Sound quality of Apple devices getting worse

[Guest2]

I have just found my iPod shuffle 512mb 1st gen in my room. It's not been used for maybe 3 years yet it still has charge - green level charge.

Listening to it with my Sennheiser earphones, it sounds a lot better than my iPhone SE and rather worryingly, even better than my housemates iPhone X! How can a device from 2005 that was not even expensive then be better than a phone costing over £1000, 13 years later?

 

[OspreyO]

It used a SigmaTel D-Major STMP3550 processor. Other than the noise/hiss its generally regarded as one of the best sounding of all the iPods, and many MP3 players.
They die pretty easily with a known flashing light bug/death. I had two both died with this. Great sound. I currently have two 4th gen Shuffles I think they sound great, with not much hiss. I don't know if they are better than the original as I don't have one to compare.

A lot of other shuffles and ipods and iPhone I've tried didn't sound great at all. Same with Android Phones. Many audiophiles don't use the headphone out of their iPod/iPhones for this reason. They use a digital out, external DAC.

 

[Hades]

All online music providers seem to be increasing compression. This may also be affecting the quality if you're comparing a recent download to something downloaded a few years ago.

EDIT: I've removed the direct link because he swears in it. But search on youtube for
Music Loudness Wars Why I don't Buy Music Anymore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scfmFbA3DwA&t=435s

 

[Somnambulist]

Might be a sensitivity/impedence thing, especially if using that tiny Ligntning to 3.5mm dongle (since it's both a DAC and amplifier).

 

[Deleted member 77746]

No chance.... have you heard the sound on the new HomePods?