Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphone Amps › What is everyone's AMP volume?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What is everyone's AMP volume? - Page 2

post #16 of 25
11/24/11 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 

where did you find the info regarding the E7 impedance? "impedance of about 0.1 ohms"? I couldn't find anything on the Fiio website. Do you happen to know what the impedance of the E11?

 

 

Reply
post #17 of 25
11/24/11 at 8:55pm

I don't know the E11's impedance.

 

The E7 was measured at 0.13 ohms. The source is banned on this forum, but just google search for "E7 measurements" and it should be the first result.

Reply
post #18 of 25
11/25/11 at 12:50pm
Thread Starter 

From what I've found online the E11 output Impedance is 0.5 Ohms. So the output impedance is higher than the E7 (0.1 ohm). If that's the case shouldn't the E11 need more power and not less to sound as loud as the E7? How is it possible that on the E7 I need 4 out of 60 steps and the E11 I'm using about 1.8 on the power knob?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #19 of 25
11/25/11 at 6:50pm
Thread Starter 

After some more researching it I found a few more interesting things. I'm not sure how true this but I'm assuming it is

 

 

Quote:
The Fiio E7 is a combination amp and *DAC* and is intended to be used with digital sources. That's where it shines, not used with an LOD. This product is for *digital conversion* and the amp's voiced to the sound of the E7's DAC. A USB DAC *cannot* receive digital audio from a portable music player made by Apple. It won't work whether you use an LOD or not.

If you want that level of (digital) improvement with an iPod, Touch or iPhone, you need either a Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo or the new Fostex iPhone DAC/amp.

Since all you have is an analog LOD, you should ignore DAC/amps and focus on a good dedicated analog amp. Try iBasso and Ray Samuels Audio. I own an an iPod Classic and can tell you it sounds better (not louder!) through a LOD using my Ray Samuels Hornet. The sound is airier and more detailed and the separation is better; the bass is tighter (not louder).

The Fiio E7 is a meant to be used to convert digital audio from the USB out of a computer. That's what it's really for.

 

Which got me thinking that I should go and get the Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo + the RSA Hornet. Problem is I don't know which one I should get first

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #20 of 25
11/25/11 at 9:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrconfuse View Post

From what I've found online the E11 output Impedance is 0.5 Ohms. So the output impedance is higher than the E7 (0.1 ohm). If that's the case shouldn't the E11 need more power and not less to sound as loud as the E7? How is it possible that on the E7 I need 4 out of 60 steps and the E11 I'm using about 1.8 on the power knob?


Output impedance combined with load impedance (the headphones) determines how much voltage the load can receive. The difference is minimal at these levels of output impedance, no matter the load. Even with a 16 ohm headphone, the difference in voltage received at equal voltage supplied will be about 2.5%. That's a volume difference of a fraction of a decibel and inaudible.

 

However, the E11 is a more powerful amplifier and can supply a higher maximum voltage, so it can get louder.

 

You won't be able to use the E7's DAC with an iPod, only the amp. The iPod acts as the DAC. The E11 is a standalone amp and you can get that instead. But if you already have and enjoy the E7, why bother?

Reply
post #21 of 25
11/25/11 at 11:15pm
Thread Starter 

the E11 is my friend's which I borrowed for testing. I was thinking the RSA hornet might be nice as everyone seems to think it's a good amp.

 

 

Reply
post #22 of 25
11/26/11 at 1:12am

i think there are many options for portable amps released in the last 3 years since the hornet that will do better including some of rays

Reply
post #23 of 25
11/26/11 at 8:56am
Thread Starter 
can you give me a couple of brands? I'm not to current on the current amps. My other option is go start with portable a dac. some on the forum believe in getting a better dac before going for an amp.
Reply
post #24 of 25
11/26/11 at 7:10pm

tbh just about anything on this page currently if you click the portable amps forum. technology really has moved on quite a lot since then, that was a pretty basic amp. just go look at the massive portable amps reviewed and compared thread. i've been using iriver with portable dac/amp for years and more recently using something of my own making so probably not the best person to ask for specific recommendations. I do know that even back when i was following it all a couple years ago, it wouldnt have been on my shortlist. a dac is only of any use if you have a portable source that has digital output

Reply
post #25 of 25
11/26/11 at 9:44pm
Thread Starter 

My Iphone does have a LOD and if i use it  with a Fostex HP-1, Clas or something similar then I would get digital out.

 

 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Portable Headphone Amps
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphone Amps › What is everyone's AMP volume?