[Poimandres]

Quote:

What if I answered A and B for everything except Lady Gaga?

The 8a

 

[DougofTheAbaci]

When I messaged the Wizard about which to get I described myself as listening to a little bit of everything but wanting accuracy in whatever I listened to. If a song had base, I wanted to hear it but if a song was low on base and high on treble I wanted that to show. He told me to go with the 4.A.
 
From what I'm given to understand, the 4.Ai is the same idea so if that sounds like your cup of tea, that's what you should get.   

 

[Sorensiim]

Quote:

I'm almost sure the 4.Ai is not for my taste, but my problem is that I'm also not 100% sure the 3.Ai will be my cup of tea! I'm not a basshead, and I don't like V-shapped sound signatures! I need my mids... 

Get the 4.Ai. 
 
Quote:

What if I answered A and B for everything except Lady Gaga?

Easy - Get the 8.A! 

 (Or the 4.Ai if you can live without the last bit of bass extension)
Quote:

When I messaged the Wizard about which to get I described myself as listening to a little bit of everything but wanting accuracy in whatever I listened to. If a song had base, I wanted to hear it but if a song was low on base and high on treble I wanted that to show. He told me to go with the 4.A.
 
From what I'm given to understand, the 4.Ai is the same idea so if that sounds like your cup of tea, that's what you should get.   

The 4.Ai is the exact same as the 4.A, but with a universal tip instead of a full custom build. And it's brilliant.

 

[brianchia]

Does the 4.a benefit from amping from an ipod? If so, which amp do you recommend and how much sq improvement is there?

 

[Swimsonny]

Quote:

Does the 4.a benefit from amping from an ipod? If so, which amp do you recommend and how much sq improvement is there?

Quite simply yes it will.
 
For a recommendation it really depends on how much your willing to pay.
 
I use the hippo cricri which is a very cheap amp but the performance is great and the little extra it gives me is awesome, also it have a bass boost that is very subtle so if you want just the slight increase in the bass then you will enjoy that.
 
Obviously if you got something more expensive the performence is going to be a lot better. For an iPod the ultimate combo (i have not heard) is a Alo RX MK3-b and Cypher Labs Alorhythm Solo which will set you back some money.
 
Good amp cheaper that seem to be the likes of the Pico Slim and Headstage Arrow, check separate reviews on here or some one like Clie OS or Average Joes Amp round up. 

 

[Sorensiim]

Quote:

Quite simply yes it will.
 
For a recommendation it really depends on how much your willing to pay.
 
I use the hippo cricri which is a very cheap amp but the performance is great and the little extra it gives me is awesome, also it have a bass boost that is very subtle so if you want just the slight increase in the bass then you will enjoy that.
 
Obviously if you got something more expensive the performence is going to be a lot better. For an iPod the ultimate combo (i have not heard) is a Alo RX MK3-b and Cypher Labs Alorhythm Solo which will set you back some money.
 
Good amp cheaper that seem to be the likes of the Pico Slim and Headstage Arrow, check separate reviews on here or some one like Clie OS or Average Joes Amp round up. 

The Rx Mk IIIb is a noisy person. Lots of hiss with the 4.Ai as well as the 8.A. Not recommended for IEMs. Get something clean with a low (>1 ohm) output impedance, my 4.Ai sounds great from my O2 but my DX100 powers them fine on it's own as well. As does the Sandisk Clip+, but I don't have any iDevices on hand to test with.

 

[Swimsonny]

Quote:

The Rx Mk IIIb is a noisy person. Lots of hiss with the 4.Ai as well as the 8.A. Not recommended for IEMs. Get something clean with a low (>1 ohm) output impedance, my 4.Ai sounds great from my O2 but my DX100 powers them fine on it's own as well. As does the Sandisk Clip+, but I don't have any iDevices on hand to test with.

Really?! Well there goes my dreams of balancing my 4.Ais and getting the RX. I know the Heirs are highly sensitive but i thought the Alo should supposedly deal with that being a top portable amp. Do you know about the R-71b, maybe that can be my new dream
 
Oh yeh the O2 sounds just fantastic with the 4.Ai better than anything i have but it is not portable. My iPod Nano and iPod Touch driver it fine on there own but they of course sound better with an amp, thats what i was saying. But then he will be easily satisfied with the 4.A out of a iPod and can always amp up when he (if he) ever feels he wants more.

 

[ardgedee]

Does the 4.a benefit from amping from an ipod? If so, which amp do you recommend and how much sq improvement is there?

Depends on what model iPod you have and what kind of sound you want. Some iPods/iPhones/iPads have better amplifier sections than others, and will be more or less friendly to low-impedance headphones like the 4.A

I continue to be very happy with my Leckerton UHA-6 - series amp, and think it complements the 4.A very well. If anything, the combination is a little dry - each is taut, detailed, and balanced, and together they risk being a little too much of that on some music. I have some op-amps on order and plan to spend some of this autumn experimenting with changing its sound.

My other main portable amp is the RSA SR-71B. With the 4.A, the SR-71B provides a vast soundstage (by IEM standards, anyway), a greater sense of bass extension and impact, and a lusher, more liquid sound that is easier to listen to for long sessions without losing any sense of the detail that the 4.A is capable of revealing.

The SR-71B technically bests the Leckerton in some regards, on the whole I consider these two amps to be equals that complement each other with differing strengths. However, the SR-71B retails for considerably more than twice the price of the UHA-6!

If you have the budget for only one amp, get a Leckerton. I haven't found any other portable amps in their price range that sound as good between the iPhone and 4.A. However, I haven't heard more than a minor fraction of what's available, and would love to hear what other people have to say.

 

[brianchia]

Quote:

Depends on what model iPod you have and what kind of sound you want. Some iPods/iPhones/iPads have better amplifier sections than others, and will be more or less friendly to low-impedance headphones like the 4.A
I continue to be very happy with my Leckerton UHA-6 - series amp, and think it complements the 4.A very well. If anything, the combination is a little dry - each is taut, detailed, and balanced, and together they risk being a little too much of that on some music. I have some op-amps on order and plan to spend some of this autumn experimenting with changing its sound.
My other main portable amp is the RSA SR-71B. With the 4.A, the SR-71B provides a vast soundstage (by IEM standards, anyway), a greater sense of bass extension and impact, and a lusher, more liquid sound that is easier to listen to for long sessions without losing any sense of the detail that the 4.A is capable of revealing.
The SR-71B technically bests the Leckerton in some regards, on the whole I consider these two amps to be equals that complement each other with differing strengths. However, the SR-71B retails for considerably more than twice the price of the UHA-6!
If you have the budget for only one amp, get a Leckerton. I haven't found any other portable amps in their price range that sound as good between the iPhone and 4.A. However, I haven't heard more than a minor fraction of what's available, and would love to hear what other people have to say.

 
I'm planning to get a used iPod Touch 3G to go along with my 4.A's, I think I'll would just get the Leckerton UHA-6S.MKII. I could kill 2 birds with 1 stone by using the DAC with my MBA when I'm at home.

 

[Sorensiim]

Quote:

Really?! Well there goes my dreams of balancing my 4.Ais and getting the RX. I know the Heirs are highly sensitive but i thought the Alo should supposedly deal with that being a top portable amp. Do you know about the R-71b, maybe that can be my new dream
 
Oh yeh the O2 sounds just fantastic with the 4.Ai better than anything i have but it is not portable. My iPod Nano and iPod Touch driver it fine on there own but they of course sound better with an amp, thats what i was saying. But then he will be easily satisfied with the 4.A out of a iPod and can always amp up when he (if he) ever feels he wants more.

The 4.Ai actually isn't that sensitive - Fellow Head-Fi'er NC8000 noted that they needed more volume (from his SR-71B) than his JH13's. He also noted that they came "Disturbingly close" to the performance of the JH13 and were hands down the best universals he had ever heard. I agree. I've had no problem spending the past 6 hours with the 3.Ai and 4.Ai while my 8.A have been in their case. The 3.Ai is great for just enjoying the music, air-drums and all (much to the amusement of my coworkers...) whereas the 4.Ai will demand your full attention and drag you into the music.
 
Auditioning amps at our recent meet led me to the conclusion that the amp section of the DX100 is really good and the Rx Mk IIIb only offered a different sound from my 8.A that wasn't universally "better" than just the Dx100 or the O2. The HifiMAN HE500, on the other hand, is a different matter. The Rx MK IIIb just took them to a whole other level and they were pretty damn good to begin with.

 

[Swimsonny]

THe comparison to the JH13 and the best universal thing is no suprise but the sensitivity is. These need as much as my Rock IT r-50 which are sensitive and less than must dynamics.

As for amps I have a meet coming up So hopefully they will have some awesome portables in show, I really just want a portables O2!

I think the 4.Ai are enjoyable an do really near you but it is not hat work nothing, just really enjoyable!

 

[Dreuter]

Lurker then registered lurker then my first post here goes Has anyone else ordered off the heir site lately. I was making the jump to ciem's this morning and thought the free wood promotion would be a good time to make the move. When configuring my 4a 's with the ebony wood I still get charged for it in my total. Anyone else have this?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience all things audio.

Dan

 

[Dreuter]

Lurker then registered lurker then my first post here goes Has anyone else ordered off the heir site lately. I was making the jump to ciem's this morning and thought the free wood promotion would be a good time to make the move. When configuring my 4a 's with the ebony wood I still get charged for it in my total. Anyone else have this?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience all things audio.

Dan

No worries they emailed me they are working on it.

 

[blur510]

Are ppl able to send mold to the US heir audio location yet?

 

[Fizz]

Quote:

The 8a

 
Quote:

 
Easy - Get the 8.A! 

 (Or the 4.Ai if you can live without the last bit of bass extension)
 

 
 
Quote:

The 8a

 
 
As much as I would love that, my left ear strains to fit the 3 drivers from my 10X3 as it is. 8 drivers simply wouldn't work.
I think the 4.Ai might work for me just fine tough.