[Lan647]

All my searching around the web led to this thread...
 
I just CAN'T afford both the HD 800, a stand-alone headphone amp AND a portable headphone amp like the fiio E7. 
 
Let's say this. For start, i will NOT buy an headphone amp like the black cube linnear. 
 
Give me some examples of GREAT, GREAT portable amps/DAC's under 500 dollars, that truly helps the HD 800 to sing BOTH with my equipment at home, AND with my iphone - LOUD.
 
Thanks...
 

 

[noris83]

Ray Samuels Audio (RSA) Predator. Brand new is 475. I would also budget at least 100 for a line out cable to connect your iphone to whatever amp you buy.
 
If you haven't purchased the HD800s already, I would consider something geared more for portable use such as the Ultrasone Edition 8s. The E8s will probably work just fine directly out of your iphone.

 

[Lan647]

Quote:

Ray Samuels Audio (RSA) Predator. Brand new is 475. I would also budget at least 100 for a line out cable to connect your iphone to whatever amp you buy.
 
If you haven't purchased the HD800s already, I would consider something geared more for portable use such as the Ultrasone Edition 8s. The E8s will probably work just fine directly out of your iphone.

Ultrasone are UG-LY. My other options are: Audio-technica ATH-M50 (as a start), AKG k 701/702 or the Grado PS1000 headphone. Too bad it will TOTALLY ruin me

 

[Lan647]

Lineout cable? Are you talking about the cable you plug between the iphone's headphone-jack to the amp's headphone jack?
 
100 dollars? Are you kidding me?

 
I would NEVER pay that money for a little cable..

 

[Lan647]

I know this sounds a little ****ed-up, but let's say i buy the HD 800, but just don't have the money to buy an amp at the same time, can i just buy the Fiio E5 for start?
 
People says the HD 800 DO work well with the iphone, about for the fact that the volume remains low. For start, i just want something that amplifies the volume without affecting the sound itself. 
 
Is it possible to just buy the E5 while i'm looking around for better amp's?

 

[dallan]

I would look for a used Lisa lll.  They drive the 800s better than any portable and if you can eventually get the LLP power supply to charge the batteries and run it as a plug in that is the way to go for sure.  I have that setup, no other portable comes close in my mind.  It only takes rca input though so you need a mini>rca cable.

 

[Jalo]

For Dac/Amp: Pico Dac/Amp, Ibasso D12,

For Amp alone: Stepdance, RSA SR71A, RSA Protector, ALO Rx "Prescription" MK2, Ibasso Bloomslang/Toucan,

My personal preference: Stepdance or the Ibasso Bloomslang/Toucan.

 

[Uncle Erik]

How are you going to go portable with a HD-800?  They're a bit large and gawky around the house; you aren't planning to wear them in public, are you?
 
If you listening is going to be done at home, go with a desktop amp and skip the portable.  Besides, the HD-800 is much happier with a set of tubes.

 

[dallan]

I agree with that, better with tubes.  Finally I agree with Erik on something.

 

[Nanashi]

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

How are you going to go portable with a HD-800?  They're a bit large and gawky around the house; you aren't planning to wear them in public, are you?
 
If you listening is going to be done at home, go with a desktop amp and skip the portable.  Besides, the HD-800 is much happier with a set of tubes.

+1

 

[bcwang]

Quote:

People says the HD 800 DO work well with the iphone, about for the fact that the volume remains low. For start, i just want something that amplifies the volume without affecting the sound itself. 
 

Remains low?  I thought the iphone got louder than I'd want to listen to with the HD800, it just sounded bad.
 
I think the whole idea of this should be transportable and not portable, as I don't know how portable an HD800 is going to be, as you will be dragging a 10 ft cable along, hearing everything around you, everyone around you hearing what you're listening to. 

 

[noris83]

Your budget is ~1900 (HD800-$1400, Amp-$500)
 
Skip the HD800s. Get one of your other headphone choices and you'll have more than enough left over to buy a desktop amp a portable amp and every interconnect you'll ever need. Probably end up with better sound and some money in your wallet by the time your done. Powering HD800s off a Fiio is like buying a Ferrari and then trying to operate it on used vegetable oil.

 

[Lan647]

Quote:

Your budget is ~1900 (HD800-$1400, Amp-$500)
 
Skip the HD800s. Get one of your other headphone choices and you'll have more than enough left over to buy a desktop amp a portable amp and every interconnect you'll ever need. Probably end up with better sound and some money in your wallet by the time your done. Powering HD800s off a Fiio is like buying a Ferrari and then trying to operate it on used vegetable oil.

LOL

 
Quote:

How are you going to go portable with a HD-800?  They're a bit large and gawky around the house; you aren't planning to wear them in public, are you?
 
If you listening is going to be done at home, go with a desktop amp and skip the portable.  Besides, the HD-800 is much happier with a set of tubes.

The listening would be 80% at home, 20% portable. The portable use is in the school, and in school i don't move around much...
 
A set of tubes?? I'm sorry but.... what is that?

 

[Lan647]

Quote:

I would look for a used Lisa lll.  They drive the 800s better than any portable and if you can eventually get the LLP power supply to charge the batteries and run it as a plug in that is the way to go for sure.  I have that setup, no other portable comes close in my mind.  It only takes rca input though so you need a mini>rca cable.

I'll look into it. 
 
 
To answer ALL of you, i will decide wether to buy the HD 800 when i've listened to them properly next week.