Quote:

Originally Posted by tao1 

I am new to head-fi and to headphone listening in general - I do not consider myself an audiophile, but I do have a fairly decent (if dated) home stereo (2-channel)

 

I find lately that I am traveling more for both work and pleasure and I take my ipod (160gb classic, not sure which generation) and a pair of shure e215's, would a portable headphone amp help with the sound quality or do I need a moded ipod or a gen 5.5 that benefits from a bypass? I don't know enough about the classic ipod (cirrus chip I think) to know if this helps. I have been looking at a ray samuels p-51 - is that the way to go or is there something else out there I should be looking at? Also should I use the 1/8 plug both out of the ipod and into the amp or should I use a bypass (ipod style plug to a 1/8 plug)

 

please help this newbie out - thanks

hmm, i dont recommend paying MORE for an amp than your IEM's right now. I would recommend taking your budget and divind 3/4 into headphone/IEM and then 1/4 into amp and or DAC. some do half half. If your budget is $400. then the 3/4 headphone/iem 1/4 amp split works well. 

You do not need to mod your ipod. Most on head fi don't. Just get an FiiO L3 LOD, it bypasses your ipod's internal amp, circuits, and heapdhone jack. since it bypassed the amp(not the cirrus logic, that's the DAC chip) you now need a new better external amp. For starters, I would recommend the E11. More so since you have a bassy IEM. The E11 is $65. I won't recommend the Cmoy or PA2V2 at this range since ur choice of the Se215 kinda says you like that thump.

Next getting a new set of headphones or IEM's would be best. For heapdhones. Beyer's would be perfect. the DT990 pro 250 Ohm would be perfect, not to mention the E11 would be able to drive it very well as reviews say :) 

Do you wnat to use with laptop and computer for great home audio as well? Investing in the E17 instead of E11 would be better as the e17 takes the pro's of all of FiiO's line and combines them. you are new so i will just say that the e17 is like taking the extremely popular E11 amp and also adding a DAC to it. it is $150. not out yet, but initial respocne and hype has been exorbent on head fi!

Any other questions? ANy ata all? headphones, IEM's (a bit), sound science, chips etc?

And before I forget;

"Welcome to Head-Fi! Sorry About your Wallet!"

i hope you like it here :)

I don't have the E11 or the others you might be looking at so i can only give you what others say. I complied this

the E11 can and is known to be able to drive the pro 990 very very well

http://www.head-fi.org/t/584101/review-beyerdynamic-dt990-premium-32-ohm-and-fiio-e11-and-e7

"FiiO E11

This thing is about as straight forward as it gets. Charge it, hook up the LOD cable to the iPod, plug in the phones and twist the knob. With the DT990's hooked up to the iPod, the first thing that hits me is VOLUME. This little bugger can drive these headphones to face shattering levels, and I'm half-deaf. With these headphones on bass-heavy songs, the highest I can drive the headphones is at volume level around 4.5 before bass-distortion starts rearing its head. Its no fault of the amp. Everything comes across very clear from the highest freqs all the way down to the bone thumping bass. Turning the volume down to try out the bass boost, it works as advertised, providing more body to lower frequencies in songs with less of a bass line. Lets face it though, if you're using the bass boost, you're probably listening to some version of techno, electronica, or dubstep. These tracks shine with the bass boost. Level 1 gives a bit more body and thump to the music, and generally sounds more like I imagine it should sound, without losing anyting else in the music. Level 2 takes that and just goes nuts. Bass will over power some of the mid frequencies, but good lord. If you're a bass-head, make sure you have something a little higher on the Ohm levels. I can't drive these headphones to where I can hear much BUT bass at level 2.

Now for the puzzling part of this little gadget. The Gain switch. I started to write this review with it set to "L" or low. Everything was coming across a little, well, weak, requiring me to turn up the volume more than I was really comfortable with. Upon switching to "H" though, everything starts coming through. The music is, I don't know how to put this, "fuller". Details come out in the music. I don't know if it is the sensitivity of these cans, but the High gain setting really sounds better.

As far as build quality, I don't have any complaints. It is very light, so its easily portable strapped to the back of my iPod with some good battery life for as small as the battery is. No word yet on actual life time of the battery, as I forgot to time it. I was in audio nirvana and I forgot. The cover for the battery does feel a bit thin, and you really have to press on it to get it to snap back in to place if you ever have to take it off. You shouldn't really need to though, so that's just a nitpick.

My biggest issue is the volume control knob. In and of itself, it is great. Volume is smooth to pick up, the knob has a good feel to it. My problem with it comes from the fact that input and output are right next to the thing. This is an issue because when its all hooked up, the volume knob is right next to the jumble of connectors, making it a slight challenge to adjust while walking. Had the knob been on the side or opposite end of the unit, I'd have no issue. As it is though, it is the most glaring fault of the unit.

On to the scores:

Amplification: 10/10 - For 32 ohm phones, it can put out WAY more power than you can deal with.

Clarity: 10/10 - No hissing, distortion or any other modification of the sound besides amplitude.

Ease of Use: 8/10 - Can't charge and listen at the same time. Knob is hard to use when hooked up to source and cans.

Build Quality: 9/10 - Feels solid, wish the battery panel was a bit thicker, wish it was a bit heavier.

Overall Value: 9/10 - Cheap, easy, good amplification. As good as it gets for the price."

http://www.head-fi.org/t/588321/beyerdynamic-dt990-premium-help

So yes. the E11. is probably what you want. i don't know much abotu the ibasso T5(which is also popular around here), but ibasso has been getting it's butt kicked by fiio latley. and hard at that. i am also a fiio fan. The E11 is probably for you. you could get the T5, but there's not enough on it for me to say :/ get the E11 and L3 or L9. i recommend L9 to reduce space. 

HOWEVER I noted that you also want to use with computer. If so then i recommend the new E17. it does both. You could get the E11 and some dedicated desktop amp if you have the money though :/ if the e11 can drive the pro990 pro 250 ohm. the E17 can. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by tao1 

Great info - but I do not want cans - no over ears - I will be using IEM's

i thought i read that you wanted DT990's? Sorry. IF you are still looking for an amp, then maybe the Cmoy's and PA2V2 would be better for IEM's. The E11 is also used often. How good they will soud with each one is unknown to me sorry. Maybe some TF10 or GR07 as upgrades(very popular) 

I think the poster meant the ultimate ears triple fi pro 10 or vsonic gr07 iems as upgrades.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidcotton 

I think the poster meant the ultimate ears triple fi pro 10 or vsonic gr07 iems as upgrades.

thank you. yes both are $150 approx but can be bought for as low as $100 during great deal times. they are extremely popular amongst head fi'ers. i don't own them so i can't recommend them or say anything about them. but the people that love them is a big percent and all over head fi. check out some reviews.

the TF10's MSRB for $400 btw...but i can be eaisly bought for $150 on amaozn and $100 during awesome deal times :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by tao1 

$400 to $100 is an amazing price drop, it's one of those sounds almost too good things. I will definitely take a look at those 2 IEM's.

 

I wonder ... in 2 channel the rule of thumb is your speakers should cost about twice what the amp does. It's not a perfect rule and there are exceptions, but it works mostly, and it''s trying to explain that the final source is that last speaker before it hits your ears - basically great speakers can make up for a bad amp, bad speakers can not make up for a great amp. Does this basically also work in headphones?

The stuff i bolded.. oh yes. the price drop is huge, but the reviews for it are still excellent. most reviews you will find are old are say pro. I'm not sure but due to the price they have noted and what others say. it's the same. think this way. the reviewsers gave it excellent ratings when it was $400 and when it was $200...what will they say when it is $100? the GRO7 is TF10's competitior. i don't own them but just know that these two are really really really really popular if not the two most popular on head fi.

I didn't get the middle section about final source. probably bc im home and don't want to think. but at our price range. yes. the speakers should cost about twice what the amp does. MSRB of both should be used to count cost, example: my HFI 580's MSRB for $240, can be bought on amazon for $190...i bought for $118 with free 3 day shipping, the e17 im getting is going to be $150 and it's my step up to upgrade to an Denon AHD200. now back to the rule; when you get higher and higher. this stop being true and then the sources, amps, DAC's...make up many itmes more than the headphones usually.

The last bolded section is mainly true. The first part is a bit iffy, but the overal sound of the heapdhone(and it's qualities) is still in tact even with a bad amp..but not the other way around(generaly from my exp). making a bad heapdhone sound it's maximum potential..like using a portapro with the an Triad L3(not best but good enough) is still not as preferable as to using an HD650 wth ipod direct out..even if the volume is small and not full, of course. this is all in my opinion, but most head'fiers would tend to agree(i think)

wasn't there another headphoneus supremus here posting about how you should spend a couple K on a new amp and something? or was that a different thread where he was trolling in?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tao1 

I am new to head-fi and to headphone listening in general - I do not consider myself an audiophile, but I do have a fairly decent (if dated) home stereo (2-channel)

 

I find lately that I am traveling more for both work and pleasure and I take my ipod (160gb classic, not sure which generation) and a pair of shure e215's, would a portable headphone amp help with the sound quality or do I need a moded ipod or a gen 5.5 that benefits from a bypass? I don't know enough about the classic ipod (cirrus chip I think) to know if this helps. I have been looking at a ray samuels p-51 - is that the way to go or is there something else out there I should be looking at? Also should I use the 1/8 plug both out of the ipod and into the amp or should I use a bypass (ipod style plug to a 1/8 plug)

 

please help this newbie out - thanks

Perhaps it might be best to first establish exactly what you are looking to improve and why?  Otherwise you'll get all sorts of suggestions thrown at you.

Question:

 - Is there anything you are actually trying to specifically improve with your current set-up?  Eg clarity, highs, lows, mids?  It would help to know what you think is wrong / needs improving before recommending anything.

 - can you advise which gen iPod?

Opinion (mine):

Take this with a grain of salt - I don't own an iPod classic, but I have both current iPod4 and IPhone4.  I haven't heard the SE215, but I have owned the SE315, SE420 and SE425.

From my experience so far, unless the IEMs are very hard to drive, I haven't noticed huge differences between going straight from the iPod or via LOD to an external amp.  I currently own an E11 and also a PortaTube.  I don't usually use either for my current iems (B2s) - they simply don't need it - and for portability, I prefer not to be carrying around a brick.  I do use the portables for my HD600 (not so much out and about - but more transportable) - simply because they need the extra power.

If you want to first see what an amp would do to your current set-up, I'd just get a cheap LOD (L9) and an E6.  it won't break the bank, but it will give you an 'idea' of what bypassing the iPod amp via LOD will do.  Personally I don't think you'll experience huge difference - and I'd suggest not doing this for now.

I wonder at this stage if you would be better looking at better IEMs as they are more likely to show a bigger increase in SQ.  I wouldn't give options on that until you listed preferred genres and sonic preferences (bassy, fwd mids, bright etc).

Hope some of this helps.

EDIT - correction to L9 (thanks bowie)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooko 

Perhaps it might be best to first establish exactly what you are looking to improve and why?  Otherwise you'll get all sorts of suggestions thrown at you.

 

Question:

 - Is there anything you are actually trying to specifically improve with your current set-up?  Eg clarity, highs, lows, mids?  It would help to know what you think is wrong / needs improving before recommending anything.

 - can you advise which gen iPod?

 

Opinion (mine):

Take this with a grain of salt - I don't own an iPod classic, but I have both current iPod4 and IPhone4.  I haven't heard the SE215, but I have owned the SE315, SE420 and SE425.

 

From my experience so far, unless the IEMs are very hard to drive, I haven't noticed huge differences between going straight from the iPod or via LOD to an external amp.  I currently own an E11 and also a PortaTube.  I don't usually use either for my current iems (B2s) - they simply don't need it - and for portability, I prefer not to be carrying around a brick.  I do use the portables for my HD600 (not so much out and about - but more transportable) - simply because they need the extra power.

 

If you want to first see what an amp would do to your current set-up, I'd just get a cheap LOD (E9) and an E6.  it won't break the bank, but it will give you an 'idea' of what bypassing the iPod amp via LOD will do.  Personally I don't think you'll experience huge difference - and I'd suggest not doing this for now.

 

I wonder at this stage if you would be better looking at better IEMs as they are more likely to show a bigger increase in SQ.  I wouldn't give options on that until you listed preferred genres and sonic preferences (bassy, fwd mids, bright etc).

 

Hope some of this helps.

We are currently at that step. i don't own any IEM's and can only tell him that the TF10 and GRO7 is popular and not much else. and that he should probably just upgrade IEM. Oh and I spot a typo :D 

The LOD would be the L9. the L3 also works as it also uses the same HPC22W wire(the L1 doesn't). the main diff is that the L9 has a more conveneint L shape than the straight shape on th eL3. these are relataviley cheap from $8-$13 .

Yup - meant L9.  Thanks for that.

Saw that you were discussing alternate IEMs but also saw that nobody had asked OP what his sonic preferences or preferred music genres were.  Hard to recommend when you don't have all the facts ......

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooko 

Yup - meant L9.  Thanks for that.

 

Saw that you were discussing alternate IEMs but also saw that nobody had asked OP what his sonic preferences or preferred music genres were.  Hard to recommend when you don't have all the facts ......

yeah sorry about that. i've been busy with other things and thought this was a nother thread. i'll do quality over quantiity this time around. i usually ask tht in the beginning. but guess i forgot. im more into headphones so when i learned he needed IEM's..(i couldn't tell since he refered to full size cans a couple times) i could only point him in the "generic" direction of the ever popular TF10 and GRO7. i have also learned that armature driver headphones are a bit more peciliur and sensitive to diff types of amping so i couldn't point him in any direction at all :/

Well i leave the recommending to you and bump this up and get other IEM people in here :/