Rex81
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2009
- Posts
- 305
- Likes
- 15
First let me state that I don't have a ton of headphone and amp experience, but I figure thats ok since a well established audiophile will probably not be interested in these amps in the way that a noob on a budget (like me
) will be.
I compared these amps over a few hours with various types of music, all 256k MP3s from my Creative Zen MP3 player. Headphones used were Senn HD280 Pro, HD565, and Audio Techinca AD700.
First, I love to be portable. So the E5 gets major points for that. Obviously the cMoy isn't huge as its just an altoids tin, but it is 6 times the size of the E5. And I like that the Fiio has the bass boost option. I use it all the time because it does wonders for the AD700s, but if you don't want it, click it off and you have a natural sound. I also like that the E5 is charged by USB. Some people may prefer to have the 9V on the cMoy. Not me.
On the BSG cMoy, I prefer the volume knob as opposed to the rocker on the E5 and I also like that it has a DC input to run it off a wall adapter when you don't need to be portable.
On to sound: I'm going to make this very simple, because I think it is. They sound very much the same. The BSG cMoy may be slightly (and I mean *ever* so slightly) warmer and fuller, but its so slight I had a hard time noticing it even after numerous A/B, and I'm sure its something I wouldn't miss if I only owned the E5. Their sound quality really is almost the exact same, at least across the trio of headphones I tried. There may be greater differences with better headphones, but if you own better headphones, again, you're probably not interested in these amps.
Both obviously added volume which the HD565 really needed. The cMoy goes about 1/3 louder than the E5, but the E5 is capable of powering all my headphones (even the HD565) well past acceptable listening volumes anyway.
The E5, with its bass boost switch, allowed for more and deeper bass, which I really like. I particularly noticed it on tracks like Kanye West - Love Lockdown, where the bass goes way down deep. I'm not a basshead, but everyone knows the AD700s are a tad light on bass, and the E5 balances them beautifully. The bass boost is tight and controlled. It doesn't muffle or take advantage of it in any way. Just gives you slightly more of the good stuff. So don't think it will ruin that great AD700 tightness.
The BioScienceGeek cMoy is a well built and very nice sounding amp. I ordered it new on Ebay for $50 plus $7 for shipping and it was built to my specs, which included a plain Altoids tin, aluminum volume knob, and blue led light. It was custom built and to my door in less than a week with excellent communicatoin and instructions. I consider it an excellent value. However, I just don't think anything has a chance against the E5. It is too small, solid and cheap to have ANY competition. I much prefer it as a portable noob on a budget. This thing is awesome.
Anybody want to try a BSG cMoy?
I compared these amps over a few hours with various types of music, all 256k MP3s from my Creative Zen MP3 player. Headphones used were Senn HD280 Pro, HD565, and Audio Techinca AD700.
First, I love to be portable. So the E5 gets major points for that. Obviously the cMoy isn't huge as its just an altoids tin, but it is 6 times the size of the E5. And I like that the Fiio has the bass boost option. I use it all the time because it does wonders for the AD700s, but if you don't want it, click it off and you have a natural sound. I also like that the E5 is charged by USB. Some people may prefer to have the 9V on the cMoy. Not me.
On the BSG cMoy, I prefer the volume knob as opposed to the rocker on the E5 and I also like that it has a DC input to run it off a wall adapter when you don't need to be portable.
On to sound: I'm going to make this very simple, because I think it is. They sound very much the same. The BSG cMoy may be slightly (and I mean *ever* so slightly) warmer and fuller, but its so slight I had a hard time noticing it even after numerous A/B, and I'm sure its something I wouldn't miss if I only owned the E5. Their sound quality really is almost the exact same, at least across the trio of headphones I tried. There may be greater differences with better headphones, but if you own better headphones, again, you're probably not interested in these amps.
Both obviously added volume which the HD565 really needed. The cMoy goes about 1/3 louder than the E5, but the E5 is capable of powering all my headphones (even the HD565) well past acceptable listening volumes anyway.
The E5, with its bass boost switch, allowed for more and deeper bass, which I really like. I particularly noticed it on tracks like Kanye West - Love Lockdown, where the bass goes way down deep. I'm not a basshead, but everyone knows the AD700s are a tad light on bass, and the E5 balances them beautifully. The bass boost is tight and controlled. It doesn't muffle or take advantage of it in any way. Just gives you slightly more of the good stuff. So don't think it will ruin that great AD700 tightness.
The BioScienceGeek cMoy is a well built and very nice sounding amp. I ordered it new on Ebay for $50 plus $7 for shipping and it was built to my specs, which included a plain Altoids tin, aluminum volume knob, and blue led light. It was custom built and to my door in less than a week with excellent communicatoin and instructions. I consider it an excellent value. However, I just don't think anything has a chance against the E5. It is too small, solid and cheap to have ANY competition. I much prefer it as a portable noob on a budget. This thing is awesome.
Anybody want to try a BSG cMoy?
