SM3 or Micro Amp (+Micro Dac) to add bass to etys

[MKAL]

I am trying to figure out an amp/DAC combination that would beef up my ety bass (the SR-71 just doesn't do enough) while also sounding very good with my SR-225. Which combination would you recommend more, SM3 with bass boost + Micro Dac, or Micro amp + Micro dac. While my initial thought is to go the SM3 route, I am wondering if it synergizes as well with the Micro dac as the micro amp?

 

[jamato8]

The signal from the Micro Dac should be a clean analog signal if it is doing right so any amp quality amp should work well. If you try the SM V3 with the LT1115 opamp in the class A configuration I think you would be very happy.
The bass boost, though i have not liked them in the past, works very well with the V3 (it does not muddy the musical picture).

John

 

[RickG]

I have the Micro stack, SR-71, and Etys. Although I don't listen to the Etys with either rig, I know what to expect from them and palpable bass is not their forte.

The Etys, by their very nature have good bass extension but no thump. That being said, I think you need to concentrate on different phones as opposed to a new amp/DAC.

 

[warpdriver]

SM3!!!

The bass boost switch is what that makes the difference.

I have the Micro, and I would say the bass sounds better and the highs clearer but I would not say that the Ety's are that much louder in the bass (it's just inherent in the earphone). The only way to overcome that is some mild help in the form of a bass boost switch.

 

[MKAL]

My means of boosting the bass on the etys with the SR-71 has been to either increase the bass a few decibals with the Karma's parameric eq, or to subtract decibals from everything but the bass on the eq. While adding bass makes the highs clearly muffled with the etys, subtracting decibals from the other frequencies is slightly better, but still rolls off the highs a bit. Has any one else experienced this while using the karma's eq and an amp? Does the bass boost of the SM3 similarly decrease the highs?

 

[jamato8]

I normally do like anything in the musical chain that changes it but when I do use the bass boost on the SM V3 I do not notice any decrease in the treble extension nor any real changes to the rest of the frequency range except for a clean bass boost. Xin did a good job on the integration of the bass boost and the rest of the frequency range.

John

 

[warpdriver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamato8 Xin did a good job on the integration of the bass boost and the rest of the frequency range.

Yeah, it's almost as if they had Ety's in mind when they designed the bass boost. The fact that they have the impedance boost switch is clear evidence they did.

 

[Jon L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamato8 The signal from the Micro Dac should be a clean analog signal if it is doing right so any amp quality amp should work well. If you try the SM V3 with the LT1115 opamp in the class A configuration I think you would be very happy. The bass boost, though i have not liked them in the past, works very well with the V3 (it does not muddy the musical picture). John

I ordered some LT1115 for SM3, but wouldn't it be a bit unforgiving with Ety's? I find Etys kind of 'need' those opamps with extra smooth/forgiving top-end such as Ti NE5534 OB

 

[jamato8]

The LT1115 might be depending upon your source. If you have quality up stream the 1115 should be fine but I understand what you are saying. I have been using it with the HD650's with nice results.

John

 

[irvin59]

I have the microdac and SM3 and they sound fantastic together. Haven't heard the micro amp so I can't comment. I agree with previous posts to the effect that if bass is what youre after the ety's aren't the way to go.

 

[ken36]

Thanks for everyones opinion. I'm beginning to get this. I think.

 

[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken36 Thanks for everyones opinion. I'm beginning to get this. I think.

Get what (don't you already have a Micro DAC)? Or...understand what?

 

[chrisfromalbany]

I never use the ipods bass or treble boost because it muddin up the sound. But with the SMv3 this isn't the case. The bass boost it great and I use it on all of my headphones. ++ for the bass boost.

 

[nice-biscuit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisfromalbany I never use the ipods bass or treble boost because it muddin up the sound. But with the SMv3 this isn't the case. The bass boost it great and I use it on all of my headphones. ++ for the bass boost.

I second that. Nice thing about the SM3 is it is truely portable and with various switches and opamps to choose from can be made to suit what you are using. I've used it with Etys, Grados and HD650's and been very happy.

 

[labrat]

Deleted.