This mp3 player is so much better than an ipod. Most importantly it sounds way better (I have tested the two back to back) but other features such as battery life are also way better.

The only issue with the NW-HD3 is that it has a volume limiter to stop kids from blowing their ear drums. This, however, is easily fixed:

This simple hack, via the service menu of the NW-HD3, will disable the built-in output restriction thereby raising the max volume by a good amount.

1) To enter the service menu, first make sure the player is on (i e plays a track).

2) Stop playback.

3) Set the player to HOLD before the player switches off.

4) While holding down the MODE button, enter the following key combination on the navigation wheel:

RIGHT RIGHT LEFT LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT UP DOWN

5) Now as you disable HOLD, the display goes dark and says “POWER”. You are now inside the service menu.

6) Click UP so that the display says “OTHER”.

7) Click RIGHT so the display says “G TEST”.

8) Click UP as many times as needed until the display says “SP SET”.

9) Click on the PLAY button. If the display says “OFF”, than you might just as well leave the service menu (go to step 11). However if the display says “ON”, it means that it the player is set to restricted output.

10) Click on the MODE button so that the display shows OFF.

11) Press the PLAY button to store the new setting. Now the display should say SP SET.

12) Hold down the MENU button until the unit performs a normal startup.

13) You must now enable the backlight again by using the normal Menu function.

Watch those ears and don't tell the kids!