swduncan
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2007
- Posts
- 52
- Likes
- 10
Hi all,
My name is Steve, and I recently discovered this forum. I've been using a pair of Etymotic ER4s I got back in '98 or so, first with a Panasonic portable CD player, and later with my iPod Nano. Around 2000 I got an Airhead amp, which improved things quite a bit
On the Nano I play files ripped at 192kbps AAC. I used to go through the EAC/Lame routine, but I've found the convenience of iTunes hard to resist (that and I now use a Mac for iTunes). So far I don't feel I've paid any price in terms of pops or other transients. Musical interests include classical and older rock.
I'm looking to upgrade, but the question is what. I have about $300-400 to spend as a base, a bit extra from some ebaying of old gear.
I was considering upgrading the Airhead to a Headroom Micro, but after looking around here the Tomahawk and Hornet seem sexy. I do value Headroom's crossfeed feature, not sure whether I've got to have it though.
I was considering a move to full-size iPod so I could go strictly lossless for encoding, but on my current gear I'm finding it hard to hear the difference. I'm also finding the size of the Nano pretty attractive, and since I beat the crap out of it a long time ago, I don't have to worry about cases or scratches.
Lastly I was considering a move away from the Ety's to something else. I like IEM's. I suspect I would have to drop quite a bit to get a significant upgrade, but then again the Ety's are going on 10 years old.
My gut tells me the amp is my weakest link, and a new one might make a move up in encoding more audible, but I don't have any way to experiment.
Anyone care to offer an opinion?
There doesn't seem to be a forum for general questions, so please move this post as necessary.
Best Regards,
Steve
My name is Steve, and I recently discovered this forum. I've been using a pair of Etymotic ER4s I got back in '98 or so, first with a Panasonic portable CD player, and later with my iPod Nano. Around 2000 I got an Airhead amp, which improved things quite a bit
On the Nano I play files ripped at 192kbps AAC. I used to go through the EAC/Lame routine, but I've found the convenience of iTunes hard to resist (that and I now use a Mac for iTunes). So far I don't feel I've paid any price in terms of pops or other transients. Musical interests include classical and older rock.
I'm looking to upgrade, but the question is what. I have about $300-400 to spend as a base, a bit extra from some ebaying of old gear.
I was considering upgrading the Airhead to a Headroom Micro, but after looking around here the Tomahawk and Hornet seem sexy. I do value Headroom's crossfeed feature, not sure whether I've got to have it though.
I was considering a move to full-size iPod so I could go strictly lossless for encoding, but on my current gear I'm finding it hard to hear the difference. I'm also finding the size of the Nano pretty attractive, and since I beat the crap out of it a long time ago, I don't have to worry about cases or scratches.
Lastly I was considering a move away from the Ety's to something else. I like IEM's. I suspect I would have to drop quite a bit to get a significant upgrade, but then again the Ety's are going on 10 years old.
My gut tells me the amp is my weakest link, and a new one might make a move up in encoding more audible, but I don't have any way to experiment.
Anyone care to offer an opinion?
There doesn't seem to be a forum for general questions, so please move this post as necessary.
Best Regards,
Steve