A good portable amp + headphone combination, for an iPod use.

[Camomille]

Hello there,
 
I prefer to warn you, i'm probably going to sound like a big neophyte fool, but I need "experts" advices.
In exactly a month are Christmas Holidays, the perfect time for self-indulgence. For this occasion, I intend to buy a portable amp/heaphones combination for a nomad utilisation on my iPod classic 160. The issue is, I don't know anything about portable amps.
I heard that it'd be a complete shame to get great headphones (such as the Sennheiser HD650, that I'm actually going to get if I find an amp solution) to use them through the classic and crappy iPod plug (bad quality "amp"). So now, I consider buying a portable amp to get the best of it.
 
1. What do you think about getting a portable amp with the HD650? Is it a waste of money?
2. Otherwise, which portable amp should I get in combination with those headphones? I'd like something not too cumbersome, I don't want to carry around ten pounds of hardware .
3. Any other good combination regarding my use (that is to say nomad) is welcome! For information, I want my headphones to be over-hear, to have nice bass and trebles, and lower, deaden mid-frequencies (the best EQ according to me).
 
Thanks a lot!
 
Camomille

 

[darkangel9685]

a lot of members here seem to enjoy Ray Samuels Audio brand amps for their HD650 (anyone feel free to correct me)
 
http://www.raysamuelsaudio.com/products/hornet
 
Personally I wouldn't use those cans for portable use. Consider, perhaps, a good pair of IEMs perhaps? I'd recommend the setup in my signature
 
Dont forget! If you do plan to use an amp to drive your cans, invest in a good LOD!! Going from the headphone jack to the amp with get sud-par resultsm if any

 

[Camomille]

hey darkangel
 
I'm not really looking for in-ears stuff, but more a over-ear fat headphones to be completely isolated! I currently have the Sennheiser HD380 Pro (see here)
What wouldn't you use those "cans" (i assume this means "headphones"?!) for portable use? Too heavy? Waste of money for the low results i'll get anyway?
And how much should I invest for a good amp then?

 

[darkangel9685]

yes cans = headphones. A lot of people around here use that term

 
 
i wouldnt reccomend the HD650's for portable use, to me they have always been a more "home use" kind of pair of headphones. Kinda takes the portable out of the equation, but whatever suits you is always what is best IMHO
 
for a good amp, invest maybe ~$250 - $300
 
I cannot stress this enough.....if you plan to use an amp with the HD650's make sure you GET A LINE OUT DOCK (aka one of these things) to go from your amp to your ipod
 
personally, if you decide to go the full-size route (nothing wrong with that BTW), look into a pair of AKG headphones, possibly the k501. they have a great, neutral sound, which is what you seem to be looking for

 

[Camomille]

what is "to go the full-size route"? Sorry i'm french sometimes i don't get everything!
And i'm pretty much looking for something more bassy than neutral (since I cannot change EQ on my iPod...shame)

 

[matthewh133]

I'm doing something similar, and atm I will probably use my RSA Predator with some Ultrasone PRO 900s for portable use. Sounds like something like the RSA Shadow and PRO 900s could be down your alley.

 

[darkangel9685]

 
Quote:

what is "to go the full-size route"? Sorry I'm french sometimes i don't get everything!
And I'm pretty much looking for something more bassy than neutral (since I cannot change EQ on my iPod...shame)

sorry! keep forgetting
 
basically, headphones comes in a few "sizes" if you will.
 
Full Size(or circum-aural) completely cover your ear (hd650)
some sit on top of your ears (supra-aural)
earbuds rest directly outside your ear canal (crappy buds that come with your ipod)
IEMs (in-ear monitors) go into your ear canal
 
 
something more bassy?
Grados! Great, full mids tempered by clear highs and a smooth bottom (usually).
 
Great thing with grado is that you usually dont need an amp to "drive" them, unlike the hd650.
"Driving", in most basic terms, is plugging your headphones into a source. The more power that source provides, the better (subjectively) your headphones will sound. HD650s require more power to drive to produce a certain decibell value than grados do. I'm skipping over a lot, but thats the basic idea....you kinda get it? It's the reason why some headphones need an amp(hd650, k501) and others (ipod buds, grados, most IEMS) do not

 

[Camomille]

Basically, I think I'll just stick with my first project: To get "portable amp" + "HD650" (since they seem to have honorable basses)? But I still need advices about the "portable amp", in the end!
Which one should i get? The RSA Predato maybe? Something better maybe?
 
Thanks a lot!

 

[vvanrij]

Imo RSA is overpriced (and not just a little). I like the Meier amps. 

 

[Camomille]

Yeah, I noticed how expensive were the RSA series too. But i'm ready to put the price if it's the hardware that's going to run properly the HD650. Are Meier amps reliable and trusted? Maybe another suggestions for port amp?
Thanks a lot for your help, that's such a relief!

 

[Camomille]

So, any suggestion for a portable amplification?

 

[Camomille]

I went to a store in Paris today, they showed my that:
 
http://www.unplggd.com/uimages/unplggd/051908_pt_Grado_Amp.jpg
 
GRADO RA1!
 
Ok, I believe the finishing and sound are really nice, but i'm more looking for something more portable (this is actually huge for a portable amp), something i can combine with my iPod.

 

[SoSpecial]

HD650 for a protable? Are you as crazy as that guy who bought K701's for use on long train rides?

 

[realaqu]

 
Then it is a shame for the combo I m using now, iphone+fiio ipod lineout cable+ibasso pb1+ibasso balanced cable+hd650, and feel pretty good
sometimes just use iphone+b&w p5

 

[soundeffect]

Quote:

HD650 for a protable? Are you as crazy as that guy who bought K701's for use on long train rides?

 
Haha I like this response, I agree full large size headphone for portable use is crazy.  I just can't picture seeing someone on the street with there full size on tapping their foot, maybe I'm out of the loop for fashion.