Audiophilic MP3 player?

[A5H]

I recently got some shure E4Cs to pair with my 4th gen iPod and I'm really not too happy with the output from the ipod.
I've tried my music at lossless and 320k mp3s but the quality just doesn't seem up to much.
Since my iPod's almost full anyway I'm considering a new MP3 player. I am curious as to what the best out there is in terms of sound quality?
Is the 5g/video iPod any better?
I don't know of any review sites that rate stuff by the audio quality solely. Any help there?

Cheers,
Ash

Edit: I'm pretty sure it's not the headphones as they sound good through my X-fi

Edit: Is there anything like a mp3 player with a 64bit crystaliser? cause' that would be amazing...

 

[A5H]

Its just the Bitrate, an mp3 or cut down version of an original is never gonna sound as good as a CD.

Apple lossless there shouldn'e be much difference.
We're talking massive bitrates, not 128k.
They sound great coming through my headphones via my computer.
So I'd say it's the iPod hardware.

Thanks for the advice squiffy I'll go have a look.

Ash

 

[A5H]

sony = pretty average
iriver = better than any ipod, but a lack of real bottom end grunt
iaudio = if you want sound quality, its right up there with the best.



Of course those are some generalisations, but even the h320/340 iriver still lack something at the bottom end for example. So yes. if you want SQ, get an iaudio IMO. as for this crsytaliser talk - get out. you shouldnt be needing to compress music and use heavy eq's if you have a decent dap and earphones.

I'll look at the iAudio stuff. Thanks.
The crystaliser just adds more punch to poor quality tracks. It's not like a eq is it?
I thought it was some crazy thing that sampled that audio and added more punch to it?
No idea really

*Goes to look up iAudio*

 

[A5H]

anyway look at the iaudio x3's or x5's

Been looking just now.
The X5 looks pretty nice. As does the A2 as a crazy multi thing.
Will go read some reviews now