Review: Portable amp roundup! 56 portable amps reviewed and compared - FINAL update 12-20-10... - Page 158  

My offer is open just in case you decide to.

Shame on iBasso

just a warning, the litte dot micro's site has a virus. i advise you not to go there for the time being.

Hi there Skylab and everyone,

I was wandering Skylab if you was thinking of reviewing the C&C XO+ as i am not sure what improvement's there are to the first XO you reviewed and how much better it is going to be?

I have spent a few hours reading the thread back to front now and am new on here and am looking for a portable amp and currently use a Cowon D2 16gb, Ipod Touch 2nd gen, Sony A818, with Shure E500's and Sennheiser IE8's and have dug out my old Beyer DT770's which i would like to use again with the players and am also thinking of burning even more cash possibly on getting AKG 701 or 702's (depending if there is a difference in sound quality between them both?)

So what i really wanted to know bearing in mind my pirmary set up is my Cowon D2 and Shure E500's with AKG 701/2's around the corner which would be the best suited amp to go with them?

So far, if i am not wrong just going by this thread i have narrowed it down to possibly Ibossa's, ASR's, Larroco PRII's, C&C XO+ and possibly Graham Slee Voyager (despite poor look build quility) But not sure which!

Someone with the knowledge and experience of those sources used please guide me! - be eternally gratefull, Thankyou

hi skylab, i was just wondering if you've ever heard the pa2v2, penguin amp caffeine or royal blue? if so, could you tell me how it ranks with the other amps you reviewed. i would imagine it would be in the lower ranks.

also, im terms of size and portability (thickness being more important), would the nuforce and ibasso t4 be my best bet? thanks

I can chime in about the Caffeine Pro - the sound signature and soundstage sounds very similar to the Headsix and is just as good sounding to me. Very good bang for the buck. The Penguin Royal is also very good with a slightly more spacious soundstage.

Couple of other things, now that I have more time to reply.

The T4 is smaller and more convenient than the Nuforce, but the sound of the two is different. The Nuforce is a little brighter and more forward than the T4 (but not as much when used via USB as via analog input), while the T4 is more of a warmer sounding amp.

So, you would pair those amps with different headphones - such as the Sennheiser IE8 with the Nuforce, and a Phonak Audeo with the T4. Sure other IEM like W3 sound good with Nuforce, or Denon D2000/Edition 9, while the T4 sounded good with W3 and K701 as well. But in general, you'd pair a darker or bassier phone with the Nuforce and a brighter phone with the T4.

The top of the line amps are better at working with a larger variety of headphones due to their neutrality and transparency, so you will find less mismatches when you get a 3MOVE, Pico, Pedator, D10, XM5, Headsix, D3 and others for example (from ones I have heard).

Hi Skylab,

Just wandering with your fast experience if you could tell me which portable amp would be best suited to go with Shure E500's?

I also have Sennhieser IE8's, Beyer Dynamic DT770 and would like ot get AKG 701/702 soon (if there is a porta amp that suits thia well)

I know it may possibly be hard to get an amp to be compatable with all four, so primarily would want an amp that works well with the Shure's and AKG's.

I use either a Cowon D2 & Ipod Touch 2gen & as the source and my budget i would say is upto $450.

Would really appreciate if you could point me in the right direction to which amp you think would work best with the above mentioned. ; )

Thank's for the recommendation, i think i will give them a try.

I think more than likely i would be happy with any of those top 10 amp's, but just wanted to make sure whichever amp it was would defanetely be compatable with my headphones i have & want to get - (akg 701's).

Just one question i have not thought of yet really Skylab is what sort of interconnect cable would be best to go between amp and the media player and where to get one from?

Thank's for pointing me in the right direction Skylabwith the amp, really appreciate it and look forward to getting my order in with RSA

I agree about the Mustang - it is impressive. Once I got over 400 hours of burn-in with my IE8 (and found the right tips - Sony Hybrid Silicone), I don't think the IE8 is way too bassy anymore. So IE8 does work with the Mustang, as do all of my other IEM like Westone 3, Westone ES3X, Phonak Audeo, etc...

As for interconnect - I have several made by various head-fi members at decent prices ($40-60 each) that sound very transparent. You could PM any of them like barqy, -=Germania=- , stevenkelby or Punnisher to get a price quote on a mini-mini for the D2 or an LOD for the Touch (mask sure the LOD is iPhone compatible).

My IE8s aren't too bassy anymore, either with my current tips and with my Mustang. The highs are out and shining now as well...quite interesting.

Still burning away...

-Ed