good portable/home amp.

[mtkversion]

have been enjoying the headphone out on the squeezebox but wanted to add an amp that will also work well in a portable rig.

home rig : sb3 -> ?? ic -> ?? amp -> grado sr125/sony v6/koss ksc35/75 .. and i'm thinking of getting either an akg/beyer headphone to try out their sound. that's not important now though.

portable rig : ipod nano -> ?? lineout -> ?? amp -> koss ksc35

love hip hop/rock/jazz .. prefer a 'warm' sound and love bass.

hear so much about Ray Samuels Audio products .. would a used amp fit into my budget ($300) ?

thanks for any help ...

 

[Morph201]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtkversion /img/forum/go_quote.gif have been enjoying the headphone out on the squeezebox but wanted to add an amp that will also work well in a portable rig. home rig : sb3 -> ?? ic -> ?? amp -> grado sr125/sony v6/koss ksc35/75 .. and i'm thinking of getting either an akg/beyer headphone to try out their sound. that's not important now though. portable rig : ipod nano -> ?? lineout -> ?? amp -> koss ksc35 love hip hop/rock/jazz .. prefer a 'warm' sound and love bass. hear so much about Ray Samuels Audio products .. would a used amp fit into my budget ($300) ? thanks for any help ...

If you're interested in an RSA amp, perhaps a brand new tomahawk would fit the bill ($319 and some change shipped)... Even though the tomahawk is designed for IEMs it can drive higher impedence phones..

 

[luckybaer]

If you intend on using the amp both as your desktop amp AND as your portable amp, I think the Hornet would be the RSA product that would fit your bill the best. You see, the Hornet can be plugged into the wall with its power adapter, so if you are in "desktop amp" mode, you wouldn't be running on battery power. Then, when you move to "portable amp" mode, you just disconnect the AC adapter, and you're good to go for the next 10-12 hours.

Then again, with the ridiculous amount of playing time you get out of a set of batteries in the Tomahawk, it is certainly an option, too.

Sound signatures are similar from what I've read by Romanee and Skylab, so it probably boils down to amp features:

AC Adapter: Hornet "YES"; Tomahawk "NO"
Built in Charger: Hornet "YES"; Tomahawk "NO"
Leader in play time on a set of batteries: Tomahawk by a lot
Gain: Hornet "3 position"; Tomahawk "2 position"
Size: Tomahawk is smaller
Colors: Hornet has a bunch; Tomahawk comes in 2 colors

Decisions like these are fun to make!

 

[Morph201]

I think the Hornet would be the better option (bias aside), but if you're not lucky enough to find a used one for ~ $300, then you're looking at 395 and some change new... almost 100 out of your range (?)... Ah hell save the $100 and just purchase the Hornet!

PS: if you want a color other than black then add $15 to that purchase price!

 

[luckybaer]

Boy, you're not kidding. Inch for inch and ounce for ounce, outside of jewelry for the wife, the Hornet has got to be one of the pricier things I've purchased.

Well, there was that stupid Tag watch... Talk about an over-priced watch. I wonder if Tag is the Bose of the watch world. Not REALLY bad products, but very, VERY over-priced for what you get.

OK. Off soapbox, and will not hijack thread anymore...

 

[M0T0XGUY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckybaer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Boy, you're not kidding. Inch for inch and ounce for ounce, outside of jewelry for the wife, the Hornet has got to be one of the pricier things I've purchased. Well, there was that stupid Tag watch... Talk about an over-priced watch. I wonder if Tag is the Bose of the watch world. Not REALLY bad products, but very, VERY over-priced for what you get. OK. Off soapbox, and will not hijack thread anymore...

What do you expect out of a watch?

 

[hYdrociTy]

I would hold of just a bit and wait for the impressions of some new exiting things that are coming out, like the new AE2 and go-vibeV6...