Can a portabl amp really push cans?

[nickyboyo]

Ray Samuels amps are the ones that can- quite comfortably

 

[darkninja67]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZephyrSapphire /img/forum/go_quote.gif No one really did answer the OP ey? Can it really push cans? No.

Depends on the headphones. A pair of Grado SR225s will be much easier to drive (to high levels) than a pair of Beyerdynamic DT880s right?

People are saying the Mustang drives K701s and HD650s to decent levels so I would venture a guess that easier loads will be pushed. Maybe not like a full desktop set up but to loud levels at the least.

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

There's a difference between pushing headphones to decent levels and pushing headphones to decent efficiency. I'm talking about the latter. Any amp can power headphones to decent levels. Now in regards to those recommending RSA amps, I do not support RSA due to personal reasons as well as technical reasons. I am not biased to any manufacturer but I have a strong dislike over products which er.. How do I put it. Have things hidden to the world.

That said, I recommend to the OP to spend your money on either a home amp or Lisa III since the headphones you listed won't REALLY benefit from teeny weeny portable amps since you're asking whether they can REALLY push cans.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I don't know if the OP has seen this thread in the High-End Forum, but it is worth reading.

Most of the people posting in that thread just run IEMs from a DAP. I run the Shure e3c right from an iPod and am happy with that. I didn't find any improvement with a portable, and neither did the portable drive my full-sized headphones very well.

I don't see a reason why I should buy a portable. Quite a few disagree with me, but I'm happy with my setup. I have given some thought to buying a compact desktop I can tuck into a suitcase, like the EC/SS. That way, I could use the Sennheisers or AKGs in a hotel room.

 

[panda]

they can't really push full fones to their potential, not even close. a maxed out ppa with multiple batteries like 4 9V could but at that point it might as well be a desktop amp.

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZephyrSapphire /img/forum/go_quote.gif No one really did answer the OP ey? Can it really push cans? No. Can it nudge them to acceptable levels? Some can. Some cannot.

You all talk what were talked before your post.

I don't know exactly what "technical problems" with your amps are. Is that your own amp or you heard/read from someone else and then follow that? What you said in your last post were all aiming to one manufacturer. You talked like you know A LOT. Is it the right way to begin to bash one product just because you don't like it? I've heard many amps which are not up to their expectations,but I never went around posting something indirectly like that. Are you sure you are biased to any manufacturer?

If you feel you don't like one product, then just sell it and have a peace in your mind. That'd be an experience for your own listening.

I'm never a fanboy of any manufacturer. As long as their products satisfy my listenning, it's fine. That's why I'm still looking for the Pico, and if it sounds good, I'd be happy to have 2 different amps from 2 different manufacturers.

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

^But it's fun. Like how people bash Bose (with proper reasoning) in this forum.

 

[panda]

i'm with zephyr on this one, rsa amps are grossly overrated and sound rather mediocre. the reason xin amps aren't as hyped is because it isn't commercial looking as in the casing is ugly and the price is a lot lower. people are basically lemmings when it comes to these things...

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZephyrSapphire /img/forum/go_quote.gif ^But it's fun. Like how people bash Bose (with proper reasoning) in this forum.

Fair enough.
Then continue your fun and good luck.

 

[nickyboyo]

Awww zeph, you must be mellowing in your old age- i was hoping for a bigger bite

I have to agree, if i did own a full size set of hard to drive cans, i would only be using them at home, and in that case i would be using a quality mains powered amp designed for the task. More than likely a diy job, but definitely mains powered.

Rays amps do have their place, along with all the other portables. And as a side note, Xin's amps are by far and away the best sounding portable amps i have heard, and the "lego"block supermicro has the ultimate sound from such an understated looking piece of kit- it is hard to believe such a big sound can come from such a small plain case (especially the plain black).

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

I'm growing old and growing feisty with the things I own and want to own

I do agree that Ray's products have their own place but I dislike when fanboyism and favouritism comes into play of the reviews or when promoting the products. And that is in general, not just Ray's products. Ergh I hate fanboyism and favouritism. They spoil my day in Head-fi

 

[mrarroyo]

Can a portable amp push an HD650 or an ATH-W5000 effectively and efficiently. YES, there are plenty of portable amps that can do so.

Would I use a can like the HD650 or the W5000 as a portable can? No way, to bulky and awkward. As a transportable yes.

BTW, IMO the amps made by Ray are among the best out there. They are built like tanks, arrive very fast, and Ray has one of the best customer service out there.

 

[synaesthetic]

Your statement reminds me of that fake video on YouTube showing a guy powering a TV with an AAA battery.

Not saying anything bad about RSA's products. He sure makes a nice portable amp, that's for damn sure.

However...

Big, power hungry headphones require lots of voltage, and small amps with low-voltage opamps running on a few volts cannot provide it. Therefore, I take exception with this statement, and I agree with ZephyrSapphire.


Quote:

Originally Posted by ZephyrSapphire /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do agree that Ray's products have their own place but I dislike when fanboyism and favouritism comes into play of the reviews or when promoting the products. And that is in general, not just Ray's products. Ergh I hate fanboyism and favouritism. They spoil my day in Head-fi

I just wish the whole "using a portable amp in lieu of a real mains-powered amp" trend would stop. I thought it was no longer in vogue, but it appears to still exist.

Not to mention the whole "adding expensive and shiny stuff to my portable rig to enlarge my e-peen and not really make it sound better" trend, too.

It's not that I care that much, really. It's your money, spend it how you wish. But it really confuses the new people, makes them think a portable amp can do the job of a mains-powered amp.

 

[badgerbimmer]

As you can see from my signature I am no slouch when it comes to my home system. For a portable system, yes based upon my experience a high quality portable amp can adequately drive a full sized set of cans to excellent sound on the go. Both my Airhead and the P-51 do a fine job of it. However the P-51 sounds better than the Airhead.

 

[HK_sends]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZephyrSapphire /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do agree that Ray's products have their own place but I dislike when fanboyism and favouritism comes into play of the reviews or when promoting the products.

Well, if I may respond, I have never been a fanboy or "Brand Loyal" to any piece of technology. I have owned as many AMD based computers as Intel; as many ATI based video cards as NVidia; as many (actually more) Practical Devices, Little Dot and Penguin amps as RSA; and almost as many large, non-portable, tube-driven amps as portables. The fact is if I find something I like I will hawk it and tell others because that may be the incentive they are looking for.

I am not trying to sway anyone to the "dark side" by merely offering my opinion. The truth is, if I had the money to spend, I would probably have every amp on Skylabs' list and make my own judgments.

You do not know me other than to have read the posts I have made. The truth is, I am probably as old or older than you are. Old enough to see cynicism for what it is. And in response to your first posting about the OP not getting his answer? I answered it in the second post of the thread.
So what if I specified the portable?

@chef8489: The Mustang drives the K702s so well that I find myself turning down the volume on the amp for fear of overdriving the cans (my own paranoia, I admit). It drives them even better than the SR-71A that I have (the only two RSA amps in my posession).

Forgive my rant, but I don't like to be Stereotyped.

-HK sends