[KingOfTheWild]

Hello, I would like to know how the "crossfeed" feature that's on some amps performs. Is it just marketing B.S. or does it actually produce a noticeable difference? If the crossfeed feature is legit then does anyone have recommendations for slim portable amps that have this feature? Oh yeah it would be for an iPod so a portable usb dac amp won't work.

 

[KingOfTheWild]

Never mind everybody I have decided that I wouldn't really need an amp with this feature.

 

[Mutnat]

I asked an audio-snob buddy of mine about this and here's his reply:
 
 
Quote:

"If" it's done right, it's a wonderful feature. Problem is very, very few amps have it done correctly. The Phonitor is really the only amp that I know of that has such an amazing crossfeed implementation built in.

 
PS he owns a Phonitor.  It's a $2,200 desktop amp that's very well respected, and known largely for its excellent crossfeed feature. 
 

 

[Yoga Flame]

Crossfeed does make a difference. It is most noticeable with tracks where instruments on the left and right channels are completely separate. (I.e. you cannot hear any trace of the left channel on the right side and vice versa.) This is fine on speakers. But with headphones this can be disorienting. Crossfeed lets a little bit of each channel bleed into the other with the goal of making things sound more natural.
 
The results will depend on the particular implementation. There are both hardware (amps, or dedicated crossfeed boxes) and software (audio players like Foobar) versions of crossfeed available.
 

 

[KingOfTheWild]

Thanks for the responses guys but I have decided that I'm not interested in such a feature as crossfeed anymore.