Poor iPod performance getting you down? Then boost its audio accuracy with Sound Jacket which, manufacturer Radiopaq claims, significantly improves the sound quality of MP3 music tracks.

Radiopaq's Sound Jacket: improves MP3 audio

Compatible with the fourth-generation iPod Nano, Radio Jacket apparently employs the internet radio search engine firm’s “Intelligent Audio technology” to counteract the impact that MP3 file compression has on audio fidelity.

The result is a 60 per cent improvement in sound quality, Radiopaq claimed.

The firm described its technology as similar to a graphic equalizer, but one that “automatically adjusts itself continuously to best suit the music” being played into order to eliminate distortion and reveal hidden musical detail.

Is all this really possible from a simple iPod sleeve? Register Hardware tested a pre-production Sound Jacket back in April and the improvement in sound quality was immediately noticeable.

Switch Radio Jacket on and off while listening and you’ll easily hear the improvement you get when the gadget’s doing its thing. Tracks have deeper bass, greater warmth and less distortion.

But there is one drawback, aside from the fact that Sound Jacket’s only compatible with fourth-generation iPod Nanos. The sleeve receives its power from the iPod Nano, so the Apple player’s battery life is cut down from 19 hours to around 11-12 hours.

Radiopaq’s Sound Jacket is available now in a “Metallic Grey” body, priced at £70 ($112/€81). ®