexelot]

Gnome, sure it's loud, but it's all tin! There's a reason why sub woofers take sick amounts of wattage, whereas the rest of the speakers in a set simply don't so much - bass demands more power. So yes, the iPod can produce plenty of ear-splitting highs, but that's not what I'm after.

[Leaping Gnome]

OK, I'll give you that, then again I am just using earbuds, which are known for their lack of bass.

What do you want in a 2" X 3" 6.5 ounce package!

[Will Brocklebank]

Right, so this might not be everyone's fave solution but fix both quality, bass and amp issues with...

Bose Noise cancelling headphones.

Not only do they come with awesome tech that monitors (via external mic's on the headphones) background noise and then cancel it with inverse waves but they add (via the same wave amp) an extra amplified setting so that you can run the iPod amp less hard (for better quality - as audiophiles say bass deteriorates with the spikes present in a ragged signal from a hard-driven amp) and thus get better sound.

Oh, and the best bit is you listen to your music in pure silence as no background train, plane, brother etc. gets through.

iPod & Bose: like Romeo and Juliet.

PS Yes I realise they are ridiculously expensive but they are still great

[CMYKid]

look, in general Bose gear is frankly equal to mid-grade car stereo when it comes to quality...but noise-cancelling headphones? REALLY now...

I'd definitely have a problem taking an already degraded (thru compression) signal and further intentionally deteriorating it by injecting inverse waves to get rid of background noise...dont fool yourself....filtering out ambient noise comes at quite a price...

:r

[TheMosco]

there is a huge difference in bass in the ipod when using other earbuds or headphones. I dont even use the eq in itunes and i dont really need one in the ipod.

the bose noise canceling headphones aren't that great. I used them at the applestore and they were ok. They didn't seem to provide deep full sound. A little over priced i think.

[zadak]

Thoose of you that want an eq, what kind of headphones do you use? The ones that comes with the iPod?

I personally use Sony headphones and the iPod is the best thing I have ever heard. The sound is so crispy and rich. Big different between listen through the iPod and my PowerMac or PowerBook.

If you want better sound, buy better headphones. Or speakers.

roger

[Archangel]

Originally posted by zadak:
<STRONG>Thoose of you that want an eq, what kind of headphones do you use? The ones that comes with the iPod?

I personally use Sony headphones and the iPod is the best thing I have ever heard. The sound is so crispy and rich. Big different between listen through the iPod and my PowerMac or PowerBook.

If you want better sound, buy better headphones. Or speakers.

roger</STRONG>

I use Sony earbuds, and I still think the bass on the iPod is pathetic. My old Sony MD player has tons of bass compared to my iPod. There definitely needs to be some type of tone control on the iPod.

[macthelastredman]

i think i read on a past post that one of the older firmwire has better bass performance...but i dont know....the next ipod will have a subwoofer in the headphones for ya