Total Airhead vs... - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

ibis99 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 12:12 AM

At the $100 price point how would you rate the AirHead against it's competitors?

kboe · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 07:40 PM

I have heard a few other portables and the Airhead comes out on the top. The clarity this thing has for $100.00 is hard to beat, if possible at all. Does it get better than an Airhead, absolutly, but you would probably have to spend at least twice maybe more for better sound, this includes some home amps in the 200.00 range. Not to mention your rig is off the grid and doesn't have the problems associated with power regulation and all the blah blah blah that comes with it. Until your are willing to spend say $300.00 or more on either a home amp or a portable, (or upgrade your phones) you should be fine. Listing to my Airhead now with my iPod as a source (Aiff) and a LOD with D2000s, it sound great, if not a little dark sounding, but sometimes that can sound good.

Kevin

ibis99 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kboe

I have heard a few other portables and the Airhead comes out on the top. The clarity this thing has for $100.00 is hard to beat, if possible at all. Does it get better than an Airhead, absolutly, but you would probably have to spend at least twice maybe more for better sound, this includes some home amps in the 200.00 range. Not to mention your rig is off the grid and doesn't have the problems associated with power regulation and all the blah blah blah that comes with it. Until your are willing to spend say $300.00 or more on either a home amp or a portable, (or upgrade your phones) you should be fine. Listing to my Airhead now with my iPod as a source (Aiff) and a LOD with D2000s, it sound great, if not a little dark sounding, but sometimes that can sound good.

Kevin

Actually the warm(dark) sound sig is what I prefer since I'm a big Ety ER4 S fan and plan on picking up a pair soon.

twsmith · #4 (**permalink**) 10-03-2009, 02:41 PM

For what it's worth, I have both the Airhead and a Headamp AE-2 (portable amp) -- using several different Grado phones, I've found that for most listening I much prefer the Airhead over the more expensive ($350) AE-2. For me, the Airhead seems to present a better soundstage and brings out more detail than the AE-2 does. I don't think you can really go wrong with the Airhead.