[88Chris]

i recently got a pair of HD580's as a present , and my PA2V2 just doesn't do anything for them. i would consider a home amp, but i really don't have too much space left in my room. plus i like to travel with my music. so what would be a good amp for me?

 

[88Chris]

forgot to add that my budget is $300. possibly a little more.

 

[MaloS]

porta corda or hornet.

 

[Nicker]

I enjoy using the headphone.com total bit head, its kinda-cheap, a DAC, and amp in one.

 

[silverrain]

My HeadRoom Micro amp, and Total Airhead amp, both drive my HD580 just fine, with good SQ.

 

[SonicArmada]

I have not personally heard it, but maybe the Ray Samuels Audio Hornet?

 

[88Chris]

yeah, i was leaning towards a hornet, but wanted to know if there's anything else around with equal performance. i think i'll just wait for a hornet.

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88Chris /img/forum/go_quote.gif yeah, i was leaning towards a hornet, but wanted to know if there's anything else around with equal performance. i think i'll just wait for a hornet.

Rumor has it that the Hornet was designed with the HD 600 in mind, so I would think that it wouldn't disappoint with the HD 580. I certainly wouldn't buy any less powerful amp than the Hornet to drive those headphones, probably not even a Tomahawk, although I'm sure there are many here who would attest that the Tomahawk drives even high-impedence headphones just fine.

 

[88Chris]

is the tomahawk rechargable?

 

[swduncan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverrain /img/forum/go_quote.gif My HeadRoom Micro amp, and Total Airhead amp, both drive my HD580 just fine, with good SQ.

Would you share your opinion on the relative quality of these two amps? I'm shopping for an upgrade, and with the current Airhead on sale for $100, I'd like to know what I'd be missing with a more expensive amp.

Phones will be Ety ER4S.

Thanks!

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88Chris /img/forum/go_quote.gif is the tomahawk rechargable?

No. It does not recharge, you will need a separate charger. The whole challenge of the Tomahawk is taking away everything you do not need to have when it is in your pocket.

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by swduncan /img/forum/go_quote.gif Would you share your opinion on the relative quality of these two amps? I'm shopping for an upgrade, and with the current Airhead on sale for $100, I'd like to know what I'd be missing with a more expensive amp. Phones will be Ety ER4S. Thanks!

The Micro Amp is probably not something you want to haul around with you to power your IEMs. The Airhead ought to be quite nice for the ER-4S, especially at the sale price. I'm thinking of getting one (never thought I'd want a second amp) because I have my ER-4S in the mail right now and can't bear the thought of stuffing my expensive Hornet in my pocket.

I'm sure there are many members here who have used the HeadRoom mobile amps with the Etymotic ER-RS, and hopefully someone with direct experience will comment on how they work together.

 

[swduncan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaska /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Micro Amp is probably not something you want to haul around with you to power your IEMs.

Actually, I'd just keep it in my purs...er...manbag. I contacted HR to see what improvement a new Airhead would have over my 8-year old model, and they said improved clarity and resolution, with perhaps a smidge of bass.

I'd rather spend more and get a _lot_ more, if a lot more is to be had.

I used my ER4's when I'm sitting usually (those cords are way to noisy for any kind of movement), and a largish amp is not necessarily a problem. Small is good, but...

For running or any kind of activity I use my PX100's & no amp.

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by swduncan /img/forum/go_quote.gif Actually, I'd just keep it in my purs...er...manbag. I contacted HR to see what improvement a new Airhead would have over my 8-year old model, and they said improved clarity and resolution, with perhaps a smidge of bass. I'd rather spend more and get a _lot_ more, if a lot more is to be had.

Well, if the toss-up is between the Airhead and the Micro Amp, and you already have an older Airhead, I would seriously consider other amps altogether. I almost bought a Micro Amp w/Desktop Module, but to tell you the truth the main thing that swayed me away from it is the lack of a recharging circuit. There's simply no way I would want to fish out two 9V batteries every night and charge them in a separate charger, then get up extra early in the morning so I could stuff the charged batteries back in the amp and refasten the back plate before going to work.

I personally would think of a Hornet, Tomahawk, Headphonia or the like. All of these should sound substantially better than an Airhead, and be far more practical than the Micro Amp.

 

[swduncan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaska /img/forum/go_quote.gif I personally would think of a Hornet, Tomahawk, Headphonia or the like. All of these should sound substantially better than an Airhead, and be far more practical than the Micro Amp.

Tomahawk is tempting, Hornet is unavailable until July (so I read here somewhere), Headphonia and others are tempting. I'm not really heading for the micro expect to possibly pair it with the micro DAC, which is a bit of a long shot.

So far, I'm leaning toward the Tomahawk, mostly because of size, fit & finish, and popularity here. I plan to go down and try one out soon (it's an hour's drive south) when I have the money to spend.