original shuffle vs new shuffle reviews?

[seth]

I did search on this forum but didn't find anything. I am curious if anyone has ever compared the old one that is somewhat of a legend to the new one as far as sound quality goes.

Thanks.

 

[maporter]

I briefly owned both for a short while, however I ended up selling the 3rd gen shuffle because of the whole button / remote thing. I personally thought it sounded very good, from what I can remember I thought the SQ was certainly on a par with my old 512mb 1st gen shuffle.

The voice over function one the new Shuffle is absolutely superb, as is the option of being able to select playlists for the first time. But it was one major flaw that really bugged me - I couldn't get on with the lack of buttons on the actual device.

Having all the controls on the headphone is too damn annoying, it limits your choice of headphones, in as much as your stuck with the stock iPod earbuds. Although this can be resolved thanks to Scosche and adaptors like the tapstick devices.

Sorry not much of a review for you, since I sold the 3rd gen Shuffle after a month of ownership; I can't sit down and do a proper comparison for you.

If anyone ends up buying one, don't go and purchase the Scosche IRM35 tapLINE Control Headphone Adapter, as I still have mine and I'm willing to send it FOC to the first person who sends me a PM - I'd sooner give it anyway to someone from Head-Fi who'll make use of it (see link below for further information).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scosche-IRM3.../dp/B002CVTU56

 

[pata2001]

I own the 1st and 2nd gen shuffle, and briefly the 3rd gen shuffle. As far as SQ, 1st >/= 3rd > 2nd. However, usability: 1st > 2nd >>> 3rd. To me, for a small grab-n-go player like a shuffle, usability is critically important. The 1st gen is very good in this: big tactile buttons, big slider, built-in USB port. The 3rd gen goes for the wrong direction: tiny and tough slider, no buttons, reliance on the earbud remote for playback controls.

The only big plus thing going for the 3rd gen is the support for Apple lossless, which is the first for the shuffle lineup. Other than that, it's not even gapless capable. I returned mine.

 

[azncookiecutter]

Are the new 3rd gen shuffles still as hissy as the first gen? I still use my first gen shuffle from time to time, but the hiss with high sensitivity IEMs drive me crazy, so much it's relegated to gym duty.

 

[pata2001]

Quote:

Originally Posted by azncookiecutter /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are the new 3rd gen shuffles still as hissy as the first gen? I still use my first gen shuffle from time to time, but the hiss with high sensitivity IEMs drive me crazy, so much it's relegated to gym duty.

Hmm, to me, both the 1G and 3G are not hissy at all, unlike the 2G.

 

[nwkid178]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pata2001 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The only big plus thing going for the 3rd gen is the support for Apple lossless, which is the first for the shuffle lineup.

This is news to me... any word of the 2g or 1g getting the same through a firmware update?? And as far as SQ on 2g goes.. there is a very loud and quite noticeable hissing that I never noticed on stock buds but make me cringe in between tracks on my w3's.

 

[maporter]

Just a quick message to let you all know that the Scosche IRM35 tapLINE Control Headphone Adapter is no longer available. I've sent it to a fellow Head-fi'er who contacted me today - Sorry all.

 

[pata2001]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwkid178 /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is news to me... any word of the 2g or 1g getting the same through a firmware update??

No, no firmware update for 1G or 2G shuffle.