As a former studio guitarist for Western Cine Studios, which records, among other things, Hollywood movie scores, I’ve had a chance to learn recording engineering & to develop my ear to a higher degree than is good for me (when I did, I found I could no longer stand to listen to my beloved stereo system, and had to upgrade to custom components modified for me by the studio’s technical engineer. I’ve compared the music quality of the Fuze against all of the iPods, including the Nano, using multi-thousand dollar studio reference headphones through a headphone digital signal processor, and, while I have found several $1,000+ mp3 players that can match & even exceed the Fuze, no iPod has come close (Apple seems unable to get the bass correct & you always have to use artificial bass boost to make them even palatable). The earphone jack is the acknowledged weak spot on Fuzes, and after much use, you will see one channel begin to drop out intermittently until it finally disappears. Careful opening of the case & using delicate tools like medical mosquito clamps & probes, you can delicately squeeze the contact for the dropped channel back in place & restore the Fuze. I’ve done this on a number of Fuzes. As to cheap eBay prices, they are usually for used or refurbished Fuzes. I’ve seen Fuzes in original blister packs go on eBay for as low as $125 if you are lucky, but usually a pristine new one can fetch between $299.00 and $799.00. True audiophiles with well-trained ears (and enough money not to worry about the price) will still pay 15 times the cost of the original to get a new one.
I always say that, when you can’t tell the difference between the system you are listening to and the more expensive ones, you have found the right level. If the iPod satisfies you, it is a keeper. But, as long as the next higher level is noticeably better to my own ear, I will always buy up. I also am crazy when it comes to headphones, using a BeyerDynamic 550 for rock & blues, and a 990 for jazz & classical. I also have a top-of-the-line Senheiser I got from the studio and two pairs of Boze noise cancellers (one with full ear cuff and one using earbuds). For those looking for a (comparitively) inexpensive set of reference-quality earbuds (wired) the Etymotic ER4XR, ER4SR, or ER3XR (From $310 to under $200.00).
