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Nano sound: 1G vs 2G

I've long enjoyed my first generation black nano and just purchased a second generation black nano for the increased space, increased battery life and even smaller size.

After trying it out for an hour or so, I can't help but feel that the sound quality is worse than the first generation - contrary to some of the reviews. It does seem to offer more high end sparkle, for sure, but there seems to be a substanial mid-range suckout. There are specific pieces of music that I listen to on the cardio machine very often, and I can tell that certain instruments are MIA or substantially de-emphasized.

Worse, the the overall sound seems shrill compared to the original.

Have any of you had a chance to compare 1G vs 2G nano sound?

Thanks,
Art

ps: When I migrated from the old hard drive based "mini" to the 1G nano, I felt the nano sound was far more grain-free and overall a substantial improvement. My apriori expectation was a further improvement in 2G nano.

pps: I don't use the ear buds that come with the unit. I use a sports headset from Sony for exercise and Shure 3c for quality.
artmaltman
artmaltman OP
769 posts
 
Ok, I did some more testing this evening.

First I checked that the EQ is off on both units.

I selected a variety of music.

I used two different sets of headphones:
1. Shure E3c, audiophile quality
2. Sony sports headphones

Same results in all cases. The 2G is less enjoyable, to me, anyway. It has a little more treble detail but the lower midrange is just missing in action. Piano makes this most obvious. The weight and roundness of the notes is completely gone. What a disaster.

Oh yeah, the bass of the 2G has more pop to it but I don't think it's deeper than the 1G. The bass of the 1G has more body.

Every time I went back to the 1G it was a relief.

Could it be just this one 2G unit has a problem? Or this one manufacturing run?

I suspect that in their desire to extend the playing time of a given battery, they reduced the power going to the playback so much that it cannot really support playback of the music adequately.

I love the look of the 2G. It's so clean, and it does not require a case like the 1G does. and it is a bit quicker and has more treble detail. But what good is it if the overall sound is not up to par.

NOW, where can I get some "new old stock" or refurbished 1G nanos? A second one for me and one for my nephew.

Sigh!
Art
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
"NOW, where can I get some "new old stock" or refurbished 1G nanos? A second one for me and one for my nephew."

On the apple online store, under refurbished ipods.

The refurbs are guaranteed for 1 year same as a new ipod. I got a refurb shuffle and I couldn't tell it wasn't new.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=32DAAC51&nclm=Certified
artmaltman OP
769 posts
 
Thank you Sean. I had searched the Apple site but could not find this. I thought I had seen it before..
artmaltman OP
769 posts
 
I posted this inquiry to the Apple bulletin board and also ilounge. I've gotten a handful of responses like this one:

"Well I have a new nano, and I also had an old nano. I miss my old nano, because it's true that the midrange on the new ones absolutely suck imo."

That is precisely my experience. I did some more testing last night at the Apple store.

Some GOOD News: the 30 gig and 80 gig have very full, robust midrange and extraordinary bass as well. Very nice sound quality, perhaps a bit thick in the lower mids, but at least they are not MIA! In favor of the new 2nd gen nano is a clean, clear sound on top that I've not heard before from ipods, but the missing midrange just kills it for me.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
drubin
3,275 posts
 
Have you tried fixing it with EQ?
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