Considering buying a cheap portable amp, have a quick question

[Zeratul]

I currently have a Zen Micro and a pair of PortaPros (I'm also considering buying a pair of low-end Grados and EX-51's). I know, it's nothing amazing, but I still have an appreciation for good sound. Since I can buy a CMOY or something for under $50, would it be worth the money considering that the Micro doesn't have a line out, I don't listen to music at ear-splitting volumes (no need for sound to go louder, I just want to improve the sound quality) and I don't have headphones that NEED amplification?

 

[Zeratul]

Anyone?

 

[Zemo]

The better your equiptment, the more room for improvement in other areas of your rig! No longer will the power be the weak point in your system, which opens up the world of upgrading your headphones and source quite a bit! I say go for it.

 

[atx]

I say forget it. Amping a porta pro gives minimal improvement and you lose a lot of the portability. If you like a new toy to play around with, then sure.

 

[aseltzer144]

While your money may be better spent on upgraded headphones, in general I do recommend a portable amp. If you have an appreciation for good sound then I believe you would appreciate the difference that even a cmoy type amp can yield. The benefits of an amp are greater with line out sources, but even without that I find that there remains some benefit to an amp. I have an iPod Shuffle which also has no line out capability and also has a fairly clean and loud output section. Amping the Shuffle does improve the low and high end extension, although the improvement is more subtle than on sources that do have a line out. Ideally, you would want a good set of headphones as well to appreciate the virtues of a portable amp.

 

[boodi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by atx I say forget it. Amping a porta pro gives minimal improvement and you lose a lot of the portability. If you like a new toy to play around with, then sure.

hey , very strict and straightforward ..
I second him