[Wiped89]

I wasn't sure which section to put this in, as it kind of crosses them, but here goes:
I need some help, I'm just not sure what to do. I want to upgrade my portable audio setup, but I'm not really sure where to start.
Current MP3 Player: Samsung i8910HD/Omnia HD Samsung I8910 Omnia HD Smartphone: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo
Current Headphones: Shure E2Cs (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shure-SE102-Sound-Isolating-Earphone/dp/B001GOVTPE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258498932&sr =1-2).

Now, this isnt a bad setup already by any means. Certainly, this combo blows away my laptop's sound quality with ease. But I just can't help feeling there's something missing. For example, I tried a song without any compression, a 68MB, straight-from-the-cd rip, which should have sounded epic, but I couldn't tell it apart from the regular one. Which is obviously bad.
So this leads to my question: Which one do I replace? My phone or my 'phones? My girlfriend will get me either a £100-150 pair of headphones or a £100-150 mp3 player for christmas, but not both (obviously!).
So, what does anyone suggest? Do I just need some better headphones, or is my phone miles away from the best sound quality anyway? Or if it is both, which needs upgrading more desperately (well, I wouldnt get rid of my phone, just get a better dedicated player).


Thanks

[Steven]

The iPod Touch probably has the 4th best DAC on the market. Get yourself to an Apple store, load your track onto a Touch via the connected Mac and have a comparison

Don't worry. They let you do anything in there if they think it will get a sale

Alternatively if you have a spare £15/£20 buy a cheap Sansa Clip or Clip+. Great SQ in a little package

[Wiped89]

Oh yes, probably should have mentioned that I'm anti-ipod. I'll never buy one, I just don't like them...I think their sound quality is sacrificed for the sake of style (sorry!).