[Taxvictim]

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

If you're doing a "blind" test, I don't want to be one of your passengers.

Hah... we were sitting still in a parking lot. I kept my hand covering the head unit, and just pressed the source button repeatedly, shuffling between the iPod, the CD player, and the USB chip, all playing the same track. The CDs we tested were factory audio CDs, not MP3 discs.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Taxvictim

You're right. I still bring CD's on long trips. Still, it's great to have over 300 CD's stored digitally in the iPod.

Originally I ripped all of my CD's to an external hard drive using the new lossless WMA format. Damned if I couldn't find a single head unit that would play that format, so I had to convert files to 320 MP3 in order to load them on the iPod. My home stereo will play DVD-Audio and SACD's, but I couldn't find a head unit that would do that. (Alpine did have a double-din DVD video player that also played DVD-A.) My brother-in-law's Acura plays DVD-Audio on the stock system. I can burn those on my home PC. If that format doesn't die, I hope to replace my head unit in a few years with one that will have all the current features, plus play DVD-A.

The MY2009 iDrive can play DVD-A.

[Taxvictim]

Originally Posted by Technic

The MY2009 iDrive can play DVD-A.

Damn, no way to retrofit that sucker into my '07 non-iDrive.

I see the new iDrive also has an 80GB hard drive. I wonder if it can play high-res (96/24 a la DVD-A) digital files direct from the hard drive? That would be awesome.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Taxvictim

Damn, no way to retrofit that sucker into my '07 non-iDrive.

I see the new iDrive also has an 80GB hard drive. I wonder if it can play high-res (96/24 a la DVD-A) digital files direct from the hard drive? That would be awesome.

The HDD can store music files in MP3, WMA or AAC format only.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by norcal330

There are more factors to consider. Various generations of iPods use different audio chips with some of the earlier models beig the best (ie 1st gen shuffle). There are also many ways to connect to your head unit, all of various quality. I'm still not convinced that Ipod has equaled the quality of well-recorded CDs.

My 135i system only has the audio in port, not the ipod port.
So, I'll just be getting the DA sound of the ipod touch.

I'm convinced that most digital media player files I've heard from various digital media players is not as good as a stamped or burned CD (the later having mixed results depending on the burner).

"Lossless" compression is an oxymoron in ways, though the newer algorithms are getting better and better. Look at HD TV. Depending on the level of compression some channels look better than others playing the same video. Audio has the same case. Most people don't even know what it is they don't like Look at fire or flowing water in compressed video, and it has the same resolution issues in certain types of music.

As it has been discussed, the DA DOES make a difference.
Some people just can't tell, and certain environments change the overall timbre of the sound anyway. You use the term "warmer", for me CD's have a more dynamic quality as they 'resolve' harmonics better.
This becomes more apparent depending on the music being listened to.
Certain instruments cover a broad spectrum and having the ability to resolve those greater harmonics makes a difference. A grand piano or saxophone require better resolution in DA's, amps, and speakers compared to digitally produced drum beats and synthesized keyboard sounds, like a lot of modern dance music or rap.
Listen to Hendrix, Coltrane, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan on an MP3 vs a CD, and there IS a big difference. Listen to Nine Inch Nails or Kanye West and the difference is less noticeable. Still, even those sound better on CD, just most people can't tell.

But, I'm sure you already know this.
I'm just singing with the choir.