Purchased ATH-ESW9, 5th Gen 30gb ipod and ibasso T3.

[ExpatinJapan]

I hope I am posting in the correct place, forgive me If I err.
 
A good six months ago or more, I used these forums to research which set of headphones would be best for gaming (I ended up with the Audio Technica ATH-A900s and JVC SU-DH1 amplifier and optical cord). I have been happy with my purchase, I went with the closed cans so the noise wouldn`t disturb other members of my household.Thanks everyone for the information.
 
Sorry about my wallet
 
Recently I have received an ipod (8GB nano 2007 3rd gen - the square one) and have started listening to music again, I purchased some Sennheiser MX760 earbuds and they greatly improved the sound.
 
I became interested in boosting my sound and quality and did a skim reading and dropped into a local store and tried the new Audio Technica portable amplifiers and Fiio, I purchased the Fiio E5 for a starter and also a LOD cable. I am enjoying the greater clarity whilst riding the train.................
 
........but...............(oh my wallet).......................
 
I am now very interested in all I have read since last night, cowen music players, ibasso amps and the like made my head swim and my wallet open.Must.have.greater.setup.!, I did do a quite a few hours reading last night. I like the easyness and familiar sense of my  ipod, though my friends iphone sounds much better quality.!
 
**In short I am wondering whether to get a new ipod (If so what gen and type?), or a new brand of music player altogether).
I have a mac book btw.
 
**Headphones(not  huge - mid size for daily train use), buds or canals(not sure -they feel alien to my old sensibilities).
 
**Another high quality portable amp(If its larger size may have to get a fatter ipod?).
 
-Not really placing a limit on budget, best to buy best once I reckon (excuse my E5 experiment). though amp would be under US$200 ideally, headphones $200- $500. Player open $.
 
-=so recommendations for possible setups please=-
 
I realize its a lot to ask from scratch, I have lurked on these forums and read hours of threads and learned a hell of a lot from you good people. But would like to get specific replies to my particular queries (in one thread/place).
 
Thank you all, I will check daily.

 

[ExpatinJapan]

lil help?
 
I can get more specific now, maybe that can help with advice giving.
 
Amps. I have been looking at are the ibasso amps. Maybe a T3 (slim) or T3D. 
 
Music players,
Ipod 5 or 5.5G, or 6 or 6.5G . I have heard various good and bad things about the itouch, opinions..    
- Cowon S9, J3 or D2 are popular it seems.
or an iriver.
 
Headphones. something collapsible like>
 
sennheiser PX-200 ll
 
These will be used primarily as a commuting setup.
 
Thank you again.

 

[HappyFi]

If you're considering IEMs, both these series of reviews are good reads. http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/478568/multi-iem-review-77-iems-compared-radiopaq-classical-added-06-27, http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/450407/multiple-iem-shootout-v-3. Heck, they're interesting reads even if you aren't looking for IEMS. (sorry if those are old news to ya)
 
I'm sure some folks will give their two cents. It's summer; people are out running in sprinklers.

 

[ExpatinJapan]

I have nearly decided on this setup (after daily hours of reading threads) feedback and advice please.
I need your expertise before making my final decision.
 
Ipod 7th Gen Classic 160gb (or 6.5 whichever is the latest) or the Cowon J3.
 
portable amplifier-  ibasso T3.
 
I have an LOD which I plan to use.
 
-=Headphones=- 
 
I have the ATH-A900 already(for gaming)  but they seem too bulky,....
 
...So I have decided on the Audio Technica ESW9 (the African wood ones) but I am worried that the model is too old and that I can get better quality in a more latest model (any other recommendations-I like the ESW9 size).
I listen to music such as Radiohead, the Ramones, Coldplay, Cat power,  DJ Champion.
 
Please reply as I don`t want to make a wrong decision. Thank you.

 

[ExpatinJapan]

anyone? please.

 

[Bennyboy71]

Cowon J3 and Earsonics SM3s.  No amp required.

 

[Averruncus]

I've heard the Touch, Ipod Classic Gen 5, Sansa Clip+ and the J3... And personally I like the J3 the best.
 
For uncolored sound Sansa Clip and Ipod would be good choices. Sansa is rockboxable and Ipod can be LODed for amp use. If you're going for small size, Sansa Clip is the best sound u can get from something smaller then your palm. Ipod Classic (nano sounds like crap IMO, dunno which gen i listened to) is great too but i never liked apple (itunes is fine but i HATE quicktime).
 
The touch.... sounds harsh to me... My least fav of the lot. I heard my friend's Touch through a LOD into an amp (can't remember which one) and it sounded even worse, but that was before OS4 upgrade which really does improve SQ a lot. The touch though has easily the best interface and tons of apps which is a big plus if u want your player to do more then play songs.
 
J3 has the most colored sound of all... making the sansa sound boring when i A/B them. Insane battery life, beautiful screen, Jeteffects and expandable slot is the icing on the cake... The J3 doesn't really need an amp unless u are going for higher impedance headphone models...
(please note that I am a newbie at this stuff so my listening skills might not be as accurate, but its just my 2cents)
 
I know nuts about headphones (planning to get some soon though), just that ATH-M50 sound awesome (compared to SRH440 and 840 anyway IMO). Or u could go with Bennyboy71's suggestion and get the SM3s (I'd be sooo jealous since i'm stuck with TF10s) or RE0/DBA-02 if your short on money...

 

[ExpatinJapan]

Mmm,   the ATH-M50 headphones look nice too - and many people on headfi have written good things about them.
 
Cowon J3 is just drag and drop? no software needed? and connected via usb to my macbook I assume. But no LOD I read.

 

[HappyFi]

Samsung P3 may be something to look at. 

 

[Bennyboy71]

Yep - drag'n'drop via usb lead to your macbook is correct.  No LOD, you're right, but you don't need one as the HO is perfect to my ears.
 
Quote:

Mmm,   the ATH-M50 headphones look nice too - and many people on headfi have written good things about them.
 
Cowon J3 is just drag and drop? no software needed? and connected via usb to my macbook I assume. But no LOD I read.

 

[Averruncus]

About the J3, yes, drag and drop, no software needed (no software provided infact). You can use software like winamp to create playlists. Its plug and play... and USB is the only option of charging if unless u buy their charger (sold separately).
 
J3 has no lineout =(. But I heard its headphone out is clear enough to use amp (not sure about double amping, don't take my word for it). J3 sounds awesome even without an amp anyway!
 
I've used ATH-M50 on J3 unamped and they sound awesome!!! Strong base, nice soundstage and high clarity!!! I would have bought a pair if not for the fact it was out of stock... But now I can't decide on SM3 or FA003 or ATH-M50. My heart tells me ATH-M50, my brain tells me SM3 but my gut tells me FA003.... but that's my problem =(....
 
Anyway, J3 would be the best option if u are going unamped IMO.
 
Bias to J3 cuz i own one....
 
BennyBoy71 beat me to the post... and of cuz its perfect sounding to you... you have SM3... So jealous....

 

[Hero Kid]

Ok here I go... Firstly I'll ask this, why do you think you need an amp? What do you hope to achieve by using one?
As someone who was a complete novice when it came to audio gear prior to joining Head-Fi I can say I too had the idea that I needed an amp.
Hell everyone else with really expensive set ups were using one, they look cool and make you seem hardcore and professional. The longer you stay around and read more about them you quicker you realize, unless you have some "high-end" 'phones and are trying to squeeze the most out of your source it's probably impractical to own one. Although you seem to have a fairly large budget, and could probably accommodate for a set up that would actually benefit from using a portable amp chances are you are better off spending that money elsewhere.
 
Next thing you have to decide on is a source. Before I can really recommend a player I really need to know a few things.
Do you plan on watching videos, do you value a polished and smooth UI, do you want more than 10 hours of battery life, do you plan to use lossless formats or have a lot of videos and as a results need larger capacities and are you happy to use iTunes, are you happy to use an expansion slot (micro and SD cards)?  One you answer that I'll have a better idea what to recommend to you, because as you are probably aware there are a lot of players out there all suited to different needs and price brackets.
 
Then we get to 'phones as I like to call them which to me includes headphones (portable and full sized), IEM's and earbuds.
I get the idea that you would prefer to get some portable headphones as opposed to IEM's or earbuds, am I correct?
Yet again once you answer that I'll be able to point you in the (hopefully) right direction.
 
Once you've told me/us that members should have a better picture of what you are trying to achieve and you should get some more solid recommendations.

 

[kmhaynes]

For commuting, I would suggest something more closed than the Senn Px series -- outside noises will drown out your music, or you will have to boost the volume so much that all your fellow commuters will be listening with you!!

 

[violinvirtuoso]

+1 for Earsonics SM3
+1 for Cowon J3
 
Though not the most user-friendly, the SQ on the S:Flo 2 is incredible. The HO is powerful enough to drive HD650s and it doesn't sound crappy.
 
As for the amp, I highly recommend against getting an amp unless you hear something you would like to fix (ex. recessed mids), you have tried that amp and loved the improvement, or your headphones are being underpowered (which generally isn't the case with IEMs).

 

[ExpatinJapan]

Thanks everyone.
 
J3 Cowon is looking good, I have read that ipod 6.5/7 gen Classic with LOD sound quality is on a par with Cowon headphone out - I think it is just familiarity with itunes/ipod and fear of stepping into a new product area holding me back from the Cowon
I like the idea I can take the Cowon to friends houses and get more music as opposed to the ipod. Plus I can buy a 16gb micro sd card quite cheap too. 32gb + 16gb =48gb.
 
to Herokid-good questions thanks.
 
Quote:why do you think you need an amp? What do you hope to achieve by using one?
 
Maybe its just as you say, reading headfi, seeing cool setups etc. I know the fiio E5 on my old ipod nano(maybe the SQ on my 3rd gen ipod is bad??) certainly gave my sennheisers better sound quality and volume, so I want to make sure my new headphones will sound as good as they can.
But also I don`t really know as I am new to this game, I guess its a lot of what Ifs (what if it could sound better etc.
Plus the Cowon J3 and ibasso T3 look about the same size= cute set.  LOL.
 
Quote: Do you plan on watching videos, do you value a polished and smooth UI, do you want more than 10 hours of battery life, do you plan to use lossless formats or have a lot of videos and as a results need larger capacities and are you happy to use iTunes, are you happy to use an expansion slot (micro and SD cards)? 
No videos, just music.
need about 5 hours of battery per day (max).
Smooth user interface would be nice, but I don`t care about looks too much, function>form. easy to use is
good.
I am just starting to re-do my music in lossless form ( maybe even AAC?)-In Japan video stores also rent CDs for cheap. I have about 600 songs-and have not expanded this amount in about 3 years.I would like to get to 1000-1500 songs.
Happy to use itunes. Happy to use an expansion slot (micro/SD cards).
 
Quote:I get the idea that you would prefer to get some portable headphones as opposed to IEM's or earbuds, am I correct?
Yes that is correct, I have quality earbuds already, IEMs feel to weird in my ears. I am looking for quality portable headphones. I travel by train a good two hours per day and listen to music and podcasts. Though I only care about the music quality of course. I have to be careful to not bother other people nearby too as the people on trains in Japan are very quiet.
 
Ooh, I feel I am getting closer.
 
**By the way**- In Japan the major electronics stores have all their (98%) of their earbud/IEM/Headphones on display for you to use and try out before buying(you can just straight plug into your own player). maybe I should post a pic of this.  So any recommendations I can usually try out by going to the store and listening.