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Today's Featured Head-Fi Blog: A Japanese headfier's monologue (Sasaki)
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I know portables have been the thrust of your reviewing, but I am curious to hear if you have ever spent time with a Heed Can-Amp (Hungary). Thank you.
Sky, and all the rest you have been an incredible source of info, but sometimes too much info is not a good thing. I've read probably 40 or so of the pages in this thread and still have no idea what amp to get.
So I'm throwing it out to the community and asking for opinions. I'll tell you what I have and you tell me what to get.
My equipment is listed in my sig. I mostly use the Clix but niether DAP has line out so I'll be using headphone out. On the road I use the SF5Pro's. I havent yet received the MS1's but I'll be using them with the DAP at home (I almost never use my home audo any more). I sometimes use my laptop as my source.
My music is mostly rock but runs from Jack Johnson to Bush or Green Day. Most of my files are dowloaded mp3's at around 160 to 192. I can get Flac or wmv files at higher bitrate if I need to (and I know I will to appreciate an amp).
I want to spend less than $200. I want an amp that will give good clean sound and will provide clean solid thumpy bass. I have considered going cheap (penguinamp caffine) to more pricey (Lectern Audo UHA-3).
So there you have it. If you need more info just ask. Other than that give me you best suggestions.
Part of the reason for this review is I don't like recommending specific amps. That's why I wrote the review, to try to give people some idea of how different amps sound. The BODY of my review is much more helpful than the ranking.
But I invite others to make recommendations to you.
marleyfan, if neither of your DAPs are lined out yet why are you looking for an amp? The two go hand in hand, you shouldn't get one without the other. Go direct from the headphone jack for now, save up to get an amp and line-out later.
If you listen from a computer often, look into one of the USB DACs instead - in products that have been released there's the iBasso D1, Meier Audio Corda Move, HeadRoom 2007 Micro. Unreleased but coming soon are the HeadAmp Pico and RSA Predator.
Don't forget the, gasp, Headstage USB DAC (with or without amp) if you want to improve the laptop sound.
For a DAP with only headphone out, I do still see amps as having a function even when line out is NOT available - although typically an amp is used to allow listening to the DAP or CPD via the cleaner sounding line out. But, for instance if you have headphones that are shy on bass, then an amp that can produce more bass than the DAP can give via EQ is good - like me using a Penguin Caffeine with my ER6i. Or, with an earphone that is shy on treble, then finding an an amp that synergizes well with it is a good thing - like my Shure SE530 + iBasso D1 or Tomahawk.
Marleyfan, your Super.fi 5 pro are NOT lacking in either bass or bright treble, so then if it's an issue of lack of output volume, and amp can help. Also, some headphones are more difficult to drive, and the DAP may not have complete control over the headphone drivers, and an amp will do a better job. The Super.fi 5 pro typically don't have that problem either, but my Ultrasone iCans have BOTH problems and ALWAYS sound better when driven by my penguin than straight out of my iPod.
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Originally Posted by Sovkiller
There is no doubt that getting older is mandatory, but to mature remains still optional...
LarryHead-Fi Feedback MAIN RIG: Marantz CD5001 > Synergistic Research Coax > Apogee mini-DAC with Sigma 11 PSU > ALO SXC XLR IC's > Single Power Square Wave XL balanced amp > balanced markl woodied Denon D2000 with APS V2 cable >>> ALO SXC mini-RCA IC > Woo GES Maxed > Sennheiser HE60/Stax O2 Mk2 >>> or to Woo Audio Maxxed WA6 w/Sophia Princess rectifier/RCA 6DE7 > Grado RS-1 with APS V3 cable. BEDSIDE RIG: Sony D-303 or iRiver H140 > Sysconcept.ca optical > HeadRoom Micro DAC > barqy silver plated copper mini-RCA > Travagans Red and Black > Edition 9 with APS V3 cable. BASEMENT RIG: iBook > USB PICO > Head-Direct EF1 with RCA cleartop > ATH-ESW10JPN. PORTABLE RIG: iMod 80gb 5.5G > barqy silver in silk LOD > ALO portable V-Cap dock > ALO Cryo Silver X mini-mini > RSA Predator > Livewires T1. LAPTOP RIG: MacBook > USB iBasso D2 > RS-1 or Edition 9 with APS V3 cable. FOR SALE: Ibanez starter electric guitar (red) with scratches, Ibanez amp and softcase in great condition - PM me for pics.
Thanks for the replies so far. You may have saved me some money. Or, you may have given me reason to spend more. So here's the question. Would it be worth it to use the penguinamp caffine with my MS1's to increase the bass. Given that I haven't acually heard the MS1's with either DAP yet it may be moot point. As you can probably tell from my questions and my post count I am new to all of this. I've managed to live the first 46 years of my life without indulging in portable audio. But now that I am, I want the best sound that my limited budget can buy.
I know that they aren't exactly portable amps, but since their price and size would seem to convey them more resemblance than difference with the proper portables, wouldn't you possibly add the Cute Beyond and Encore amps in your fantastic review? Maybe add the Battery Cute II which is indeed a portable...
