[iFi audio]

Are there any you'd recommend that have a balanced out? I'm using pretty much all of my IEMs with balanced cables...

What's your budget if I may ask?

 

[Sebasistan]

I'd say my limit is $200.
This guy here looks pretty neat. Loxjie P20 6N3 Tube Amp.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001227038707.html
I wonder if anyone has experience with it. Judging by the for sale forums, there's quite a few of them out there that people keep selling... If I can get this one slightly used, those cables and adapters wouldn't hurt as much...

Sorry, I keep editing this post as I go along...

Of course the issue with this one is that I need a 4 pin XLR to 4.4mm adapter for my cans and IEMs (I have a 4.4mm to 2.5mm adapter, so I'd just stack them...), and a 4.4mm to 2x 3pin XLR adapters to run the Zen DAC into it. Which All together brings me close to $200 for this one. Now, if there was a tube amp around that price that has a 4.4mm out (and that's actually sounding good, this one seems to have decent reviews from what I could see) that'd be nice.

 

[Sebasistan]

I'm curious as to what bass port setting you use.

I have the nob in the middle position.

 

[BenF]

So after two or so weeks with the 82Pro I have to say...
What in the hell are they putting in these things? How are these sold for $60? This is nuts. The hype is absolutely justified.
I bought myself these and a pair of Tri I3 IEMs in September. The IEMs arrived first and I was blown away by their sound quality, stage, technicalities, etc. Very good set.
But ever since I got the 82Pro, the I3 sound like kitchen radios. I mean, not really, they're still a great set, but the 82Pro sound so much better. Such a lush sound, the quality and quantity of bass...

I know, I know, full sized vs. IEM is always a bit odd to compare. But the 82Pro have absolutely spoiled me.

Looking at tube amps...
Are there any you'd recommend that have a balanced out? I'm using pretty much all of my IEMs with balanced cables...

Forget the balanced tube amps for IEMs - you'll fry them...
Loxie P20 put outs 665mw into 64Ohm - even if you won't destroy the IEMs (and your hearing), the noise floor will be too much for IEMs.
Just go with Little Bear P10 - https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...scussion-thread.849965/page-141#post-14373423
It will be 56.5$ on 11.11, and it works very well with Pro 82.
Add another 15$ for ELE EL-D01 DAC, and you'll have your first synergy combo! https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32846934366.html
You can get a "6$ off 50$" coupon playing Energy Lab on Aliexpress - so this synergy combo will cost you only 65$ !!!!

 

[Sebasistan]

Forget the balanced tube amps for IEMs - you'll fry them...
Loxie P20 put outs 665mw into 64Ohm - even if you won't destroy the IEMs (and your hearing), the noise floor will be too much for IEMs.

I hadn't even thought about that. Huh.
I wonder, are tube amps in general not compatible with IEMs due to power settings? Then I can stop chasing that particular dragon...

 

[iFi audio]

I wonder, are tube amps in general not compatible with IEMs due to power settings? Then I can stop chasing that particular dragon...

I'm not sure whether each tube amp won't do. Probably there are some small battery-based portable tube amps out there designed to work with sensitive IEMs/cans.

Google returned this a bit old thread here on HF:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/what-are-the-best-tube-amps-for-iems.843147/

 

[BenF]

I hadn't even thought about that. Huh.
I wonder, are tube amps in general not compatible with IEMs due to power settings? Then I can stop chasing that particular dragon...

You can definitely stop chasing the "balanced tube amp for IEMs" dragon. Even the portable single-ended 800$ Continental v5 amp has quite a lot of hiss with IEMs - https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/alo-audio-continental-v5.22018/reviews
Imagine if it was balanced and had twice as much power...

Go with P10 + EL-D01, this combo is unbeatable for price/performance.

 

[Sebasistan]

Guess if I want tube sound for IEMs I should really get the Cayin N3Pro DAP.
Which is not really an expense I can justify anytime soon. So synergy combo it is! Now to wait for 11/11.

 

[iFi audio]

Now to wait for 11/11.

If I may ask, what is going to happen then?

 

[Sebasistan]

If I may ask, what is going to happen then?

Big Aliexpress / Chinese shopping day, "Chinese Black Friday" with a lot of reduced items.

 

[iFi audio]

"Chinese Black Friday" with a lot of reduced items.

Thanks! I suspected it had something to do with some sale day somewhere

 

[Robius]

Can someone recommend me a cable which has 2.5mm balanced jack for GM200? I want to use that cable for E1DA Powerdac V2.

 

[OscarPaz]

Can someone recommend me a cable which has 2.5mm balanced jack for GM200? I want to use that cable for E1DA Powerdac V2.

A few posts ago there were a couple of recommended options.
Pinout wasn't clear at first, but it was later tested by @Sebasistan that the wiring works in balanced for Pro 82:

Something wired for Sennheiser's 2.5mm jack works well, like this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32843066350.html

Good to know it works with Pro 82.
I'm wondering why it's so much more expensive than this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001069589563.html
It's 27$ vs 11$ for a 2.5mm black cables - yet both seem to be wired for Sennheiser....

 

[BenF]

Thank you. I suspect that is the AC. Because the first few days i dont remenber having that sound, i changed my cumputers setups and i think i have too much stuff plugged in the same outlet. Can't test this right now. But gonna try this first.

Did you resolve the noise issue?
What are your impressions on P10 + El-D01?

 

[piotrgt]

How do the TAKSTAR PRO82 compare with the Beyerdynamic DT990 250 Ohm Edition? Just the extra price justify? Which should I get? I have a Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 Advance DE sound card which has 180 Ohm output.