sarals
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2010
- Posts
- 123
- Likes
- 12
Hi, all! I am new here.
I'm sure my question is buried on this forum somewhere, but frankly I'm tired of digging. So, I thought I'd ask a multi-tiered question.
I have a pair of Etymotic ER-4S (had 'em for YEARS, I use them mainly for monitoring when I do location recordings), but because they are very travel friendly IEMs I also use them with my iPod. I just upgraded my iPod from a 4G 40G to the new 160G Classic (which is miles ahead of the 4G in SQ, and has tons of room for "nothin' but lossless" files to boot). It's headphone out does a decent job with the ER-4S, but not great (I do know how good the Ety's can sound, yes). I have bought a pair of Shure SE530s (UPS promises I get them tomorrow, goodie!) to use with the iPod, relegating the Ety's back to "work" only. But - I do like my Ety's!
So. My questions are these. I know next to nothing about what's out there in "portable" amp land, that's a caveat.
1) Consensus on whether or not I really need a portable amp for my iPod if I'm using the Shure's only?
2) If I do need an amp, consensus on whether there is a NUETRAL portable amp (not the Three Stones things, thanks), affordable (like $200 or less...ummm...XM4, maybe?) that would give the Ety's the oomph they need and not color or overdrive the Shure's? (Yes, I will use a LOD).
Thanks in advance!!
I'm sure my question is buried on this forum somewhere, but frankly I'm tired of digging. So, I thought I'd ask a multi-tiered question.
I have a pair of Etymotic ER-4S (had 'em for YEARS, I use them mainly for monitoring when I do location recordings), but because they are very travel friendly IEMs I also use them with my iPod. I just upgraded my iPod from a 4G 40G to the new 160G Classic (which is miles ahead of the 4G in SQ, and has tons of room for "nothin' but lossless" files to boot). It's headphone out does a decent job with the ER-4S, but not great (I do know how good the Ety's can sound, yes). I have bought a pair of Shure SE530s (UPS promises I get them tomorrow, goodie!) to use with the iPod, relegating the Ety's back to "work" only. But - I do like my Ety's!
So. My questions are these. I know next to nothing about what's out there in "portable" amp land, that's a caveat.
1) Consensus on whether or not I really need a portable amp for my iPod if I'm using the Shure's only?
2) If I do need an amp, consensus on whether there is a NUETRAL portable amp (not the Three Stones things, thanks), affordable (like $200 or less...ummm...XM4, maybe?) that would give the Ety's the oomph they need and not color or overdrive the Shure's? (Yes, I will use a LOD).
Thanks in advance!!