Bennyboy71
Aka: Ben Clayton
Aka: Cold Pizza
Aka: Bennyboy71
Aka: Visions66
Aka: TheloniSphere
Aka: Muzeick
Aka: Frankleemydear
Aka: Canofcant
And many more
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
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Um, I might be being stupid here, but surely if you plan to convert those ER4P into ER4S, then you'll be needing the Arrow to drive them adequately? I cant say for sure because I havent tried them with the J3, but my iPod Classic definitely needing amping to drive the ER4S I had a while ago. The ER4P worked perfectly well, but the S was a different beast.
Quote:
The things are, sometimes, funny... After nearly five months of waiting and holding one of the best headphone amplifiers that have passed through my hands, I found that I do not need it. I'll probably sell my Headstage Arrow.
Let me explain:
I like IEM's a lot. To me, they are the best option in terms of portable sound. I like the sound presentation, the detail, the intimacy between the listener and his music and its small size or portability. At the beginning of my Head-Fi life, I had some full-size headphones, like a Beyer DT880 and a Philips HP1000 and they never sounded so good as my current IEM´s, because the lack of power from my portable setup.
In fact, I believe that full-size headphones are not made for portable setups, but I will not open this thread here, to the lack of knowledge I have with this type of equipment. And also, because here is not the place for it.
I concluded that IEM´s, in general, do not require amplification, since you use a good source with a functional equalizer, like is the Cowon J3.
This morning I realized some tests with my Ety ER4P along with the Arrow and the result, although doing much better than the Shure SE530, was also an over-aggressive sound, wich I dont like in my headphones. Do not confuse energetic sound, which I quite like, with aggressive sound, that makes me tired after a short time of hearing.
My Shure and Ety work very well connected directly to the Cowon and I found no great benefit when amplified by the Arrow, with its extreme neutrality. The solution is to find the best possible equalization for each headphone, which is not hard with this player.
Further, I also learned that IEM´s, when they do not have a good synergy with a particular player, they should not be fixed with the use of an headphone amplifier. They must be sold to try other options that are on the market. And I will start to flee headphones so-called "audiophiles", with too high impedance .
Next actions to be taken:
1 - Sell the Arrow;
2 - Send my ER4P to Etymotic Reasearch to replace the cable to ER4S version. I hate to use the P to S adapter;
3 - Sell the Head-Direct RE-0, which does not have good synergy with the Cowon J3;
4 - Using the money from the sale and purchase another equipment, perhaps a Hifiman HM-601...
Finally, let me make very clear to prospective buyers that the Headstage Arrow is one of the best headphone amps in the market. You can buy it with your eyes closed. He was the one that solidified my decision to no longer require them. All of them.
Cheers,
Peter
