What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
19 MAR 2009
Apple iPod Shuffle (3rd Gen 4GB)
While there's no doubting the Shuffle's sound quality, there are too many reservations about the accompanying headphones to gain top marks
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No, Apple hasn't branched out into making MP3 tie clips, this minuscule tablet of anodised aluminium is the third-generation iPod Shuffle.
The tiny fellow is less than 8mm thick and weighs a paltry 10.7g. The 3.5mm jack and power switch are positioned along the top edge, with the small clip residing on the opposite side of the player.
The latest Shuffle has been completely redesigned from the ground up and you're now able to call upon 4GB of storage. The player is compatible with Audiobooks and Podcasts and this is the first generation Shuffle that can use playlists set up in iTunes.
The built-in battery lasts for around 10 hours and the player comes with a small USB cable for connecting to and synching with your computer. Black and silver are the two 'colours' of choice.
Controls are on the headphone cord
To help scale down the new Shuffle, the controls have been lifted off the device and placed in a control system that's attached to the right headphone cord.
It consists of just three buttons. Squeeze the '+' and '–' buttons to alter volume. The recessed button in the middle navigates through your music by using various combinations of squeezes.
Two clicks for example skips to the next track. Hold the button down and the Shuffle's VoiceOver function kicks into life. The music is overlayed by a voice (male or female depending on your computer and operating system) that tells you the title and artist of the track currently playing.
Continue to hold the button down and the Shuffle shuffles through your pre-loaded playlists by name. A second click will select that playlist. It sounds complicated, but you get used to it very quickly.
Our only reservation about having the controls so close to the earpiece is that the headphones are prone to coming loose. This is hugely frustrating, especially if you intend using the Shuffle during exercise or even during your daily commute. Sudden movements can also loosen the 'phone's seal.
A dramatic improvement in sound quality
This is a shame, because this version of the Shuffle shows a dramatic improvement in sound quality over the older 1GB version.
Music is well-balanced without sounding too harsh in the treble or too heavy-handed the bass. Justin Timberlake's My Love sounds punchy and detailed while vocals sound refined and natural.
We don't have any issues where sound quality is concerned, but the headphone fit and the fact that using alternative headphones will require a compatible remote control, or at the very least a third-party adaptor (which we await), prevents the Shuffle from achieving five-star success.
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