The Sub-$100 Portable Amps Shootout – 11(+1) amps compared

[ClieOS]

It seems like the ZO is out of the $100 range. Why to spoil such a fun product??! ... sigh

Yep, seems like it is going back up to the old ZO1's price.

 

[Totally Dubbed]

That's a little annoying...for people who don't have it :/

 

[bowei006]

Digizoid seems to have heard our.... talk about how the ZO2 really isn't even an amp so to say but a ...novelty ..thing i guess and they recently asked on facebook if they should add a add on to the ZO. they made add on very general by not saying if it was internal or external and just said ZO to keep the whole series in general.
 
if teh "Add on" is external, im out. That external add on that will increase teh power of the ZO is called get another amp. if it's internal....i just can't wait for an $160 ZO2+ or ZO3 come out.

 

[Totally Dubbed]

Well - maybe it was due to my comparison too ?
 
ZO2 drives on high gain, but not on low gain.
That said, I can't listen to music without it now + my MG7's love those bass contours.
 
I paid only $65 shipped -> well worth it at that price.
(bought off head-fi) v3

 

[Mysterious]

Which ones do you think can power the Bayerdynamic 250 ohm version effectively ?

 

[kmhaynes]

Clieos, as an ER-4P owner, I'm curious what you found with the E10 + ER-4S combination.  Did the E10 make any improvement for the ER-4S?  I'm driving my 4P with a Cowon J3, which seems strong enough to give the 4P some nice fullness, but may be the E10 would really give the 4P what it needs?

 

[imackler]

Since this is no longer strictly a sub-$100 thread (thanks to those digizoid price hikers), the only logical step is to add in more amps! I mean the T3 is $119 too!
 
Seriously though, I just got a T3 and can't wait to hear how you think the E11 stands up to it...or vice versa. And am really curious how both do against some of the more expensive amps in this price range.
 
I'm really glad you are doing this review thread. We've long needed on this forum a wallet friend portable amp comparison!
 
I'll twiddle my thumbs patiently till then!

 

[ClieOS]

Which ones do you think can power the Bayerdynamic 250 ohm version effectively ?

High impedance headphone require very little current, but there need more voltage to get louder. For all 8 amps listed here, only E11 is suitable for high impedance headphone because it has a 12dB (high) gain setting.

Clieos, as an ER-4P owner, I'm curious what you found with the E10 + ER-4S combination.  Did the E10 make any improvement for the ER-4S?  I'm driving my 4P with a Cowon J3, which seems strong enough to give the 4P some nice fullness, but may be the E10 would really give the 4P what it needs?

ER4S needs less current than 4P, but more voltage. E10 should be more than suffice to drive ER4S - but if you are getting sufficient volume out of J3, I think the difference you'll detect shouldn't be night and day. I don't really know how J3 sounds, but I will venture a guess and say maybe E10 will provide better control (speed and dampening, etc.)

Since this is no longer strictly a sub-$100 thread (thanks to those digizoid price hikers), the only logical step is to add in more amps! I mean the T3 is $119 too!

Seriously though, I just got a T3 and can't wait to hear how you think the E11 stands up to it...or vice versa. And am really curious how both do against some of the more expensive amps in this price range.

I'm really glad you are doing this review thread. We've long needed on this forum a wallet friend portable amp comparison!

I'll twiddle my thumbs patiently till then!

Some of it has been covered in my E11 review. Here.

 

[Totally Dubbed]

ClieOS - you really love the FiiO! 
I see you recommending them all the time

 

[bowei006]

Quote:

ClieOS - you really love the FiiO! 
I see you recommending them all the time

i don't see how you couldn't. When someone comes to you asking for a cheap amp that won't break teh bank that sounds nice, is versatile and has many features.. it's hard not to just think and say E6 and E11 and blurt out E10 to others..
 

 

[ClieOS]

ClieOS - you really love the FiiO! 
I see you recommending them all the time

For the price, what is there not to love? I am not saying FiiO is the be-all-end-all (nor is it close to that), but there are hardly any serious competition in their price range. But if you are willing to spend more, there are good amps on the higher price bucket as well. I really like T5 for its small size and BTL ground, O2 for its clean and totally transparent sound and StepDance for its smooth presentation and active balanced ground - and I won't hesitate to recommend any of them if you are looking into amps in their price range and the features they offer. I am going to pre-order C421 in the next few days and probably UHA-4 by the end of next month, I hope they will impress me as well. I might have quite a few FiiO, but I do own a few others as well and some of them are excellent on their own.

 

[Totally Dubbed]

Quote:

I am going to pre-order C421 in the next few days and probably UHA-4 by the end of next month, I hope they will impress me as well. I might have quite a few FiiO, but I do own a few others as well and some of them are excellent on their own.

Oh cool !
Yea I asked, because that's all I've seen you recommend.
ie. You didn't like the ZO2 for example?
 
Btw, what version of it do u have again?
 
 

 

[Roller]

ClieOS, I know this is a sub $100 thread, but I'm just curious what are your thoughts between the FiiO E17 and the iBasso D7. I'm only asking about SQ and amplification wise.

 

[Mysterious]

What about for the Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro 80  ?

 
 

 

[bowei006]

Quote:

What about for the Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro 80  ?

 
 

what about it? driveability? with what?
 
My E17 drives it with no problems. Thus E11 should as well. i wasn't able to test with ipod direct out.