Shure SE535 with Cowon S9 VS. iPhone4 + Budget Amp.

[sowht]

Hi to all the pros,
 
I'm related new into the audio world, and just currently get first IEM Shure SE535.
 
Im currently own an old iPhone 4 and willing to spent extra budget.
 
But im still not sure either to get budget amp for my current iPhone 4 or bought 16GB Cowon S9 (without amp).
 
I need some opinion from all the Headfi-ers

 

[sowht]

:;bump::

 

[sowht]

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[sowht]

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[truckdriver]

I'm not a pro (far from it), but I'd go with an amp with either of your two choices.
 
Admittedly, I don't know anything about the Cowon S9. However,  I do own a Cowon IA9 and it benefits from an amp (with my SE535s). If I were you, I'd consider a Sansa Clip+ and add the RockBox software.
 
The (4GB) Sansa Clip+ was around 35 dollars when I bought mine. The FiiO E11 amp was 65 dollars. A 32GB micro SD goes for about 30 dollars on Amazon.
 
If you think the bass is anemic with the iPhone/535 alone, then wait until you get accustomed to the RockBox sound shaping functions. You'll definitely hear more bass even without an amp (but I'd add an amp with the 535s).
 
I know the iPhone 4S (which is the model my sister owns) sounds nice. I assume 4 is similar. So, a word of caution, once you go BASS, there's usually no going back (or at least it takes time to detox).
 
My Samsung Galaxy SII puts out the same amount of bass as my RockBox'd Clip+/Headstage Arrow HE 4G combo to my 535s (on gain level 1). Now when I listen to my old combo iPhone 2G/ small amp/ Sennheiser IE8s, I wonder where (the heck) the bass went. It use to be there.
 
Maybe the Cowon S9 has enough power (on its own) like my Samsung Galaxy SII.

 

[sowht]

 
Quote:

I'm not a pro (far from it), but I'd go with an amp with either of your two choices.
 
Admittedly, I don't know anything about the Cowon S9. However,  I do own a Cowon IA9 and it benefits from an amp (with my SE535s). If I were you, I'd consider a Sansa Clip+ and add the RockBox software.
 
The (4GB) Sansa Clip+ was around 35 dollars when I bought mine. The FiiO E11 amp was 65 dollars. A 32GB micro SD goes for about 30 dollars on Amazon.
 
If you think the bass is anemic with the iPhone/535 alone, then wait until you get accustomed to the RockBox sound shaping functions. You'll definitely hear more bass even without an amp (but I'd add an amp with the 535s).
 
I know the iPhone 4S (which is the model my sister owns) sounds nice. I assume 4 is similar. So, a word of caution, once you go BASS, there's usually no going back (or at least it takes time to detox).
 
My Samsung Galaxy SII puts out the same amount of bass as my RockBox'd Clip+/Headstage Arrow HE 4G combo to my 535s (on gain level 1). Now when I listen to my old combo iPhone 2G/ small amp/ Sennheiser IE8s, I wonder where (the heck) the bass went. It use to be there.
 
Maybe the Cowon S9 has enough power (on its own) like my Samsung Galaxy SII.

 
Because i felt that iPhone output sounds bit flat. and after read so many reviews, alot people said that the cowon s9's BBE+ JET effect give more life into the music.
 
so i'm thinking either buying cowon s9 or buying fiio E7/ Alple E17 to pump up iphone quality.
 
Sansa Clip+ options also sounds good. thx for the recommendation.

 

[tienbasse]

SE535 are very sensitive IEMs.
As such, they will hiss A LOT if the amp is too powerful.
They don't need amping per say, although amps can help with some specific part of the spectrum.
 
FiiO E7 can be great if you keep the amp volume below 30 (very little hiss), and the bass boost (level 1) does wonder with the SE535 shy bass.
Forget the E11, too much hiss even at moderate volume.
 
Below 100$ for the amp, that's all you'll get for such sensitive IEMs.
 
I don't know well the E17, but this is not a budget amp anymore, you have many more good amps in the 150-200$ range.

 

[sowht]

Quote:

SE535 are very sensitive IEMs.
As such, they will hiss A LOT if the amp is too powerful.
They don't need amping per say, although amps can help with some specific part of the spectrum.
 
FiiO E7 can be great if you keep the amp volume below 30 (very little hiss), and the bass boost (level 1) does wonder with the SE535 shy bass.
Forget the E11, too much hiss even at moderate volume.
 
Below 100$ for the amp, that's all you'll get for such sensitive IEMs.
 
I don't know well the E17, but this is not a budget amp anymore, you have many more good amps in the 150-200$ range.

So should i just buy a cowon mp3 player instead and aiming for the BBE+ or EQ in it?
i was realitive new with all these stuff.
 

 

[kangwo1]

I've owned both the 535s and the s9.
I'm currently using my 535 (remolded) with my ipod classic, and I do admit that the sound is very dry, and I miss my s9 (I bought the classic for the disk space).
So I do recommend you buying a cowon (not necessarily a s9) for the BBE effects, if you are looking to make your music more "lively." Also as a note, the s9 will be more slower/unresponsive than your iPhone, so don't expect much from it

 

[sowht]

Quote:

I've owned both the 535s and the s9.
I'm currently using my 535 (remolded) with my ipod classic, and I do admit that the sound is very dry, and I miss my s9 (I bought the classic for the disk space).
So I do recommend you buying a cowon (not necessarily a s9) for the BBE effects, if you are looking to make your music more "lively." Also as a note, the s9 will be more slower/unresponsive than your iPhone, so don't expect much from it

Yeah, i just got my cowon J3 today. all the cowon features was awesome. i dont think its neccesary to buy another amp, but i planned to buy pico slim amp in the future since i heard the pico slim works very well with SE535.

 

[dc-k]

enjoy your new kit, I've had many a happy listening hour with the same combo

 

[tienbasse]

Quote:

i planned to buy pico slim amp in the future since i heard the pico slim works very well with SE535.

It does work very well indeed (I have this combo), but you have a few other amps which are as good and a bit less expensive (in the 150-300$ range).
 
 

 

[sowht]

Quote:

enjoy your new kit, I've had many a happy listening hour with the same combo

yeah. i love the combo been listening for couple hours now

 
Quote:

It does work very well indeed (I have this combo), but you have a few other amps which are as good and a bit less expensive (in the 150-300$ range).
 
 

 
wow thanks for the info, makes me more wanted pico slim, does it make big difference when add pico slim amp?
any other options you can recomend me?