[ADD]

Hi all,

I just wanted to garner some thoughts about getting a good quality headphone amplifier to interface between my iriver portable player and my Westone UM2 headphones. I haven't really seen a whole lot mentioned here about interfacing headphone amps with portable players and IEMs (apart from ipods). I guess some of that has to do with the perceived limited returns on investment (sound quality wise) in such a setup as well as the fact that many IEMs are considered very easy to drive to begin with.

Nevertheless I have a feeling that even the above setup could benefit from such an improvement in terms of overall "punchiness" to the sound, overall clarity as well as perhaps flavouring the sound a particular way that I like. For example, even just running the iriver T60 into my computer soundcard line-in and the headphones out form the computer noticably improved the "weight" of the sound across the spectrum, although it was not as clear as connecting the headphones directly to the iriver. Of course I can't believe the computer would be anywhere up to the standard of a proper headphone amp. In the end, it' s just hard to believe that a device powered a by single AAA battery is really going to have enough grunt to run any sort of quality headphones to their full potential, even if the phones are on the sensitive side.

I really only listen to classical music and most of that is old analogue recordings remastered to CD (for example RCA Living Stereo, Mercury Living Presence, etc). I am in the process of meticulously transferring them into 350 kbps ogg format for my own portable use, using EAC, Acoustica and the Voxengo Warmifier. So I guess it is fair to say that I like the old "tube" sound in these recordings and even with the above process I am quite astounded by the very small loss of quality from the original CD. I should add, however, that any amplifier does not have to be portable - this would just be for home use only.

First up, I'm not even sure that a portable player can necessarily interface with a headphone amp, although I am sure people will say it can be done. Of course most portable players including the iriver simply have the headphone out, although as I mentioned earlier I can connect that to the line in connections on either of my computer.

Assuming connecting such a device to an amp is possible, I guess I am looking for a upper-low end to lower middle range amplifier - and one that lends itself to classical music. I have found classical music to be very tough on digital audio - in particular the string sound is always a giveaway and it seems that one of the the only things that help (apart from having an unlimited budget are tubes.

Some models that I am considering are the Creek models, the Musical Fidelity XCan3, etc. There does seem to be a bewildering array of amplification around and it is hard to know where to start.

As a long term consideration, it would be nice to think the amplifer I buy could down the track also do justice to an SACD player, especially as the RCA Living Stereo catalogue continues to be remastered into this format.

Thanks

 

[randerson3024]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADD /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi all, I just wanted to garner some thoughts about getting a good quality headphone amplifier to interface between my iriver portable player and my Westone UM2 headphones. I haven't really seen a whole lot mentioned here about interfacing headphone amps with portable players and IEMs (apart from ipods). I guess some of that has to do with the perceived limited returns on investment (sound quality wise) in such a setup as well as the fact that many IEMs are considered very easy to drive to begin with. Nevertheless I have a feeling that even the above setup could benefit from such an improvement in terms of overall "punchiness" to the sound, overall clarity as well as perhaps flavouring the sound a particular way that I like. For example, even just running the iriver T60 into my computer soundcard line-in and the headphones out form the computer noticably improved the "weight" of the sound across the spectrum, although it was not as clear as connecting the headphones directly to the iriver. Of course I can't believe the computer would be anywhere up to the standard of a proper headphone amp. In the end, it' s just hard to believe that a device powered a by single AAA battery is really going to have enough grunt to run any sort of quality headphones to their full potential, even if the phones are on the sensitive side. I really only listen to classical music and most of that is old analogue recordings remastered to CD (for example RCA Living Stereo, Mercury Living Presence, etc). I am in the process of meticulously transferring them into 350 kbps ogg format for my own portable use, using EAC, Acoustica and the Voxengo Warmifier. So I guess it is fair to say that I like the old "tube" sound in these recordings and even with the above process I am quite astounded by the very small loss of quality from the original CD. I should add, however, that any amplifier does not have to be portable - this would just be for home use only. First up, I'm not even sure that a portable player can necessarily interface with a headphone amp, although I am sure people will say it can be done. Of course most portable players including the iriver simply have the headphone out, although as I mentioned earlier I can connect that to the line in connections on either of my computer. Assuming connecting such a device to an amp is possible, I guess I am looking for a upper-low end to lower middle range amplifier - and one that lends itself to classical music. I have found classical music to be very tough on digital audio - in particular the string sound is always a giveaway and it seems that one of the the only things that help (apart from having an unlimited budget are tubes. Some models that I am considering are the Creek models, the Musical Fidelity XCan3, etc. There does seem to be a bewildering array of amplification around and it is hard to know where to start. As a long term consideration, it would be nice to think the amplifer I buy could down the track also do justice to an SACD player, especially as the RCA Living Stereo catalogue continues to be remastered into this format. Thanks

Without knowing your budget, there are several good amps I can reccomend,

!. The Benchmark DAC 1, it is versatile, and takes many inputs.

A second, similar amp, but more expensive, is the Grace M902.

A third, and very musical and reasonably priced amp is the Grado RA-1.

This one takes either batteries, or can be plugged in to the wall.

Also, Ray Samuels Audio and HeadAmp make amplifiers that are just magical!

Good luck.

Bob

 

[ADD]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your reply complete with illustrations

I have to admit that I had the Grado on my shortlist too. My feeling is that although it has attracted it's fair share of controversy, I thought it might actually do a pretty good job in my modest setup. The battery is also a major attraction as there are already enough cables running around the desk as it as! And in the end, it can't be denied that it looks wonderful - at least to my eyes. It does seem to have found favour with some reviewers who like the sort of music that I do.

The other thing is that the product must be obtainable here in Australia - I don't really want to buy from overseas unless there are exceptional circumstances. I guess I would be prepared to pay up to around $600 AUD -which easily covers the Grado and just covers something like the Musical Fidelity. But to be honest I would feel much more comfortable in the $400 AUD - $500 AUD price range. These are of course Australian dollars which are not quite the value of US dollars.

I'll have to check out those others to see if they are obtainable. Grado is definitely not a problem - I have already checked that - not sure about those others though.

 

[randerson3024]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADD /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi Bob, Thanks for your reply complete with illustrations I have to admit that I had the Grado on my shortlist too. My feeling is that although it has attracted it's fair share of controversy, I thought it might actually do a pretty good job in my modest setup. The battery is also a major attraction as there are already enough cables running around the desk as it as! And in the end, it can't be denied that it looks wonderful - at least to my eyes. It does seem to have found favour with some reviewers who like the sort of music that I do. The other thing is that the product must be obtainable here in Australia - I don't really want to buy from overseas unless there are exceptional circumstances. I guess I would be prepared to pay up to around $600 AUD -which easily covers the Grado and just covers something like the Musical Fidelity. But to be honest I would feel much more comfortable in the $400 AUD - $500 AUD price range. These are of course Australian dollars which are not quite the value of US dollars. I'll have to check out those others to see if they are obtainable. Grado is definitely not a problem - I have already checked that - not sure about those others though.

I have not been to Australia in 20+ years, so I have no idea what the conversion rate is. Perreaux of New Zealand is nice, and may be better priced.

Cheers,

Bob