Instruction: Answer the given question by extracting information from the supporting document.

Input:
Question: hows the sound quality does it sound like the 5.5 or the last classiccause the last classic sounded funky
Document: Let me just assure you right now, it is not. The difference in sound quality between my wife's 5.5 gen 80 gig iPod and my two new 120 gig units is vast. Using the same headphones and songs, downloaded from the same computer, the new iPod sounds like listening to music played inside a tin can compared to the old one.
This device sounds tinny harsh and bottomless when compared to my 5.5G iPod. Perhaps this is due to the fact that new iPods do not contain a Wolfson DAC. This is just too bad. The 5.5G was the last good iPod. Seriously, most all these new iPods sound just awful.
I know a lot of folks like the long white shuffles for sound quality, but all the shuffle did for sound was make is real easy on the ears,IMO, at a cost of mid~upper end detail. I like to think of those shuffles as making sound honey(nice but not real). This latest classic is a huge jump in real sound quality. Detail but not harsh!
This unit provides great capacity at a reasonable price. The problems I have with it is that sound quality like the previous Classic just is not as good as 5th Gen iPod with the old Wolfson chips were. Apple needs to dump the newer chips and go back to Wolfson. Another problem I have is that the scroll wheel just plain does not work as well as the former Classic or earlier iPods. Hopefully a future firmware update can correct its problems.
Good points:1. The charge on this player lasts many hours longer than Zune (which claimed to last 12 hours on a full charge-- but which was more like 3.5).2. The device is very light and thin. Easy to handle.3. The software does some nice things and is very user-friendly. One of them is to allow you to return to the point that you left in each of the sub-menus.
I am using this ipod since last 1 month and found it a good value for money. The Sound quality & video quality is awesome. You don't need to worry for space when u have 120 gb space available with you.. :)The only issue which i see with it is that sometimes the ear buds would simply don't stick in your ears.
As for apple? Shame on them for ignoring this HARDWARE PROBLEM!!! !I fell in love with I Pod's when I bought my 30GB and it totaly changed how I listen to music and when my 30 was at max I was thrilled to get the 120GB. However it has been a sad and frustrating experience since day one.One last note-I notice that the sound quality of the 120 does not seem to be as good as the older I Pod's.
This might be worth keeping an eye on as it's a Windows XP machine. I should add that the Ipod charged up very quickly and that the charge seems to last very well.I haven't yet tried the games or videos, but I can say that the player produces excellent quality sound and has had everything from Stravinsky's Rite of Spring to Purcell's Nymphs and Shepherds and Schubert's Fantasy in F Minor for 2 pianos thrown at it!! From that point of view I can certainly recommend it.
I've had my Classic for about 5 days and so far so great. Keeping my fingers crossed I don't have any freezing, etc., as some of the other reviewers. Once in a while there's a little lag when operating the wheel, but that's it. I chose the Classic for the music capacity. My last one was a Nano, but after a while the 8G capacity just wasn't enough. I got tired of rotating songs out to make room for new ones.
They're the ultimate capitalists and you know what, we'll pay anyway!! Overall, this device does exactly what I need it to do, store mass amounts of music and play with exceptional sound through my Sony 5.1. I'm not looking for a device w/ a FM tuner or a WI-FI connection, I seldom carry around my iPod. My preferences are: 1. Great digital interfacing and visual effects. 2. Durable product. 3. Reputation. iPod classic has all these and more.
Answer: The are both the same crappy MP3 format!!    If you care about audio quality you will use Apple Lossless.   The trouble is this prevents you from D/L Songs or Albums.  The best way is to buy the CD and rip it to iTunes.  You can change the format you rip it in "Preferences" on iTunes....Import...format.You can however go to HDtracks.com and get great Audio Quality D/L's   although their selection is not probably what you are looking for and more expensive than just buy the CD.MagooI know D/L is convenient but it returns horrible quality!!!!!   Take any CD you know very well and rip a song or two to iTunes in Apple LossLess.  Then D/L that same song(s) and you should be able to easily hear the difference!  If you just want background noise then continue to D/L the MP3's.   Life is all about priorities!!!Magoo