Posted on Monday, 19th January 2009 by Auw Jimmy

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Actually, I don’t do iPod. But just for fun, why not?

This is actually an “old” audio tweak, by using this “stuff” below. You can buy it at local bookstore.

This removable adhesive could be place above your components, like capacitor, resistor, or even DAC and Crystal (Clock). The effect? Taste yourself, as I did on my iPod below.

Actually, for serious listener, I prefer solution from Marigo with its VTS Tuning Dot (the result is amazing, I’ve been there). This little dot from Marigo could cost you around US$ 3 (minimum, depends on the size), but the result is very significant (the layer and separation is better and the music is more “musical”). But since this tweak is just for fun, so it’s done with a cheap Tack-It from Faber-Castell.

Try yourself.

Added 19 January 2009:

After few hours testing last night, I have to admit this mod tame the high frequency quite a lot. Well, the vocal becomes warmer, but slightly too warm IMO. Something must be done wrong ;)

I decide to open the iPod again. Remove all the Tack-It adhesive and start checking the iPod PCB layout again. Hmm… after few minutes checking the layout, I decide to give a new try.

The red circles on the photo below are my old tweak which produced too warm sound for my taste. The green circles are the new tweak that I want to try. FYI, the right green is the WM8975 CODEC, while the left green (2) should be the clock.

I check the other side of the PCB. Well, I find another clock. Why don’t we try this also?

Finally, I put extra kapton-tape to prevent the adhesive to touch the brown ribbon cable (simply for the cosmetic issue). So it’s done! Let’s put all them back.

Another simple test continued with “Falling in Love with Love” (Audiophile Reference II CD), “What a Different a Day Makes” (Ingram Washington), and “Tears in Heaven” (Ayako Hosokawa). Now the high and the details show up. The dynamic of the music also there, but without any sign of ear fatigue. Good then. For now, I will stick with this mod, before trying another one (if I have enough time). I also try my favorite track “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (Salena Jones). Overall, this cheap mod could make me listen to this iPod a little bit longer.

But I do really need those Marigo VTS Tuning Dot! I still miss some musicality here… or it has been the limitation of the iPod?

Added 19 July 2009:

I receive a ping back from Head-Fi. Some considered as placebo, but one has tried a heard the different. My suggestion, just try it before you speak. With expensive and high quality equipment owned by most Head-Fi members, I don’t think it takes a genius to hear the different.



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Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (17)

17 Responses to “iPod “Budget” Tweak”

  1. hady Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 15:42

    ini prinsip cara kerjanya gimana ya



  2. Jimmy Auw Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 21:25

    Hahaha… ini bagi sebagian orang cuman “lucu2an” aja koq Pak… ;)

    Secara prinsip cuman mengurangi vibrasi dan melakukan damping aja. Tapi kalo pake Marigo VTS yang bentuknya cuman kaya stiker kecil itu, wuih efeknya dashyat!

    Thanks.



  3. Roy Says:
    January 27th, 2009 at 21:56

    Pak Jim, masak cuman lucu-lucuan?

    Dijelasin dikit dong tentang teori dibelakang ini, secara sederhana juga ga apa, maklum tidak paham soal audio elektronika. Damping itu apaan pak? Vibrasi (apakah getaran dari fisik Ipodnya?) itu pengaruhnya di suara bagian apanya?

    Thanks before ya Pak



  4. Jimmy Auw Says:
    January 28th, 2009 at 00:34

    Hi,
    Trik seperti ini lebih banyak dianggap “klenik” audio. Kadang memang tidak bisa dipercaya dan memang tidak ada penjelasan yang bisa diterima akal sehat (sejauh ini yang sering dibahas adalah mengurangi vibrasi=getaran, walaupun secara ilmiah, getaran ini tidak akan berakibat pada suara karena sifat IC yang merupakan benda solid state).

    Mengenai pengaruhnya di suara, ya silakan aja dicoba sendiri. Susah kalo dijelasin hehehe.

    Thanks.



  5. Andrie Says:
    February 17th, 2009 at 11:56

    Pak Jim, ipod yang dipake tipe apa? Saya pakenya 4th gen 40 GB juga bisa kan pake “mod” ini…



  6. Jimmy Auw Says:
    February 17th, 2009 at 18:01

    Halo,
    Bisa aja koq Pak. Cuman efek dan posisinya saya kurang tahu ya.

    Thanks.



  7. amen Says:
    March 15th, 2009 at 14:41

    Suhu Auw, beli kapton tape dimana ya :D



  8. Jimmy Auw Says:
    March 15th, 2009 at 22:08

    Di Taiwan Pak, sekalian ama SolderWick dan beberapa mainan2 lucu lainnya hehehe….
    Emang di Glodok gak ada ya?
    Thanks.



  9. Jimmy’s Junkyard » Blog Archive » More… Asus Xonar U1 Mods Says:
    May 10th, 2009 at 11:41

    [...] the 2nd option. Let’s go with the first option, the Blu-Tack tricks. I’ve done this Blu-Tack mod before, please check [...]



  10. iPod Blu-Tak mod - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio Says:
    July 17th, 2009 at 07:54

    [...] here to go modding.. But perhaps you, your friend or someone you vaguely know has tried this: iPod Budget Tweak Please post results if you’ve done this! I surely will once I get it done tomorrow [...]



  11. wawan Says:
    October 27th, 2009 at 20:13

    Pak Jimmy, Marigo VTS dotnya bisa beli di mana ya ?



  12. Jimmy Auw Says:
    October 29th, 2009 at 21:27

    Dulu sih di Consonance Audio ada (sekarang di M2 Square).
    Thanks.



  13. Ham Says:
    March 13th, 2010 at 20:54

    Pak Jimmy, ada gak guidence nya kira2 bagian mana yang bisa kita tweak dengan menempelkan tweakernya. Thanks



  14. Jimmy Auw Says:
    March 13th, 2010 at 22:55

    Hi,
    Silakan dicoba Pak. Biasanya bagian clock, capacitor, dan D/A cukup ngaruh.

    Thanks.



  15. Ham Says:
    March 14th, 2010 at 12:14

    Thanks, again…



  16. Muliadi Says:
    December 30th, 2011 at 02:41

    Pak Jim, saya baru coba tips tack it ini buat CDP. It’s really make an improvement. Thanks.



  17. Auw Jimmy Says:
    December 30th, 2011 at 21:34

    Selamat Pak! :)



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