[kpeezy]

Well, I've spent a good bit of money on headphones and amps and wotnot lately. Too much IMO. I'm looking to, not really recoop, but find a nice medium that I can keep for a while. So, I'm downsizing to just HD580's and Livewires.

Question is, how are the livewires amped vs unamped? I'll be selling everything but my HD580's. I'll be ampless on my computer setup until I get a desktop amp, but I would be ok with that. I'm putting my stuff up for sale either way so let me know ASAP

Thanks!

 

[soozieq]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpeezy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Question is, how are the livewires amped vs unamped? I'll be selling everything but my HD580's. I'll be ampless on my computer setup until I get a desktop amp, but I would be ok with that.

Sorry, I can't help as I haven't tried them. But there is a detailed thread on the Livewires, and I'm sure some of the users will have commented on amped and unamped. Did you read through it first and ask in that thread?

If you did, and didn't find the answer, I'm sure someone will be along soon to help

 

[kpeezy]

I hope so

I'm sure it's been answered somewhere, but I didn't find it using search and really didn't want to comb through the entire Livewires threads to find it

Maybe I'll have to.

 

[uraflit]

remember that there is a search tool for the THREAD specifically too. i keep forgetting about that one.

 

[jgonino]

They are very sensitive and dont require much power. So i think you should be fine getting enough volume out of your setup. However, i would think that almost any head/earphone would sound better with amplification.

 

[kpeezy]

Yeah. I found a a post saying they don't need much amping, but they pick up on hiss.

 

[Khanate]

On a similar topic, would there be much sound difference if the livewires were plugged into an ipod? Sory for the slight threadjacking!

 

[kpeezy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khanate /img/forum/go_quote.gif On a similar topic, would there be much sound difference if the livewires were plugged into an ipod? Sory for the slight threadjacking!

No problem! I'm wondering that as well

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

The LW are great unamped from my iRiver H140. The ipod however sounds better from a line out dock, so for the best sound an amp is helpful with ipod.

I am in the process of testing a PenguinAmp "Caffeine" and it acutally makes the headphone out of my 5.5G ipod sound good, with open and airy sound-stage and strong bass (even with bass boost turned off). I can't wait to try my Livewires with the amp.

 

[roastpuff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif The LW are great unamped from my iRiver H140. The ipod however sounds better from a line out dock, so for the best sound an amp is helpful with ipod. I am in the process of testing a PenguinAmp "Caffeine" and it acutally makes the headphone out of my 5.5G ipod sound good, with open and airy sound-stage and strong bass (even with bass boost turned off). I can't wait to try my Livewires with the amp.

iPod headphone out sounds like poop, honestly. The line-out is light-years better. Invest $30 in a Turbodock or something similar, used (there's one in the FS forum right now, jump on it!) and you'll be amazed at how much better they've gotten.

 

[Kosmic]

The Livewires are great with my Clix2, and they make a terrific portable combo.

If your source is noisy though, or your recorded material not top notch, then the Livewires will reveal these faults ruthlessly. I hear people criticise the Livewires for being "hissy" as if it's a fault. Livewires don't do superficial makeovers, if you put crap in you'll get crap out.

 

[stewtheking]

Straight from my iPod, they are sensitive enough to all the cr*p that the iPod kicks out as to be unlistenable. For me, an amp is a necessity. They are trialing an in-line resistor that should help the signal to noise ratio.

 

[kpeezy]

Hmm.. I would be willing to sell my ipod and get a different source. I might head over to the Portable Audio forums and get some advice later on. OR, could I get a line out to female and use it like that?