Alternative portable amps for Shure E5? Discrete?

[bg4533]

I am currently looking for a portable (small and battery powered) and a transportable (wall powered but still kind of small) amp to use only with my Shure E5s and Ipod Mini. The E5s are incredibly sensitive and amps always seem to add a bit of a hiss. Whatever I build will have a gain of around 1.

I have already built Cmoys, Mints, Pimetas and a PPA, so I know what they can do. I am looking for a worthy amp as well as a fun, new project. The transportable amp will probably be a Gilmore Dynamic built on the subsonic board. I am looking for ideas for the battery powered portable amp. Are there any other interesting, possibly discrete, projects I should look into? I am open to anything as long as it can be battery powered and kept to roughly the size of a Pimeta.

 

[rickcr42]

are you sure you are not just amping the source noise ?

Have you tried to plug in ampless to see if the amp IS the problem ?

 

[__redruM]

I like the mint as the portable and the PPA as the transportable. As long as your using line-out on the ipod, hiss isn't a (big) problem.

The E5 doesn't really *need* an amp like some of the bigger phones do, so if the hiss bothers you, don't use an amp.

 

[bg4533]

I mainly use the E5 ampless. There is always a little bit of noise. I have tried my amps without a source attached and there is a bit of noise there too. The noise isn't bad, I am just picky. It is only noticable between songs and at very quiet points in songs. The only reason I mentioned the noise is because I don't want to build something that will be noiser that what I already have.

 

[bg4533]

Quote:

Originally Posted by __redruM I like the mint as the portable and the PPA as the transportable. As long as your using line-out on the ipod, hiss isn't a (big) problem. The E5 doesn't really *need* an amp like some of the bigger phones do, so if the hiss bothers you, don't use an amp.

I have still been using the headphone out, even with amps. I need to pick up a pocketdock or something, but I haven't been motivated too for some reason.

I agree that the E5 does not need an amp, however I have found that it benefits greatly from one. Straight out of the Ipod the E5 is decent, but a noticably lacking. When I throw the PPA in there I am very impressed.

Half of this search for an amp is just a desire for a fun new project

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edit:
I just ordered a Sik Ram Din. I should have a true line out in a few days.