4th Gen vs. Classic

[Tomcat_AL200]

Howdy yall, I've got a 20GB 4th Gen on it last toe and I'd like a new iPod but after hearing all the gripes about sound quality (I listen with a pair of AKG 400 cans) and crashing, I'm wondering should I save up my Navy paycheks and get a 160GB classic, upgrade my 4th gen and wait, or hold off for another year and not bother my old 4G? Thanks for your time all.

[kornchild2002]

It is your money so it is all up to you. In all honesty, the sound quality difference is not as big as people are making it out to be. I am sure you saw that big thread in which someone plotted graphs and I know they put a lot of work into that thread but the overall iPod population will be just fine with the iPod classic's sound quality. In fact, many reviewers say that the sound quality is improved over the 5G/5.5G iPods (and those are said to be better than the 4G). Take it for what you will but I seriously doubt you will hear a difference. If there was such a distinct audible difference we would have already heard about it on hydrogenaudio and they would have a big posting about it. That hasn't happened and will probably never happen.

In terms of features, the iPod classic is about as much as you are going to get. I doubt that the hard drive based iPods are ever going to get a large touchscreen, wi-fi, or anything else fancy like that. The only thing I can see them getting in the future are larger capacities, longer battery playback times, and maybe support for HD video output through the dock connector (which will require $50 Apple component cables). Other than that, I don't see Apple really doing anything to their hard drive based iPods. It seems as if all innovation is going towards the iPod touch.

So I think it would be a good time to pick up a iPod touch. Just know that there are some issues such as slow menu navigation, slow cover flow, and some slow syncing issues with iTunes but those can all be fixed via a firmware update. However, holding off another year could mean that Apple releases a 32GB iPod touch which might be ideal. I don't really know if 20GB is enough for you. I also don't know if you travel a lot. I travel pretty extensively, that is why I purchased a 160GB iPod classic. I can carry around my entire movie, music video, music, and photo libraries on a single device that can fit easily in my pocket.

So yeah, if you need the extra space then definitely pick up the 160GB iPod classic now. If you aren't in dire need of the space then save up for a 32GB iPod touch which should come out next year. Hey, I was able to predict a touchscreen iPod with wi-fi internet access coming out this year while everyone told me that I needed to put that wi-fi internet access dream away.

[dimmer]

The classic's sound is OK to my ears - I can't tell the difference between it and the 5.5G. However both are a big step up from the 4G, which was bass deficient and put in weird electronic artifacts into the sound when you listened to solo instruments. The difference between these models is easily audible.

[BlackHawk47]

Yeah, Kornchild and I are at the same train of thought. I have never owned an iPod for over a week at one time, and ready for one. I'm up for the 32 GB iPod Touch, despite my large library, literally multiplying it by 3.

The Touch is the new trend. Save for it.

[Beninark]

I am in the same boat as you, i have a 4g 20gig ipod that has to be honest run out of room...like I am having to take things off for it to sync right then put them back on...stupid check boxes...had no clue what they were for before i had to do this.

anyways...I was debating on getting a Zune 2 in november or this new ipod. The lack of disk storage mode on the zune though is what is pushing me back over to getting an ipod classic. Dont get me wrong i love my 4g ipod but the way apple is treating people with this new release is REALLY crappy. Meanwhile those zune folks are treating people really nice...up grading software and all.

Needless to say the continued back support of the product was a big thing to me. But the fact i would have to switch everything over and the annoyance of not being a able to have it as a 2nd hard drive made the zune lose points to where i am now going to get a 80 gig classic.

Also this new firmware update has kinda reassured me that the ipod should eventually work completely correct.

That being said...if you need it for the space get it...not having enough space is frustrating...if you dont need it for space...wait for the nanos to get up to 32gigs in flash....i was hoping I could wait for that but i just couldn't make it.

[Tomcat_AL200]

I appreciate the responses, but I really need the space as I gave a lot of video and well over 20GB of music, lossless sucks lots of room. Increased treble is no problem for me as AKG's are airy and sound great with a hint of boosted treble I'm just worried about the balance of the soundstage, I've heard that it is shifted to the left. Who knows maybe it was a VERY large bad batch, as most of teh complaints seem to come from people who ran out to the apple stores. Thanks to kornchild, blackhawk, beninark, and dimmer, but I'd still appreciate some more responses.

[bwaldron]

I made the upgrade from a 20GB 4th generation to the 160 GB Classic and am very happy with it. I mainly use Shure SE210 phones, and have not noticed a sound quality difference (though I don't dispute the results of those who have done measurements).

The 1.0.2 firmware has sped up the menus, and being able to put my 125 gigs of music on the Classic is very nice.

A few minor issues, but for me the upgrade was definitely worthwhile.

[paranoidxe]

You won't notice a sound problem with the classic, the only way the problem was discovered was by using some sort of analyzing software to 99.9% of people you aren't going to be able to tell that there is a flaw...in fact if you are coming from a 4th gen you'll probably see a improvement.

As far as the crashing goes it has something to do with album art..some people experience it some do not. Thankfully that was one of the bugs I didn't experience when I had my classic and I had 8,995 songs loaded on it.

You can always get around this by disabling album art which wouldn't hurt you considering you are coming from a model that doesn't feature it anyway.

I don't even think this should be a question of course go for a classic, the 4th gen is definitely a outdated model with no picture (unless its a photo 4G), video or game support.