I have bought an 8GB 4G iTouch, it has maximum volume issue

Question

My 8GB iPod Touch is having very low maximum volume. I have checked the maximum level setting it is set to max. When I drag the volume bar to half, volume goes very faint. I have compared with with my friends iPod, it seems like mine really have some issue. Same song was played on both the pods, friends maximum volume was around 40% more. Only difference was, friend's 64gb pod was bought in US and I bought it in India. Is there different manufacturing norms followed for different countries.
When I went to the reseller, to talk about the issue. He played all the pods on display at the store, all were having same volume levels. It was a surprise. Please let me know, is it a defect? Has someone also encounter the same issue?

Answer 1

Javed Shaikh wrote:
Is there any technical specification that supports this. I have searched every corner on apple.com for itouch, didnt get any update what you have said.
I don't think you will find anything from Apple referring specifically to the EU limit, I never have. But there have been plenty of posts on this forum, in the past three years, concerning this subject. It is not unique to Apple; all MP3 players now sold within the European Union have their maximum volume capped, I believe at 85 decibels. You will find news articles on the BBC and other UK sites, from the end of 2009.
However, like all EU legislation, we receive all the information about it second-hand, none of us mere citizens get to read these EU rules for oursleves. Our news media tells us.
You will simply have to have faith that what I have said about the EU maximum volume limit is fact. It's what I have to do. I can understand your reluctance to accept my word on this, I too have read the post to you, from the person whose answer to everything is to restore the ipod. Actually, even funnier was his suggestion that all you had to do was turn the iPod off for two minutes. Now that was funny!
What's more relevant to you is that you ask your supplier if there is any chance that your iPod came from the European Union Market. If necessary, put them on the spot by explaining that you know the difference between an EU iPod and a non-EU iPod. (You do, I've explained it.)
We haven't established beyond doubt that this is the cause of your problem. But if you do have an EU iPod, then it will have a lower maximum volume than an iPod destined for the USA.
One solution to your problem is to use a headphone amplifier, inline between the iPod and your headphones. Search the internet for "portable headphone amps", "CMoy amp", or "Altoid Amp". (Many of the Cmoy amps have been built into Altoid mints tins.) They run on a 9volt battery. I use one.
If you do start using a headphone amplifier, just remember why the rules were introduced here in the EU - to prevent hearing loss due to excessive volume.