My iPod is with an authorized service provider for repair. So I am borrowing the Lady’s iPod Shuffle. It sounds surprisingly good. As good as my iPod.
The iPod uses a 3.7V internal rechargable battery, and I would imagine the iPod Shuffle to be using a battery of similar voltage.
The thing is, headphones and earphones work better with higher voltage and current. The iPods therefore have an advantage, and those cheapo and not-so-cheap MP3 players running on a single 3A cell sound much worse.
I was reading in last week’s PCM that the Nokia 6230/6230i is a quality MP3 player. Something to do with the 3.6V rechargable battery it uses I am sure.