[GuruSY]

I just realized that I listen to more music at work than I do at home, but my work setup is vastly inferior:

Ipod Classic LOD -> Pa2v2 -> Ultrasone HFI-780

I have $800 burning a hole in my pocket. My requirements for work are:

1. Must be a headphone that does not leak much sound if any, I work in a cubicle farm.
2. No IEMs.
3. I cannot load my 30 gigs of music onto my work computers to use one of those USB DACs.
4. I have a little dot MKIV at home and it is about 30% bigger than I would want for any 1 piece of my setup. I will not be walking around with the gear though.


My personal preferences that might effect your recommendation:
1. I think the 780 is a little too harsh sounding for my tastes. I prefer my DT880s or my Senn 580s that I use at home. However if a better source and amp would help more, the 780 would be fine if my money is better spent elsewhere.
2. I love the sound of my Little Dot MK IV, i.e. the warm tube sound.

Thanks!

 

[Ypoknons]

Well the nuforce Icon HDP makes a nice manageable package but from all reports it's on the transparent/bright side rather than warm (this is all second-hand knowledge; please go read the review thread yourself to verify). The ESW10JPN might suit your needs, paired with a low cost dac/amp, if there's still any left. The soundstage won't be huge, but it's got detail and a lovely sound signature.

 

[GuruSY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ypoknons /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well the nuforce Icon HDP makes a nice manageable package but from all reports it's on the transparent/bright side rather than warm (this is all second-hand knowledge; please go read the review thread yourself to verify). The ESW10JPN might suit your needs, paired with a low cost dac/amp, if there's still any left. The soundstage won't be huge, but it's got detail and a lovely sound signature.

Is there a way to actually use a DAC when you have an iPod? i.e. get the digital output from the iPod into the DAC?

 

[Ypoknons]

With a Onkyo ND-S1 or Wadia iTransport, I think the Audio Technica AT-HA35i has a digital output too... btw, the ESW10JPN sounds damn good out of an iPod, but can certainly be improved.

 

[sree]

I use the NuForce line out adapter for iPod and it does improve the sound clarity quite a bit compared to the headphone out. Not only does the sound quality improve, it also lets you use the amp volume control as the only volume control.

 

[AmanGeorge]

One quick alternative to loading 30 gb of music onto your work computer is just keeping it on an external - that's what I do at home.

 

[fjrabon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmanGeorge /img/forum/go_quote.gif One quick alternative to loading 30 gb of music onto your work computer is just keeping it on an external - that's what I do at home.

x2. It's easy enough to set up whatever player you use to play from an external hard drive.

 

[GuruSY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjrabon /img/forum/go_quote.gif x2. It's easy enough to set up whatever player you use to play from an external hard drive.

Wow I can't believe I didn't think of that! I guess I can use a traditional DAC setup! I think I'm going to upgrade my DAC and AMP first since my 780s are the highest quality portion of my current setup.

 

[GuruSY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sree /img/forum/go_quote.gif I use the NuForce line out adapter for iPod and it does improve the sound clarity quite a bit compared to the headphone out. Not only does the sound quality improve, it also lets you use the amp volume control as the only volume control.

Yeah I mentioned that in my setup that I was using the Ipod with the line out to my Pa2v2. Maybe this line out is simply good enough and I should just upgrade my amp. I don't own a DAC at all so I'm not really sure what I am missing, I use my iPod line out for everything lol. That is why I kind of want to know what people's opinions are on how to best upgrade my setup.

 

[baka1969]

If you want a resonably portable amp that is a bit warmer sounding for SS, the Headroom Portable Micro Amp is a decent choice. It's rechargable.

 

[GuruSY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by baka1969 /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you want a resonably portable amp that is a bit warmer sounding for SS, the Headroom Portable Micro Amp is a decent choice. It's rechargable.

Can you provide a comparison between this and the iBasso D10? Which one (or both?) would provide enough juice if I wanted to upgrade my 780s (for example to the ESW10JPN)?



(Sorry for making this an amp discussion in the headphone forums.)

 

[baka1969]

I can't comment about the D10. I can say the (non portable) version of the Micro Amp I had has three gain settings to drive a wide variety of headphones and will drive even the most stubborn. I know rthe portable has the same feature. It also has crossfeed. I've written about the Micro Amp a few times. In my sig are a couple of links that might answer some questions.

Peace,

 

[Ypoknons]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmanGeorge /img/forum/go_quote.gif One quick alternative to loading 30 gb of music onto your work computer is just keeping it on an external - that's what I do at home.

... and I was getting so close into talking him into something he didn't need

I used to have a Micro Desktop (2006) but well things are rather different. I almost jumped actually - what!? The Micro doesn't use 2x 9V batteries anymore!?

 

[GuruSY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ypoknons /img/forum/go_quote.gif ... and I was getting so close into talking him into something he didn't need I used to have a Micro Desktop (2006) but well things are rather different. I almost jumped actually - what!? The Micro doesn't use 2x 9V batteries anymore!?

Lol, I'm such an idiot. I also realized that I can just connect my iPod to my work PC and play the sound through the laptop to the USB DAC. I don't even need a portable drive lol.

I think I'm doing to try a D10. It is less than half the price of the Headroom and if it doesn't work out, I can just use it as a DAC for my home setup which currently lacks a DAC. After reading reviews, it seems that the D10 gets a lot of love from this site.

 

[fatcat28037]

There's a Head-fier selling a RS Tomahawk for $180 go snap that up.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f42/f-...ipping-479638/