I don't know why, but I like it. I don't like it $179 though.

The reason the company makes a big deal about not damaging your hearing is because that's what these do: the ONLY reason anyone would ever buy these is to make the signal louder.

more parasitic gadget crap for the brainless

@frigg: if it can amp up my music then ill buy it!

the iPod has EQ and a volume control.

unless its doing a BBE sonic maximiser kind of thing (patented) then what is it doing - ZIP.

@flyboy: As its primary function, it's literally amplifying the signal, simply making it louder to give Allinosteglinski all those extra dBs of goodness he craves. Basically, more juice.

The BBE sonic maximiser as I recall, enhanced certain harmonics - there are a variety of those types of harmonic enhancers (e.g. Waves MaxxBass). But that's not what this does.

Aside from simply making the signal louder (which is also, when you get down to it, what the EQ does, just giving you some control over which frequencies you make louder), the signal processing looks largely gimicky and not all that compelling.

The "soundfield expansion" makes the headphones sound more like speakers by blending the left and right signals a bit, and introducing timing differences. I don't think the average listener would care all that much about that or even prefer it. If anything, a lot of listeners enjoy the hyper-stereo effect of listening through headphones without the usual mixing of signals in a room that happens with speakers. in any case, no one is going to run out to buy this for that. I doubt a lot of people are going to run out to buy this thing period.

But for those who do, despite the extraneous virtues extolled on their website in a bento box of bull poo, and despite their disingenuous protestations about protecting your hearing (methinks the lady doth protest too much...) this all boils down to cold, hard volume. Anyone who adds this ugly little appendage to their portable music player is doing it for one reason and one reason only: to cram more louder sound into their ear holes.

It makes others sound like Barry White when they speak to you through the microphone. Thus, enhancing their sound as well.

@flyboy: Wow, a built in crappy EQ and volume control in an inferior audio chip. I can see how that would completely fulfill any audio need.

The truth of the matter is, that only a few players out there come close to providing the electronics necessary to reproduce sound well: 1st gen shuffle, Zune, Kenwood, and a handful of random players.

Audio is a hell of a lot more complicated than you think. There's a lot to make up for in audio being digital and not analog. Not only is sound quality denigrated (yes, even with lossless, although one's ability to hear the difference between a CD and lossless is up for debate), but most people don't use headphones that even come close to being up to snuff with reproducing sound.

I can't imagine this being all that great though. It's only powered by a 3.7V battery. They don't list what chips they use, but my guess would be a simple op-amp chip. Especially considering the power range. My guess would be the OPA2132.

This is just a headphone amplifier, and no, it's sole purpose isn't just to make headphones louder. With proper amplification and power, even sound quality in shitty headphones is improved. Then, when you step up to real headphones, like the ones pictured, you would be amazed at the improvement in sound. And addition of a sound stage "enhancer" will probably also produce a noticeable improvement. All that is their not so fancy term for crossfeed.

I guess it's not that bad of an amp if it performs well. A crossfeed function is something generally only found on $200+ amps. I think they could and should have done more with the case. Silver plastic is really unappealing.

PS - I would guess that you use the stock ibuds.

@frigg: Damn you. I knew someone would post a similar comment before I finished typing my explanation. Although you did explain crossfeeding in detail.

Oh, and the red and blue lights are just atrocious. They would have done better at least using LED's, and not something that looks like it came from a Buck Rogers prop.

@DustyButt: Nice.

DFX needs to call up Stevie and tell him to stop being an idiot and let them provide a sweet DFX type audio enhancer for the ipod. Yes, I'm in a hateful mood today, and Stevie's just been asking for it lately!!

Everything is always iPod. But what about the Creative Zen? That should be a tag and shown too just the like the iPod