[Joe Bloggs]

As of now I don't bring any exotic phones outside, but the Porta Corda that I occasionally bring out with me does occasionally draw a few curious looks. This could have been a way to introduce people to Head-Fi but so far I've been a very poor salesman

It seeems that even provided that I can properly explain the idea of a headphone amplifier (a tall order) people would just look at me odd when they finally understand that the thingo just does something that part of the pcdp has been doing all along.

Right now the best thing I can think of is to just pass it off as something to offer a second headphone out for the pcdp (first one being the pcdp built in jack), then either find a chance to listen to something with other people at the same time (and let him use the pCorda out) or when asked why I use the darn thing even when listening by myself, say that it's higher quality.

What do you think?

Or is toting out my HD580s simply the better way to show off head-fi?

(but frankly, I don't feel the urge to advertise head-fi enough to do this

)

 

[taoster]

you attention seeker you.

 

[grinch]

i'm just happy the stewardess accepted my answer to her question "what is this?" very benevolently. she didn't really react at all actually, which was kinda suprising. she says "what is this?" and points to my porta corda and i said "it's an amplifier" and she nodded. i continued with something like "it makes headphones sound a lot better.." but she didn't seem to need an explanation. maybe she's been seeing a lot of them lately.

i was happy for that, she could've given me huge trouble with it..

 

[kelly]

If someone looks at you funny for having a "headphone amplifier", just match them by telling them about some ridiculously priced headphone you have. Then you can say, "see, the jack in the cd player isn't good enough for my expensive headphones." Say it in a British accent if you want to convey that you're wealthy and can afford such frivolous things, rather than that you're just some obsessive audiophile who blew a significant chunk of your salary on it.

 

[puppyslugg]

Quote:

... that you're just some obsessive audiophile who blew a significant chunk of your salary on it.

I don't know of anyone here would do something like that.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Quote:

Say it in a British accent if you want to convey that you're wealthy and can afford such frivolous things, rather than that you're just some obsessive audiophile who blew a significant chunk of your salary on it.

Hmm, nice advice. Now let me figure out how to speak Cantonese with a British accent...

 

[Flasken]

Next time try saying in an eastern accent that it is a transportable hyperthermal nuclear bomb, and tell another steward that its a headphone amplifier, and then come back here and tell us who got the weirdest look on his face...

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Hmm. Today I brought out my amp along with my finished TurkeyConnect(tm)--one thick glittery foil-wrapped IC--and nobody batted an eye... pity

(Mostly because hardly anybody came into my room today...

And it's not like I was meant to have a room all to myself--it's just that nobody sat in the cubicles in the room except me

)

 

[tangent]

If your subject is willing to give you some time, just let them listen to the headphones amplified and unamplified. Great demo if you're using Senns or AKGs, at least.

 

[kelly]

Quote:

Originally posted by tangent If your subject is willing to give you some time, just let them listen to the headphones amplified and unamplified. Great demo if you're using Senns or AKGs, at least.

I'm not sure they'd hear anything if it was unamplified. But of course, the noise floor would be really low.

 

[Flasken]

Quote:

Originally posted by kelly I'm not sure they'd hear anything if it was unamplified. But of course, the noise floor would be really low.

Well, if they didn't hear anything without the amp, they would probably understand why Joe Bloggs has the amp, which sort of was the purpose for letting them hear his phones...

Of course he could also say that he is using highly specialized phones that needs an amp to work at all... and then let the doubters hear the phones plugged directly to the source (secretly unplugged) and then from the amp...

 

[geom_tol]

What I have found impresses people most is the Sony V6 driven by a good amp.

First off it isolates better than most cheapo stuff. This is a good start.
The V6 is pretty bright and has very crisp highs. This impresses alot of people, many people think bright == good sound.

And last pick a cd with lots of bass. My favourite cd for this is Massive Attack 'Mezzannine'.

The V6's on this cd with a good amp are simply stunning.