I am a music lover and own some high quality equipment from a British company, Naim. For instance their "entry level" CD player costs 2200 € (About 2,700.00 USD). I regularly log into the forums on the official website and see Naim users beeing quite fans of Apple products, particularly of the sound quality provided by the iPod, and of the AirPort Express, literally praising it to the skies.
(http://naim-audio.infopop.net and http://naim-audio.infopop.net).
The news of the month however, Naim prepares a separate power supply for iPods. This is from Paul Stephenson, one of the forum moderators, here: http://naim-audio.infopop.net/. This power supply should enable the best possible output quality from an iPod, and thus make it a true "upper class" HiFi component. I do know the benefits of a separate power supply since each my CD player and HiFi preamp. have one: smoothness of the sound, stability of the auditory image, true bass depth, shape and grain in every channel. The snag could be the price for a majority of iPod users, in my opinion not below 150 € (About 185 USD).
The most interesting part here, beeing the consideration of a highend HiFi specialist for the iPod. That means that iPod is really a good product.
Note from the translator: Euro-prices are most incuding VAT, 19.6% in France.
