[cRodz]

Quote:

Here you go: http://www.iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?t=40022

Yes
 
 

 

[MusicFlows]

Hey guys, I've had my J3 for a while now and have been loving it.  I bought one after I accidentally stepped on my i9.
Anyway, I recently purchased a set of IEMs for work, as some people love to talk and make general noise.  This doesn't make for a good "coding zone" as some people know.
After looking into different kinds I settled on HiFiMan RE262, which are amazing!  I love the highs, the mids, especially vocals, and the overall soundstage.  The only lackluster thing is the bass, it leaves much to be desired.  I know a lot of people recommend using an AMP with the RE262s but I thought I could get by on the amazing BBE EQs that come with the J3.  Alas, to know avail.  Even the MachBass isn't that great.
 
So my question to all of you is what portable amp would be good with a J3?
 
My budget is up to $150, anything over that and I can't justify it as it be almost as expensive as the J3 itself.
I've already looked into a few, I'm leaning towards the PA2V2 as it seems to come highly recommended and isn't a wallet breaker.
On a side, I know that the J3 doesn't have a dedicated LOD/LO, but as said in previous posts in this thread the headphone out is quite adequate.
 
So, any suggestions?

 

[Kagelou]

Quote:

Hey guys, I've had my J3 for a while now and have been loving it.  I bought one after I accidentally stepped on my i9.
Anyway, I recently purchased a set of IEMs for work, as some people love to talk and make general noise.  This doesn't make for a good "coding zone" as some people know.
After looking into different kinds I settled on HiFiMan RE262, which are amazing!  I love the highs, the mids, especially vocals, and the overall soundstage.  The only lackluster thing is the bass, it leaves much to be desired.  I know a lot of people recommend using an AMP with the RE262s but I thought I could get by on the amazing BBE EQs that come with the J3.  Alas, to know avail.  Even the MachBass isn't that great.
 
So my question to all of you is what portable amp would be good with a J3?
 
My budget is up to $150, anything over that and I can't justify it as it be almost as expensive as the J3 itself.
I've already looked into a few, I'm leaning towards the PA2V2 as it seems to come highly recommended and isn't a wallet breaker.
On a side, I know that the J3 doesn't have a dedicated LOD/LO, but as said in previous posts in this thread the headphone out is quite adequate.
 
So, any suggestions?

 
I also thought of getting a portable amp for my J3, but decided not to after these people helped me in this thread
 
 

 

[MusicFlows]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kagelou /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I also thought of getting a portable amp for my J3, but decided not to after these people helped me in this thread
 

Huh.  I've been using the BBE and Mach3Bass, but I never used them together when editing the custom user settings.  After playing around with it, with both settings turned up to 10, the J3 produces a much better bass sound.
I'm still interested to see what other people recommend.  Although, it seems if I really want to get an amp worth buying it would have to be $200+.
 
 
Edit:  I want to keep stressing that I looking for a bass that's NORMAL.  With BBE and Mach3Bass turned up to 10 the J3 on the RE262 reproduces a normal bass.  If I listen to the same song with just BBE on my cans it produces a normal bass.

 

[tds101]

BBE and Mach3Bass turned up to 10 produce normal sounding bass?!?!?! OH HELL no it doesn't,...

 

[MusicFlows]

Quote:

BBE and Mach3Bass turned up to 10 produce normal sounding bass?!?!?! OH HELL no it doesn't,...

Seeing how my headphones are currently in my ears playing music while I type this and I'm hearing normal bass sounds, I'm going to have to disagree.
Now perhaps to clear any confusion "10" is the maximum level you can set in the custom user EQ settings for BBE and Mach3Bass.  I'm listening to the songs on volume 30/40.  Usually I listen between 20 and 30, depends on the song and how quiet it naturally is.
Maybe you have even worse bass headphones than the RE262s?

 

[andrewberge]

I'm no expert in headphone specs, but it looks like those are some relatively high impedance IEMs you have (150 ohms).
Having to push the volume that high isn't normal either, so an amp might be a good solution for you.
 
I don't know what effect it would have on the sound signature, though. Maybe someone else can enlighten us?
 

 

[Migou67]

I'm not an expert also , but I will never use a RE-262 with my J3, they are to high impedance IEM.
You need go amp, you will get a better sound for your RE262, no more volume problem and bass bost.

Look for a FiiO amp (they are cheap) and your RE-262 will shine

 

[tds101]

I agree, get an amp - it'll make a nice difference.

 

[bmiamihk]

4 Years with my Cowon D2 and I had the 601 for a week trial from a local store in Hong Kong. The 601 is not louder than the D2 at all. I had it at max which I cannot do with my Cowon. 601 cannot play anything except music which is ok but then the sound better sound a lot better then the cowon which it did not. The 601 does sound good and clear but it was about the same as the Cowon. So why buy something that cost more, does less and doesnt sound better but only equal? I will go for a custom made futuresonic earphones instead which this alone will cost me $1,000 US Dollars. I used the Shure 530, 535, westone 3, Atrios and the Ultimate ears 5 pro EB with the 601.

 

[bmiamihk]

If you want real sub bass and a warm sound with clearity go for the Atrios. I have been using the cowon D2 for 4 years with the Atrios and these earphones has deeper and punchier bass than my JH 13 which cost me $1300 bucks. Now I am planning on buying a 900 dollar version of the Atrios made by the same company but they are called futuresonics.

 

[miceblue]

Does anyone know if Cowon will make a successor to the J3? It seems as if they upgraded everything but the J3 and X7 in the last year-ish.

D2 -> C2
D3 -> Z2
iAudio9 -> iAudio 10

 

[fallingreason]

Doesn't need an upgrade IMO

 

[miceblue]

Doesn't need an upgrade IMO

Woah, a fellow Seattleite who happens to be a biochemist at the UW! I'm a student in the UW's bioengineering department.


Back on topic, yeah I suppose the J3 doesn't necessarily need an upgrade. With a great battery life and Kizune's themes, I'm sure people are more than happy with the J3 as it is. I was hoping that Cowon would make a PMP with a line-out someday...

 

[doublea71]

My best memory of Seattle is either meeting Elvin Jones at Dimitriou's Back Alley or stuffing my piehole with the excellent Mexican food at Gordito's (nah, it was definitely meeting Elvin)...but ANYWAYS, a J3 with a lineout makes sense for those with high-impedance headphones...and they can get rid of the video playback as far as I'm concerned - nobody buys that thing because of the video player even though it's supposedly quite good. Who the heck watches movies on ipod-sized players now that we have tablets? Dedicate those dollars to improving the sound even more is what I'd tell them. If they did that, it'd be pretty close to whatever Neil Young and Steve Jobs were envisioning for the ipod, save for 24/96 playback capabilities perhaps. Call it the Cowon J3 Head-Fi Edition hehe