Just got an ipod, now what?

>> 12-17-08: Hoopster
>> Thanks guys,
>>
>> Got up and running this evening. Not a big deal after
>> all...
>> Don't worry, I put the ipod down after a while and am
>> back to listening to LPs through tubes. So, don't
>> cancel my card, pleazzzz!!!

heh, heh, heh, heh! you learn fast Hoopster!! :-)
NOW you know which side of your toast is buttered, eh!

Seriously,
* nothing wrong w/ the iPod; it has its place in the grand scheme of 2-ch or HT systems. Pretty much like streaming radio using a Squeezebox/Transporter, etc.
* if you use lossless music formats you might actually like it better than your CDs.
* Also try to buy a Wadia 170 iPod docking station - I believe that it takes the direct digital stream from the iPod & you can feed that into your own DAC. I believe that the sound is much better 'cuz the on-board analog board is a major compromise to keep price down.

Earphone upgrade is imperative.

I have tried a lot of earphones and ended up preferring the family sound of Westone. They strike me as having a more relaxed and natural sound than other brands at any given price point while also being unusually comfortable for an in-ear earphone. I think of Westones as the Spendor/Harbeth of earphones, except that they have better bass :)

Westone UM1 - $100
Westone UM2 - $300
Westone 3 - $400

Shures are good too. Probably every brand has its fans, but I feel strongly enough about this to seriously recommend that you try the Westones.

Check out www.earphonesolutions.com for overview, reviews and pricing.

Art

Sell all your audio equipment. You have entered the hell of music reproduction. For from this point on you will be totally compressed in what you hear, and think. Better yet, give the ipod away, or sell it, to some tin eared kid. As for 'lossless codecs', while an improvement, you will quickly forget such and go with the MP3 format. Then you know you are lost.

Ummmmmm, press "PLAY" and listen????--Mrmitch