Hi Jeremyh,
Quote:
but that will make the 2SD more on home usage due to the large size? or do people actually bring the external battery out as well?
Some people use their Stepdance or 2Stepdance with an external battery while away from home - for portable use, but I would guess that most owners are content with using the 9V internal battery all the time - both at home and when operating portable.
When I use the amp with efficient IEMs that don't require much power to sound their best, the 9V internal battery provides plenty of power, but when I use the amp with full size (relatively inefficient, power-hungry) headphones, I can hear a substantial improvement in bass extension and control by using the maximum voltage permitted with the Stepdance - 15-Volts DC. When I want to use my Audeze LCD-2 outdoors or while travelling, I carry the 15-Volt external battery (the Energizer XP8000 rig, as shown in my signature, below), but I also use the 15-Volt rig indoors, whenever I'm using the Stepdance with fullsize headphones.
Battery choice all depends on how you intend to use the Stepdance or 2Stepdance - indoors vs. outdoors, efficient headphones vs. inefficient or something in between. Note that the 2Stepdance offers about half again as much battery life as the original Stepdance for any given choice of battery (9-Volt internal or 15-Volt external).
To begin with, I recommend you start out by purchasing a 15-Volt AC-to-DC linear (not switched) regulated (not unregulated) power supply with the appropriate barrel connector for attachment to the 2Stepdance. These are fairly inexpensive, but it will allow you to judge for yourself the difference in audio quality between using a 9-Volt internal battery and an external 15-Volt power supply. With your source, your headphones, and your ears, if you don't hear a difference, then you can be content to use the 9V battery at all times, except when you want to preserve your batteries by using the 15-Volt AC-to-DC power supply when operating near an AC outlet. If, on the other hand, you CAN hear a difference when operating at 15-Volts with your rig, then you might want to take the plunge to set yourself up with a 15-Volt external battery pack. At least you'll know exactly what advantage the 15-Volt battery pack offers over 9-Volt operation, if any, before deciding if you want to go portable with the extra weight and bulk.
Mike