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Is There A Portable Amp That Can Make The K701's Shine? - Page 2

post #16 of 31
8/19/08 at 11:08pm
K701s are already shiny :P
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post #17 of 31
8/19/08 at 11:12pm
The contemporary version of a Princess Leia hairdo.
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post #18 of 31
8/20/08 at 1:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hatethatgiraffe View Post
is truly dependant on taste I suppose but to say that only a tube amp can drive them is opening a new can of worms!
Different sound signature for a start!
Is being happy with what you like not part of this journey?
I M not happy with the 701 through my predator but it is listenable!
It Iqube adds so much more to the equation and any suggestion that because of solely it's size that it cannot drive the 701 is tantamount to snobbery!
Of course we are all entitled to our opinion but have you paired the two to enable you to make such a bold statement?
I never once mentioned tube amps, so not sure where you're getting that. I also never said that portable amps can't drive the K701s, but the op's question was which ones can really make them shine, and based upon my experience, the answer is none, not when compared to a decent home amp.

Why accuse of snobbery? It's simply a fact that portable amps don't have the same capabilities as home amps. It's also a simple fact that certain headphones have different requirements in terms of amplification than others, and the K701s are more demanding than many if they are to shine.

Please tell me which home amps you tried with the K701s in order to accuse me of snobbery.
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post #19 of 31
8/20/08 at 1:42am
The only time I have come close to liking the K701 was out of the HR Max Balanced. Does that make me a snob?
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post #20 of 31
8/20/08 at 3:31am
Nobody's denying that they may sound good to you out of a portable amp, but if they sound better out of a good full size amp they obviously aren't shining.
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post #21 of 31
8/21/08 at 3:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boomana View Post
I also never said that portable amps can't drive the K701s, but the op's question was which ones can really make them shine, and based upon my experience, the answer is none, not when compared to a decent home amp. [/snip]
I agree with boomana. I haven't found a portable amp that could really make the K701 shine. The home amps I had now and before I felt did a great job in driving the K701s as I owned those cans twice which allowed me to listen to them in my past setups and my current setups. Best of luck on your search.
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post #22 of 31
8/21/08 at 3:56pm
My Pico, Hornet and iQube barely get by driving my 701s when using an iPod as the source, due to the iPod's low signal output. But when I use my Headroom Micro amp, it does a much better job. The Micro uses two 9 volt batteries and has much more output power than the other three amps I mentioned. It's for this reason, I'm anxious to buy the new RSA SR-71a when it comes out.
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post #23 of 31
8/21/08 at 4:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thejoneser View Post
My Pico, Hornet and iQube barely get by driving my 701s when using an iPod as the source, due to the iPod's low signal output. But when I use my Headroom Micro amp, it does a much better job. The Micro uses two 9 volt batteries and has much more output power than the other three amps I mentioned. It's for this reason, I'm anxious to buy the new RSA SR-71a when it comes out.

The Portable Headroom Micro Amp does an equally fine job of letting the K701s shine. Controls them just as well as my main systems Origianl Electronics Master.

As to the original question - yes, there are a lot of good, portable amps that will allow the K701s to strut their stuff. My Headroom Total bithead (the new one with the gain switch) can drive them fine. As would always be the case, more power equals better control - so a bigger portable amp will do a better job. But you can get very satifactory results with the K701s from a smaller amp too.
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post #24 of 31
8/21/08 at 7:49pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks to all for the feedback. To answer the few raised eyebrows:

I don't wear the 701's outside.

I use the Pico/DAC/Macbook as my home rig

I really love the sound that i'm getting, but being a headfier wanted to know there was an excuse to build a true home system. Sorry about my wallet!
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post #25 of 31
9/15/08 at 11:17pm
I'd agree with the joneser and JMCIII, I like the headroom micro amp with the k701s. They sound nice to my ears, and can be portable if you get one of the 07 models that takes 2 9v. I use the micro as my home setup tho...i enjoy it =)

Dave
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post #26 of 31
9/15/08 at 11:33pm
I run a Meier Corda Move with mine and am happy. Could they be driven better by a home amp? I'm sure... but they're still great!

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post #27 of 31
9/16/08 at 1:16am
Nope!
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post #28 of 31
9/16/08 at 2:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Monkey View Post
The only time I have come close to liking the K701 was out of the HR Max Balanced. Does that make me a snob?
yes, a good looking one

While Bada PH-12 and millet hybrid does a fairly good job of powering K701s, I still think there's lot more potential in these toilet bow...headphones. No amp that I've tried amps K701 adequately so far. These need current, and I don't think any batteries will be adaquate, even duracell.
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post #29 of 31
9/16/08 at 4:39am
I've had excellent results powering 701s with one of these:
302 Compact Production Mixer | Sound Devices, LLC
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post #30 of 31
9/16/08 at 5:30am
^ is that portable?
It must be sunlight powered.
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