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| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
08-09-2005, 06:34 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 304
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SM3 or Micro Amp (+Micro Dac) to add bass to etys
I am trying to figure out an amp/DAC combination that would beef up my ety bass (the SR-71 just doesn't do enough) while also sounding very good with my SR-225. Which combination would you recommend more, SM3 with bass boost + Micro Dac, or Micro amp + Micro dac. While my initial thought is to go the SM3 route, I am wondering if it synergizes as well with the Micro dac as the micro amp?
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08-09-2005, 06:43 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Santa Rosa, CA --image Katmandu, Nepal Summer 2006 *We are but a cosmic blink or was that wink?*
Posts: 7,597
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The signal from the Micro Dac should be a clean analog signal if it is doing right so any amp quality amp should work well. If you try the SM V3 with the LT1115 opamp in the class A configuration I think you would be very happy.
The bass boost, though i have not liked them in the past, works very well with the V3 (it does not muddy the musical picture).
John
__________________
John aka Jam and Jama
Photo gallery at: www.pbase.com/jamato8 Recent publication: Ethnobotany Research & Applications, Vol 7 (2009) Kam Guilzhouh nyim Guangxxih di Benxtux Wenchual nyim Zihyuanc dih Gonxliix: Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/
The one constant in life is change, so will that change?
Feel with your own heart, see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears.
JH13's > Why stay home when you can go to the concert?
Listening with: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2 #469
Digital conversion: the all new MB-1 optical dual Wolfson portable dac
Amps I am currently listening with: RSA P-51 Mustang, SR 71A, iBasso D10, Lisa III, OEM BLack Gate, Non Black Gate, iBasso P3+, iBasso T3 (new version), RSA Shadow, iBasso D4
Favorite monitors: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2, Ultrasone Ed. 9 #1010, ATH-ESW10JPN
Portable monitor ratings: 1. JH 13 Pro 2. ESW10 JPN 3. PortaPros, KSC35 (modified-a great value) *4. UM2
Source: iRiver H130,140, D303 optical out, D-EJ955, D-EJ1000, D-EJ2000, 25s, 25, D-303, D-777 and others (optical out if available)
Digital Conversion: MB-1 optical Dac, Altoid tin Monica Dac I, Altoid tin Monica II Asynchronous Reclocking Dac, iBasso D10
Headphone Amplifiers:RSA: Shadow, Predator, P-51 Mustang, SR71A, Xin: IV Micro, IV Mini, Reference, SM3B, SuperMacro V LE, SM3 V6 (IV all switches), XRTA X-1, C&C Box, iBasso: P1, P2, P3, P3+, T1, T2, T3, T4 D1, D2, D3, D4, D10 Woo 3 Modified-Siemens 6922 driver, 7236 power tube, Woo 6 with the original Pseudo dual PS -
Ear Monitors: JH13 Pro, Ultra Ed. 9, Grado HF-2/F1 #469, HD650, ATH-ESW10 JPN, Ultrasone 750, HFI780, PortaPro modified, KSC35, Equation RP-21, Westone UM2
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08-09-2005, 06:55 AM
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Contributor  Headphoneus Supremus: Moderator:Electrostatic Elvis
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Panic Room
Posts: 4,433
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I have the Micro stack, SR-71, and Etys. Although I don't listen to the Etys with either rig, I know what to expect from them and palpable bass is not their forte.
The Etys, by their very nature have good bass extension but no thump. That being said, I think you need to concentrate on different phones as opposed to a new amp/DAC.
__________________
Rick
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08-09-2005, 01:06 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,349
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SM3!!!
The bass boost switch is what that makes the difference.
I have the Micro, and I would say the bass sounds better and the highs clearer but I would not say that the Ety's are that much louder in the bass (it's just inherent in the earphone). The only way to overcome that is some mild help in the form of a bass boost switch.
__________________
cheers, warpdriver ( feedback)
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08-10-2005, 12:16 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 304
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My means of boosting the bass on the etys with the SR-71 has been to either increase the bass a few decibals with the Karma's parameric eq, or to subtract decibals from everything but the bass on the eq. While adding bass makes the highs clearly muffled with the etys, subtracting decibals from the other frequencies is slightly better, but still rolls off the highs a bit. Has any one else experienced this while using the karma's eq and an amp? Does the bass boost of the SM3 similarly decrease the highs?
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08-10-2005, 02:04 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Santa Rosa, CA --image Katmandu, Nepal Summer 2006 *We are but a cosmic blink or was that wink?*
Posts: 7,597
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I normally do like anything in the musical chain that changes it but when I do use the bass boost on the SM V3 I do not notice any decrease in the treble extension nor any real changes to the rest of the frequency range except for a clean bass boost. Xin did a good job on the integration of the bass boost and the rest of the frequency range.
John
__________________
John aka Jam and Jama
Photo gallery at: www.pbase.com/jamato8 Recent publication: Ethnobotany Research & Applications, Vol 7 (2009) Kam Guilzhouh nyim Guangxxih di Benxtux Wenchual nyim Zihyuanc dih Gonxliix: Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/
The one constant in life is change, so will that change?
Feel with your own heart, see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears.
JH13's > Why stay home when you can go to the concert?
Listening with: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2 #469
Digital conversion: the all new MB-1 optical dual Wolfson portable dac
Amps I am currently listening with: RSA P-51 Mustang, SR 71A, iBasso D10, Lisa III, OEM BLack Gate, Non Black Gate, iBasso P3+, iBasso T3 (new version), RSA Shadow, iBasso D4
Favorite monitors: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2, Ultrasone Ed. 9 #1010, ATH-ESW10JPN
Portable monitor ratings: 1. JH 13 Pro 2. ESW10 JPN 3. PortaPros, KSC35 (modified-a great value) *4. UM2
Source: iRiver H130,140, D303 optical out, D-EJ955, D-EJ1000, D-EJ2000, 25s, 25, D-303, D-777 and others (optical out if available)
Digital Conversion: MB-1 optical Dac, Altoid tin Monica Dac I, Altoid tin Monica II Asynchronous Reclocking Dac, iBasso D10
Headphone Amplifiers:RSA: Shadow, Predator, P-51 Mustang, SR71A, Xin: IV Micro, IV Mini, Reference, SM3B, SuperMacro V LE, SM3 V6 (IV all switches), XRTA X-1, C&C Box, iBasso: P1, P2, P3, P3+, T1, T2, T3, T4 D1, D2, D3, D4, D10 Woo 3 Modified-Siemens 6922 driver, 7236 power tube, Woo 6 with the original Pseudo dual PS -
Ear Monitors: JH13 Pro, Ultra Ed. 9, Grado HF-2/F1 #469, HD650, ATH-ESW10 JPN, Ultrasone 750, HFI780, PortaPro modified, KSC35, Equation RP-21, Westone UM2
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08-10-2005, 02:38 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,349
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jamato8
Xin did a good job on the integration of the bass boost and the rest of the frequency range.
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Yeah, it's almost as if they had Ety's in mind when they designed the bass boost. The fact that they have the impedance boost switch is clear evidence they did.
__________________
cheers, warpdriver ( feedback)
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08-10-2005, 04:52 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: So Cal
Posts: 2,950
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jamato8
The signal from the Micro Dac should be a clean analog signal if it is doing right so any amp quality amp should work well. If you try the SM V3 with the LT1115 opamp in the class A configuration I think you would be very happy.
The bass boost, though i have not liked them in the past, works very well with the V3 (it does not muddy the musical picture).
John
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I ordered some LT1115 for SM3, but wouldn't it be a bit unforgiving with Ety's? I find Etys kind of 'need' those opamps with extra smooth/forgiving top-end such as Ti NE5534 OB
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08-10-2005, 05:27 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Santa Rosa, CA --image Katmandu, Nepal Summer 2006 *We are but a cosmic blink or was that wink?*
Posts: 7,597
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The LT1115 might be depending upon your source. If you have quality up stream the 1115 should be fine but I understand what you are saying. I have been using it with the HD650's with nice results.
John
__________________
John aka Jam and Jama
Photo gallery at: www.pbase.com/jamato8 Recent publication: Ethnobotany Research & Applications, Vol 7 (2009) Kam Guilzhouh nyim Guangxxih di Benxtux Wenchual nyim Zihyuanc dih Gonxliix: Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/
The one constant in life is change, so will that change?
Feel with your own heart, see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears.
JH13's > Why stay home when you can go to the concert?
Listening with: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2 #469
Digital conversion: the all new MB-1 optical dual Wolfson portable dac
Amps I am currently listening with: RSA P-51 Mustang, SR 71A, iBasso D10, Lisa III, OEM BLack Gate, Non Black Gate, iBasso P3+, iBasso T3 (new version), RSA Shadow, iBasso D4
Favorite monitors: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2, Ultrasone Ed. 9 #1010, ATH-ESW10JPN
Portable monitor ratings: 1. JH 13 Pro 2. ESW10 JPN 3. PortaPros, KSC35 (modified-a great value) *4. UM2
Source: iRiver H130,140, D303 optical out, D-EJ955, D-EJ1000, D-EJ2000, 25s, 25, D-303, D-777 and others (optical out if available)
Digital Conversion: MB-1 optical Dac, Altoid tin Monica Dac I, Altoid tin Monica II Asynchronous Reclocking Dac, iBasso D10
Headphone Amplifiers:RSA: Shadow, Predator, P-51 Mustang, SR71A, Xin: IV Micro, IV Mini, Reference, SM3B, SuperMacro V LE, SM3 V6 (IV all switches), XRTA X-1, C&C Box, iBasso: P1, P2, P3, P3+, T1, T2, T3, T4 D1, D2, D3, D4, D10 Woo 3 Modified-Siemens 6922 driver, 7236 power tube, Woo 6 with the original Pseudo dual PS -
Ear Monitors: JH13 Pro, Ultra Ed. 9, Grado HF-2/F1 #469, HD650, ATH-ESW10 JPN, Ultrasone 750, HFI780, PortaPro modified, KSC35, Equation RP-21, Westone UM2
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08-10-2005, 12:00 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 231
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I have the microdac and SM3 and they sound fantastic together. Haven't heard the micro amp so I can't comment. I agree with previous posts to the effect that if bass is what youre after the ety's aren't the way to go.
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08-10-2005, 02:19 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus:
Good stuff!
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Google Earth
Posts: 17,348
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Thanks for everyones opinion. I'm beginning to get this. I think. 
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08-10-2005, 02:35 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 3,931
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ken36
Thanks for everyones opinion. I'm beginning to get this. I think. |
Get what (don't you already have a Micro DAC)? Or...understand what?
__________________
The waiting game is not fun.
HD600 with Blue Dragon cable (thanks Asr!), HF-1, MS-1, ER-4P/S, Shure SE530
M^3, PINT, PPAS, Hornet, CROSS-1
All out of my trusty Micro DAC.
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08-10-2005, 02:37 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 1,869
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I never use the ipods bass or treble boost because it muddin up the sound. But with the SMv3 this isn't the case. The bass boost it great and I use it on all of my headphones. ++ for the bass boost.
__________________
ChrisFromAlbany
Modded EMU 1212
5th Gen Video Ipod 60
20 gig 3rd gen ipod.. 60 gig photo ipod..
SMv3 switches
EarMaxPro
SA5000s..
UE-10s..
Grado 60's..
Rs-1s..
HD 650 w/Zu Cable..
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08-10-2005, 05:26 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London UK
Posts: 27
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by chrisfromalbany
I never use the ipods bass or treble boost because it muddin up the sound. But with the SMv3 this isn't the case. The bass boost it great and I use it on all of my headphones. ++ for the bass boost.
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I second that. Nice thing about the SM3 is it is truely portable and with various switches and opamps to choose from can be made to suit what you are using. I've used it with Etys, Grados and HD650's and been very happy.
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08-11-2005, 07:10 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 1,097
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The SM is made for the ETY4's, and prepped with OPA627 and Class A-adapter there is bass enough for most, try it out!
I prefer this over the Emmeline SR-71, the SM now has the smothness and refined sound as the SR-71, but much better attack and punch, and you can change the settings to your preference using the 4 switches.
I also have a version 1 of the SM, it has been lying around since the v.3 arrived, it has OPA627 also, all soldered. The sound was quite harsh and lacking in bass compared to the v.3 (even though I was very happy with it before the v.3 arrived!).
But I figured why not try running the v.1/OPA627 in Class A as well?
So I installed the 2k2 SMD-resistor in there, as by the mod from Xin, and the change was really amazing!
The v.1 and v.3 still sound different, but you need good ears and a very detailed set of phones to differentiate between them!
So why not get a used SM v.1 with OPA627, do the mod, and be happy with your ETY's?
In my opinion this is the best and cheapest amp for the ETY4
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