[mr. mwandishi]

I currently own a pair of Grado RS-1i headphones, looking for an affordable and reliable portable amp. I'm currently looking into the Headroom Total BitHead Amp. Any other recommendations?

 

[.coco]

what is your source?

 

[mr. mwandishi]

iPod classic, and occasionally my laptop.

 

[ABathingApe]

what's your budget?

For the price of the headroom amp I'd probably want to get a Meier Audio CORDA Headsix, or an iBasso D2+. Granted you have to pay for shipping from iBasso, and Meier has shipping included. The D2+ gives you the flexibility to also have a USB DAC, and the green color looks REALLY cool

 

[mr. mwandishi]

My budget is under $200

 

[TopPop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABathingApe /img/forum/go_quote.gif what's your budget? For the price of the headroom amp I'd probably want to get a Meier Audio CORDA Headsix, or an iBasso D2+. Granted you have to pay for shipping from iBasso, and Meier has shipping included. The D2+ gives you the flexibility to also have a USB DAC, and the green color looks REALLY cool

This. http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f42/me...eadsix-438404/

 

[oldskoolboarder]

I've always liked the Leckerton Audio UHA3 and it's <$200 new.

You can always check audigon.com for gear as well. I've seen some ASL headphone tube amps for less than $200 in the last few weeks.

 

[TopPop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldskoolboarder /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've always liked the Leckerton Audio UHA3 and it's <$200 new. You can always check audigon.com for gear as well. I've seen some ASL headphone tube amps for less than $200 in the last few weeks.

Ooo, that's another good amp, too. It should work well with Grado, since it was a good match with the Alessandro MS-1 that I used to own.

 

[Booda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. mwandishi /img/forum/go_quote.gif I currently own a pair of Grado RS-1i headphones, looking for an affordable and reliable portable amp. I'm currently looking into the Headroom Total BitHead Amp. Any other recommendations?

HI, here is a post that said AMP3 works well with a lot of earphones including GRado RS-80.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/am...8/index51.html.

AMP3 is alos a affortdable amp which price is only USD 149. Plus, you can get many bonus: superior AMP + Decent DAP+ hifi earphone+100 hours battery.

I would like to cite one post for your reference:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/am...8/index50.html

The closest I can come to matching the SQ of the AMP3 with the PAA-1 phones is my iRiver H132 line-out to my iBasso D10 with AD8616 opamp in LR and bypassed buffers. Phones are Yuin G1As. The AMP3 still has an elusive quality that I have been unable to duplicate in my other amps.

IMO, the SQ of the AMP3 ranks among the very best available portable DAPs and exceeds that of many non-portable setups costing many hundreds of dollars more.

 

[headfever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. mwandishi /img/forum/go_quote.gif I currently own a pair of Grado RS-1i headphones, looking for an affordable and reliable portable amp. I'm currently looking into the Headroom Total BitHead Amp. Any other recommendations?

AMP3 Is one of the candidate. The recommend reason is it is reported very good for pairing many phones.

Here is a cite of the comments:

I do think the AMP3 sounded better than other amps I listened to at Can Jam including RSA stuff and the E+, but from memory, not A/B.

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. mwandishi /img/forum/go_quote.gif iPod classic, and occasionally my laptop.

Because of your occasional use of a laptop I would suggest you consider an unit w/ a built in USB DAC. To that effect and in no particular order:

- Leckerton Audio UHA3
- Used Corda 3Move
- iBasso D2+

Cheers.

 

[mr. mwandishi]

ok, just to recap:

• Source: ipod & laptop
• portable
• Price Range: >200
• built in USB DAC

I'm currently debating between the Leckerton Audio UHA-3 and the iBasso D2+Boa, they seem to be the best candidates. Any more recommendations? I need help deciding between these two amps. Price is an issue, and I would like to make a worthy investment.

 

[oldskoolboarder]

Those 2 are good options, maybe the NuForce as well?

Though I would think you wouldn't want anything too cheap, you'd be doing those RS1i's a disservice IMHO.

BTW, make sure to review this thread:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f105/u...ce-xm5-306883/