Distorted MP3 playback

Here is a problem that has been vexing me for several days:
The latest batch of MP3s that I have ripped from my CD collection - they sound fine when played back on the desktop in winamp or itunes. But when I copy them to the ipod they sound distorted and warbling (under water or flanging sound) on the ipod. I'm using the same Sennheiser headphone set, switching between the ipod and computer.
Detailed information: These are MP3s ripped at 320kps. The warbling/distortion is not subtle (my girlfriend who is no audiophile can clearly notice). The strange thing about this is the mp3 tracks I ripped (same software and settings) copied to the ipod several weeks ago sound great. The existing library on the ipod sounds normal.
As a test - I re-ripped one of the offending tracks (acoustic piano and cello - Beethoven) in Exact Audio Copy (the program originally used), then in iTunes @ 320kps MP3, then iTunes @ 320kps AAC. All 3 of these tracks sound fine on the computer, but when copied to the ipod - the AAC sounds fine, but the 2 MP3s sound bad. Then I ripped the same track in EAC @128kps and in iTunes @160kps. These sound OK (the 128kps file, it is hard to tell if there is warble or the standard compression). One of the 320kps tracks I ripped before the problem started, I recopied to the ipod - that sounds OK also. So has something changed on my desktop that would affect both iTunes and EAC ripping - I assume they used different encoders/dlls? Is there some audiophile hating DRM?
I've reset the ipod a few times and it has the most current software. Besides a restore - any suggestions? THANKS!
ipod 3g Windows XP Pro

No its not your iPod's problem I think - because on my little flash mp3 does the same when I load the songs I encoded from iTunes onto it.
I don't know if there's an answer to this on Apple website, but it may have something to do with bit rate and cetain frequencies. I recently mass-encoded some of my favorite tunes using 96kbps on iTunes, and loaded them onto my flash mp3 player. It warbled. But the same song, when in 320kbps, did not warble.
I also think the distortion builds up with time. For example, if you keep re-encoding the same song over and over with different bitrates, then the warble sound may start to be emphasized.
Just some guesses on the problem; I'm not exactly a technitian either so I dont know whats causing this...

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