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The Sub-$200 Portable Amps Shootout – 12 (+10) amps compared - Page 11

post #151 of 344
12/12/12 at 4:16pm

Wow, great write-up and will definitely aid me in my upcoming amp purchase.

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post #152 of 344
12/21/12 at 10:00am

Looks like we have another potential entry into the round-up with FiiO's new "Mont Blanche" portable amp.

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post #153 of 344
1/1/13 at 5:11pm

this is a great read and will def help me out

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post #154 of 344
1/4/13 at 4:42pm

Hey guys this thread has been really informative in helping me choose my first portable amp. I've narrowed it down to the Leckerton UHA4, JDS Labs C421 and FiiO E17. Was just wondering which of these would be more beneficial for me as they will be mostly powering my IEMs (Westone 3, JVC FXZ200) and sometimes my Denon D2000. Also I don't know if music preference matters but I listen to mostly EDM, hip hop, R&B, alternative rock, acoustic. Any recommendations would be helpful thanks!

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post #155 of 344
1/4/13 at 4:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AznInvasion138 View Post

Hey guys this thread has been really informative in helping me choose my first portable amp. I've narrowed it down to the Leckerton UHA4, JDS Labs C421 and FiiO E17. Was just wondering which of these would be more beneficial for me as they will be mostly powering my IEMs (Westone 3, JVC FXZ200) and sometimes my Denon D2000. Also I don't know if music preference matters but I listen to mostly EDM, hip hop, R&B, alternative rock, acoustic. Any recommendations would be helpful thanks!

 

Tough not to recommend the C421. Yep...can't think of any reason not too! Buy it and be happy. 

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post #156 of 344
1/4/13 at 5:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imackler View Post

 

Tough not to recommend the C421. Yep...can't think of any reason not too! Buy it and be happy. 

 

Thanks for the recommendation imackler. I was just wondering why you recommend the C421 over the others? 

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post #157 of 344
1/4/13 at 7:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AznInvasion138 View Post

Hey guys this thread has been really informative in helping me choose my first portable amp. I've narrowed it down to the Leckerton UHA4, JDS Labs C421 and FiiO E17. Was just wondering which of these would be more beneficial for me as they will be mostly powering my IEMs (Westone 3, JVC FXZ200) and sometimes my Denon D2000. Also I don't know if music preference matters but I listen to mostly EDM, hip hop, R&B, alternative rock, acoustic. Any recommendations would be helpful thanks!

 

FXZ200 should be fine as it doesn't have crossover circuit, but W3 might have a chance of impedance interact with C421. To be opn the safe side, I'll recommend UHA-4.

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post #158 of 344
1/4/13 at 8:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClieOS View Post

 

FXZ200 should be fine as it doesn't have crossover circuit, but W3 might have a chance of impedance interact with C421. To be opn the safe side, I'll recommend UHA-4.

 

Thanks for the recommendation ClieOS and great job with the thread it really help open my eyes to what portable amps are offered out there these days. I'm looking at the Leckerton Audio website and they have different Op amps you can choose from AD8610ARZ, OPA209AID, or OPA627 (extra $50) and am still confused as to exactly what the differences are.

 

Also I will most likely be using the portable amp with my ipod touch and was wondering what I would need to connect the UHA4 with the ipod. I was looking at the E17 until i came across JDS Labs and Leckerton Audio so I only knew of the LOD cable that connects the amp to the portable player. Thanks again for the help!

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post #159 of 344
1/4/13 at 8:21pm
Thread Starter 

AD8610 is my personal choice and that's what I'll recommend. OPA209 is fine as well though it doesn't wow me. OPA627 is likely an overkill, good sounding but I won't want to pay that much over AD8610.

 

iPod Touch should be able to drive your IEM well enough by its own. Adding an amp won't improve the sound vastly, but it will likely offer tighter control and thus a more refined sound.

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post #160 of 344
1/4/13 at 10:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClieOS View Post

 

FXZ200 should be fine as it doesn't have crossover circuit, but W3 might have a chance of impedance interact with C421. To be opn the safe side, I'll recommend UHA-4.

 

Doesn't the revised black edition of the C421 take care of that? I'm not smart with this stuff though... That being said I am enjoying the AD8610 a ton in my Neco; I wish it were still available in the C421. THe OPA2227 is not a slouch though, and actually may be a good fit for both of those bass/trebley earphones. imo.

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post #161 of 344
1/4/13 at 11:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by imackler View Post

 

Doesn't the revised black edition of the C421 take care of that?

 

It lower the output impedance, but not enough to fully avoid potential issue.

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post #162 of 344
1/4/13 at 11:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClieOS View Post

 

It lower the output impedance, but not enough to fully avoid potential issue.

Wow! That's good to know! 

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post #163 of 344
1/5/13 at 1:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClieOS View Post

AD8610 is my personal choice and that's what I'll recommend. OPA209 is fine as well though it doesn't wow me. OPA627 is likely an overkill, good sounding but I won't want to pay that much over AD8610.

iPod Touch should be able to drive your IEM well enough by its own. Adding an amp won't improve the sound vastly, but it will likely offer tighter control and thus a more refined sound.

So in the end what I want from a portable amp is a better soundstage and overall better quality of music but you're saying it won't be doing that? Lol I'm a little confused as to the benefits at this point
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post #164 of 344
1/5/13 at 4:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AznInvasion138 View Post


So in the end what I want from a portable amp is a better soundstage and overall better quality of music but you're saying it won't be doing that? Lol I'm a little confused as to the benefits at this point

 

I said 'not vastly', not 'won't do it'. Being enough to driver a headphone and driving it very well are two things.

 

Also, adding an amp doesn't automatically make any source sounds better. It seems to be the common assumption for many but it is not true all the time. Only when the amp is better than the internal amp where you'll see the improvement. If the internal amp is also good, then any benefit of extra amping will be very limited.

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post #165 of 344
1/5/13 at 7:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClieOS View Post

 

I said 'not vastly', not 'won't do it'. Being enough to driver a headphone and driving it very well are two things.

 

Also, adding an amp doesn't automatically make any source sounds better. It seems to be the common assumption for many but it is not true all the time. Only when the amp is better than the internal amp where you'll see the improvement. If the internal amp is also good, then any benefit of extra amping will be very limited.

 

Oo ok got it thanks for the explanation! Also I was wondering if it was worth it to go for the UHA-6 II for another $80 or are the differences not that big enough.

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