Is this Amp any good?

[jilgiljongiljing]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Micro-Cmoy-headp...QQcmdZViewItem

I have no idea abt these things, so tell me if this thing is worth it. I am lookin at driving a Senn HD595 and MS1 or SR225.

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

Oops I just realised the thread is on the wrong forum

 

[MaZa]

Thats portable CMoy amp. You can make one yourself (there are instructions and parts list in internet) if you know how to solder and stuff. Its good cheap amplifier to get more juice out of your portable device for higher cans. Probaply good choice for Grados, i dunno. No personal experience with one, but it works thats for sure.

 

[m3ta1head]

I'd spend the extra $15 for a proper amp (LDM+)

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

Thnx for the tip, does it work well with all high end headphones?
I am considering the MS2, HD595 and Beyer DT880's

 

[Meyvn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jilgiljongiljing Thnx for the tip, does it work well with all high end headphones? I am considering the MS2, HD595 and Beyer DT880's

It's going to be a bit underpowered to give them the juice they deserve; it'll get enough volume, but they won't sound their best.

 

[MaZa]

HD595 and MS2 is very fine, perhaps ideal ohm rating for these small Cmoys, but over 200ohm headphones are pushing it.

It all depends what opamp Cmoy is using though, there are different ones that can take different loads.

 

[EFN]

Hi Gain CMOY & LDM+ have no issues driving my 200Ohm MS-1 - Sounds fuller than before

 

[toastmaster]

Or for about the same price you could get a PA2v2

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

Well I somehow got the impression that the LDM+ was better than the PA2V2

Can I put an EQ into the mix? How would that fare?

MP3 player -> EQ -> LDM+ -> HD595

 

[toastmaster]

You may have gotten the impression from a thread of mine.

I only suggested the PA2v2 because it's the same price. I prefer the LDM+ and find the extra price to be negligible. Some people prefer the colouration of the PA2v2.

As for the EQ setup, does your MP3 player not have a built in EQ? Either way, experiment with putting it before or after the amp to find the sound you want. The guitarist in me suggests getting two: one pre-amp and one post-amp.

I would suggest before the amp, like you outlined, though.

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jilgiljongiljing http://cgi.ebay.com/Micro-Cmoy-headp...QQcmdZViewItem I have no idea abt these things, so tell me if this thing is worth it. I am lookin at driving a Senn HD595 and MS1 or SR225.

IMHO not enough to drive a senn HD###. Should be plenty good for an MS1 or SR225.

Is the OP amp socketed? If so then go for it and roll OP amps to fine tune the sound. If its not socketed look elsewhere.

 

[tomb]

A CMoy is probably not the best choice for those headphones. The original was created by Chu Moy to drive high-impedance Senn's (like the 580/600/650, not the 595). The best CMoy's have 2-9V batteries, because a single opamp (the right one) can slew the voltage from -9 to +9 without breaking a sweat.

Plug a low impedance can directly to an opamp, and it just can't support the current flow needed. A headphone wants Power; its impedance, along with the available power supply, determines whether it needs voltage rather than current and vise-versa. Most amps use buffers of some sort - either monolithic or discrete - to meet current needs.

That said, the CMoy will probably improve your sound over any portable, except for perhaps the bass. The PAV2 does a little better with current and emphasizes the bass, but its circuitry is not as advanced as a CMoy. Still, it might be a good choice for you, and Gary is excellent to deal with from all reports. If you were contemplating building an amp, by all means, the CMoy is the first choice, but that assumes you progress from there.

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EFN Hi Gain CMOY & LDM+ have no issues driving my 200Ohm MS-1 - Sounds fuller than before

AFAIK MS1 is 32ohm.