Quote Originally Posted by nightflier
This is why there is such a large aftermarket for iPod add-ons - because iPods, and all MP3 players for that matter, produce very low quality sound. Most people who buy one change out the headphones before they even walk out of the store. I think this market for add-ons is driven by consumers desperately trying to improve on their initial investment.
If iPods produced such low quality sound, then people wouldn't be spending more on nice headphones. The fact is they produce pretty decent sound (assuming high res to lossless files). The sound is so decent that good headphones can actually take advantage of it. I wouldn't spend money to more accurately hear crap. That just doesn't make sense. I also thought that as far as generic earbuds go, the ones that come with the iPod are a cut above. I've purchase maybe a half dozen pairs of earbuds from $15 Koss, $25 Sony's, $30 Aiwa... to $100 Shure E2C. I like the Shures' because they don't fall out. If it weren't for noise isolation I don't think they sound all that much better than the stock Apple earbuds. And i'd put Apples above the rest.

But remember we're talking earbuds here. My nano gets a little anemic with my Senn's 570's but still sounds nice. But, jeez, who in theirright mind would expect powerful amps from something that small.