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The Sub-$200 Portable Amps Shootout – 13 (+11) amps compared
Jul 12, 2015 at 3:12 AM Post #513 of 615
mrmonday said:
  This thread makes me really want the E12A. My only question is whether the E12A can power SRH1540s and HE-400s to there full potential?
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SRH1540 isn't  very difficult to drive, so E12A should be fine. HE-400s is probably a bit more difficult, though I suspect E12A should be okay as well, unless you like your music very loud.
 
Jul 12, 2015 at 4:11 AM Post #514 of 615
clieos said:
   
SRH1540 isn't  very difficult to drive, so E12A should be fine. HE-400s is probably a bit more difficult, though I suspect E12A should be okay as well, unless you like your music very loud.
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It is very hard to decide between the E12A and the Cayin C5 since they are so closely matched in price and performance. The C5 seems more versatile but I am leaning toward the better battery life and lower noise floor of the E12A.
 
I want to avoid dual amping if at all possible so I will be using a LOD with my iphone 6 to bypass the internal amp but I am not sure what to do with my laptop since I can't bypass the internal amp without also bypassing the internal DAC. Any suggestions? 
 
Jul 12, 2015 at 5:05 AM Post #516 of 615
golov17 said:
All in One, DAC+AMP
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Any suggestions? All of the portable DAC/amps under $150 seem pretty mediocre and I don't need a DAC with my iphone 6 so it would really only be used with my laptop. I was thinking that one of the Muse PCM 2704 chipset DACs from amazon could do the trick and I could just keep it in my laptop bag.
 
Jul 12, 2015 at 5:56 AM Post #518 of 615
mrmonday said:
  It is very hard to decide between the E12A and the Cayin C5 since they are so closely matched in price and performance. The C5 seems more versatile but I am leaning toward the better battery life and lower noise floor of the E12A.
 
I want to avoid dual amping if at all possible so I will be using a LOD with my iphone 6 to bypass the internal amp but I am not sure what to do with my laptop since I can't bypass the internal amp without also bypassing the internal DAC. Any suggestions? 
Click to expand...

 
Haven't heard the C5 myself, but as far as I have read, it seems to be a warm sounding amp. My money is on the E12A because it has the MUSE02 inside, which is probably one of the best audio opamp around. The OPA2134 in C5 is however, good but nothing impressive.
 
mrmonday said:
  Any suggestions? All of the portable DAC/amps under $150 seem pretty mediocre and I don't need a DAC with my iphone 6 so it would really only be used with my laptop. I was thinking that one of the Muse PCM 2704 chipset DACs from amazon could do the trick and I could just keep it in my laptop bag.
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PCM2704 probably won't sound any better than your PC's built in DAC. Any of the HiFimeDIY's small USB DAC that is based on ESS Sabre chips should sound fine. I'll also recommend Stoner Acoustic UD120 as well.
 
Jul 12, 2015 at 2:39 PM Post #519 of 615
golov17 said:
I like HiFime DIY Sabre for my netbook
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Is that dual Sabres stacked?
clieos said:
   
Haven't heard the C5 myself, but as far as I have read, it seems to be a warm sounding amp. My money is on the E12A because it has the MUSE02 inside, which is probably one of the best audio opamp around. The OPA2134 in C5 is however, good but nothing impressive.
 
 
PCM2704 probably won't sound any better than your PC's built in DAC. Any of the HiFimeDIY's small USB DAC that is based on ESS Sabre chips should sound fine. I'll also recommend Stoner Acoustic UD120 as well.
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I would have to agree, and for 99% of my applications the E12A will be enough power. I am not really looking to upgrade my computer DAC, it is the Cirrus 4206BCNZ which is a pretty solid chip, but I am trying to bypass the internal amp to avoid double amping and the only way to do so is with an external DAC. However, I'm probably blowing this issue out of proportion because double amping doesn't seem to be a huge issue to a lot of people.
 
Jul 12, 2015 at 10:47 PM Post #521 of 615
mrmonday said:
  I would have to agree, and for 99% of my applications the E12A will be enough power. I am not really looking to upgrade my computer DAC, it is the Cirrus 4206BCNZ which is a pretty solid chip, but I am trying to bypass the internal amp to avoid double amping and the only way to do so is with an external DAC. However, I'm probably blowing this issue out of proportion because double amping doesn't seem to be a huge issue to a lot of people.
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Double amping can sound fine and many times it isn't nearly as 'evil' as people make it out to be. Just remember to keep the volume on your PC high (usually around 90% is fine), then use E12A to control the volume.
 
golov17 said:
This DAC + USB Isolator
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Just want to mention that - USB isolator, while nice, isn't a requirement most of the time unless the PC's USB is noticeably dirty / noisy or you're using the USB DAC for measurement.
 
Jul 18, 2015 at 8:50 AM Post #523 of 615
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