- Joined: June 2006
- Location: Seattle
- Post Count: 2,872
I've been listening to one the last few days and I don't get it? It is a very nice sounding amp? I know it eats 9 volts. It is a little bigger than a hornet. I know it is not close to a Lisa III. For the price it is a steal. What am I missing?
- Joined: October 2005
- Location: Empire State Building
- Post Count: 2,990
You are right about the Portaphile. The only point you're missing is that peeps here are fickle. I had two of them and I used them from Elpacs. I'd still be using them, except I got some 600 ohm cans and needed more oomph. So for that reason alone, they have found new homes.
It is also true that Cesar provides great service along with his amps.
German engineering in the haus..........Jah!
Man is an animal that makes bargains; no other animal does this. No dog exchanges bones with another - Adam Smith
Nature's laws are the invisible government of the world - Alfred Montapert
- Joined: February 2006
- Location: Knoxville TN
- Post Count: 1,624
Bushguy, Romanee and I are Portaphile lovers, as are others on here. BUT they need 400-600 hrs burn in to sound truly amazing. In fact, I'd stack mine up against my Supermacro I think it's that good. DOn't have Bushguys' 600 ohm phones, but the Portaphile drives my Beyer 990 250 ohm quite well. And of course it's stellar with my IEMs.
And you're right. At a price of mid 200s, it is a steal, albeit a battery-eater but that too can be overcome by the proper battery selection so you'll get about 10 hrs life out of a charge
I can't see how the human race is going to survive now that the cost of living has gone up $2 a quart--W.C. Fields
- Joined: June 2006
- Location: Seattle
- Post Count: 2,872
I know there is no one perfect amp. There are trade offs for all the portable/transportable amps..... Too BIG, TOO small, not enough juice, too much gain, so on ,so on, and on.. The Portaphile is pretty darn SPIFFY
- Joined: June 2005
- Location: Arlington, VA (USA)
- Post Count: 403
I love my old V2 (not squared). Right now it's my only amp, and the battery life is gettin me down for stationary use. I'm thinking of upgrading it to the V2^2 maxed...
Tom
edit -- here's a link to the Portaphile V2 owners' thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109743
Home (computer): FLAC --> FB2K --> AV-710 --> Zu Pivot IC --> Gilmore Lite --> Grado HF-1 / AKG K240 Sextett
Travel/Work: Eee PC 901 XP FB2K --> iBasso D2 Boa DAC/Amp --> Etymotic ER6i / Yuin Pk1 / A-T ATH-EW9
Portable: Ipod Classic 80GB --> [copper dock --> iBasso D2 Boa --> ] Etymotic ER6i / Koss...
- Joined: February 2006
- Location: Knoxville TN
- Post Count: 1,624
htbyron: man does THAT thread bring back memories. To we Portaphile owners, it was most interesting reading and was most educational to boot. Thanks for maybe resurrecting it.
One of the loves of the Portaphile is the owner's ability to alter gains, biasing, etc with internal switches. Don't need to be a rocket science nor do you need to switch opamps to get different - sounding signatures. I turly love mine, and as I think I've stated previously, will put it up against any of the portables out there including the Xin products
I can't see how the human race is going to survive now that the cost of living has gone up $2 a quart--W.C. Fields
- Joined: March 2007
- Location: DIYLAND
- Post Count: 291
Hi Portaphile lovers!
I have the Portaphile V2^2 Maxxed. have about 1000hrs on it? sounds amazing with my EBs.
3rd Gen D.I.Y modPod+Bijou+HD600
WTB Reasonably priced TwistedPearAudio Opus/Buffalo DAC
- Joined: June 2006
- Location: Seattle
- Post Count: 2,872
One other thing with the amp. With an Ipod as the source, I could not make the Senn HD 580's beg for mercy. I can with other equipment. On the the other hand those Senns are not really portable either. Anyone else get the same results?
- Joined: June 2006
- Location: Seattle
- Post Count: 2,872
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrarroyo
The Portaphile V2^2 Maxxed with LT1210 and Black Gates sounds very good. One of the best bass out there. It has only one drawback, very short battery life and no built in battery charger. A pity because it sure sounds good.  |
So How would you rate the sound against the other amps you have reviewed? Just curious
Also not having a built in battery charger is not a drawback to me. I prefer it. I just buy a box of batteries from Costco and I'm set. The exception to that is my Red Tomahawk
- Joined: June 2006
- Location: Seattle
- Post Count: 2,872
I just think I'm used to a completely different setup that will just rattle your skull. I'm tellin' ya! The Portaphile was not made to do that. It is just a nice portable amp. Very nice sounding. Great with small headphones! To be front row of an Iron Maiden concert with your ears bleeding..... It ain't happening. I'm waiting for my Beloved MS-1's to come back to see how they sound with amp. I'm just getting use to the amp. Give me a few weeks to get to know the amp.
