The volume doesn't go all the way down.....

This is a known problem and it occurs with the previous iPod Classic 80GB & 160GB.

Nope. Never fixed for the Classic (gen 1) and still not for (gen 2). One would think it would be an easy fix.

This must be a problem with all iPod classics... it's not something you would notice when using large over-ear headphones, but when using a decent pair of in-ear headphones the lowest volume setting is too loud for me - and is quite a bit above 'zero'.

In fact, the volume at zero is the same as the volume at about 10% of the volume bar.

For example, if I start at full volume and I bring the volume slider to the left, the volume keeps getting lower until it reaches about 10%, but after that point, moving the slider further to the left does not reduce the volume.

For me, this makes no sense - why have a section of the volume bar that has no effect?

This is a problem because with my headphones (which are of a much better quality than the supplied earbuds) the lowest possible volume setting is too loud to listen to when going to sleep.

If I could adjust the volume further on the scale between 0-10% that would be OK...

Reducing the volume of my library in iTunes is not an option, as that would mean that the iPod would then not be loud enough for listening during the day with high-impedance over-ear headphones...

I hope that a firmware update can sort out this issue.

Maybe using the Sound Check configuration would help:

Settings->Sound Check

I have the same problem :-((
Sound Check on or off does not make any difference.
Please Apple - spend that hour to support us with a new firmware using the lower 10% of the volume bar!!! 0:-)

Yep, me too. I would love to get a whisper of a sound out of my 7th Gen 120GB Classic, as I use it to dull the ambient noise while reading. Right now, it's way, way too loud at its lowest volume. I'm going submit this to Apple Support, though I'm sure they've heard from lots of us about the issue from the sounds of it on this and other threads.

Does anyone know of third party volume control software which could help with this, from the iTunes side, other than iVolume? I have iVolume, but I'm not at all convinced that I want to go through and change the volume settings on each track as it does--this would affect the iTunes playback as well as playback on the iPod, and I'm always wanting to get max out of my computer. I'll play around with some iVolume stuff this weekend, though, and report back.

the same problem! Has anyone take their ipod in to be serviced? If so were they able to solve the problem/fix it?

I have the same problem with a 4th generation ipod nano, now my thrid beacuse the other two have been faulty... I don't want to take this one back for something small, but it really is annoying, and disappointing - I was so excited to finally have one that worked! Will Apple please solve this ?!

Reporting back, Isent my 7th Gen back to Apple, they did their tests, and sent the same unit back to me saying that it met specifications.

Here are a couple possible workarounds:

1. Hardware. Someone, either in this thread or another similar one, suggested that we get an in-line volume control unit, which pugs into the iPod and then your headphones plug into that. This seems to be the most attractive option for me. Or, get a pair of headphones with a built involume control, which will be able to take the volume down to zero.

2. Software volume manipulation by track, album, or library. * long shot at best * The application iVolume, available here: http://www.mani.de/ivolume/index.html may be able to help. I'll post back after a few tests, which I won't have time to do immediately. I don't have high hopes for the software solution, as most likely whatever volume the track is set to play at, the iPod itself outputs sound of a set volume level, and not below, as we know and lament. The iPod software is presumably independent of the track information. But worth a shot in case.

Does anyon know if the new 120 GB has this problem too?