Kbuzbee

No worries, Jeff. This is all new territory for me. My tests with Apple Lossless leave me not wanting to lose that much space anyway... I even changed the import cd setting back down to AAC as I just don't hear the difference. Maybe I'd care if I was converting back and forth but all I do is d/l the AAC files to my iPod/iPad so that isn't an issue. No real desire to change over to any other brand like a Cowon as the Apple products sound pretty good to me. Maybe if I ever hear one, I'll rethink that but, for now, it's all good. Ken

According to OP they are humming on several devices, but not on his iPod.... Ken

As I said in my first post, contacting Klipsch would be my first try. Still, there's something that doesn't make sense to me. Please do post the resolution. Ken

But Amy, why would they NOT hum on an iPod if the S4s are defective? That was what I didn't understand....

My guess (and it's only that) is this is a signal your device is generating. I think (maybe?) your S4s are more sensitive and able to reproduce it. Whether the hum is some sort of feedback loop or what, I can't say. The only way I could think of to test this wool be to connect a O-scope to the out put and see if you can measure the frequency and amplitude of the wave being generated. Assuming you find this to be the case, you have, as I see it, three options: 1. Use less sensitive headphones (with corresponding loss of response) 2. Use and inline noise filter. This would impact your playback as well but if you can dial in a specific frequency, you could minimize the impact. 3. Only use playback devices that don't generate this signal. (you mentioned you iPod doesn't?) Good luck, Post what you find out. Ken Cavet -I'm not an audio engineer and the folks who frequent this forum may have far better ideas as to what's going on.....

I've had that, as you say, with cheap headphones or devices. Never with my Klipsch. Mine are X5s but I would not expect this with S4s either. Are they new? What devices do you hear the "hum"? I'd call Klipsch or your retailer and discuss the problem. Ken

Ah, I see, thanks Jeff, you're right, very easy. Hadn't really noticed it before when this thread had a couple mentions... I changed the setting and pulled a CD in at Apple Lossless. Worked great. Turned songs from 4mb to 23mb! That's a sizable increase! I figured, a file that much bigger should sound totally amazing through my X5s. Well, like you, I really couldn't hear a difference from the same song in AAC 256kbps. (on an iPad if that matters?) didn't try d/ling anything from the iTunes store in Apple Lossless but I'd assume similar size and quality? Now, like you say, I too am no audiophile. Maybe if I had better (or younger?) ears, I'd hear quality increase. Or perhaps if it was played through some state of the art system? But this is how I listen (x5s regularly, Bose QC on planes and such) on a 20gb iPod or now, on my iPad. So if I can't hear the difference, why take up the space? Thanks for the info. Ken

Okay, I'm sure this is a stupid question but how do you "use" Apple Lossless? If you own an iPod and buy music through iTunes is that the format it's in or do you have to do something "special"? Thanks, Ken