[DBrim]

Me again. Now that I have purchased new headphones (Denon D1000s) to replace my dying earbuds, I am now looking for something to help accentuate them. Since I don't have a sound card in my laptop at all (macbook pro), I won't get much from that, and I won't get much from my iPod either.

I'm looking for either a (decent/improvement) combo for my iPod and my computer. I don't really know the first thing about DACs or AMPs, though.

The amp would need to be portable and durable (pocket). It would be preferable that it would be able to connect to the line-out on my iPod (which apparently sounds better). Battery life would also need to be longer than the iPod's, with rechargeable batteries. Plugging the Amp into the wall would be very well at all

The DAC needs to be good as well. Portability is not as much of an issue, but it would be nice because I don't really want to lug anything large around with my laptop. Battery requirements wouldn't be as much of an issue, since I'd be carrying it around with my laptop.

Now, of course, the tough part is the budget. I'd like to spend under $250 for the two, and that's the absolute maximum. Under $200 is preferable. Two seperate items is probably good as well, as long as the DAC can both connect to the computer and the amp would be able to connect to the DAC somehow and also be able to use the line-out.

The only thing I've found so far is the "Move". It looks small enough (hard to judge, though), but will it meet my requirements?

If worse comes to worse, I'll get an amp first; since I listen to my iPod more often the DAC is not as much of a priority.

 

[rwest1389]

The move is tiny, amazing for a dac/amp combo of its caliber. However, it uses 9v batteries, not rechargeable. You can get an AC adapter, but I think you were trying to say one would not work very well.

Another DAC/amp combo to look at is the HeadRoom total bithead. It uses 3 AAA batteries, which you could get rechargeables if thats important to you.

If you decide to buy separate, the only cheap DAC I know of is the TBAAM (turte beach audio advantage micro i believe) which is just a usb stick looking thing. Ive read (but not tried) that its very good for the money (under 50) and with a portable amp, that might work well.

 

[DBrim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwest1389 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The move is tiny, amazing for a dac/amp combo of its caliber. However, it uses 9v batteries, not rechargeable. You can get an AC adapter, but I think you were trying to say one would not work very well. Another DAC/amp combo to look at is the HeadRoom total bithead. It uses 3 AAA batteries, which you could get rechargeables if thats important to you. If you decide to buy separate, the only cheap DAC I know of is the TBAAM (turte beach audio advantage micro i believe) which is just a usb stick looking thing. Ive read (but not tried) that its very good for the money (under 50) and with a portable amp, that might work well.

Does the Move fit in your pocket (with iPod, etc)? Given the advertised battery life, the 9V thing may be liveable. I'd rather have rechargables, though, since the cost over time is a lot lower.

 

[Moocher]

For an amp, check out http://www.electric-avenues.com/amplifiers.html

very affordable, portable, recharging built in, sounds good to me both out of my mac and out of my ipod line out (for line out see http://www.sendstation.com/us/produc...neout-usb.html
which you can get directly from Sendstation or from a number of other vendors.

Gary (builds the amps) is great to deal with. Cost is about $60.

I haven't gone with a standalone dac and probably won't for quite a while. I'd only use it on my computer and I am currently pleased with the quality of the sound.

Mooch

p.s. I really notice a difference with the amp. It was well worth it, both on the computer and with the ipod.

 

[DBrim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moocher /img/forum/go_quote.gif For an amp, check out http://www.electric-avenues.com/amplifiers.html very affordable, portable, recharging built in, sounds good to me both out of my mac and out of my ipod line out (for line out see http://www.sendstation.com/us/produc...neout-usb.html which you can get directly from Sendstation or from a number of other vendors. Gary (builds the amps) is great to deal with. Cost is about $60. I haven't gone with a standalone dac and probably won't for quite a while. I'd only use it on my computer and I am currently pleased with the quality of the sound. Mooch p.s. I really notice a difference with the amp. It was well worth it, both on the computer and with the ipod.

This looks pretty attractive. Definitely looks small enough. How long do the batteries last (nevermind, found it, 100 hours should be plenty!)? Do I have to buy extra cables for the line-out (and if so, how much?). Does the line-out adapter sound better than the normal headphone jack?

 

[Moocher]

Gary includes a short mini-to-mini cable, so you don't need a cable. Yes, to me the line out is much better than the headphone jack. If you are going to use the headphone jack, then don't bother with the amp, in my opinion.

So, if you decide to go with this you will need something like the sendstation USB line out for about $30 and Gary's amp for about $60. Gets you going for under $100.

Mooch

 

[elnino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBrim /img/forum/go_quote.gif Does the Move fit in your pocket (with iPod, etc)? Given the advertised battery life, the 9V thing may be liveable. I'd rather have rechargables, though, since the cost over time is a lot lower.

What about rechargeable 9V batteries? I've seen them in both NiMH and Li-Ion.

 

[DBrim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moocher /img/forum/go_quote.gif Gary includes a short mini-to-mini cable, so you don't need a cable. Yes, to me the line out is much better than the headphone jack. If you are going to use the headphone jack, then don't bother with the amp, in my opinion. So, if you decide to go with this you will need something like the sendstation USB line out for about $30 and Gary's amp for about $60. Gets you going for under $100. Mooch

Yes, that's why it's so attractive. I do have to wonder if that USB-line-out thing is worse than the direct lineout -> amp cables (I don't have any terminology, I'm still new to this).

Do you know how durable this is (I may need to carry it in my pocket)?

 

[Moocher]

I haven't thrown mine around, but I wouldn't be afraid to jump up and down on it and I'm over 200lb. Come to think of it, maybe I'd have someone smaller jump on it. Ask Gary. He responds to emails.

I haven't gotten into the usb thing out of my computer. Just the line out from the ipod. Not willing to spend money on a usb dac yet.

Mooch

 

[facelvega]

I think it's odd to recommend the pa2v2 anymore. It's just been superseded by dozens of more sophisticated portable offerings, including ones at the same price (Go-vibe V6 right now on sale, for instance)

If you want a cheap solution, grab the TBAAM. $30 and no amp needed. It will sound better than typical onboard sound and drive less-sensitive headphones fairly well.

The next bracket up for a simple, one-piece solution is the headroom bithead ($150), then the Hippohifi Bloat ($170-220 depending on options), then the Meier Move ($235 shipped). Any of these should easily outperform the TBAAM.

There are other options with separate amp and dac or also more bulky external soundcards with integrated amps, but I strongly doubt these will outperform the three headphone community choices, and I'm really sure not at the same price.

 

[DBrim]

The govibe6 costs $30 more after getting the accessories that come with the PA2V2., I've heard. It's another model that I was consiering.

The bithead looks interesting as well. $150 seems like a good price. Is the quality better, even with USB (hissing, etc involved?). Can I plug it into the lineout (is this universal with that adaptor that was posted earlier?).