Old vintage Total Airhead (2AA/No LED) vs. what you can buy today?

[3DCadman]

Hi everyone,

I've got the urge to upgrade my amp. But I'm wondering where my current amp, a Total Airhead with 2AA batteries and no LED power light, stands among the other amps available today sound-wise.

I know it might be tough to answer this, but someone must have some kind of idea.

My source is a 4G 20gig Ipod- lineout to my airhead then to Etymotic 4p headphones. I also have a decent Sony Portable CD player w/a lineout.

I like alot of types of music, but I mostly listen to alot of prog-rock like Flowerkings, Porcupine tree, etc. I do not like bright, fatiguing sound.

Can anyone recommend a suitable PORTABLE amp for my setup and tastes? I'm looking to spend <$300 or so. $400 is not out of the question. I'm just not sure spending more than $300 would be worth it, given my source.

Thanks!

 

[grawk]

headamps.com ae-1
supermacro v3 lite
headroom micro

all great amps at or below $300.

 

[calaf]

or for a fraction of the money, you can get a Go-Vibe
http://members.shaw.ca/storage_2/headsave/
that, I am pretty sure, will sound better than your vintage TAH.

 

[3DCadman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calaf or for a fraction of the money, you can get a Go-Vibe http://members.shaw.ca/storage_2/headsave/ that, I am pretty sure, will sound better than your vintage TAH.

THAT is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for!

It's hard to believe that something that inexpensive sounds better than the TAH, which cost much more!

I still like the crossfeed of the Airhead though. I'm not sure I want to be without it, but if the Headsave sounds leaps and bounds better, maybe it won't matter?

 

[slwiser]

Sounds like you are in the same position I was in about two months ago.

I have the Total Airhead that uses 2-AA batteries without a LED also.

I now have the MicroAmp(with desktop module) and the MicroDAC. If you go this way just note that your battery life will not be anywhere like the TAH. I get anywhere between 3 and 6 hours on a pair of batteries depending on which phones I use (impedance dependent). I took 10-9 volt batteries to work today for both units. I get about 6 hours on the DAC. On some tracks I find that the batteries can't support the transients. While plugged into the wall I do not have any issues on these same tracks with the same transients. When the batteries run down on the Amp heavy distortion begins. When the DAC runs down it cuts in and out. The sound is significantly better than the TAH. The sound is very very good using the optical out into the DAC with my iHP-140.

The AE-1 is supposed to be as good as this amp but is specified to get about 120 hours off a charge. I am seriously thinking about getting this one as well and selling the one that I like least.

You also check out the Portaphile portable as well. This one has been highly rated by users. It is less than these others which I was writing about.

I have also upgraded my headphones as well but that is another story.

 

[3DCadman]

Whoa! Battery life that bad easily trumps the ipod battery life!

I was considering the Micro w/desktop, but I don't know if I want to deal with all the batteries. I plan on using it as a portable, so I will make little use of the wall wart.

Dang. The AE-1 sounds good. Who makes that? I don't see it on the "Compilation" list. I may have missed it.

Thanks for the info. Indeed you were in the same boat as me now.

 

[calaf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3DCadman THAT is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for! It's hard to believe that something that inexpensive sounds better than the TAH, which cost much more!

notice I am not saying that it will sound better than a 2004 TAH. I used to have a 2AA Airhead that I didn't like: very flat, uninvolving sound, on balance it did not improve much wrto my player headphone out. The 3AAA 2nd generation TAH I have now sounds much better and from what I read the latest generation TAH is even better.

 

[slwiser]

AE-1 web site is

http://www.headamp.com/portable_amps/ae1/index.htm

It is new, just started shipping last week.

Do a search on AE-1 and you will find some that have seen and heard it.

 

[calaf]

couple of useful threads:
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...ht=go-vibe+tah
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...light=2004+tah

 

[jar]

It's not out yet, and I've only heard it in meet conditions, but I think the RSA Hornet is the amp to beat for portable use. Sound competes with full sized AC powered home amps. And this thing gets 10-12 hours (IIRC) off a NiMH 9v, which is chargable in the amp. Intro price (amps should be done in a few weeks, I think, check the sponsored thread.) is $295, regular will be $350ish I think.