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£1000 to spend on a new portable rig.

post #1 of 12
1/8/12 at 1:56pm
Thread Starter 

Finally ready to move on from my old rig (iPod Video, Fiio L3, Fiio E11 and Grado Sr60). Moving to London soon so I'm looking for a setup that sounds nice, but also isolates me from the noise on the tube. Would also like to be able to use this rig for home listening as I'm planning to some nicer headphones (possibly Grado RS2i) in the future. I listen mainly to rock and folk, but dabble in most genres.

 

 

So far, I'm thinking of 3 ideas:

 

DiyMod my iPod video (I can do myself for free), buy a high end headphone amp and a set of Westone 4 or Shure se535

Rocoo P/ Studio V, a slightly cheaper headphone amp and the same IEM's

Colorfly C4, no headphone amp and the IEMs

 

 

Anyone have any preference on which setup would be the best, and if needed which amp would be the best? 

 

 

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post #2 of 12
1/8/12 at 2:56pm

for on the tube honestly id say screw pretty much everything and go for max isolation, id skiy the 535 or w4 and just go with some ER4's.

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post #3 of 12
1/8/12 at 3:13pm
Thread Starter 

Looking at getting some moulded earphone sleeves (http://www.themp3company.co.uk/index.php?id=product&product_id=774) for the earphones, so isolation shouldn't be a problem.

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post #4 of 12
1/8/12 at 3:14pm

Personally, id wait for the ibasso DX100, and then pick your amp/phones of choice.

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post #5 of 12
1/8/12 at 3:17pm
Thread Starter 

Been following  the iBasso for a while now. Can't wait to hear a review on it, if it ever gets released :p

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post #6 of 12
1/8/12 at 3:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nixon View Post

Finally ready to move on from my old rig (iPod Video, Fiio L3, Fiio E11 and Grado Sr60). Moving to London soon so I'm looking for a setup that sounds nice, but also isolates me from the noise on the tube. Would also like to be able to use this rig for home listening as I'm planning to some nicer headphones (possibly Grado RS2i) in the future. I listen mainly to rock and folk, but dabble in most genres.


So far, I'm thinking of 3 ideas:

DiyMod my iPod video (I can do myself for free), buy a high end headphone amp and a set of Westone 4 or Shure se535
Rocoo P/ Studio V, a slightly cheaper headphone amp and the same IEM's
Colorfly C4, no headphone amp and the IEMs


Anyone have any preference on which setup would be the best, and if needed which amp would be the best? 


Kind of unrelated, but I just read this. I am 14 years old. Now I can not wait until I get a job and have 1000 to spend on a new rig smily_headphones1.gif.
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post #7 of 12
1/8/12 at 4:22pm

Jh16 & an iPod touch 64gb is what I would do!

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post #8 of 12
1/8/12 at 9:27pm
I will highly recommend to go with Custom IEMs for superb soundquality and compact rig like JH13Pro/JH16Pro, Westone ES5, UM Miracle and highend DAPs like Sony Z series walkmen, HM_602, HSA V, S:Flo2, X1060, Cowon X7. If universal IEMs are must then Grado GR10, CK100Pro, PFE232, Sony EX1000, W4R and DAPs like iPod Classic or Touch with HP-P1 Or CLAS are recommended.
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post #9 of 12
1/8/12 at 10:03pm

I'm with mark on this--isolation before all else. Tube is noisy as anything, and even worse when the windows are open when the trains screech to a halt.

 

The source you consider should have a line out, or better yet, a digital line out. This would be for home listening; you can work out which amp to use later, because you haven't firmed up your plans on which full-sized headphone. So don't lock yourself in just yet. In that regard, an iPod is a decent option, since you can go for line out to a DAC or amp in the future.

 

For portable use, then, start with good isolation as your first criterion and cut it down from there. Silicon, single-flange tips will be poor in general (goodbye Sony, Audio Technica, and Sennheiser), foam tips will be a step up and comfortable (Westone, Shure, EarSonics), and Etymotics will isolate the most (but beware comfort. It's not for everyone).

 

Skip portable amps if you can. They add bulk and just become one more thing to charge, lose, connect, etc.

 

Zarim: as usual, I have to ask: which of those components you listed have you actually used/owned?

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post #10 of 12
1/10/12 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZARIM View Post

I will highly recommend to go with Custom IEMs for superb soundquality and compact rig like JH13Pro/JH16Pro, Westone ES5, UM Miracle and highend DAPs like Sony Z series walkmen, HM_602, HSA V, S:Flo2, X1060, Cowon X7. If universal IEMs are must then Grado GR10, CK100Pro, PFE232, Sony EX1000, W4R and DAPs like iPod Classic or Touch with HP-P1 Or CLAS are recommended.


 

Why don't you do members a favor here and discuss gear you actually own/have heard. Do you have anything valuable to offer at all other than your lists of 'such-and-such, so-and-so, this-and-that, are recommended' chains of models you've never heard? I mean seriously, anyone here can read others' impressions and then throw some model numbers around where they seem appropriate. How about actually offering some sonic observations of your own? 

 

Unless you actually own all the gear mentioned in your post?  

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/270280/stop-recommending-gear-youve-never-heard-rant-warning

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post #11 of 12
1/10/12 at 11:34am

I'd go for W4 + JDS cMoyBB for now and just save your pennies. Trust me, I have some very strong portable amps but the cMoy works brilliantly with the W4's. Otherwise wait it out and get customs + CLAS II + Rk Mk III for a portable balanced rig.

 

Another alternative is to wait for the iBasso DX100 (saves you having to get a portable amp/dac plus interconnects) and just buy the best IEM you can with whatever is left.


Edited by Naim.F.C - 1/10/12 at 11:36am
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post #12 of 12
1/10/12 at 12:15pm
Another alternative for isolation besides IEMs is Sennheiser HD25-1 II. I've had two pairs of IEMs before (super.fi 5 pro and westone 3) and these on-ear headphones isolate just as well.
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