A818 definitely. My Classic 80GB is better than expected, but its lesser sound quality is even evident with the A818's standard earphones. The iPod's earphones are barely worth the epithet hi-fi. To be explicit, I have also heard them both thru Shure SE530's. The Classic is also inferior soundwise compared to the iRiver H320 and Cowon X-5L, in my experience (muddled midrange, lacking in dynamics, just to name two vices).
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All is Relative
Portable machines:
Sharp IM-DR80, Sony MZ-NH1, Sony MZ-R900, iRiver H320, iRiver iMP-550, Sony D-303, Sony D-E01, Sony D-335, Sony D-777, Sony D-250, Sony D-E905, Sony TCD-D100, Denon DTR-100P, Sony D-E905, iAudio X-5L, Sony D-303, Sony TCD-D8 + SBM-1, Sony MZ-RH1, Edirol R-09, Sony D-NE900, Apple iPod Classic 80GB, Sony NWZ-A818, Sony PCM-D50, Sony D-NE20, Sony D-555, Sony D-303.
Port. Headphone amp: HeadRoom Total Bit AirHead
Portable 'phones:
Etymotic ER-4P w/ S adapter, Sony MDR-E888LP, Sony MDR-E484, Sony MDR-Z400, Sony MDR-NC10, Sony MDR-7506, Shure SE530 PTH, Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10
Stationary 'phones: Stax SR-X Mk2, Stax SR-Lambda Pro, Stax Omega II, AKG Hearo 999, AKG Hearo 999 II,
Sony MDR-CD750,
Headphone adapters: Stax SRD-7, SRM-1 Mk2, SRM-007t, AKG Hearo 999 Audiosphere, AKG Hearo 999 Audiosphere II
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