[Evshrug]

Given the current conversation, what is a good thread or site discussing and comparing OpAmp offerings? I get this banner ad on Head-Fi all the time advertising Burson "Ultimate Opamp," but as good as Burson's reputation is I detect a fair amount of marketing hype and I suspect the opamp won't fit inside many enclosures.

 

[ClieOS]

Given the current conversation, what is a good thread or site discussing and comparing OpAmp offerings? I get this banner ad on Head-Fi all the time advertising Burson "Ultimate Opamp," but as good as Burson's reputation is I detect a fair amount of marketing hype and I suspect the opamp won't fit inside many enclosures.

 
I usually just dig around the DIY forum for information.

 

[TeddyShot]

Is the JDS Labs C5 significantly better over the Fiio E12? I'm considering buying one of the two but as you may know, the C5 costs $60 (at $190) more than the E12.

P.s I would consider the Fiio E12DIY but I don't think it will go down from $250. And as for the Fiio E12A, how does it compare at $160?

Also I will be running a Sennheiser HD 558 (possibly with foam mod) off it.

 

[ClieOS]

Is the JDS Labs C5 significantly better over the Fiio E12? I'm considering buying one of the two but as you may know, the C5 costs $60 (at $190) more than the E12.

P.s I would consider the Fiio E12DIY but I don't think it will go down from $250. And as for the Fiio E12A, how does it compare at $160?

Also I will be running a Sennheiser HD 558 (possibly with foam mod) off it.

 
I won't say it is 'significantly' better, but it is noticeable if you are a critical listener. I'll however rate E12DIY to be better of C5 and on par with O2. Given E12A's performance is very close to that of E12DIY, I'll rate it better than C5 as well.

 

[TeddyShot]

I won't say it is 'significantly' better, but it is noticeable if you are a critical listener. I'll however rate E12DIY to be better of C5 and on par with O2. Given E12A's performance is very close to that of E12DIY, I'll rate it better than C5 as well.

Well that makes it a difficult choice since I can get a Fiio E12 for $130, a JDS C5 for $135 (refurbished), and a Fiio E12A for $160

 

[YoYo JoKeR]

Well that makes it a difficult choice since I can get a Fiio E12 for $130, a JDS C5 for $135 (refurbished), and a Fiio E12A for $160

Hi there,
 
Why dont you consider the Cayin C5? It costs around 150$ and has excellent feedback from all Head-Fi members.
 
Sonic performance is excellent, is almost neutral and as transparent as Objective2. The C5 also has lot of output power and includes other features like power bank and bass boost as well. 
 
Check it out 

 

[TeddyShot]

Hi there,

Why dont you consider the Cayin C5? It costs around 150$ and has excellent feedback from all Head-Fi members.

 
Sonic performance is excellent, is almost neutral and as transparent as Objective2. The C5 also has lot of output power and includes other features like power bank and bass boost as well. 

Check it out 

I've heard that the Cayin C5 and Fiio E12A have are equal in terms of sound quality. The problem with the Cayin C5 is that it's too vintage looking and the sound of the Fiio E12A interests me more. At 17 vintage isn't exactly my taste and when paired with a Sennheiser 558, a narrower soundstage won't be too much of a problem.

 

[TeddyShot]

Well that makes it a difficult choice since I can get a Fiio E12 for $130, a JDS C5 for $135 (refurbished), and a Fiio E12A for $160

Well I ended up ordering a Fiio E12 on Black Friday. I got it for $100 Brand New. I was seriously considering the E12A but it didn't go down from its $160 price. Did I get a good deal though?

 

[howdy]

Heck yeah that's a great deal. You will like the amp. What headphones are you using with it?

 

[TeddyShot]

Heck yeah that's a great deal. You will like the amp. What headphones are you using with it?

I'm using a pair of Sennheiser 598s I got for $100 Brand New on Black Friday. Funny thing is I didn't like the sound much. It added more detail to music but made my headphone sound narrower in soundstage. So I returned it and got the Cayin C5 (I looks good with the 598). I'm about to test the Cayin C5 right now, hope it was worth the $150 I paid for it (I got it $20 off on Amazon.

 

[howdy]

And you are using the C5 with an iPod correct? I don't like my e12 with my iPod either, but with my X5 its damn near unbeatable. The 598s are good HPs with some good power behind them..

 

[TeddyShot]

And you are using the C5 with an iPod correct? I don't like my e12 with my iPod either, but with my X5 its damn near unbeatable. The 598s are good HPs with some good power behind them..

No I. Using my iPad Air's headphone jack. The headphone have a bigger soundstage when I ran them off my iPad then when I ran them with the E12 connected. But I only played the E12 for a total of about 10 hours.

 

[elfary]

It seems that the day my 4 year old iBasso T3 craps out i'm having a hard time to find some amp as tiny, powerful and good sounding, It is ideal to drive my multidriver iems hooked to an (also discontinued) iPod Classic
 
And its battery runs for more than 30 hours. Almosto like the iPod. What an ultraportable and long lasting combo.

 

[CJG888]

C&C BH2?

 

[ClieOS]

BH2 fits most of the bill though I don't consider it to be better sounding. T5 would have be the natural choice except the build quality isn't good enough for a recommendation. Unfortunately the only ultraportable that I know that can beat even T5 is pretty much dead in prototype phase.
 
Right now T5 seems to be the only real option. Hmm.