The 160GB iPod Classic was not enough for my needs, so I started searching for alternatives.
I found no good alternative with enough space that is easy to use and plays lossless files digitally for when I'm at home (Pure i20 dock i.e.), that's why modding an iPod seemed to be the best way to go. A new iPod Classic 7G 160GB costs 259 euro here! A 240GB drive would've costed me an extra 100 euros... That's a total of 359 euros, a bit too expensive in my opinion.
 
Then I found pre-modded iPods on eBay for way lower prices!
The modded iPod Classic 7G with a 240GB drive costs 180 euro from Chinese sellers on eBay, that's two times cheaper!
The seller I bought the iPod from was 'kaijessy' and the iPod is stated as 'refurbished' with original Apple earbuds and sync cable.
He also changed the back since a thicker back is needed for the 240GB mod and there is '240GB' written on it, which is a nice touch

This low price seemed somewhat suspicious to me and others on Head-Fi ( http://www.head-fi.org/t/600012/ipod-classic-7g-240gb ) , I didn't believe it at first. Since it was on eBay with Paypal I could've got a refund if the iPod was fake anyway, so I just ordered it blindly.
 
Two weeks later a little box arrived:
 

 
That looks like a 100% original iPod Classic!
The back is scratch free and the front too, but the click wheel has some hardly visible scratches on it.
For this price it's acceptable.
 

 

 
The 'original' Apple earphones don't look very original
Not like any head-fi member should care, but in the description they mentioned 'original' earbuds.
Can you find the error?
 

 
The iPod works perfectly, everything looks normal to me (my first iPod Classic).
Transfer/sync speed was amazing compared to the sync speed of my iPhone 3Gs.
 
Another anomaly spotted: I have a black iPod, but on iTunes it shows a silver one
Not a major problem at all, just mentioning it. This proves the iPod is indeed refurbished.
 

 
After loading +-100GB of stuff on it I've been using it a bit, the sound is average, comparable to the sound of my iPhone 3Gs.
It plays everything perfectly, no gaps, no lag in music.
 

 
I recently converted some Archer episodes for my iPhone, apparently iPhone (non-retina) resolution movies are compatible and sync with the iPod Classic! The playback was smooth, but when watching movies I spotted an extra anomaly: four dead sub-pixels!
I hope it's the latest problem I encounter...
I'll ask a replacement screen from kaijessy on eBay, will post more about this when he responds!
 

 
They're hard to see on the pic but are clearly visible for me, even more when watching videos... (center, on the right of the screen)
 
 
Quote:

Update: received the new screen for free after contacting the seller some weeks ago, finally found time to install it.
No more dead pixels FTW!

Click to expand...

 
 
Conclusion
I'm very happy with my purchase, it's cheap and legit.
The iPod haves some minor problems all caused to bad luck, but easy to fix or not annoying at all.
Don't forget the product was refurbished, it's normal the iPod doesn't look 100% brand new. Also a second hand iPod Classic 160GB with close to no scratches on it would cost more than 180 euros here. The only reason not to get it in my opinion is customer care, if something goes wrong you'll have to send it back to Singapore I think, which will be long and expensive... But I don't think you'll have any trouble the first year, so it's not really a huge drawback.
 
If you want an iPod like this one, don't hesitate, get one!!

Nice info, thanks!
I wonder why the SQ is less than the iPhone's though.
Not that it should matter too much for me since I use it with a Fostex HP-P1 Dac/amp.
But I was thinking of getting a second one for my wife's car to replace her 120GB iPod.

The sound isn't bad, it just sounds like any other portable Apple product I had (my first Apple product was an iPhone 3Gs).
It's not world class sound, but very good for portable use

I'm most curious about how it works as you fill it up. There's reports that as you pass 200gb the stock firmware can't handle the volume - for example, shuffle all won't work, and eventually as you add files it doesn't recognize them all. These reports, though, have been strictly about the gen 5.5 models that have been upgraded.
 
Have you filled it yet?

I tried to fill it @ 99%
=> works perectly!

All the information about the songs haves to be saved in the RAM memory of the iPod, I think the 5.5g iPod haves less RAM than the 7G.
Maybe if I manage to fill the iPod with 128kbps songs it will have difficulties, but I'm syncing everything @ lossless.
This means I can put a good 8000 songs in the iPod which shouldn't be a problem for the RAM, but 240GB @ 128kbps would be enormous.

FINALLY an advantage for audiophiles

Great to hear, thanks Louis!

Ah, well, I'm no audiophile - I've been to so many concerts I can't tell the difference between lossless and V2 VBR encoding. I'd want to put around 40,000 tracks on it so that's what I'm most curious about, if it works under those conditions. Thanks for the review, though!

Quote:

louis12345 said:

I tried to fill it @ 99%
=> works perectly!
All the information about the songs haves to be saved in the RAM memory of the iPod, I think the 5.5g iPod haves less RAM than the 7G.
Maybe if I manage to fill the iPod with 128kbps songs it will have difficulties, but I'm syncing everything @ lossless.
This means I can put a good 8000 songs in the iPod which shouldn't be a problem for the RAM, but 240GB @ 128kbps would be enormous.
FINALLY an advantage for audiophiles

Click to expand...

I have over 13.000 songs on mine 7th gen 240GB, so it's no problem at all

Any idea what form of memory is in the ipod and is it possible to do the mod yourself?

 
Quote:

.., the sound is average, ..

Click to expand...

 
You're not doing yourself any favor using the original firmware. Install Rockbox to truly experience what this music player can do.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/532426/ipod-classic-rockbox-its-happening
http://www.freemyipod.org/wiki/Main_Page

I don't think I can live without the rockbox. It's just bloody fantastic. Any time I simply plug in the iem's, the music is on. That's cool. Drag and drop from folder to folder from pod to pod from pod to PC and from PC to pod can't be any easier. Now you have not only a DAP also a portable hard drive.
 
Can you imagine if your life depend on itune?
 

Thanks. I've been waiting for a review on this it seems like forever. The only reason I want this is to pair it up with an AlgoRhythm Solo ... hopefully by next year. 

Hi guys, is there already a stable version of rockbox for the classic 7G? Thanks.

Rockbox.org still call it "unusable"

240GB is huge.