I've had my 16 GB iPod touch for a couple days now. I bought it at Best Buy, complete with the 3 year protection plan. I think the screen is fine. Sin City, Batman Begins, and 2001: A Space Odyssey were more than watchable.
As good as the video is, it is quickly becoming impossible for me to listen to music on the iPod touch. The hissing exists, and although it is intermittent, it is noticeable and it greatly detracts from the listening experience. For example:
-The hissing sound washes over the intro and Merry Clayton's vocal solo in the Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter.
-The intentional silence before the bridge in Cream's "Badge?" It is not silent.
-When listening to live recordings, the hiss covers up/mingles with audience applause.
These quibbles may sound minor, but imagine listening to your favorite songs next to the ocean, and you have an idea of what the hiss sounds like. Better yet, imagine the sound from a white-noise generator. It's not an unpleasant sound, per se, but it's there - and it shouldn't be.
Furthermore, I have noticed that I don't feel immersed in my music in the way that I feel I should for $400. This is the first iPod I've owned, and I feel as though the music sounds farther away from me than listening to the same recording on the same earbuds on my four year-old Creative Zen Touch.
The distance/immersion problem can probably be fixed with a higher-quality pair of headphones (I'm using some mid-level Sony buds that I've used for years), but there is no point in purchasing those high-quality headphones if the hissing is present.
Sadly, I will be returning my iPod touch at my earliest convenience.
I LOVE the interface.
Web browsing is fully-functional and fun.
I am happy with my screen
But I cannot listen to my music without being distracted by the hiss, and that is a deal breaker for me.
I would be happy with a working replacement, one without hiss... but it's probably going to be awhile before such a device appears. Please, Apple. I am an audiophile. I stayed away from the iPod for years, foresaking it in favor of Creative and Archos among others. Your multitouch interface drew me in, and the poor audio performance is pushing me right back out the door.
As good as the video is, it is quickly becoming impossible for me to listen to music on the iPod touch. The hissing exists, and although it is intermittent, it is noticeable and it greatly detracts from the listening experience. For example:
-The hissing sound washes over the intro and Merry Clayton's vocal solo in the Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter.
-The intentional silence before the bridge in Cream's "Badge?" It is not silent.
-When listening to live recordings, the hiss covers up/mingles with audience applause.
These quibbles may sound minor, but imagine listening to your favorite songs next to the ocean, and you have an idea of what the hiss sounds like. Better yet, imagine the sound from a white-noise generator. It's not an unpleasant sound, per se, but it's there - and it shouldn't be.
Furthermore, I have noticed that I don't feel immersed in my music in the way that I feel I should for $400. This is the first iPod I've owned, and I feel as though the music sounds farther away from me than listening to the same recording on the same earbuds on my four year-old Creative Zen Touch.
The distance/immersion problem can probably be fixed with a higher-quality pair of headphones (I'm using some mid-level Sony buds that I've used for years), but there is no point in purchasing those high-quality headphones if the hissing is present.
Sadly, I will be returning my iPod touch at my earliest convenience.
I LOVE the interface.
Web browsing is fully-functional and fun.
I am happy with my screen
But I cannot listen to my music without being distracted by the hiss, and that is a deal breaker for me.
I would be happy with a working replacement, one without hiss... but it's probably going to be awhile before such a device appears. Please, Apple. I am an audiophile. I stayed away from the iPod for years, foresaking it in favor of Creative and Archos among others. Your multitouch interface drew me in, and the poor audio performance is pushing me right back out the door.
