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BEST PORTABLE HEADPHONE AMP? - Page 2

post #16 of 42
6/19/12 at 7:04am
Thread Starter 

there is something weird here with my cowon j3 the charger doesnt seem to go the whole way into the device, its kinda sticking out a bit. it deos not look right and if i tip it it falls out. does anyone else have this problem. i am thinking of sending it back.

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post #17 of 42
6/19/12 at 10:01pm

The Portaphile 627 is quite good and can drive my LCD-2, so I figure it would drive the 650 well.  My review is here.

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post #18 of 42
6/19/12 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by average_joe View Post

The Portaphile 627 is quite good and can drive my LCD-2, so I figure it would drive the 650 well.  My review is here.

 

While that's true driving the LCD2 and HD650 are about as opposite as can be.  I only bring this up because something like the Portatube that can swing voltage for something like the Senns can't drive the T50rp even if it's life depended on it.  

 

I'm sure the Portaphile is a different beast though.

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post #19 of 42
6/19/12 at 10:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anaxilus View Post

While that's true driving the LCD2 and HD650 are about as opposite as can be.  I only bring this up because something like the Portatube that can swing voltage for something like the Senns can't drive the T50rp even if it's life depended on it.  

 

I'm sure the Portaphile is a different beast though.

 

I can't say for sure, but the 627 does well with the HD600 and of course all of my CIEMs, even the ones that need to be pampered.  The amp is on par/better than that in my D1 desktop DAC, but I am not sure that is saying all that much.  However, the D1 has always outperformed the other portable amps I have tested, even when wall powered.

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post #20 of 42
6/20/12 at 12:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by magiccabbage View Post

Was wondering what is the cream of the crop when it comes to portable headphone amps. I have sennheiser hd280 pro, hd 595 and hd 650. Usually dont take them outside the house but i just bought the cowon j3. I have read a lot about fiio e11 and e17. I also seen the electric avenue pa2v2 ranked at number 1 here on this site. Is it ranked so high because of the price or is it really that good? I really just want to find the best to match my hd 650,s. money is not a problem.

 

1. Money no problem

2. You genuinely have no plans for using the amp with the other Senns

 

Simple - single-ended, go with the L3 otherwise the MK3. All based purely on what I have read, but its better than giving you 14 possibilities. 

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post #21 of 42
6/20/12 at 12:58am

L3 is a bit on the darker side for pairing w/ the HD650.  Something more neutral 'sounding' w/ nice width like the Mk3 would be better synergy IMHO.  

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post #22 of 42
6/20/12 at 1:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by magiccabbage View Post

Was wondering what is the cream of the crop when it comes to portable headphone amps. I have sennheiser hd280 pro, hd 595 and hd 650. Usually dont take them outside the house but i just bought the cowon j3. I have read a lot about fiio e11 and e17. I also seen the electric avenue pa2v2 ranked at number 1 here on this site. Is it ranked so high because of the price or is it really that good? I really just want to find the best to match my hd 650,s. money is not a problem.

 

Are you talking about these "rankings"?

http://www.head-fi.org/products/category/portable-amps

 

I don't know what the formula is for the rankings, but it is likely heavily based on the # of people who have listed that they own the product.  

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post #23 of 42
6/20/12 at 3:54am

I hadnt seen that before, but Justin appears to be right - fairly clear how a ranking like that will come out. The L3 / SR-71B / MK3 will be waaay down on such a list.  

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post #24 of 42
6/20/12 at 7:31pm

Love Justin's amps, waiting for the new one to come out and already own a pico amp and pico dac only.  That said, until the new one comes out i still go for the Triad L3, i don't think it is on the dark side at all, it is very neutral.  The L3 compares to home amps(or should i say the Lisa lll does) I have heard the L3 twice and it seems comparable to the Lisa.  Gotta say though i am not sure what they are doing about charging and the power supply. WIth the Lisa you bought a separate low noise power supply but it isn't on Triads site anymore and there are no other recommendations.  I will be curious to compare my Lisa to the new pico power when it comes out though.  

 

One day i hope to have Justin working on a Blue Hawaiian for me, i mentioned it to him at a meet and i could have sworn i saw his eyes roll.redface.gif

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post #25 of 42
6/20/12 at 7:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by justin w. View Post

 

Are you talking about these "rankings"?

http://www.head-fi.org/products/category/portable-amps

 

I don't know what the formula is for the rankings, but it is likely heavily based on the # of people who have listed that they own the product.  

Actually it doesn't appear to be on how many people own it....... the numbers don't go with the positioning.

 

I have never even filled out that own it deal, tried to when they changed the site over and i couldn't get it to take my info so i don't even trust the numbers on those items.  I just list what i own in my profile the way it was always done.  I am not sure how many people add their name to those lists.

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post #26 of 42
6/20/12 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dallan View Post

Love Justin's amps, waiting for the new one to come out and already own a pico amp and pico dac only.  That said, until the new one comes out i still go for the Triad L3, i don't think it is on the dark side at all, it is very neutral.  The L3 compares to home amps(or should i say the Lisa lll does) I have heard the L3 twice and it seems comparable to the Lisa.  Gotta say though i am not sure what they are doing about charging and the power supply. WIth the Lisa you bought a separate low noise power supply but it isn't on Triads site anymore and there are no other recommendations.  I will be curious to compare my Lisa to the new pico power when it comes out though.  

 

One day i hope to have Justin working on a Blue Hawaiian for me, i mentioned it to him at a meet and i could have sworn i saw his eyes roll.redface.gif


Sorry for being off topic but whats all this about a new Pico amp? I never heard anything about a new amp from HeadAmp being announced.

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post #27 of 42
6/20/12 at 7:49pm

I was quite impressed w/ the L3.  Till I heard the Rx3.

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post #28 of 42
6/20/12 at 8:01pm

This new Pico!

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/528770/headamp-pico-power-introduction


Edited by dallan - 6/20/12 at 8:02pm
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post #29 of 42
6/20/12 at 8:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dallan View Post

This new Pico!

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/528770/headamp-pico-power-introduction

 

I dont know if 'new' applies to an amp that Justin has had on the drawing board since 2010, but I'll take what I can get. Should be an interesting addition to the fray.

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post #30 of 42
6/20/12 at 9:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by estreeter View Post

 

I dont know if 'new' applies to an amp that Justin has had on the drawing board since 2010, but I'll take what I can get. Should be an interesting addition to the fray.

 

You're right, i need to keep things more private, so they are more new.  But actually, I have revisited it in recent months and redesigned it due to some newer parts availability.  i promise this one will be like a piece of art.


Edited by justin w. - 6/20/12 at 9:50pm
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