Colorfly C3 Appreciation and Discussion Thread - Page 26

Yeah, that folio is just for mild protection, so just remove it - you're not supposed to keep it on. If you're worried for the screen you might want to get a proper screen protector.

I am much appreciated for your reply kova4a. Everything seems ok. No scrathes under the folio. 

To bring the C3 to next level, which option is more efficient in term of investment ?

Option 1: Add a portable amp with silver plated cable. What are the possible choice of amp?

Or

Option 2: Get IEM/headphone that can 100% unleash the hidden potential of C3.
And what are those?

Personally in this situation, I think amp is the better way to go, because you'll achieve the most value for your money, most improvements. This isn't the rule generally however, $100 will go much further on something like C&C BH to bring out the best of your C3, then you're set up for all future IEM purchases. $100 spent on headphone or IEM will not give you these increases, nore as rewarding in this situation. If you desired to spend $250 Westone 3 pair very well with C3, T-Peos H-100 at $150 also pair admirably, Klipsch x10 work well.

That's just from my experience with the Colorfly player
Edited by H20Fidelity - 1/28/13 at 10:37pm

 

agree, however i am not selling S9 since it's a backup solution should anything happen to c3 and also i use s9 in car and do not see the reason for selling it right now.

 

c3 is really superbly sounding machine, love it more and more.

 

fully agree on amping, especially if you go balanced armature IEMs way you will need amping... yes, i have Digizoid and it brings real body to c3, perhaps not as good as c&c but enough to make c3 go live in your head :-)

 

H20, do you know anything about this amp? http://www.leckertonaudio.com/products/uha-4/

 

i checked reviews and this scores among best. how it compares to c&c? how would you describe improvements with c&c?

 

my daughter put her eye on Digizoid  which she calls Shizoid because of incredible bass boost :-))) 

 

so i am thorn between buying another ZO2.3 or upgrading to a better amp. i use the amp only with c3. 

 

any experience with Leckerton anyone?

Sometimes I regret selling my S9 it was my first DAP and stayed that way for many months, very easy signature to sink into, also some BBE and Mach3bass were always fun to play with. In the end with my other players here my S9 simply wasn't being used any longer. It would sit there glaring at me from the table, showing jealousy.


I haven't heard the UHA-4 sorry, I'm reluctant to comment on gear I haven't heard. I do know ZO2.3 lacks some detailing around the mid range. I think you would gain a better experience by upgrading, Which you choose would be up to you, lots of research. C&C BH is actually very capable, when used in high gain with your C3 volume set to 33/40 I receive best results. The amp sounds cleaner / balanced over both my Colorfly CK4 and Hifiman HM-601's headphone outs.

H20, thanks, actually i use ZO2 in subwoofer mode only, not amping. this allows bass boost without losing detail. i agree with you, was also my experience, in amping mode ZO2 loses fine detail... but in bass boost mode only ZO2 does a really nice job and you still retain C3 sound signature and good detailing.

 

the main attraction of ZO2 is also very lightweight and portable size. this is why decision is not so easy. c3+eb50 is very revealing combination and ZO2 only adds missing bass. however i agree, better amp might bring more revelation and add to the sound signature. so my concern is that the amp does not subtract from c3 sound signature.

wow, you have HM-601, how this compares to C3? also curious about CK4, do you find quality music loss on micro SD compared to onboard memory? this was the complaint often mentioned on other forums about CK4. i was thinking about C4 but this baby is damn expensive, so better amping C3 and investing in better amp and IEMs IMHO, i suppose result will be not far from C4 in the end and for a lesser money.

I have noticed the internal and external memory differences with CK4, would you have a link to the other forum by any chance? I'm just wondering if it was my posts you read. Regarding CK4 vs C3 you can read here (if you haven't already)

CK4 vs C3

http://www.head-fi.org/t/638415/colorfly-c3-vs-colorfly-ck4-comparison-true-portable-hifi-sound

My most recent thoughts on C3 vs CK4 (after owning both for 3+ months)

http://www.head-fi.org/t/564517/colorfly-ck4-first-review/165#post_9031622

C3 vs HM-601

http://www.head-fi.org/t/643084/hifiman-hm601-vs-iaudio-10-vs-colorfly-c3#post_8998472


Saves me typing it all over again for you. But honestly at the end of the day they're all good players, each have positives and negatives, not one of them is perfect, but do something very right enough to switch between them. However, for the money I am inclined to say C3 is the better value, at $100 for this kind of sound (especially amped) it's rather hard to beat imo, it does the most right out of these players and for a good price. C3 may not be the most detailed or have the widest stage however uses what's there most to an advantage.
Edited by H20Fidelity - 1/29/13 at 4:19am

H20, thanks, let me put my question a bit differently.

 

how CK4+ amped compares to HM-601 un-amped? taking into account CK4+ with c&c would cost about similar what you pay for HM-601 alone.

 

if comparing them in a way you would do for high-end rig would you agree that C3 amped sounds more like good solid state setup and HM601 sounds more like tubey (valve) setup?

 

i also read both CK4 and HM601 are not so portable, one chap told me he sold HM player exactly because it is not portable enough for him but he kept C3 and did not look back.

btw, to explain me asking you about different players, i am thinking about buying the second one for using this on the way instead of S9 and so i am curious if i have to add one more C3 or take something more expensive. i like what i read about C4 but... it's size is not portable at all and at home i can always switch to my high-end rig which also has a very good DAC and a dedicated Mac Mini with Audirvana and Amarra software.

 

this is why i think portability is still important to me.

CK4 amped is on completely other level to HM-601 unamped. For the $300 outlay it is superior to HM-601 easily imo. Superior detailing, soundstage, stereo, imaging, air. Different sound though, colder digital rather than warm valve like.

I would agree on that yes, HM-601 sounds warm and sweet, C3 more digital. Still C3 amped I find superior to HM-601 unamped. To be honest I am not overly impressed by the Hm-601 headphone out. the soundtage is rather narrow (decent depth) and it's rather dark sounding compared, which doesn't sit with me all the time.

For the best pocket portable rig I still can't go past C3 and C&C BH amp combo. I would have no problem what so ever selling my HM-601 and keeping the C3 / amp combo, none what so ever. The only real pleasure HM-601 gives me is from it's line out option. again with the amp.


Here's what they look like.

CK4 amped




HM-601 amped




C3 amped (no cable on that photo)



Edited by H20Fidelity - 1/29/13 at 4:50am

some good review of portable amps in lower price category here http://www.head-fi.org/t/620775/the-sub-200-portable-amps-shootout-11-10-amps-compared

 

sorry, had to change the link, this one is the right one.

 

pity i could not find credible review on c&c amp.

Edited by Gintaras - 1/29/13 at 4:59am

H20, thanks, fair enough, seems like i am leaning towards adding the second C3 ... or will colorfly replace that with C3+ to add slightly bigger screen for viewing and scrolling and also to support 24bit files?