Hi all,   I've been looking to replace my Shure 420 iems for a while now, but the situation has become untenable. I love these phones, at least I love them the way that you love your first real high end anythings. I'm a big jazz fan, and I spend most of my listening time with straight-ahead...

I'm looking for some advice regarding an upgrade from an aging pair of Shure SE420. Unfortunately, the Shures still sound pretty good, but the rubber housing is shredded, the cable terminations are deterioriating, etc. Its like snapping the button off a pretty good pair of jeans - yes, I could...

A few years ago I made my first real step into the head-fi world, picking up a pair of Shure 420's for use on the road and in loud places. While I've always been a big room speaker kind of guy, I loved the sense of intimacy and the clarity offered by a good set of IEM's, and while my Shures are...

I am looking for phones that I can use for studying in a relatively quiet library. Thus, isolation is not an issue but leakage is an issue. The next most important criterion is comfort as I have every intention of listening to these cans for hours on end. My price range is around $100 The...

I've been looking into a commercial headamp for around $300 but it seems that the general consensus is that a considerably cheaper DIY amp will provide a better sound. I am not terribly experienced in audio DIY but I am an engineering student so I A) like to put stuff together and B) have lots...

I have some older components to upgrade and I would like to buy a decent headphone amp but I lack money. I have no problem buying used or slightly older equipment so I think a discount store or audio-specific flea market (or anything of that ilk) would be a good place to start. Does anyone know...

It seems that there is a strong sentiment against portable amps in general and it doesn't take much to figure out why but I have a more specific question regarding the relatively inexpensive amp market. I am new to Head-Fi but I intend to expand my horizons as I will likely be living without a...

I am very new to the Head-fi world and while I have been doing research everything seems to be working off of a basic knowledge and skill set that I lack. Will any amp improve the sound quality of any headphone or are there certain price minimums for both the amp and the phones in order for the...

Hi. I am a university student with a strong interest in jazz. I am new to the world of high-end headphones but I do have what I believe is a pretty decent ear. Being in school I tend to spend most of my music listening time either in libraries or common work spaces. Unfortunately these are...