[headphones1999]

after intensive research the only real option for my needs seems to be Ifi BL,
all I need is portable dac\amp for android, that will drive sensitive iems without any hiss.

the other main options:
Fiio Q5 was off the list (will have problems with my phone)
also chord mojo because of the sound signeture
Sony HPA-3- seems like pretty bad overall amp with very low value for what u pay

so why not Ifi BL?
its huge, and even with iematch the output impedance its 4ohm , for sensitive i would want to have 3ohm MAX, i can still buy separate iematch to get 2ohm (the iematch inside BL has different output impedance) but it would be pretty sad if i would have done it lol.

but I mainly want to figure if there is really no real competition to the Ifi BL out there, ofc i guess if im gonna pay 1500$+ i will find such beast, but i want to stay realistic(=within my budget)
top budget gonna be 1K$

thanks for reading

 

[qsk78]

You can't go wrong with the BL.
Q5 is not a real competitor to it. I owned both for some time

I personally don't care much about the size. I use a slim handbag and have ordered a case/bag from VanNuys.
Sound wise it does not have real competition in the range of 1000-1500 USD.
Love it.



You can also have a small DAP in parallel for to go out.

 

[headphones1999]

You can't go wrong with the BL.
Q5 is not a real competitor to it. I owned both for some time

I personally don't care much about the size. I use a slim handbag and have ordered a case/bag from VanNuys.
Sound wise it does not have real competition in the range of 1000-1500 USD.
Love it.



You can also have a small DAP in parallel for to go out.

And what about the impedance output that is rate at 4ohm? , bassicaly doesnt make it 100% ideal for sensitive iems

 

[qsk78]

And what about the impedance output that is rate at 4ohm? , bassicaly doesnt make it 100% ideal for sensitive iems

I don't have that low impedance IEM but 30 and 45 ohms. Never use Eco mode, always in Normal.
IEMatch is always off.

 

[TheoS53]

IEMatch is 1 ohm when placed on the Ultra setting

 

[headphones1999]

IEMatch is 1 ohm when placed on the Ultra setting

yeah i saw it a while ago, there is micro BL on its way to me already thanks anyway

 

[bluebair]

I love my black label with my sdr modded hd800, my hd650, and my meze 99 classics. Ive used it with a few iems and many other headphones all with good results, havent found a better bang for buck than this. The mojo didnt compare in sound or versatility, but it does look and feel nicer. I use a small sling bag to carry my gear as I am walking around. Someday I will have the wa8 eclipse though

 

[headphones1999]

I love my black label with my sdr modded hd800, my hd650, and my meze 99 classics. Ive used it with a few iems and many other headphones all with good results, havent found a better bang for buck than this. The mojo didnt compare in sound or versatility, but it does look and feel nicer. I use a small sling bag to carry my gear as I am walking around. Someday I will have the wa8 eclipse though

lol, "bang for buck" portable amp for 600$
this hobby stink

 

[bluebair]

lol, "bang for buck" portable amp for 600$
this hobby stink

I completely agree. I dont even have the money to be saying stuff like that and I do haha. I just work a regular job and am only 20, so I totally get your point. How about, best I have heard in this price range? Haha CX

 

[headphones1999]

I completely agree. I dont even have the money to be saying stuff like that and I do haha. I just work a regular job and am only 20, so I totally get your point. How about, best I have heard in this price range? Haha CX

There is almost nothing at its price range lol, mojo geekout and thats it pretty much

 

[bluebair]

There is almost nothing at its price range lol, mojo geekout and thats it pretty much

Good point, I guess I compared it to the fiio q5, the oppo ha2se, sony pha-1a, hugo2, mojo, wa8 eclipse, dragonfly red and black, some teac portable amp i forgot he name of, and then a couple desktop dacs/amps, so really the only thing in its price range was the mojo XD

There are a few other portable amps not as well advertized or rated in the price range of $600, but I didnt hear any of them. I can think of the vamp verza, sony pha2, maybe the centrance m8, and the new ifi xdsd?

 

[qsk78]

The only DAC/Amp I can rate higher is a Limited version of Venturecraft Soundroid Vantam but its retail price is around $1450 and it has a limited power of 80 mW per channel.
It sounds fantastic (clean and transparent) but can not drive properly many IEMs. That was the reason I replaced it with the ifi micro BL.

 

[headphones1999]

The only DAC/Amp I can rate higher is a Limited version of Venturecraft Soundroid Vantam but its retail price is around $1450 and it has a limited power of 80 mW per channel.
It sounds fantastic (clean and transparent) but can not drive properly many IEMs. That was the reason I replaced it with the ifi micro BL.

Nice, have u experienced hissing with sensitive iems with the Micro? Thinking of getting seperate iematch to be extra sure i wont be having any hissing

 

[qsk78]

Nice, have u experienced hissing with sensitive iems with the Micro?

I don't have sensitive IEM - currently I own Earsonics S-EM6 V2, Ety ER4SR - no hiss at all!
The micro BL has an intergrated iEMatch

 

[headphones1999]

I don't have sensitive IEM - currently I own Earsonics S-EM6 V2, Ety ER4SR - no hiss at all!
The micro BL has an intergrated iEMatch

Rlly hope mine wont have. Sounds promising though, thanks!