[whubbard]

Hi Everybody,

I recently purchased X10s for listening on the go. I am now looking for an amp in the $300-$400 range. I know that an amp of that cost is a bit overkill for the X10s, but I do plan do get a top end IEM in the future (Custom UE11s) and I want to be able to use it with them.

I will only be using this amp with IEMs as I have a Zero DAC I can mod if I want a hifi amp for some nice over the ear headphones for home. I also do not want a DAC on my portable amp. It is useless, and I don't want to pay for it when I know I won't be using it.

Sound quality is the MOST important, but if two amps are of equal sound quality, here are my secondary preferences in order of importance:

Size
Durability
Looks
Battery Life

Thanks for your suggestions.

-West

 

[Brian_the_King]

RSA Hornet

 

[hockeyb213]

um a mustang would be a nice option or a sr-71a if you could stretch the budget 50 bucks

 

[nickyboyo]

If i had $300-400 to spend on an amp at the moment, i would be seriously looking at a Ray Samuel's P-51 or a new Xin referance. There seem to be some referance's appearing in the "for sale" section.

 

[mrarroyo]

I can think of 5 options, this based on amps I have listened to. In no particular order:

1. MiniBox-E+
2. Mini^3
3. SR71
4. Supermacro IV
5. Reference

 

[paulybatz]

Predator / P-51

Ive never listened to them but I have read every thread on them and people love them

Less portable than above but nice solid SR71(a)

I own the D3 and am 88% happy, very solid, nice build quality, great sound...just cant use with iphone unless in airplane mode...you could get one of those for 250 and have some left for a sick cable...but to do it over Id get a Samuels Amp (Im in the process now trying to decide the same thing as you)

 

[whubbard]

Thank you for all of the suggestions.
I have a few questions:

How does the Hornet compare to the P-51? What are the main differences?

Is the SR71A actual overkill as it seems that a fair bit of development went into using it with bigger, over the ear, headphones? Will the SR71A provide noticible difference over the P-51 in high end IEMs?

Thanks

-West

 

[xrfxlove]

I only know there is a big development between Tomahawk and SR71A.

And I don't think there are many people trying the P-51.

 

[antonyfirst]

If it was my money, I'd get the Headamp AE-2.

 

[hockeyb213]

the sr-71a is absolutely not overkill and many people refer to it as a desktop amp squeezed into a portable chasis. But that is what you get for spending more money

Quote:

Originally Posted by whubbard /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thank you for all of the suggestions. I have a few questions: How does the Hornet compare to the P-51? What are the main differences? Is the SR71A actual overkill as it seems that a fair bit of development went into using it with bigger, over the ear, headphones? Will the SR71A provide noticible difference over the P-51 in high end IEMs? Thanks -West

 

[idpadan]

Pico deserves consideration. Sound quality is excellent, its nice a small, looks great and has long battery life. What's not to like?