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Portable sound: what's your budget ?

post #1 of 30
10/23/09 at 4:33pm
Thread Starter 
Hi All,

Like many of you, I admit to a little sticker-shock when I see the asking price of completed iMods ( ALO Audio ) or the HiFiMan, but did we really think that having the 'best SQ from any portable device' would be cheap ? Granted, you could pick up a cheap 5G iPod and send it to Vinnie, but you are still going to be spending a relatively large amount of money on an 'old iPod'. Add a decent amp and its not long before you are up around the USD 1000 mark - still cheap compared to many Head-Fiers living room investments, but probably a long way from the amount you had in mind when you first asked 'which portable player has the BEST SQ ?'. Like most things in life, there is a price to be paid for having the best of anything.

Personally, I dont mind spending the money, but not on more DAPs or an expensive pair of IEMs. DACs and amps for a bedroom rig are more my focus, but I'm curious to hear what other Head-Fiers consider a reasonable budget for their own 'dream rig'.

estreeter
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post #2 of 30
10/23/09 at 4:43pm
I focus on headphones. I run my JH13s (which ran me about $1200) out of an iPod Shuffle 1st-gen 1GB (which ran me about $12). So my source is less than 1% of my overall budget.

I think a lot of people lose focus and spend inordinate amounts on their portable sources and amps. I'm putting the money I saved by NOT going iMod+Pico/HiFiMan towards a nice desktop setup, likely involving a Lavry DA11 and a WA2. I have quite a bit of confidence that my current portable setup sounds roughly comparable or better than a similar-budget (or actually more expensive) iMod+iQube+top-of-the-line universal, because I've also trodden the latter path.
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post #3 of 30
10/23/09 at 5:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3X0 View Post
I focus on headphones. I run my JH13s (which ran me about $1200) out of an iPod Shuffle 1st-gen 1GB (which ran me about $12). So my source is less than 1% of my overall budget.

I think a lot of people lose focus and spend inordinate amounts on their portable sources and amps. I'm putting the money I saved by NOT going iMod+Pico/HiFiMan towards a nice desktop setup, likely involving a Lavry DA11 and a WA2. I have quite a bit of confidence that my current portable setup sounds roughly comparable or better than a similar-budget (or actually more expensive) iMod+iQube+top-of-the-line universal, because I've also trodden the latter path.
Well, if I was going to go as all-out on IEMs as you did, I would likely spend 'inordinate' amounts of money on a nicer player too.
I don't see why you have a problem with people spending 'inordinate' amounts of money on the source, when it's even less money than you spent on your IEMs.

But me, I can spend basically whatever money I earn on either car savings account, regular savings, music, or headphones, because I don't have any bills or other adult worries. And because I do ninety-five percent of my listening out-and-about, I don't really have a limit. My rig will likely get better yearly.
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post #4 of 30
10/23/09 at 5:44pm
I have an ipod 5G --> mini^3 --> sennheisser HD25.
It was about €200 for the ipod, €80-100 for the mini^3 and €200 for the cans.
that's about 750 dollars.

I'm planning to do a diymod myself so thats a few bucks, but thats about as ultimate as it gets for me.
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post #5 of 30
10/23/09 at 6:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pyrokid View Post
Well, if I was going to go as all-out on IEMs as you did, I would likely spend 'inordinate' amounts of money on a nicer player too.
I don't see why you have a problem with people spending 'inordinate' amounts of money on the source, when it's even less money than you spent on your IEMs.
Because I simply do not see value in spending that much money on a portable source/amp. I do not consider the differences to be as significant as the differences between the class of headphones.

I consider the JH13 at $1099 to be an excellent value. I consider the iMod route with an expensive portable amplifier to be a terrible investment all-around. Incidentally, I do see value in relatively expensive desktop solutions (multi-thousand dollar transports, amplifiers, and DACs). I think portable amp/DAC combos are a pretty good value as well (Pico A/D, iBasso D10), but not portable amplifiers alone.

At my given budget, I think all the best-sounding portable rigs involve top-tier customs with much less money spent on the source. Twice my portable budget is a different story, and it is not my point of argument. I don't see why you brought it up.
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post #6 of 30
10/23/09 at 11:38pm
Thread Starter 
3XO, its generally held that the end result will only be as good as the weakest link in the chain, and I suspect that is where pyrokid is coming from. The fact that you are willing to spend money on a desktop rig indicates that you accept that is the case - the difference is that you don't place a high priority on getting the best possible result from a portable rig, and thats fair enough. Uncle Erik has made the same point on several occasions - that many of us would be better served by investing in better kit from the desktop/bedroom/living room than focussing on battery-powered portable gear. All I know is that I enjoy the my Sony player immensely when I am at work, or waiting for a flight/sitting in a hotel room : these are all situations where the investment pays off.
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post #7 of 30
10/24/09 at 12:54am
About $400, currently, for an older iPod and the Shure e3c which I bought a few years back.

I will probably get a newer iPod around Christmas and have been tempted by the JH13. So many members that I respect are bonkers over the JH13.

But I refuse to spend anything on DAP mods and/or portable amps. The problem with DAPs is that they're ephemeral goods. Drop several big ones on a DAP and it becomes obsolete in under two years. Further, DAPs are engineered to last barely beyond their warranty period. Companies devote significant resources to saving every las penny by not making DAPs that last too long. Besides, a couple of years on and the paradigm shifts with a much better interface, doubled storage, etc. Even if DAPs were durable, they'd become obsolete soon enough.

I won't buy a portable amp because they all perform poorly with demanding headphones. For portable use, I'd rather use quality IEMs/headphones that are efficient and do not need a portable amp. Since portable amps don't cut it with demanding headphones, I'd rather just leave the demanding headphones at home with my tube amps and turntable.

No matter how you slice it, I cannot justify spending big bucks on portable gear. I'd rather just get excellent IEMs and use them straight out if a stock iPod that I upgrade every year or two.
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post #8 of 30
10/24/09 at 1:24am
Thread Starter 
Spending serious money on IEMs would be viewed by many here as just as crazy as spending serious money on DAPs, mods and portable amps. I dont doubt their ability, I doubt their durability, although I guess most who spend that kind of money on a pair of IEMs never take them out of the house - I wouldn't. Fine if you have the discipline to treat them the way you would your HD800s, but I wonder how many of us would throw that discipline out the window within days of taking ownership ?

My Sonys have taken a lot of abuse, but I dont have USD 1100 in them !
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post #9 of 30
10/24/09 at 2:14am
Yeah i would have to agree. I was very tempted to go the route of portable audio, but i soon realized that my money wasn't getting me much improvements in sound quality. I am planning on just using my zuneHD with either the S4, SR80 or portapros as my PMP. As the hassle of portable amps and interconnects just got too much for me. My pockets can only hold so much.

I just need to stop being lazy and sit down organize all the music on all the DAPs i have and put them all into the zuneHD
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post #10 of 30
10/24/09 at 2:46am
especially with the JH13Pro, the iPod shuffle is actually a very very good performer that is worth many many times more than the 12$ s/he paid. In fact, other hiss, it is still one of the best headphone performers ever and I would be very sad indeed if mine finally died as I prefer its signature to any portable I have or have had.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pyrokid View Post
Well, if I was going to go as all-out on IEMs as you did, I would likely spend 'inordinate' amounts of money on a nicer player too.
I don't see why you have a problem with people spending 'inordinate' amounts of money on the source, when it's even less money than you spent on your IEMs.

But me, I can spend basically whatever money I earn on either car savings account, regular savings, music, or headphones, because I don't have any bills or other adult worries. And because I do ninety-five percent of my listening out-and-about, I don't really have a limit. My rig will likely get better yearly.
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post #11 of 30
10/24/09 at 3:03am
Thread Starter 
Shigzeo, is this the same iPod Shuffle that comes in sizes ranging from 1GB to 4GB ? What the hell are you guys listening to - 128K iTunes downloads, 30 at a time ?

I am currently transferring entire albums as *WAV* files onto my Classic - its an extravagance, but one I'm happy to be able to enjoy. The Shuffle might be ok for jogging or walking for exercise, but thats about it. (I have the 2G and its woeful, but I dont have the JH13s to realise their potential. The 1G Shuffle *was* a good DAP, but a lone GB meant I wasnt going to be enjoying too much quality music from it).
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post #12 of 30
10/24/09 at 3:15am
Lol my budget? LIMITLESS! I am willing to spend any amounts of money on headphones, sources, cables and amps! The thing is.. I gotta save before spending. So even though I'm willing to spend large amounts, I cannot afford it instantly.

But currently I have the iPod Classic 160Gb 7G, iBasso T4 / CB03 LOD - and the Beyerdynamic DT880 32Ohm. And I've been saving for weeks.

My next purchase would probably be the Shure Se420's or 530's.. The clothes I buy are relatively expensive too.. 70$ for a shirt, I kinda cheap out on my lower body area, but jackets are around 170 for me. And computer stuff, Its just like this...Why does everything revolve around money....
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post #13 of 30
10/24/09 at 3:40am
because i am still single and no girlfriend, i don`t limit my budget, usually i spend for dap which i have more than 30 right now
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post #14 of 30
10/24/09 at 3:55am
Thread Starter 
More than 30 ?? Mr Tumiwa, from what I recall of drink prices at various Jakarta nightspots, I think you may just be onto something !
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post #15 of 30
10/24/09 at 4:18am
cool.... so u already ever came to indonesia?? . Actually i am not living at Jakarta, but a smaller city names Medan (this city is nearer to Singapore and Malaysia than Jakarta). and i never went to nightspots, i prefer spent it for daps . sometimes i think.... if only i live at capital city like Jakarta or big country like US, maybe i will crazier about dap. it is hard to get a few daps here, for example i already ordered Zune HD and already 3 weeks still not come to my hand yet.
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