superpiper
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Posts
- 208
- Likes
- 20
from a AMP newbie
After i recieved an ipod 5.5g for Xmas, i have upgraded the earphones to senns CX300 and then PX100. looking for other improvements, The notion of an amp has always intrested me, but i did not want to spent lots of money at the bottom of the amp Ladder to risk not enjoying the additional amp.
Anyhows, after some critical reading on these forums, i noticed that AMB was doing a somewhat rather special and well recieved DIY headphone amp, the MINI3
After visting AMB's site (www.amb.org)
I decided i would give it a go and make one, which would be a cool thing to do, and be a low risk first stab into the headphone amp world.
After finishing it (barring a few teathing problems) I'm now listening to this thing via the HP out whilst i build a dock
i would like to say: ****. What a reveleation.
I have read loads and loads of threads on forums questioning the sonic benefits of amps, likewize i have read loads of answers ranging from absolutly yes to definetly no.
For those who can't hear a difference, i suggest you visit the quacks to have your ears unbunged.
For my ipod and PX100's , the difference is stunning.
To me, (and i'm no expert) because the IPOD amp has had its workload cut drastically by the external amp, the IPOD amp is freed up to concentrate on the fine details and impart into the whole sound its proper amount of "energy"
The bass is so much more controlled and authorative, with a huge increase in depth. The treble is really freed up to sing as it should, and has the same increase in "depth"
The soundstaging opens up wonderfully with placement and location being drastically improved.
To me the mini3 seems amazingly transparent and very, very neutral.
I've plugged it into the outputs of my home CD player(technics) and the transformation is unbelievable, one analogy may be that its like suddenly listening to music in lossless when you've only ever heard 128kbs.
The amp also improves my other music players, including a 15year old kenwood PCDP
I can't wait to build the LOD!!
So, for me the addition of an amp to my IPOD is worthwhile.
I can tell as well that i made a smart choice in the MINI3.
The Mini3 is really fantastic( i can say this even though i have never heard other amps!!!! its that good) its an ace build, and with the machined faceplates, a really smart piece of kit (kicks the crap out of the plastic cased amps)
Its very neutral, very musical, very revealing,and very very good.
So, are my thoughts typically of a person first coming to use Amp, of like a previous poster, do people wonder what all of the fuss is about.
Damn Head-fi, my wallet is twitching already for new 'phones
After i recieved an ipod 5.5g for Xmas, i have upgraded the earphones to senns CX300 and then PX100. looking for other improvements, The notion of an amp has always intrested me, but i did not want to spent lots of money at the bottom of the amp Ladder to risk not enjoying the additional amp.
Anyhows, after some critical reading on these forums, i noticed that AMB was doing a somewhat rather special and well recieved DIY headphone amp, the MINI3
After visting AMB's site (www.amb.org)
I decided i would give it a go and make one, which would be a cool thing to do, and be a low risk first stab into the headphone amp world.
After finishing it (barring a few teathing problems) I'm now listening to this thing via the HP out whilst i build a dock
i would like to say: ****. What a reveleation.
I have read loads and loads of threads on forums questioning the sonic benefits of amps, likewize i have read loads of answers ranging from absolutly yes to definetly no.
For those who can't hear a difference, i suggest you visit the quacks to have your ears unbunged.
For my ipod and PX100's , the difference is stunning.
To me, (and i'm no expert) because the IPOD amp has had its workload cut drastically by the external amp, the IPOD amp is freed up to concentrate on the fine details and impart into the whole sound its proper amount of "energy"
The bass is so much more controlled and authorative, with a huge increase in depth. The treble is really freed up to sing as it should, and has the same increase in "depth"
The soundstaging opens up wonderfully with placement and location being drastically improved.
To me the mini3 seems amazingly transparent and very, very neutral.
I've plugged it into the outputs of my home CD player(technics) and the transformation is unbelievable, one analogy may be that its like suddenly listening to music in lossless when you've only ever heard 128kbs.
The amp also improves my other music players, including a 15year old kenwood PCDP
I can't wait to build the LOD!!
So, for me the addition of an amp to my IPOD is worthwhile.
I can tell as well that i made a smart choice in the MINI3.
The Mini3 is really fantastic( i can say this even though i have never heard other amps!!!! its that good) its an ace build, and with the machined faceplates, a really smart piece of kit (kicks the crap out of the plastic cased amps)
Its very neutral, very musical, very revealing,and very very good.
So, are my thoughts typically of a person first coming to use Amp, of like a previous poster, do people wonder what all of the fuss is about.
Damn Head-fi, my wallet is twitching already for new 'phones
