Here Today... Gone To Hell!

For any of you who have a regular mp3 player and love Chinese Democracy, i would advise you to buy an Apple Ipod Classic. Its totally worth the money.
I bought one yesterday, and it totally alters the way you listen to CD.

Its even better then the cd experience! You can hear all the sounds at the same time, all the guitars and solos, i just love it. It even looks like a different cd!

You should really invest on that, you'll hear CD like you've never heard!

Mods if you feel like this is not the right section, please move. I just can't help but to share this. Yesterday i spent my night listening to the whole cd on my new ipod until 4 am, just cause it sounded beautifuly and it totally changed my perspective on the way they mastered it.

And believe me, i had a great mp3 player, a sony one with 16gbs. But this one, it changes all your perspectives about Chinese Democracy, and even Appetite or the illusions album sound so great, its like revisiting brand new GNR albums! : ok:

I hope you're not using the earphones that come with it....




/jarmo

Oddly enough I currently have a Creative Zen... but I'm planning to buy a 160GB iPod on Friday! Will let you know if I hear any differences!

You should convert your GNR Stuff with Apple Lossless

thats the one i was gonna buy, but bear in mind that that costs about 200 and something euros / dollars. And you can buy the 120gbs one for 100 euros / dollars less.

Mine cost about 149 euros. and 120gbs is more than enough, at least for me.


Its a great buy believe me.
Im still learning to put the songs in it because they keep deleting themselves when i do the sync thing, ill probably need to set it up manually, but im not sure why it happens.

Yesterday i had like 20 albums and they all disapeared! Probably i pressed the wrong button or something like that on itunes, but i managed to put the gnr and vr albums again, i have to put the rest when i get home, its totally worth buying though.

@Jarmo- yes im using the earphones that come with it, what would you suggest?

I had a creative Zen before. Believe me, you're gonna be amazed with the Ipod sound!

You didn't press the wrong button, it will happen again .. you can't have GNR and vr albums on the same iPod .. didn't you read the manual?





.. veljco

:hihi:

I bought a160gb Ipod last year and I have 8000 songs stored (1450 are GNR Albums and Bootlegs and off course no VR in my Ipod)  and the Osaka 2009 and Rock am Rong show in Video format and still 97Gb free that's insane it's too much space

I think because Chinese Democracy has so many layers of sounds on the tracks that if you listen to them on different players you'll notice different parts come to the fore, I've noticed this. If you mess about with your equalizer you'll find the same thing!

If you have the creative Zen, carry a pin everywhere you go!  Them things need to be reset all the time.
I currently have an 8GB Philips MP3.  Gets the job done.
Don't think id ever buy an IPOD cos i break everything within 5 - 7 months  :hihi:

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Thanks to everyone of you for that free publicity!

cd already sounds super on my pc, car stereo and others

but if ipod makes difference, i gotta try. is it just ipod classic? or will ipod shuffle or nano do?

Things will keep automatically disappearing if you have the automatic sync thing enabled.

Then your iPod will only have the same music as your iTunes library.


How to managen content manually (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1535).


I would also suggest spending some money on good earphones.... It'll make a bigger difference.

Have you noticed how the earphones that came with it don't weigh anything.....




/jarmo

Generally apple ipods sound better than normal ipods, however the shuffle one is kinda of crappy comparing to the other ones. Dunno about the Nano one, never tried it.

You should definitely get the classic one, the 120gbs classic one is almost the same price as a nano with almost less 100gbs difference. I would definitely go for the classic one.

And believe me! It really sounds like a different cd on every song, its like you're listening to an alternate version of CD.

true! they look cheap, but i think for the most part they sound great, i mean it sounds better than any mp3 player or ipod iv had in the past, i had top ones.

iv had a samsung, a creative zen, a sony one, apple shuffle, you name it lol

but many thanks for the manual instructions, i was wondering how to do that since i had already set it up to sync it automaticly. Im still a newbie with Apple. I had an Ipod Shuffle and i exchange it in the store because of that same problem, and no one could tell me that it was actually from the sync, so i thought the ipod was ruined and they gave me another mp3 player from another brand in exchange lol


Ill also give it a try on some new headphones when i get my salary this month, it should even get better, thank you for the ear phones guide Lou!  : ok:

"I had top ones"? Which ones?

To me this sounds like nothing but the placebo effect, or rather the Apple effect... If it's got an apple on the side it's pure gold!!! I've listened to a lot of records, including CD, on various platforms, and every setup sounds different. Some sound actually better, and some sound somewhat worse. Others just different. But in no case has the actual iPod player had a big role in sound quality. I'm willing to listen though if there is some evidence to actually back this up.

I wish i had a way to show it, but im afraid thats impossible. If you know anyone with an Apple Ipod classic, asked them to put cd in it and then listen to it, You'll understand.

Im not saying the cd is different, im just saying you'll hear the background sounds much betterm the sound is more clean and powerful at the same time, and the guitars are also more clear.

But the again as you said, and its true.. it varies from players to players. Apple has been the best one since though.

Iv had sonys, creatives, samsungs etc... and none of them came close!

As for the Apple effect, i have to say that that its not the case, i was very reluctant to buy an apple ipod. I had the apple shuffle one, which btw i only used it one day... i got so annoyed with itunes deleting my songs (because i didnt know how to sync them manualy) that i told myself i would never buy an Ipod again. So after that iv had like 2 different Mp3 players.

The only reason that got me to try Apple again, was because this ipod has like 120gbs, so i though i would just buy an Ipod for all my life  :hihi: i will never have to buy ipods or mp3 players again, unless something bad happens to it, Im not gonna need to delete songs to put others either. That was the main reason.

However when i listened to CD i was really amazed! i stood up all night listening to the CD, like it was the first time iv ever heard it, and i never felt more excited about cd then now

Exactly. My earphones are more expensive than my Ipod, which is something leading to much better sound quality than the sort of mp3 player you are using.

My Zen's a couple of years old, and the sound's been 'okay'. I'm really looking forward to getting my iPod now!

This is bogus.

How can a low quality mp3 sound better on APPLE EARBUDS, mind you, over a compact disc or a vinyl record?

No.  No way.  I don't know how and what format Halo69 was listening to music on before (walkie-talkie?  Ed Hardy designer earbuds?) but I refuse to believe this.

I'll try it though, just for a laugh.  I'll borrow my dad's 8GB Touch and put CD there.

If you believe in it, it will! :D




/jarmo

I see what you did there.

That's odd, because the iPod is considered one of the worst MP3 players, from a music playback standpoint.  Sony's digital walkman's are considered the best.

Scratch that - Zen, then iPods, then Sony.  Although different studies show different results, but iPod is definitely not top.

All I can say is that iPod is the best mp3-player in my opinion, and it has nothing to do with the image or the apple on the side.

But as others have said in this thread, the earphones and the file format make the biggest difference when you're using a decent mp3-player.

The experience of hearing an MP3 cant be better than hearing the real/uncompressed source. You may say the experience of hearing ChiDem in an iPod in mp3 format with good headphones is better than hearing the tangible Compact Disc in a regular/cheap audio system.

BUYING an iPod to hear lossy stuff is comprehensible. MP3 are light, you can store hundreds of them and they sound fine. But if you are really interested about QUALITY, you can never reccomend mp3 playback.

The best thing to do is:

- Good headphones
- Good mp3 player, like Sony Walkman (just one example)
- Light compression, or none compression at all (Sony Walkman can handle 1411 kbps 16bit stereo WAVE files [never tried 24bit though], and can also handle Windows Media Audio Lossless, wich offers a more than good compressio ratio without losing quality)
- Trying different equalizing.

In a conversation of ''quality'', you cant mention any lossy stuff. The real thing is 100. Standard mp3 is 10. When you are playing a 128 kbps MP3, you're actually playing a heavily mutilated version of the real source, which can be bought with a few dollars.

But I don't think he said anything about mp3.. you can use apple lossless on iPod for example.

I like listening on my PS3, it sounds way better than on my iPod (shuffle) even while using the same headphones.

i dunno what happened but my ipod is not working. i was listening to music on the bus and sudently it stopped playing. The battery is at full and when you select a song to play, the song doesn't start and after a while it passes to the next song and the same thing happens.

Can anyone help me out with this?

Try formatting/restoring it from iTunes.

Looks like CD sounds better on my Sandisk, than your ipod right now :hihi:

I think the point is, that using the earbuds the sounds are going directly into your ear. Because of that, nothing is lost, and you can hear every little detail. It's not limited to iPod, or this album. Listen to any album through headphones or earbuds, and you'll hear the mix better.
And before you mention some frequencies not being in mp3's, those are frequencies that can't be heard by the human ear anyway. ;)

Esteban said it all. Plus, the EQ settings on iPods suck big time. Sony Walkman series has a far better range with low frequencies and can handle losless like charm.

You probably thought those anatomy-unfriendly earbuds sounding better for some if those reasons:

- your stereo speakers are fucked up
- your previous earbuds were fucked up
- your previous EQ settings were messed up
- you had low quality tracks.   

The Sony X Series Walkmans are amazing. They have an OLED screen on them.

the problem is solved, i reset it and didnt lose any of the songs, thank you.

And its a big lie... I have two top mp3 players from sony and neither of them comes close to the sound of the Apple ipod! and both cost almost the same!
One with 16gbs and another one with 4gbs.

They cost me 100 and something euros each one, they're shit comparing to the Apple one believe me!

The X series 16gbs one is the one i had before (and still have it) and believe me... it doesn't come close to Apple classic. With all due respect

- your stereo speakers are fucked up  - wrong!
- your previous earbuds were fucked up - wrong!
- your previous EQ settings were messed up - wrong!
- you had low quality tracks.  - Wrong!

i have the sony x series one with 16 gbs, it doesn't come close soundwise!

Im not here saying this just to brag about my new ipod and say that apple is better than everyone in the competition.

I used to hate Apple actually, always thought it was overpriced (and still think in some products) and always found the Ipods very uninteresting because u had to install itunes, which i hated it, and thats why i got my mp3s from Sony and Samsung and Creative, I also had  a sandisk btw!

I had the x series one from sony, 16gbs, and it doesn't come close to Apple's classic ipod, believe me!, the sound is much better!

maybe the ipod earbuds happen to fit your earholes the best. have you tried them with other players?

btw good that your ipod is working again.

You mean this one (http://stuff.tv/review/Sony-X-Series-Walkman/)?

I work with technology, I test several gadgets for a website (and I previously worked for two magazines about tech, PC Magazine and Stuff). I also happen to be very interested in audio gear and quality. So well, it's not a "big lie" when several sources (not including me, but all the reviews you can read) says iPod isn't the best sound experience you could find.

I strongly sugest you to try the earbuds on different players. Or the different earbuds with the iPod.

Just a question: how are the EQ settings you use in both devices (the Sony Walkman and the iPod)?

I sense we may have an Apple marketing rep on the forum...

This is becoming really off topic....





/jarmo

On the sony ones i usually use the default one and on one of the players (the oldest one) i use the Matrix Eq Setting, which is supposed to be more stereo.?
On the Ipod iv been using the default Eq settings for now

I totally dig the way CD sounds on the ipod though (going back to topic), you can hear the guitars more separated from the other sounds, and its like every sound was in a different channel, at least thats how it feels when i hear it.

I have a iPhone with $80 in ear headphones. The album sounds good on it. I think it sounds better on my 10 year old aiwa 3 disc player. This could be because I played it soooo much on my iPhone, that I could hear things on the aiwa that I wasn't hearing on my iphone.

hahaha! :rofl:

All iPods are Apple by definition. Otherwise, it's called an mp3 player. The difference you are talking about has to do with headphones, not the player itself.

that's what i gather from the thread so far. halo, please try the earbuds with your sony x and your other players and tell us the results. i like the design of ipad (nano to be precise) so i wanna know if it's indeed the ipad classic thing or just your earholes.

yes, thats what i wanted to say, all Ipods are better than mp3 players soundwise

I tried it and still have the same opinion. It seems Apple's sound is more clean and at the same time more powerful than normal mp3 players including my sony x series one.

And its not just CD, i notice differences in almost every artist. AC/DC rocks in the Ipod, i mean literaly.

Even in the Oh My God demo u can clearly hear a slightly different change in background sounds and guitars which in my point of view it makes the song more enjoayble and so does the whole Chinese Democracy album. You just get the feeling that the sounds are more noticeable and they more spread than in a normal mp3 player.

I would strongly recommend for those who are crazy about CD, to buy an Ipod Classic! :beer:

Please let us know what you think Lou! I would still advise you to reconsider and buy the same ipod but with 120gbs, at least in Europe, its almost 100 euros cheaper : ok:

This is literally my favourite topic ever.



mp3 better than a cd/vinyl?

Yeah sure, why not.


Everything sounds better on cassette too!

If you smoke weed it'll sound better too

Maybe the guy who started the topic is an employee of Apple  :hihi: just kiddin' of course..

However, there's no need to waste money buying the expensive toys of mr. Jobs, to hear Chinese Democracy properly.

Just play your CD (or, better, your vinil) and hear to it with good earphones (I would recommend some from Sennheiser - and no: I'm not Sennheiser employee  :rofl:)

 :peace:

Ok maybe i exagerated a bit  :hihi: but hey its a totally great experience. The background sounds are a little louder on the ipod and the guitars are not so overshadowed by Axl's voice as in the cd itself. It could be because of Apple's equalizer, but im using the default one.

Its without a doubt better than any Mp3 i had. Including the Sony X-Series one.

It depends also on how you like to listen to CD, and your taste. For example, i think in some songs Axl's voice is too loud comparing to the guitars, in my opinion that kinda ruined a little bit some of the songs, for example Shackler's revenge. The solo parts while Axl's singing almost at the end are barely noticeable, and with the ipod u can notice them better.
So it also depens on your listening taste.

If i was i would be making shitloads of money  :hihi: : ok:

while i don't care much for the ipod and its (mostly) compressed sound, I did listen to CD on my stereo using high quality headphones and it's a wonderful experience.  i hope everyone gets to do the same sometime.

Just as an FYI, for anyone that didn't know:

Artists get their albums produced so they get the best version of their song possible.
They then get it mixed so people can hear everything the way they want them to hear it...in this crazy million dollar room that's as flat as hilary swanks chest!
Then they spend another few grand getting it masted at the top of the line studios so that it sounds as uniformly awesome from system to system as possible.

Apple has that little thing that seems to add a bit more analog volume to their mixes coming outta the ipod (it could be a more powerful headphone amp) or some altering in the conversion (but if you didn't hear it ON the CD, in that million dollar flat room) you're not hearing the same thing they are.

There's WAY too many factors to argue about here, jarmo pointed out the headphones, but any change in your chain will give you a difference in result, minimal or significant, it will exist.


Lastly, music is an artform and the music industry is a business trying to capitalize on the art and sell it to as many people as they can to make this form of art more profitable.

Everyone here is entitled to an opinion about music. Luckily this dude found a way for him to enjoy CD even more through an iPod.

:)

Thank you!  : ok:
Yeah basically it has something different than the usual mp3 players. You feel like the guitar parts are more separated from the vocals, which gives more volume to it.