[Sonic Atrocity]

For a long time I have been seeking a flat frequency response in my portable rig. I currently have the KRK KNS 8400. They are the flattest headphones I could find within my budget. I thought that pairing them with my Clip+ (rockboxed) would be excellent. Unfortunately, I have had two Clip+'s and the headphone jack has failed each time. 
 
Apparently the Fuze has the same problem. I have been wondering if the Clip Zip has fixed this problem (and if it is even rockboxable at this point). 
 
Anyhow, I have come into some money and am now seeking a portable rig that can give me the flat frequency response I desire. I have been looking at iPods with a bit of skepticism. I understand that some iPods really suck but that the ones with Wolfson DACs sound a lot better.
 
Regardless, I am seeking a flat frequency response. If it means that I have to get a player and use the line out instead of the headphone jack then that is fine considering I have a PA2V2 and according to this link (see below) the PA2V2 is flat (anyone know of the credibility of this measurement?). 
 
http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Various/Echo%20Gina%20-%20PA2V2.htm
 
I further wonder if there would be any other problems with the PA2V2 as being a neutral amp. 
 
 
Any suggestions as to what I should do? What players I should look at? Should I go the line out route? I'd appreciate your responses head-fi. Thanks for taking the time to view my thread

 

[maverickronin]

The Clip+ should be dead flat into non-reactive load like the 8400s and only have trivial variations with even crazy loads like multi-BA IEMs.
 
There are some good measurements showing this sort of thing but I can't link you since the admins don't like the guy who did them.
 
If you're not happy with the Clip+'s FR then you must have got 2 defective ones or maybe you're actually looking for something else.  What other sources are you using for comparison?

 

[goodvibes]

I think he's just looking for alternatives due to durability. Check the RoCoo or studio. It has the kind of drive you'd like for those cans.

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Quote:

The Clip+ should be dead flat into non-reactive load like the 8400s and only have trivial variations with even crazy loads like multi-BA IEMs.
 
There are some good measurements showing this sort of thing but I can't link you since the admins don't like the guy who did them.
 
If you're not happy with the Clip+'s FR then you must have got 2 defective ones or maybe you're actually looking for something else.  What other sources are you using for comparison?

Uhhh... it has nothing to do with comparison. I love the sound from the Clip+. The problem is the fact that the headphone jack has failed twice in a row. This isn't something that has to be measured or compared. It-just-doesn't-work. 
 
Google it. It's a problem that all kinds of Clip+ users have had.
 

 

[maverickronin]

Quote:

Uhhh... it has nothing to do with comparison. I love the sound from the Clip+. The problem is the fact that the headphone jack has failed twice in a row. This isn't something that has to be measured or compared. It-just-doesn't-work. 
 
Google it. It's a problem that all kinds of Clip+ users have had.

Oops, sorry.  I misread that.  The headphone jack physically broke?
 
I was reading like it "failed" to meet your expectations or something.

 

[kmhaynes]

The HP jack on my Fuze failed after about 6-7 months, but I bought an LOD and connected to my amp, bypassing the HP out.  If you like the Sansa products and are used to Rockbox, there is a build for the Fuze v.2 out now that supports the Line Out (you pick which output you want, headphone or line-out).
 
If you want to try a different player and you don't use a Mac, the Cowon J3 is a great player -- and there are some newer Cowon players available.

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Quote:

Oops, sorry.  I misread that.  The headphone jack physically broke?
 
I was reading like it "failed" to meet your expectations or something.

Actually, I'm sorry. That was really, really rude of me. I was in a terribly crabby mood yesterday. I was out of line. Sorry man. 
 
 

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Quote:

The HP jack on my Fuze failed after about 6-7 months, but I bought an LOD and connected to my amp, bypassing the HP out.  If you like the Sansa products and are used to Rockbox, there is a build for the Fuze v.2 out now that supports the Line Out (you pick which output you want, headphone or line-out).
 
If you want to try a different player and you don't use a Mac, the Cowon J3 is a great player -- and there are some newer Cowon players available.

This Fuze option seems really appealing to me. Only issue is that I hear the Fuze is warmer than other players. I am really looking for a neutral frequency response. That is why I was so enthusiastic about the Clip+. Do you know of any FR graphs on the Fuze? I can't seem to find any.

 

[Achmedisdead]

Quote:

This Fuze option seems really appealing to me. Only issue is that I hear the Fuze is warmer than other players. I am really looking for a neutral frequency response. That is why I was so enthusiastic about the Clip+. Do you know of any FR graphs on the Fuze? I can't seem to find any.

The Fuze has the same sound chip as the Clip+ and Clip Zip. The colored sound perhaps some people ar hearing stems from the inaccurate playback speed with the SanDisk firmware, most likely....Rockboxing it will cure that.
 

 

[maverickronin]

Quote:

Actually, I'm sorry. That was really, really rude of me. I was in a terribly crabby mood yesterday. I was out of line. Sorry man. 

No problem.  After missing the point like that I probably came off sounding really condescending.  Sorry about that too.

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

 
Quote:

No problem.  After missing the point like that I probably came off sounding really condescending.  Sorry about that too.

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Quote:

The Fuze has the same sound chip as the Clip+ and Clip Zip. The colored sound perhaps some people ar hearing stems from the inaccurate playback speed with the SanDisk firmware, most likely....Rockboxing it will cure that.
 

Well, I don't trust the headphone jack. But I was thinking I'd get a Fuze 4GB off of Ebay.
 
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SanDisk-Sansa-Fuze-Black-4-GB-Digital-Media-Player-/280805155204?pt=Other_MP3_Players&hash=item41614aa184#shId
 
Would this be the right one? Do you think using the LOD would affect the frequency response and/or sound quality at all? I am really hoping to achieve that neutral frequency response - as flat as possible. And a good, high-detail sound quality too. 
 
I would be using it with my PA2V2 which according to this graph (http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Various/Echo%20Gina%20-%20PA2V2.htm) is also entirely flat. Is this test reliable??????
 
If all is good as to what I am seeking so far then which LOD should I get? Any particular Rockbox build I should get? I have read that some versions of Rockbox have noise problems in the Clip+. Would I encounter this issue with the Fuze Rockbox build??

 

[Achmedisdead]

Quote:

Well, I don't trust the headphone jack. But I was thinking I'd get a Fuze 4GB off of Ebay.
 
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SanDisk-Sansa-Fuze-Black-4-GB-Digital-Media-Player-/280805155204?pt=Other_MP3_Players&hash=item41614aa184#shId
 
Would this be the right one? Do you think using the LOD would affect the frequency response and/or sound quality at all? I am really hoping to achieve that neutral frequency response - as flat as possible. And a good, high-detail sound quality too. 
 
I would be using it with my PA2V2 which according to this graph (http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Various/Echo%20Gina%20-%20PA2V2.htm) is also entirely flat. Is this test reliable??????
 
If all is good as to what I am seeking so far then which LOD should I get? Any particular Rockbox build I should get? I have read that some versions of Rockbox have noise problems in the Clip+. Would I encounter this issue with the Fuze Rockbox build??

That is the right Fuze. I have no idea as far as how the LOD works with it, or which one to recommend, because I never had one. There was a lot of heated debate over the LOD and the Fuze here, but I have no opinion either way.....again, because I never tried one. If the Fuze turns out to be a V2, then you'd have to search a little for a build with the line-out patch to be enabled.....but if it is a V1, then line-out will work fine.
 
I never heard any noise in my Clip+ players, but perhaps that is because I don't use IEM's? I have an early PA2V2, which doesn't have the adjustable gain, so I never use it....but I don't remember thinking that it colored the sound. I couldn't use much of its volume though, because of the fixed gain.
 

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

So, I am thinking that I should just go get the Clip+ repaired. If I buy a new one I worry it will just give me trouble again. I'd be willing to pay for a repair if it is almost permanent. I am looking at electronic repair shops online around my place (downtown Toronto). I like that the Clip+ is flat and I really appreciate the Rockbox firmware. The crossfeed is essential to me. 
 
What should I say to them? I was thinking that I'd say either something is loose and needs to be tightened or a soldering job is needed. The plug stays in the player. It just doesn't send the signal properly. My right channel falls out consistently and often it becomes "half-present". 
 
Thoughts?
 

 

[Achmedisdead]

Quote:

So, I am thinking that I should just go get the Clip+ repaired. If I buy a new one I worry it will just give me trouble again. I'd be willing to pay for a repair if it is almost permanent. I am looking at electronic repair shops online around my place (downtown Toronto). I like that the Clip+ is flat and I really appreciate the Rockbox firmware. The crossfeed is essential to me. 
 
What should I say to them? I was thinking that I'd say either something is loose and needs to be tightened or a soldering job is needed. The plug stays in the player. It just doesn't send the signal properly. My right channel falls out consistently and often it becomes "half-present". 
 
Thoughts?
 

For what they would charge you to fix it, you could probably buy a new one....unless you have a buddy working at the electronics shop.