No more High setting in music volume?

How are you able to get sound that is that loud?  

I have the 8 GB Clip Plus, and I can barely hear it, even on HIGH.  In fact, there is no detectable difference between NORMAL and HIGH at all.  I have set it for all different regions, no difference in volume at all, and no way to boost it.

I used to have a Ipod Nano, and these same songs and ebooks were loud and clear through my car stereo without having to max the volume.  Unfortunately, the ipod was stolen, so I opted for this cheaper product, and I cannot hear it in the car even with the car volume on MAX. Nor can I hear it with the earbuds crammed tightly in my ears.

I bought this so that I could listen to audiobooks while commuting 1 hour each way to work…and I also discovered it is not even loud enough to hear when I am exercising on my NordicTrack skier either…   The room must be TOTALLY QUIET or I cannot hear my Sansa!  

How can I fix this?  I hate the idea of returning it…  I want to listen to audiobooks in the car!