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Amps for a Newbie?

post #1 of 9
1/27/12 at 9:35pm
Thread Starter 

I've been looking into buying a JDS CMoy or a Filo E1 or E6, but I'd like some of your guys' input before I make a decision.  Im looking for something under $50 that will give me a better sound from my monster turbine gold's and ety hf5's.  I know close to nothing about the various other brands, as I've just recently gotten into audiophile equipment so any input is appreciated.  biggrin.gif

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post #2 of 9
1/27/12 at 10:47pm

http://www.headfonia.com/music-on-a-budget-sub-100-portable-amps-shootout/

 

OK, so the shootout is for under $100, but why not take a look at the PA2V2.  Gary is a great guy to deal with and that little amp is well reviewed.  And right around your price range.

 

 

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post #3 of 9
1/28/12 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 

So what im getting is that the JDSlabs has a wider soundstage and a more colored sound, but that the pa2v2 is more linear and has  better attack characteristics.. does that mean that I shouldnt even consider the f11 or soundmagic?  Is it practical to carry any of these around for everyday listening?

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post #4 of 9
1/28/12 at 5:12pm

Depends on what you consider practical. Most "portable" amps are only portable in the sense they're convenient to toss in a bag.

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post #5 of 9
1/28/12 at 5:22pm

the PA2V2 and cmoy are popular options :D i don't have them bu ti have the E17 which is similar to the e11(don't have E11)..and oh gosh. do you like clear music with that bassy oomph? the E11 is probbaly fo ryou then. if you prioritize clearness and not really bass, then from what i hear the PA2V2 are suupposed to be clear awesome amps :D look around for thier reviews. they will tell you their actual good qualities. i just summarize. and plz note. Even though the E11 is bassy doesn't mean it's not clear. all our audiophile amps are clear already. we just have to differentiate even further since we are audiophiles :D. hey that pencil is pretty thinwow it's .010mm thin!...hey look...there's this other pencil..it's .011mm thick. that small difference is osmething only an enthusaist would care and notice..and u sir. are on our fourms :D oh plz note. i don't "Recommend reocmmend" any of the 3 amps i listed. i meant to take a look at them as they are all $60 aprox and are extremely popular. just to point you in the right direction bc as these amps are popular. other rerences and links will bring you to other stuff :D


Edited by bowei006 - 1/28/12 at 5:23pm
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post #6 of 9
1/28/12 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 

I guess to some the warmth or deepness of a sound would seem to some to be nothing but minutia, but I guess i would consider myself a budding audiophile, so I appreciate these things as much as the next guy on head-fi.  But i'm trying to get a setup that I wont regret buying, which leaves me with a couple more questions. Firstly, It is better that I get an LOD for my amp? even if it is a sub-$100 fiio or JDS?  and if I have the turbines (bass-centric) and the etymotic hf5's (treble-centric) should that affect my amp choice?  Thanks again for all the input.

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post #7 of 9
1/29/12 at 9:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grapefruit View Post

I guess to some the warmth or deepness of a sound would seem to some to be nothing but minutia, but I guess i would consider myself a budding audiophile, so I appreciate these things as much as the next guy on head-fi.  But i'm trying to get a setup that I wont regret buying, which leaves me with a couple more questions. Firstly, It is better that I get an LOD for my amp? even if it is a sub-$100 fiio or JDS?  and if I have the turbines (bass-centric) and the etymotic hf5's (treble-centric) should that affect my amp choice?  Thanks again for all the input.


LOD is recommended all the way from the E3 to infinity and beyond. especially with IEM's. LOD's reduce or eliminate hiss caused by poor circuitry in the amp and headphone jack section of ipod's and walkman's(the circuits are great quality from those two companies..just not audiophile done) and improve clarity, less distortion etc since u aren't dual amping.  sensitive IEM's....get one. they are $10....

 

you have earbuds ont he oppostie sides of the scale there..... a lot of peopple like Cmoy's with their etymotic's..idk. really. i've been doing these posts providing gneral answers and helping them understand the other parts of the amps as i don't have the amps newbies are looking for...but....people don't really chekc out this part of the forums anymore. it's all discrussion boards and heapdhone section :/ sorry. i would recommend huniting down an active head fi'er that has what you are looking for and sending a couple of them PM's on it. that is the best and easiest way

 

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post #8 of 9
1/31/12 at 1:18pm
Thread Starter 

got it, thanks.  have some rep :)

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post #9 of 9
1/31/12 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grapefruit View Post

got it, thanks.  have some rep :)



If this was another forum i would be really delighted as im trying to earn rep over there. sadly. head fi. doesn't care for rep.

and plz note. i can only tell you on the properties and good commings of LOD's. I can't really say much ont eh amplifiers and shouldn't have really posted on them as I didn't have them. plz fact anything you heard on other stuff. i can only give you a nudge in the direction.. so plz look at what others are saying about those amps. im going to guess you probably already have. as most wouldn't go get one just going off one person saying. that's what i think nudging is. anyway. yes LOD. it's a good thing to have. it's inexpensive (Thank FiiO, or else it would be either $5 from ebay right now with no known audio properties or $100 from audiophile companies) and if you have an ipod or walkman that allows for one...use it. it just filters all that bad stuff away by not dual amping

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