Battery Powered Amp With Non-Portable Source?

[Agent69]

I have been looking through the forums, trying to learn about amps, and I have noticed several people remarking on how battery powered amps can be quieter than externally powered amps. If this is true, are there people who choose to use battery powered amps with non-portable sources?

Also, why would a battery powered be quieter? Electrical interference?


Thanks in advance.

 

[kugino]

welcome to head-fi...sorry about your wallet.

yes, the AC/DC power adds more interference, which needs to be managed someway. some amps manage it better than others, but battery-powered amps don't have this problem

i actually have three battery-powered amps, two of which are primarily used with home sources (the grado ra1 and the pocket reference). i didn't plan it this way...it just happened to be what amps i was most interested in...

 

[Agent69]

kugino,

Thanks for your response. I figured that there must be people who do this. I am considering it mainly because I want the possibility of portability, even if I don't end up ever using it that way.

BTW, how do you like the RA-1? I have been thinking about getting one, although the SR-71 is not too much more expensive.

 

[LTUCCI1924]

HI: I use a batt. amp the super mini V6.2D with an adapter RCA to 1/8 plug in my minidisc deck home rig. The 3 AAA last forever it seems.
http://www.radioshack.com/images/Pro...74/274-883.jpg

 

[kugino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent69 kugino, Thanks for your response. I figured that there must be people who do this. I am considering it mainly because I want the possibility of portability, even if I don't end up ever using it that way. BTW, how do you like the RA-1? I have been thinking about getting one, although the SR-71 is not too much more expensive.

i really like the ra1...it mates really well with other grados and it's my amp of choice with the rs1 headphones. the sr-71, imo, is much better and a more all-around amp. i've only used it with grados and etys, but others have said it drives sennheisers well, too...if you had to choose between the two, i would go with the sr-71. the ra1 does its job well, but people will tell you it's actually a very simple and cheap amp. you don't get that feeling with the sr-71. and unlike the ra1, it is truly portable.

 

[greenhorn]

If you want to go the "Grado" way, get the RA1.

 

[Agent69]

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenhorn If you want to go the "Grado" way, get the RA1.

That is what I am leaning towards, although the SR-71 is damn cool.

By the way, does anyone know what kind of warranty there is on Grado equipment? I couldn't seem to locate it on their website and I don't want to get stung by one of those "you need to buy it from an authorized dealer" things.

 

[kugino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent69 That is what I am leaning towards, although the SR-71 is damn cool. By the way, does anyone know what kind of warranty there is on Grado equipment? I couldn't seem to locate it on their website and I don't want to get stung by one of those "you need to buy it from an authorized dealer" things.

another idea might be to get an ra1-clone, which is fairly cheap and easy to make...and then you can also get an sr-71...

 

[Agent69]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kugino another idea might be to get an ra1-clone, which is fairly cheap and easy to make...and then you can also get an sr-71...

Building my own would be interesting but I have never worked on anything with a soldering iron before. Of course, it would be interesting, in that I can have whatever I want for a case.

Is there a good site with instructions?

 

[kugino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent69 Building my own would be interesting but I have never worked on anything with a soldering iron before. Of course, it would be interesting, in that I can have whatever I want for a case. Is there a good site with instructions?

check the DIY forum on this site...you can make your own, but there are people who will make one for you, too...much easier, imo.

 

[Dan the audioman]

You cant go wrong with the SR-71. I use it with my RS-1's as a home amp and then i use it with my etys as a portable amp. Its 2 amps in one.

Best Regards,
Dan