I have an 09 Carrera S, with a Universal Audio Interface.

My iPod works just fine with it, but the quality is poor due to the fact that it is not a 5.5G (uses Cirrus DAC). I am considering purchasing a Zune, for superior sound quality (Wolfson DAC).

My question: Has anyone used a Zune with this version of the PCM, and how does your degree of control over the Zune compare to the iPod (which is excellent).

 

Assuming that the compression/bit rate of the music on the iPod vs the Zune isn't the reason for differeing quality between the two in your case, is the DAC that bad in the iPod?

I would think the 997 interior and road/engine noise would impact the listening experience enough such that any variation due to hardware in the player would be a slight variation on a much bigger issue.

 

Take the Blue Pill and come to the land where everyone is happy. Go Mac!!

 

Yes, the difference is that noticeable. First encountered it when I comapred (just for the hell of it) my 7th generation iPod Classic with a friend's 5.5G. His was clearer, brighter...whatever you want to call it...better. Did some research and found out this is a well known issue.

Zunes seem to be reported for having better sound quality as they use the same DAC as that 5.5G.

ANYWAY - that's irrelevant IF I can't access the music in the same user friendly way as I can on the iPod through the PCM.

Again - Has anyone tried the Zune, or know if it works as well using the UAI or Aux in?

 

Compare again, because there is no difference. Often, audio A-B comparos are deceiving. Make sure the source material is the same (exact digital dupe) and same acoustic volume. And yes, I checked

Also... the PCM iPod interface is Apple proprietary. A Zune will need to use the Aux input.

 

What an arrogant response, jeez. "yes I checked"??

Ok, to clarify...the DACs in iPod 5.5G and all Zunes are Wolfson. The DACs in later generation Classics are Cirrus. The quality differences are well documented, and obvious to anyone who has a sense of hearing.

I had hoped this whole conversation was going to be unnecessary...so AGAIN AGAIN:

If anyone has used a Zune with the interface, I would really appreciate knowing the degree of control one has with the PCM v. The (excellent) control when using an iPod.

Please limit responses to that, rather than telling me there's no difference...maybe just go along with the fact I want to know how a Zune operates in the PCM...

To those who read and answer my questions, thank you in advance!

 

Well aware of the chip diffs. I was part of a test involving a Gen 4 iPod against an iPhone 4 under lab conditions, guaranteeing equal volume renditions, with the same high-bit material, verified by several people - no difference. Believe what you wish - the catastrophe theory is often the culprit.

 

My understanding is that the UAI control for the ipod will not control the zune...different pinouts, zune control requires authorization, etc. You can of course use the aux but you give up PCM control. I have used the aux in with my Samsung Captivate (purportedly the Wolfson WM8994 DAC) and it sounds pretty good. This also gives me the benefit of playing flac.

 

Thank you "jster" for actually responding to my factual request with facts, rather than arguing with me, or giving me opinion on something that was of no use.

Shame about the control...seems expensive way to get a small increase in quality. Guess I'll just get an older 5.5g...

 

I am not the only one to hear it. Like I said, I just came across the problem randomly, then did an at home test, then did some research. Wolfson DAC > Cirrus DAC.


http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/11418/

 

agreed. i have a Zune, and it would have been great to control via PCM. i prefer Zune over iPod any day. the iTunes program and interface is 7 years out of date.

 

That's not very conclusive and there's no universal agreement in any of those discussions.

FWIW, when I upgraded to a classic, I felt the sound from the PCM3 was a bit better - and I figured, if anything, the PCM3 interface was probably designed around the newer iPods, but who knows really. The difference, if not imagined, is so minimal that I don't even trust myself to swear by it - even with the car sitting in the garage; once out on the road and up to speed - no way.

That's all the PCM3 will control though; no Zune or other players. You can use a USB drive but the audio formats are limited. The Zune cannot be accessed as a drive either.

Even with compressed codecs, a USB device might sound pretty good since there is no analog audio path involved going USB to the PCM. I have not done a comparison, but seems like an interesting thing to do...

 

That just goes to show that you can appease everyone! Porsche went with the mass majority and adopted Apples technology along with almost every other car manufacturer. They did leave you an out though but offering a usb or aux input.

But, I think the only way that you are going to find what you are looking for is through an aftermarket system.

 

Initial testing of USB device is not so encouraging. The USB interface doesn't support any uncompressed codecs and I tried MP3 and WMA at very high bit rates (320 I think - higher WMA 10 rates failed to play) and the iPod Classic loaded with WAV files still seems better, just not as loud. I put my fav Elliot Scheiner mixes of Steely Dan Gaucho as a reference - and I have the DTS version of that too and that completely blows away the iPod and the CD mixes. Too bad there's no way to load up a DTS or DVDA MLP mix in anything but the "disc".

All this listening with the engine off and sitting in the garage where I can hear it.

 

I don't know how the two players will sound over the PCM but I will most definitely tell you the Zune I currently use sounds better than my ipod - same music, headphones, etc. Now, I don't have the newest ipod or iphone and I do have the newest Zune, but I did have the older Zune as well and it also sounded better than my ipod. I'm sure there are many apple fanatics out there who will disagree with me, but I am a fanatic about music and sound and not a fanatic about either player and my ears tell me the definitely Zune sounds better.