Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Best amp for ER-4S under $1500?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Best amp for ER-4S under $1500?

post #1 of 6
5/3/04 at 4:35am
Thread Starter 
I bet a lot of you were thinking that this was going to be another of those "recommend me a good amp for the etys" threads. Well, this is one of those, but it's about MAXING the potential of the etys. Ever since I got my Meridian 588, the etys sound SOOOO much better to me, perhaps even better than my HD650's because they have so little distortion. At any rate, while the KGSS/Omega II combo will probably be my main rig in the future, I'd like to expand my ety rig.

Any ideas for a home etymotic setup?

Should I go tubes or SS? What brand? What model? Would a PPA do the trick?
Reply
post #2 of 6
5/3/04 at 4:46am
tubes and etys? they just seem like two different beasts. i haven't heard the etys, but from what i've read about them, the kevin gilmore amps complement their sound signature well: speed and detail. i guess if you were to 'max out' their potential you could get an $800 v2-se, though it seems like a v2 or even a lite would be enough for glorified earbuds (kidding, kidding).
Reply
post #3 of 6
5/3/04 at 4:52am
The thing is, regardless of price, the PPA's ability to do bass boost is a HUGE plus.

Not only is the PPA in itself a really fine amp, the bass boost, if tuned correctly, gives Etys new life. As I am typing I am listening to my PPA with my ER-4S and it is absolutely breathtaking. The warmth and slam added by the boost makes it a completely different beast.

No detail is sacrificed, but it's like bass is now felt, not just heard.
Reply
post #4 of 6
5/3/04 at 8:44am
davidmiya --

I use the ER-4S at home with my Muse 2 Plus DAC.
I use an Emmeline HR-2 from Ray Samuels Audio.
But, ensure you request AD-8065's with the HR-2.
I didn't find a better headamp for them at this price.
With the AD-797's, you can hear the lack of synergy.
AD-8065's are refined, detailed, and very neutral.

I have not heard the Gilmore V2 or V2-SE, but...
The HR-2 with AD-8065's is still surprising me.
And for $925 including purchasing of the AD-8065's...
Regardless, you cannot go wrong with the HR-2.

Just my two cents...

Scott
Reply
post #5 of 6
5/3/04 at 10:24am
David, check out this thread which is also active and discusses how to best amp the Etys:

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71260
Reply
post #6 of 6
9/27/08 at 5:31am
Sorry to resurrect a thread that is already more than four and one third years old, but ever since that one head-fi crash, the links to many of the old threads have been changed, so the link in the post above leads me to a thread about the iAudio M3.

Wmcmanus, what is the thread you were referring to that discussed how to best amp the Etys?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Best amp for ER-4S under $1500?