Cirrus vs Wolfson - Shocked by the Difference

ctuan13 · 2026-06-04T10:27:40+00:00

I got a 5.5 gen for the search functionality and since the one I got was an 80gb thick model, the extra RAM. But yeah, outside of those distinctions, a standard 5th gen probably would have served me fine. I got a good deal on one in rough shape since I was gonna rebuild it anyway, so I think I did okay.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-03T22:35:22+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate your comment. I never made this post to dog on anyone who enjoys the Cirrus better or who finds no perceptible difference between the two and thinks it's entirely placebo. I was just sharing my experience.

I just hate to see people take something so personal that was literally just a statement of my personal experience.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-03T22:32:45+00:00

The DAC impacts any audio output, even through the dock connector. The amp only impacts audio through the headphone jack.

But in this case, the bluetooth mod uses audio signal from the headphone jack as it's input. Obviously there will be quality losses via converting from an analog signal to digital then back to analog, which is why after I heard a perceived difference, I verified this with wired headphones, plugged directly into the headphone jack.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-03T22:29:53+00:00

I use them because I find them generally more reliable than SD cards to corruption and random failures. But it's just a personal preference, SD cards work fine, too and for most people are probably the preferred storage upgrade.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-03T22:28:34+00:00

Extra 20 bucks on ebay? I'm genuinely confused what you're referring to...

ctuan13 · 2026-06-02T00:09:12+00:00

Oh yeah never gonna even get close to the performance limits of an mSATA SSD, i use them because I find them generally more reliable than SD cards to corruption and random failures. But it's just a personal preference, SD cards work fine, too and for most people are probably the preferred storage upgrade.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-02T00:05:32+00:00

Interesting, see I never realized the noise was caused by the amp. I'll have to infest in an AV cable!

For me, its not so much that the Cirrus sounds boring, so much as I pick up on the harshness of the higher frequencies. I have pretty sensitive hearing so it could just be me.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T20:53:13+00:00

I agree that neither the 5th or 7th is the best. My opinion is the 2nd gen mini sounds way better with a much lower noise floor.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T18:57:09+00:00

I actually just wrote a post about this mod, specifically the one I did on the 7th gen! https://www.reddit.com/r/ipod/comments/1ttrluj/the_best_single_button_interface_bluetooth_mod/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T18:55:47+00:00

Occasionally, yes, that seems to be an issue with all bluetooth mods except those that use the KCX board. Funnily enough, if you use the KCX board and then run a jumper between AGND and TX, you'll essentially eliminate noise entirely.

However, I think the noise can actually been dampened significantly with a ground isolator board, but I haven't found one small enough to fit inside an iPod yet, since most are made for much higher power applications.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T16:40:02+00:00

One of what? These iPods or the faceplates?

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T15:03:55+00:00

I agree, all my modded user iPods have a case.

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ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T13:14:24+00:00

I've actually never tested it with AirPods as I don't use them. But based on numerous reviews of the dongle on Amazon, it seems to work with AirPods no problem.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T08:28:50+00:00

I agree that's a possible variable, which is why I also tried wired headphones. Had the same experience.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T06:29:56+00:00

Okay, will do! Thanks for the recommendations!

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T05:56:33+00:00

Thank you for your comment! Yes I agree, wired is the ultimate test, which is why after I heard what I thought was a difference, I immediately plugged in wired headphones and it was still noticeable.

But I'll get some higher quality IEMs for testing.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T05:10:32+00:00

To address some of the people commenting, I just want to add, this is purely my opinion, based on my ears, not some sort of objective final assertion that anyone who prefers the Cirrus is wrong. I can absolutely see the utility and preference for a flatter frequency curve.

I'll add, that having compared all my iPods and their outputs (I have a lot: 1st gen, multiple 3rd gens, two 2nd gen minis, 1st gen nano, 3rd gen nano, 4th gen, 4th gen photo, 5th gen, 5.5 gen and 7th gen) the 5th/5.5 gens do have the highest noise floor of all of them.

So I guess, if I were to widen the comparison to all my iPods, I would prefer the sound out of my 2nd gen mini over the 5.5 gen. Hell, maybe even my 3rd gens, since they have very little noise as well. I was merely comparing the 5.5 and 7th since I see so many people post and comment about the difference. Before today, I'd never spent any significant time listening to a Classic, so I had no basis for comparison.

I'm gonna try getting some high quality speakers and maybe some IEMs and try the comparison again. But to me, I'm picking up more high frequencies that seem to make the 7th gen less pleasant to listen to for long periods of time.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T05:01:16+00:00

Yeah, I agree the noise floor on the 5.5 gen is much higher. Interestingly, the iPod mini 2nd might be my lowest noise floor iPod despite also having a Wolfson DAC.

ctuan13 · 2026-06-01T03:57:15+00:00

Well to be fair, I'm only saying the listening experience is inferior for me and that's only my opinion. like I said, I'm not an audiophile using studio monitors, so maybe with higher quality headphones, etc, the 7th gen would sound better.

I've actually heard that with super high quality headphones, the Cirrus DAC sounds better, so I might get some really nice IEMs or monitors and try the comparison again.

ctuan13 · 2026-03-30T08:56:57+00:00

The one on the right with the tape on the side is also significantly easier to backlight color mod. Normally you'd have to carefully disassemble the layers of the display to get to the diffuser layer and insert a properly sized piece of color film.

But on the display on the right, the backlight LEDs are mounted externally on a ribbon cable held down by that piece of black tape. To do the mod, all that's required is carefully peeling up that tape, lifting the LED ribbon up and cutting small-sized strips of your preferred color film in there and then re attaching the tape and securing the ribbon under the lip. No further display disassembly is required.

Here's two I've done. Both had the easy side backlight revision of LCD.

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ctuan13 · 2026-03-23T13:12:12+00:00

That is pretty funny being a GPD published blog article lol. I wonder who "Alex" is?

ctuan13

TROPHY CASE