Apple iPod Classic - 4th Gen Review

Good Points
Memory size
Battery life
Features
Software
Accessories
Everything you need comes with it

Bad Points
Earphones
Err, can't think of anything else really.

General Comments
My main purpose of purchasing an MP3 player was really to 'jukebox' my music collection and port it with me around the house and on the move. A friend of mine has one of these, and I'd been umming and ahhing about an MP3 player for a while, in particular the iPod 60Gb Photo, and when the new iPod video came out I renewed my interest.



I'd never seen any bad reviews of the Photo, but even after a few months the new Video was getting slated a bit, even if it was just for not supplying all the kit that came with the Photo. So I thought I'd better act fast whilst the Photo's were still around.



I saw a new 60Gb at £214, which I thought was a bargain, and a price that was a one off, so I took the plunge.



Let's put the iPod in perspective here. There are MP3 players out there with better sound quality etc., but the overall iPod package is pretty much unbeatable if you don't mind buying into the whole Apple thing.

Anyway, I'm really pleased with this purchase. I've only managed to load about 60% of my CD collection (300 in all), but it's just amazing. I'm now 'jukeboxed'.



The sound quality is good to excellent depending on the production of the CD, and of course what you're playing it back on. The iPod sounds really fantastic on the kitchen and bedroom stereo, and as good as the CD's. A little less so on my separates, but you really have to be picky to notice. Sucking eggs to some, but note that different CD's are recorded at different sound levels. There is a feature on the iPod called soundcheck, which levels all the playback to be about the same volume, but it's not an exact science. There is some degradation with this switched on, but I only use this when playing shuffled playlists, and it's acceptable all things considered. If you prefer the better sound then switch it off and use the volume control, which is what I do when listening to entire CD's.



There are some very good features, which I know will be present on other players, but the spin wheel menu system is unbeatable.



The other great thing about the iPod is that all accessories seem to be made for iPod's first, with the other MP3 players playing catch up or missing out all together. I've now got the player hooked up in the car, and I have some really quite fantastic portable speakers for travelling. I've got an Onkyo cradle/dock for the separates stereo, speakers made specifically for the iPod in the bedroom and, Monster iCables for the kitchen and front room. All specifically made for iPod's, and they are all fantastic quality. You just don't get that for other MP3's.



I'm now so blown away with iPod's and MP3's, that I've bought a USB turntable and started digitising my old vinyl collection.



I've not had any problems with the iPod at all (touch wood). This might be down to me getting one of the last ones available, so all the glitches were solved. I don't know. But I do know several people who have had iPod Photo's in the past and now have the Video versions, and they are disappointed for one reason or another. The one great shame about the iPod 60Gb Photo is that that Apple stopped making these in favour of the Video. The Photo really is the king of iPod's, and it's crown is still firmly in place.



If you have aniPod photo and it works, you won't find a better iPod. Keep hold of it. Tight!