Can a portabl amp really push cans?

[HK_sends]

Quote:

Originally Posted by synaesthetic /img/forum/go_quote.gif 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.

I don't think that is the real issue. The real issue is "can't we all just get along?"

Does it really matter the choice a person makes between portable or plug-in?
It's not going to change what I choose to spend my money on. We can only offer our opinions and make the best decisions we can about what we want. Telling others whether we made a good decision or a bad one is our prerogative.

What I find reprehensible are the people that tell me that what I choose is wrong because that isn't what they chose.

-HK sends

 

[Headphile808]

I think this one is a real no-brainer. Lets see, do I go w/the opinions of Skylab/Germania/jamato8/mrarroyo/Lil' Knight/SierraHotel01/HK sends. Or should I listen to ZephyrSapphire/synaesthetic hmmm..tough call.. LOL. I've already made my choice (see sig).
Good Luck & Happy New Year

Headphile808

 

[HK_sends]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headphile808 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think this one is a real no-brainer. Lets see, do I go w/the opinions of Skylab/Germania/jamato8/mrarroyo/Lil' Knight/SierraHotel01/HK sends. Or should I listen to ZephyrSapphire/synaesthetic hmmm..tough call.. LOL. I've already made my choice (see sig). Good Luck & Happy New Year Headphile808

I'm not sure you should put me on the list of the opinions...I'm just a newbie who likes to listen to music.

-HK sends

 

[csroc]

I agree portable amps have their place, my Practical Devices XM5 is great for travel and honestly does a good job with my HD650s and (although unneeded) performs well with my AD900s and my IEMs. I use it largely connected to my laptop for it's DAC + amp features. For portable/on the go I just plug my IEMs (or rarely my PX200s) right in to the device and carry on enjoying the tunes.

I take issue with companies like RSA and others who feel the need to hide details about their products from plain view. I am not one who is fooled by mysticism and the various audio myths, I would much rather know what's inside the amp than read some flowery paragraph describing vague notions of how it sounds to a particular listener with their taste in music and their headphones.

For that reason (primarily) I will always gravitate towards a company who won't hide the inner bits of their products. Practical Devices for one, Audio-GD (I'm watching their Compass development for a new home/desktop amp for myself), Meier and plenty of others are more upfront about what's in their amps and I appreciate that.

 

[Headphile808]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HK_sends /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not sure you should put me on the list of the opinions...I'm just a newbie who likes to listen to music. -HK sends

Same here HK sends. Isn't that what we're here for, to learn & to share our passion for music. In the never-ending search to getting as close to audio-nirvana that our wallets will allow.
Good Luck & Happy New Year
Aloha

Headphile808

 

[HK_sends]

Quote:

Originally Posted by csroc /img/forum/go_quote.gif I agree portable amps have their place, my Practical Devices XM5 is great for travel and honestly does a good job with my HD650s and (although unneeded) performs well with my AD900s and my IEMs. I use it largely connected to my laptop for it's DAC + amp features. For portable/on the go I just plug my IEMs (or rarely my PX200s) right in to the device and carry on enjoying the tunes. I take issue with companies like RSA and others who feel the need to hide details about their products from plain view. I am not one who is fooled by mysticism and the various audio myths, I would much rather know what's inside the amp than read some flowery paragraph describing vague notions of how it sounds to a particular listener with their taste in music and their headphones.

I understand how you feel. I have opened my PD XM-4 amps so many times I wonder what's holding them together. I have enjoyed amp rolling them and playing with the gain jumpers to get what I want out of them.

But, on the other side of the coin, do you field strip every player, amp or set of cans that you buy? If the specs said that the "X" op-amp provides 2 more dB of signal-to-noise ratio than "Y" op-amp, would that necessarily make "X" the better choice? I think it all comes down to implementation. I really can't describe implementation in anything but subjective terms. If that propagates or negates an audio myth then it is beyond me.

Being a history buff (and having lived through it), I can give you almost every technical detail of the operation of the Apollo Saturn V booster. But the only ones that can convey what it was like to ride it are the astronauts. And believe me (or not...research for yourself), their description is in no way analytical or technical.

Sometimes it is hard to convey our opinions of how something sounds or works, subjectivity is all we have.

This is by no means an effort to belittle your opinion or methodology. It is simply an effort to offer the other side of the coin, IMHO. I don't need a spec sheet on the Mustang amp to know it works well for me.

Respectfully,
-HK sends

 

[csroc]

I am certainly not saying that things without a spec sheet are bad, however in my opinion and experience you'll often find that manufacturers who choose to do that aren't giving you good value for money. Performance of something that is up to the user to determine quality due to its subjective nature is another matter, and I'm not going to tell anyone they're wrong for liking a certain headphone or other device. I'm also not equating value with subjective performance or preference, we all have different ears and tastes and criteria for choosing gear.

And no, I don't disassemble everything (although it is fun to do so, I generally find taking headphones apart and putting them back together more trouble than it's worth but certainly interesting) but I do want to know what's going on if I'm spending my money on something. In amps and dacs you can spend umpteen dollars getting the next component up that measures slightly better in a certain quantity, but does that have any real effect audibly? It depends on the part and how it's implemented as you've said.

My point of view on things also varies wildly from many members here. I have good hearing, have played some instruments and been quite in to it for a while, and have a science/engineering background. I have had the opportunity to enjoy various high end systems with zealous shop owners or personal owners who will happily switch out ludicrously expensive cables or show off other wares which are supposed to improve the sound. My personal knowledge of issues involving audibility concerning differences in amps and dacs, wires and other componentry leads me to believe different things from the majority of people here (but I do find many comments entertaining at the least).

Of course, as I believe is often mentioned on this forum, one cannot argue against the fact that there is a subjective component to listening that is driven by beliefs and expectations. Placebo effect as many call it. This is very real and there's nothing wrong with it, I think everyone should do what they feel comfortable with and own things they enjoy, and it certainly keeps various companies very happy too but there is a big difference between that in many cases and the physical and measurable realities of sound reproduction. The sound science (pun intended) behind the scenes needs to keep on going for technology to continue to improve in directions guided by reason and logic, not the fuzzywuzzies

 

[HK_sends]

I see and understand your point.

I do have to say though, that I am happy with my fuzzy placebo!

Cheers and have a Good New Year!

-HK sends

 

[synaesthetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HK_sends /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't think that is the real issue. The real issue is "can't we all just get along?" Does it really matter the choice a person makes between portable or plug-in? It's not going to change what I choose to spend my money on. We can only offer our opinions and make the best decisions we can about what we want. Telling others whether we made a good decision or a bad one is our prerogative. What I find reprehensible are the people that tell me that what I choose is wrong because that isn't what they chose. -HK sends

The real issue is that people new to the audiophile world become confused and are led to believe that a portable amp is an equal substitute for a mains-powered home amp.

I don't care what you spend your money on, but I do not particularly like when people who are new to the hobby and perhaps naive, be taken for a ride and waste hundreds of dollars on portable stuff that they could have just spent on a nice home amp.

It's not about, "I don't like what you chose because it's not what I chose." I just believe that new users to the site should not have to waste money on every FOTM that comes up. They should at least be told truthfully what a portable amp can and can't do.

 

[Uncle Erik]

HK Sends, if you haven't attended a meet, you really should. Give a listen to the mains-powered amps without having to buy one and let your ears choose. The portables I've owned and have listened to were disappointing. Many others who have made the comparison feel the same way. Further, many portables cost more than a mains-powered amp today, yet offer less performance. What's the point?

 

[HK_sends]

But where's the fun in exploring possibilities?

And I'm sorry that I just can't agree that it's a home amp or nothing issue. I am happy with what I've chosen and I will let people know if the ask.

I don't believe that the newness of the individual to the hobby equates to naivete. Also, there are people who enjoy following the FOTM (I'm partial to Pralines n' Cream myself

)

And...just what can/can't a portable amp do? Does it amplify the music in a way that I find pleasurable? Do I enjoy trying different settings/amps/sounds?
Am I having fun or just enjoying my listening experience? Can I take it with me when I have to go on three week trips (or God forbid, deploy)?

Bottom line: Am I Happy with my Choice?

Blissfully ignorant,
-HK sends

 

[csroc]

I agree with you Uncle Erik, it is important that people know the advantages and disadvantages to each approach. A home unit might offer more bang for the buck but you certainly lose the ability to travel with it in many cases. Each user has to decide for themselves which is best, and for some they may want to have both. It does seem a lot of folks run in and buy some flashy and compact portable unit instead of a home unit when all they really need is a home unit. I personally would want both. Horses for courses, use the right tool for the job as they say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HK_sends /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do have to say though, that I am happy with my fuzzy placebo!

That's all that matters!

Cheers to you and happy New Years to you as well.

I like that smiley btw, looks like one of my headphones

 

[HK_sends]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif HK Sends, if you haven't attended a meet, you really should. Give a listen to the mains-powered amps without having to buy one and let your ears choose. The portables I've owned and have listened to were disappointing. Many others who have made the comparison feel the same way. Further, many portables cost more than a mains-powered amp today, yet offer less performance. What's the point?

Uncle Erik,

First, will you include me in your will?

Seriously, I would love to attend a meet. I am not trying to belittle the mains-powered amp. Now that I am sort of established in one spot, I am hoping to focus on a more home style setup. I do have a Little Dot MK IV SE amp that I use and I think it is great although I know there are better alternatives out there. But my main focus was on portability due to the fact that I was moving around so much. I guess that since this was the portable amp section of the forums, I would share my opinions in that respect. I really don't think there is a wrong choice in what aspect of the hobby to get into. Given a choice, my optimum setup would be a high-quality sound source driving a good amp powering top-notch headphones...I would never get out of my recliner except to change the CD selection and go to the bathroom. But that would be when I reach for the portable (or a 50ft headphone extender cable).

You will see me soon enough in the full size headphone amp forum. But for now, I am very Happy with my Mustang.

Cheers,
-HK sends

P.S. If y'all have any meets in the vicinity of central coast California (or within a decent drive), please let me know, because I really would like to attend.

 

[HK_sends]

Please don't take my comments as flaming. I never intended to offend, just offer up my view of the coin.

Respectfully to all,
-HK sends

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

The thing about specs and technical data is. You can tell whether or not it would be powerful enough to power certain things just by reading. Now on to the P-51's case. If it isn't as powerful as a Lisa III, it's clearly impossible it can power the K701's. Even the Lisa III does not power the K701's well. Heck. If the P-51 isn't as powerful as the Pico, it's doomed to sound terrible with the K701's. When someone asked whether portables can REALLY push amps? You have to take into account that the OP is asking whether these small portable amps can do as well as good (I repeat, good, not decent) home amps which power the headphones he listed.


The problem here is, when you've heard better things, you just can't go back. No I've not heard the P-51, but I can't be bothered with an amp when it's only form of description is a review and "Oh, it can power the Sony R10's decently. It should be good".