[akash neagi]

Thanks guys for the reply.....
Btw I plan on getting a woo audio wa6se for the hd800........
I was just wondering if a C5 can power it if I choose to use it in my portable rig.....
For my permanent portable rig I have a xba3, mdr-1r, srh840 and about to get a hd439......

 

[nOtEcH]

I am using my HD800 (with Moon Audio Black Dragon V2) with the C5 and a 4th gen. iPod touch with a FiiO L3 LOD.
The combo sounds surprisingly good, as I have heard that the HD800's are "amp picky".

The C5 does not sound the same as my headphone amp AURALiC Taurus (~$1799) that is said to sound similar to the amp part of the April Music Eximus DP1 (6moons review) with my network streamer/DAC Linn Akurate DS (~$6800) using some seriously expensive silver interconnects, but I use the portable combo more these days, as I can use it everywhere. In my car. At work (personal office). At home (around the house..mostly at my desk and in my bed). The C5 is in my opinion very musical and a great little amp. And I can play my music loud. And the best part: It is portable!

 

[72bug]

Hello everyone. I have been very pleased with my C5 with my ipod classic (songs in lossless format) as a source.
 
My question would be, what are your impressions when streaming music from an itouch or iphone with the C5? Is there a noticeable difference when not using the C5?
 
Or does it go without saying that - when streaming music (I use Spotify in highest quality mode) the best way is to use an external DAC with C5 to get the best listening experience possible. 
 
Thank you so much. 
 
I have already been planning on getting the ODAC to pair with C5 - so if anyone have tried streaming music with this combination, I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks again!

 

[miceblue]

Quote:

Hello everyone. I have been very pleased with my C5 with my ipod classic (songs in lossless format) as a source.
 
My question would be, what are your impressions when streaming music from an itouch or iphone with the C5? Is there a noticeable difference when not using the C5?
 
Or does it go without saying that - when streaming music (I use Spotify in highest quality mode) the best way is to use an external DAC with C5 to get the best listening experience possible. 
 
Thank you so much. 
 
I have already been planning on getting the ODAC to pair with C5 - so if anyone have tried streaming music with this combination, I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks again!

Actually, this was just discussed on the previous page of the thread:
Quote:

Quote:

Wow, that was a fast test.  There is a noticeable difference I can't even describe.  It's like the 2.5 method makes everything sound louder.  Not as in raised volume.  As in things sound like they were recorded at high levels or "hotter".  It's really strange actually.  It's almost like there are more mids too, as though some things are more in your face, but not in a good way really, just in a different way.
 
The line-out definitely sounds better.  Everything sounds more snappy and there is a noticeable improvement in depth between everything.  As though the music is higher resolution still.  I'm not sure of all the technical details, but I can say it's a large enough difference double blind testing isn't even necessary. ha.  It's like the 3.5 method makes everything sound more filled in, louder and fuller, but in a bad way.  As though what is being filled in isn't really good music data or sonics, but rather.... I'm not really sure.  It's like the music is more full and full bodied, but just sounds less detailed and breathes less if that makes sense.
 
I'll stick with the line out.

Yeah I noticed that the line out provides a more spacious, natural-sounding stage and instruments are a bit clearer than 3.5 mm out. If I were mobile listening, I don't think I would be able to tell though.

 
Basically line out with an iDevice adds some space between instruments and makes things a little more crisp/defined. I did some on-the-go testing today and the instrument separation difference is noticeable to me.
As for double amping, the difference is similar in terms of the instrument separation, but to a lesser extent. It sounds more or less the same with just the headphone plugged-in to the iDevice, at least from my experience.

 

[rckyosho]

Ok I've received a package from JDSlabs and it looks and feels big...At frist I thought John might have made a mistake and has sent me an ODAC unit(wishful thinking

) but then I recall that Mr. Industrial Designer namizich for JDSlabs has machine up a special end panel for my mod and that John has shipped it out to me.Anyway I've install it and just thought I'd post photos of it.
 

The package.Looks big doesn't it.
 

I've also received a box with it which I think is the box used to ship the C5 amp in.
 
 
 

All installed and ready to use.
 
Thank you jseaber, Mr.Industrial Designer namizich and all of JDSlabs for this.
 
 
 
Quote:

I somehow recall someone saying it takes ~5 hours to completely charge the C5.
My C5's battery ran out of juice on the bus again today so I came home at around dinner time (18:30) and I plugged-in the C5 to my laptop. 2 hours and < 41 minutes later I check the C5 and it's fully charged! I am pleasantly surprised.

It always takes me less than 3hrs to charge my unit from zero to full but never really timed it though.
 
 

Originally Posted by luisdent 
 
I've been listening to my c5 non stop since I got it.....
 
I find this combo to be just incredibly enjoyable to listen to, accurate and worth every penny. I've spent so much money on my home theatre and studio. And while earphones differ from speakers in some ways, I feel this is the closest thing to a reference home theatre or studio monitor ever heard in my ears. I highly recommend the c5 if you own the er4s. It is a noticeable upgrade to the iPod. Especially once you're used to the c5 and you switch back to the ipod.
 
From one super happy listener...
 

 

 
Nice review there.
 
Off-topic:- Glad to see another home theatre guy around these parts.Portable stereo listening is indeed enjoyable when your out a about or just around the house but nothing beats the surround sound experience from a well recorded mix of music in 5.1(e.g. DVD-A of Metallica,Blue man Group,..etc.Too bad though the format is dead but Bluray is great too!)

 

[phrosty]

Got my C5 on Wednesday. The package was missing the rubber feet promised on the store page, but this is not a problem as I had planned to mount it to my JDS ODAC. It's an exact fit on the old case -- glad I don't have the new shorter one or I'd have to put it on top and cover up the fancy red goodness. If the ODAC had the USB connector in back to match the C5, it'd be perfect.
 
 

 
I've been using it for 5-8hr daily at work and so far I'm very impressed with it. The channel balance is quite nice compared to the PenguinAmp Royal I was previously using as a portable amp, which would be slightly louder in the left ear at lower volumes. The bass boost sounds like it is either not as strong as the Royal at max, or at different frequencies -- I'll need to check. Either way it's plenty.
 
My only complaint might be that it's a little too easy to switch between low- and high- gain mode while changing the volume. An LED color for high-gain would also be useful.

 

[luisdent]

Quote:

Off-topic:- Glad to see another home theatre guy around these parts.Portable stereo listening is indeed enjoyable when your out a about or just around the house but nothing beats the surround sound experience from a well recorded mix of music in 5.1(e.g. DVD-A of Metallica,Blue man Group,..etc.Too bad though the format is dead but Bluray is great too!)

 
Yeah, it's sad it hasn't caught on more.  My SACD player is barely even used.  I did however just buy the new Steve Wilson album "The Raven That Refused to Sing".  It sounds excellent in 5.1.  Just awesome.

 

[luisdent]

Quote:

My only complaint might be that it's a little too easy to switch between low- and high- gain mode while changing the volume. An LED color for high-gain would also be useful.

 
Really?  You've actually hit it by accident? :-o  I can't even fake accidentally switch it on.  Mine has to be right in the middle and pushed straight in.  That never happens with mine. =)

 

[miceblue]

Quote:

Got my C5 on Wednesday. The package was missing the rubber feet promised on the store page, but this is not a problem as I had planned to mount it to my JDS ODAC. It's an exact fit on the old case -- glad I don't have the new shorter one or I'd have to put it on top and cover up the fancy red goodness. If the ODAC had the USB connector in back to match the C5, it'd be perfect.
 
 

 
I've been using it for 5-8hr daily at work and so far I'm very impressed with it. The channel balance is quite nice compared to the PenguinAmp Royal I was previously using as a portable amp, which would be slightly louder in the left ear at lower volumes. The bass boost sounds like it is either not as strong as the Royal at max, or at different frequencies -- I'll need to check. Either way it's plenty.
 
My only complaint might be that it's a little too easy to switch between low- and high- gain mode while changing the volume. An LED color for high-gain would also be useful.

That was going to be one of my re-programmed things. Blue LED for high gain, green for low gain.

 

[DMinor]

Quote:

Thanks for the link, I want to make a clear that by no means I want to take away from the merit of C5. I have paired my C5 with a source that is 5 times it price that is how much I value it.  I am an objective kind of a person myself I care about objective measurements a great deal however I wish there was on amp fits all solution. 
For example I love how C5 pairs with Ck100pro, the pairing provided me a new reference sound level however with EX-1000 it was not as good of a match.
 
Looking forward to what JDS will bring to us in futures to come

 
How does it sound with the EX1000?

 

[audionewbi]

Quote:

 
How does it sound with the EX1000?

I am still burning in the C5 ( just trying to make sure). I will make up my mind by end of next week. 

 

[jseaber]

Quote:

That was going to be one of my re-programmed things. Blue LED for high gain, green for low gain.

 
The Blue LED is hardwired to an open-drain status output of the charging IC.
 
There's an empty spot for a second LED on the board. That pin supports PWM, so you can adjust LED brightness. We can provide a custom endplate and I'm sure I can dig up the code to go with it.

 

[luisdent]

The Blue LED is hardwired to an open-drain status output of the charging IC.

There's an empty spot for a second LED on the board. That pin supports PWM, so you can adjust LED brightness. We can provide a custom endplate and I'm sure I can dig up the code to go with it.

For what it's worth, I think you nailed the power led brightness. It's bright enough to always see, but in bed it isn't so bright to keep my wife up.

 

[luisdent]

A few questions.  I've been double amping my apogee duet into my c5 with my ety er-4s.  It is simply phenomenal.  The duet is already phenomenal, but the 32 ohm impedance attenuates the bass.  No good.  So the c5 acts as an impedance corrector.  Anyway.  I notice that the duet sounds even better than the ipod line out.  Now, the itunes files are lossless and my ipod is 256aac, HOWEVER, i've done a double blind test of lossless vs aac on my ipod, and although i could tell the difference, it was not as big as the difference between the two devices.  It was very hard to tell the difference in most cases between formats.  The devices are easy to tell the difference between.  I don't mean that the differences are great, but rather it's just easier to hear them than the format comparison.
 
The bass is yet again a little more "firm" and there appears to be more body and thickness to notes, but this time, unlike the ipod, the quality is an improvement.  It doesn't hinder the spaciousness or anything.  It's like it's identical quality wise, but everything almost sounds more speaker like.  I'm just almost in shock at how absolutely awesome the er-4s bass sounds with this setup.  It's still awesome with the ipod, but it's just a bit more firm which really makes it sound great.  Any idea why this would be the case?  Is it possible the duet DAC is that much better than the ipod?  Would an objective DAC maybe give me the same results?  Just curious.  I'm content and loving both setups completely, but the duet/c5 combo is just awesome.  I'll throw some lossless files on my ipod later and listen for a while, but I really don't think it is that (maybe i'm wrong).

 

[luisdent]

Oh!!!  I forgot to show you the incredibly sexy new custom cases John sent me!