[wantalot75]

Hi, i've been reading on the fourms now for a couple of weeks and decided to become a member. While searching the fourms i've found that the M50s were highly reccomended and soon placed an order. I am just wondering if you guys, and girls, had beter experience while using a amp with the m50s. I will be using my ipod classic and my nano to drive them.

 

[wantalot75]

I'm sorry if this topic was already answered, it just that this is my first post and i was too excited. haha  I forgot to mention im looking into getting a Hifiman EF2 USB amp, would anyone recommend it?

 

[dirkpitt45]

Listen to them first. Personally I wouldn't get an amp if you want to keep them portable, the M50s are bulky enough to carry around alone. 

 

[shane55]

Quote:

Listen to them first. Personally I wouldn't get an amp if you want to keep them portable, the M50s are bulky enough to carry around alone. 

Yep... what he said. 

 
They work just fine out of my iPods.
 

 

[wantalot75]

Ok, thanks for the quick replies, what about for laptop listening, i have a cheap hp laptop. I dont know how good the sound card is

 

[beepbeep]

go with altec lansing for laptop headphones...

 

[dirkpitt45]

^Very specific....
 
 
Just try everything before you buy more. I can notice a difference between my zune hd and computer's onboard sound, but its not that big of a difference. Chances are it's not that great, but if you mostly listen out of your ipod it wouldn't be too big of a deal. If you listen a lot from your laptop look at an amp/dac combo, like the headroom bithead, fiio E7, or udac2 as a few examples. 

 

[wantalot75]

k thanks i think for portable im not going to bother getting a amp, but i might want to get a amp/dac combo for the computer.

 
Quote:

^Very specific....
 
 
Just try everything before you buy more. I can notice a difference between my zune hd and computer's onboard sound, but its not that big of a difference. Chances are it's not that great, but if you mostly listen out of your ipod it wouldn't be too big of a deal. If you listen a lot from your laptop look at an amp/dac combo, like the headroom bithead, fiio E7, or udac2 as a few examples. 

 

[Xaborus]

Quote:

k thanks i think for portable im not going to bother getting a amp, but i might want to get a amp/dac combo for the computer.

 
Quote:

^Very specific....
 
 
Just try everything before you buy more. I can notice a difference between my zune hd and computer's onboard sound, but its not that big of a difference. Chances are it's not that great, but if you mostly listen out of your ipod it wouldn't be too big of a deal. If you listen a lot from your laptop look at an amp/dac combo, like the headroom bithead, fiio E7, or udac2 as a few examples. 

 

Whats your budget for a dac/amp?

 

[rhythmdevils]

Yeah I wouldn't bother with a portable, especially not a cheap portable.  Even with my PPAS, the difference is not that big of a deal.  It's there, but it's very subtle. 

 

[Slaughter]

Yup, a decent amp is going to give you that last 5-10% of sound quality. I like them with my iPhone4.

 

[wantalot75]

Around 150-175 would be my budget. Considering im in high school, that would probaly take along time to save up for. Im looking at the Hifiman EF2 dac/amp that is on sale for 169$ at head direct.

 

[wantalot75]

Is there anything comparable in quality for around that price, or even cheaper. Thanks

 

[Xaborus]

Quote:

Is there anything comparable in quality for around that price, or even cheaper. Thanks

This isnt the right place to be asking about AMP/DAC's. You wont get anywhere here.
 
You should go to the Full size headphone amp's or the portable headphone amp's forum to get some better advice :]
 
Or you could always search "m50 amp" in the search feature located at the top
 
Good luck!

 

[JxK]

There's always the turtle beach audio advantage micro 2. Only costs $20, and for that price you get a very good sounding amp and usb dac. It's only slightly worse than some of the better soundcards, but for the m50 it should be more than sufficient.