A discussion of what is "portable"

[3602]

Yes, it has to be me who starts all these kind of threads.

The most portable system, strictly talking about size + weight, that I have seen, is a Shuffle. Zen Stone and other screenless DAPs are extremely small, indeed, but just a bit larger than a Shuffle.
I used to strap an amp to the back of my Archos 7, and walk down the street with a pair of XB700's on my head. That was until I found out the Seagate OEM HDD is vulnerable to such a point that it will head-crash without any apparent shock. Yes, I changed three of 'em.

Nowadays I walk down the street with the very same amp strapped to my IPC, plus the very same XB700. Of course I cannot put the IPC + amp combo into my pockets (fine, jacket pocket, that'll stress the LOD connector) so I purchased a Homer Simpson "console gear bag". Hmm. Very head-tuning.

Of course, I do that because I don't mind. But that's not for everyone. IEMs are not for me. Earpads, well, crush the ears. So I have those sick-green Sennheiser workout buds when I don't feel like making too many heads turn.
Well, let's start. How do you define "portable", and what portable rig do you have now. Will probably go to Chicago this May (or is it June? July? Certainly before August), and probably won't feel like having the whole walkin'-down-the-street-with-that-yellow-bag-and-a-pair-of-tires-on-head thing.

PS: Please don't ask about the emoticons.

 

[logwed]

Could you please take the 'emoticons' out? They make it difficult to read your post.

Eh, I'm using a Touch 2G-->PA2V2-->Portapros at the moment, but soon I'll be making Mini^3s with some friends. It's portable enough, and here in chilly Wisconsin, I'm rarely outside without my coat to stick it in (big pockets). I mostly use it while hiking or shoveling, because I don't really feel that safe driving with headphones in. For running I use a Nano 4G into my Portapros.

You could always wear the Simpsons bag ironically...

 

[Head_case]

I love those emoticons!

Are they portable - can you take them around the forum with you and spread like bunny rabbits?

1x minidisc player + Fiio5 + Sennheiser HD25 MkIIs are portable for me. I tend to pack like an elephant, so I can't carry much more.

Otherwise, everything is portable if you're into burglary

 

[headfever]

My current most "portable rig" is AMP3. Which combined with a built in amp and DAP, sized with 74mm X 40mm X 20mm, wight 100G. it can be easy placed in the pocket of T-shirt and any clothings.

Also, I like the stock hifi earbuds of PAA-1, it is very portable and have almost no "cable－rubed" noise as the IEMs.

All in one design concept seem to be the only solution for convenience portable audios. Teclast, Head-direct and Hisoundaudio are attempting to provide such products. Up to today, AMP3 is the smallest portable player among the all-in-one players.

 

[qusp]

I love them to, please DONT take them out and I would love to see more around here. I particularly like the 'head turning' one

this above is about an average size rig for me, I use a bag I got with a portable 2TB hardrive to carry it in summer and often in my coat pocket in winter. I sometimes use my woody denons or HD600 with this as well; I get some looks, but who cares

 

[3602]

qusp, that's a something, something, something, JH13 Pro?
EDIT: Alright, the third Something looks like a Lisa III. The second Something looks like a... Tomahawk?

 

[Covenant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qusp /img/forum/go_quote.gif I get some looks, but who cares

*looks*

Say, is that an amp in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

 

[qusp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3602 /img/forum/go_quote.gif qusp, that's a something, something, something, JH13 Pro? EDIT: Alright, the third Something looks like a Lisa III. The second Something looks like a... Tomahawk?

nope, sorry havent updated my sig, yeah I have a lisa III, but thats not it, the lisa is bigger than that.

this rig is iHP132CF (iriver)->optical->modded D10 (as dac only)->iBasso FiQuest->DIY stranded silver cable->JH13

hey Covenant lol, yeah you got it

 

[younglee200]

not gonna lie those emoticons are pretty awesome

portable for me is something i'm willing to carry around. overtime, it went from something almost as big as what qusp's carrying around now to a simple DAP => IEM combo.

 

[Kirosia]

Portable is something that doesn't require the use of fingers.

 

[3602]

Well... if a car battery can power a full-size tuber, or an electrostaty amp, I guess I can walk with that...
Sound quality

Portability

EDIT: If many car batteries can power a full-size tuber, or an electrostaty amp, I can put the whole rig on a stroller and dress it up like a baby...

 

[qusp]

i'm still yet to hear a DAP that even comes close or I would reduce the size. plus i'll admit I LOOOVE tweaking stuff and being able to tune to taste (even day by day with mood); something that just isnt possible with a simple dap. only thing that might win out is a little known project, the XMOD, which takes a cowon X5L (already purchased) and adds a daughterboard with 2 x PCM1794A in parallel (higher Ti chip than the hifimans dac) replace HD with CF card for room for more battery cells and adds a new output stage with BUF634 and whatever Opamp you like since there is +/-9V (18V) to play with. all in the size of the X5L, which aint large; but these are very illusive and by the time I had got the cowon the boards had sold out so i'm waiting for the next run.
in the meantime i'm playing with my own ideas..... balanced has its appeal

 

[3602]

qusp: Wow. And I couldn't even do a ZVMod right.

 

[qusp]

yeah it will have its rewards, not an easy mod but doable
^6 wow that just looks lame now and that is one of my favorite emoticons from here

nice move telling people NOT to ask about the emoticons...smooth

hehe gotta love human nature/behavior/psychology

 

[notmuchcash]

My definition of portable kinda varies. I picked up some PortaPros last week because I don't like carrying my DT770+amp+ipod nano to school and work. School because I won't leave them in my locker(last thing I need is a bag worth $500 to get ripped off). and I don't like them at work because the pads start to smell like stale popcorn after a few shifts.

I HATE IEMs, so portapros were pretty much my best option.

I was shocked at the SQ of the things though! I can't believe I never picked these up earlier.

Will be carrying iPod nano+portapros+XM4 amp if it will fit in the bag koss provided