Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jaredp 
Thanks for elaborating, the ZO definitely seems like something I'm interested in. Will it have enough power to drive my XB1000s? And can I just leave it plugged in via USB desktop use?
Thanks.
Well power-wise it delivers a little more current than FiiO E11 which is very popular atm, XB1000 seems to be a headphone that optimally wants quite a lot of power due to 70mm drivers but the way this device boosts bass isn't that dependant on the amount current, you'll get stronger bass punch than you probably are looking for even at around half level of max anyway, it has 31 different levels of bass boost. Depending on the headphone we're talking about maybe 12 ~ 15dB bass boost capability or so (the amps with biggest boost usually go up to 12dB, Arrow and some of the Cmoy portable amps), I like to use the first level which adds around 2.5dB or so I think (there will be released a v2 soon, maybe august/september that will feature volume control and more bass contour levels, probably less of a boost for the first level at least).
I use my ZO only with my desktop comp so I got it plugged in for recharging all the time so I don't have to worry about it but if you use the USB port for recharging there's a big risk that you'll hear static noise which is the computer's fault not the device's (happens with all other devices too) but you could do like me that bought an USB power adapter that converts the USB interface to an AC plug so you can recharge it directly from the wall socket and then it will be completely silent. Here you'll find a few examples http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dmobile&field-keywords=ac+usb&x=0&y=0#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dmobile&field-keywords=ac+usb+adapter&rh=n%3A2335752011%2Ck%3Aac+usb+adapter
(you should find them in a local marketplace too). I would just check so that the rated output is ofc no higher than voltage: 5.0 V and ampere is perhaps somewhere around 0.7 ~ 1.0 A or it says it's compatible with MP3 players and alike but most should be 5.0V and ~750mA. The one I bought was specced 0.8 A.
The device has really nice working bass boost, it adds a lot of impact rather than bloating the bass all over the mids, it should definitely help to give you the most "in-your-face" bass like XB500 features. XB1000 is also described as being a little more laid-back and this amp makes the sound a little more forward sounding, not just stronger bass, it does this for the whole range by an added 7~10dB or so boost depending on headphone so I think it would be a good fit for this headphone but I personally am a fan of forward sound so I like how it makes my XB500 sound like even if that's a very forward sounding headphone for starters. :P It makes the hardstyle I listen most to these days output the bass that it was meant for (subwoofers) so that this genre sounds the way it was meant to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWBwJ4BH43k&hd=1#t=01m59s (not overpowering bass = not enough bass is a good measure in this genre, melodies are supposed to take the 2nd seat when bass kicks in :p)
Finally I can say volume wise when I tested comparing on the onboard chip (I usually use an Audigy 2 ZS card) I went from like 35 - 37% to 10 - 12% on the windows volume slider (we're probably talking about somewhere in the range 70 ~ 80dB output volume), so volume-wise there shouldn't be any issues.
Edited by RPGWiZaRD - 7/20/11 at 5:50am
