does sound quality depend on mp3 player or headphones?

It pretty much has to do with both, but if I had to choose I'd rather have awesome headphones with a crappy system, at least you can get clear crisp sound without all of the levels. as opposed to everything being perfectly eQ'ed but crappy headphone sound/

Well, it depends on a few things. It depends on the mp3 player, the mp3 file itself and the headphones. All three need to be good to enjoy the best sound. You can have great headphones, and a good mp3 player, but if the mp3 is a low-quality mp3, then it'll still sound bad. Likewise with low-quality headphones and low-quality mp3 players.

BOTH. compare mp3 players with the same headphones. You could have the world's best headphones but if the player is crap that what your going to hear. I have a creative labs mp3 player and plantronics headphones. it beats a I-pod easily. Go with what you can afford and have a good d/l site to get your music from.

the mp3 player doesn't make much difference at all.. what matters, is the headphones, and the song...... at the moment all mp3 players of a decient company have about the same standerds for sound, and honestly it's so little you won't notice

Both.

A good MP3 player with bad headphones will sound bad.

A bad MP3 player with good headphones will sound bad too.

I advise you to get an iPod, and either use the iPod's earbuds with foam cushions like these: http://www.danvarentertainment.com/images/logitech...

or go get a pair of Sennheiser PX-400 earbuds (use the cushions with them too).

It's the headphones. I have a nice boombox that I own. When I put some cheap headphones in, it made the drums sound hollow and without depth. So get some good headphones; it's worth it.

I believe it depends a little on both. The headphones are the most important i think.

i say the headphones...reason is, i have an itunes phone and was first using it with cingulars stereo headphones and it worked great! Well i accidently messed up the headphones and started using a cheapy version....BAD quality!!! I went back to name brand headphones and whha laa! GOOD quality again!

btoh but alot more with the head phones if ur music is fuzzy its the headphones if it sounds liek its skipping get a new mp3

its depends on the bit rate.. and the others as well.. more so on the bit rate