Trying to choose portable amps for bass boost, soundstage among Fiio e11, JDS Cmoy BB, digizoid Z02

[Norman314]

I am looking to buy my first portable amp. I might actually get a few cheap ones (i.e. roughly $60-100), as I think this could provide a better experience than a single more expensive one. 
 
I listen to a lot of classical, electronic, and heavy metal, but lots of other stuff too (see profile for more details). 
 
For headphones, I have an old set of Denon A-HD 1001, recently purchased a Sennheiser HD25 and an Audiotechnica ATH-AD900, and am about to purchase a Fischer FA-003. My understanding is that all of these headphones are fairly easy to drive, but would still benefit from amplification, especially the larger ones (Fischer and Audiotechnica).
 
The most important improvements I want from to get from an amp are to improve the bass extension of the audiotechnicas and the soundstage size of the Sennheisers. Neither of these two headphones is burned in yet -- each has about 10 hours on it, but based on reviews I expect these will continue to be their weaknesses.
 
With the Fischers, I don't know what I'll want to improve since I haven't gotten them yet. They're supposed to be neutral and balanced. The Denons would benefit from a tighter bass.
 
The main three amps I'm considering are the Fiio e11, JDS Cmoy BB, and Digizoid Z02. I might buy one, two, or all three of these amps depending on people's feedback here. Or possibly something else.
 
My thoughts on each of them based on reading reviews are as follows
 
Fiio e11 -- Very portable, seems like it should give good performance, but maybe not exceptional.
 
JDS -- Seems to get better reviews than Fiio, but comparatively less portable. I feel like ordering an amp from a small business with DIY ideals might give me a better product than a similarly priced product from a large corporation.
 
Digizoid -- Most portable of the 3. Don't know what to think of it -- seems like it might be legit new technology or might just be an equalizer with marketing hype attached. It is marketed as a bass booster, so might be the best bet for boosting bass on the audiotechnicas.
 
 
Specific questions:
 
1) Which of these 3 do you think is best for improving bass extension on the Audiotechnica ATH-AD900? Or is there another that you'd recommend in the same price range for this purpose?
 
2) Which of these 3 do you think is best for improving soundstage size on the Sennheiser HD25? Or is there another that you'd recommend in the same price range for this purpose?
 
3) If you have experience with both the JDS and the Fiio, do you find the Fiio to be significantly more portable (i.e. easier to fit in a pants pocket, lighter weight)?
 
4) For my purposes, would moving up in price from the Fiio or the JDS to something like the iBasso T3 provide a substantial improvement? 
 
 
 
 

 

[D Rob]

I'm in for the outcome as well.

 

[Norman314]

I didn't hear anything on this thread, and after a bit more research I ended up ordering the Soundmagic A10. The Cmoy was tempting, but once I read that you can't overcharge it or it will break I ruled it out. No way do I want to keep track of how long I have it charging every time.
 
I think the A10 will have better sound quality than the E11, and it's smaller too, and comes with lots of accessories. My main concern about it is that some reviewers said the volume dial does can get moved around accidentally. Well, we'll see.

 

[kmhaynes]

Quote:

I didn't hear anything on this thread, and after a bit more research I ended up ordering the Soundmagic A10. ...
 
I think the A10 will have better sound quality than the E11, and it's smaller too, and comes with lots of accessories. My main concern about it is that some reviewers said the volume dial does can get moved around accidentally. Well, we'll see.

 
I had both amps at one time, and IMO, the E11 has a cleaner sound, the A10 a warmer sound.  The A10 is more musical and has a good bass boost; but the bass boost on both is sort of fuzzy, with a wide range of increase, almost reaching up into the lower mids area.
 
The volume on the A10 is not a problem at all -- it barely peeks out of the corner, and it has a good movement dampener on it so that you have to purposefully put your finger on it and roll it.
 

 

[D Rob]

Having heard about a few small issues with the ZO2 I was considering the E11 or a JDS myself. Trying to keep the OP's thread alive! I hear the E11 is very powerful. Which is cool, but I personally just have several iem's that I'll be running off of the amp. I heard the A10 was rather warm and that the bass boost got into the mids a bit which is fine, but not my cup of tea for my current iem's. Any opinions?

 

[kmhaynes]

Quote:

Having heard about a few small issues with the ZO2 I was considering the E11 or a JDS myself. Trying to keep the OP's thread alive! I hear the E11 is very powerful. Which is cool, but I personally just have several iem's that I'll be running off of the amp. I heard the A10 was rather warm and that the bass boost got into the mids a bit which is fine, but not my cup of tea for my current iem's. Any opinions?

Without knowing the IEMs you have, it's hard to say which amp will be best for you.  If you don't want a warm amp, then the E11 may be your best option.  The ZO is an amp, but it's main thing is sub-bass boost, and the A10 isn't muddy or anything, just warmer than the E11.  E11 does have a bass boost, 2 settings, if I remember correctly, but it is a very nice amp for the <$100 price.
 

 

[D Rob]

Quote:

Without knowing the IEMs you have, it's hard to say which amp will be best for you.  If you don't want a warm amp, then the E11 may be your best option.  The ZO is an amp, but it's main thing is sub-bass boost, and the A10 isn't muddy or anything, just warmer than the E11.  E11 does have a bass boost, 2 settings, if I remember correctly, but it is a very nice amp for the <$100 price.
 

True. Sorry. VSONIC gr07's, and Etymotic HF3's. I really like the E11, but primarily now, I want something that adds bass, but in the right spots, while not making it muddy or ruining the treble. So on that note, I am wondering between the E11 and the ZO2 simply for amping and adding bass with out being boomy, having tons of mid bass, or being bloated.
 

 

[Norman314]

So, I've received the A10 in the mail, and tried it out with the HD25 and the AD900. To my ear, with the bass boost off, I notice no difference at all in the sound. With the bass boost on, the AD900
has a stronger bass, but still does not sound great with bass-heavy genres. Didn't try out the bass boost with the hd25 since they have plenty of bass on their own. The Fischers have not arrived yet, so I can't comment on them. Overall, this is disappointing. I knew that the HD25 and AD900 would not respond strongly to an amp, but I expected to notice at least a minor change.
 
Also, the accessories that come with the A10 are kind of cheap -- the cord that plugs into the line-out connector comes loose easily and has to be screwed back in. 
 
As for the issue with the location of the volume switch -- on the one hand it seems like it's not too likely to get pushed accidentally, but on the other hand if it does get pushed accidentally, it could really badly damage my ears. But this seems to be the case with most portable amplifier designs -- none that I've seen, at least in this price range, has a volume lock.  It really makes me appreciate the volume lock switch design of my iPod nano. Is it possible to hook it up to the iPod in such a way that the volume is controlled by the iPod?
 
So I'm thinking about ordering the z02 next, but I'm not sure. For one thing it does seem to have a volume control that goes one step at a time and is therefore harder to mess up. On the other hand, it seems like it would not really function as a neutral amp since it boosts the bass even on the lowest bass boost setting. Maybe my money is better spent on more headphones rather than more amps. 

 

[D Rob]

Quote:

So, I've received the A10 in the mail, and tried it out with the HD25 and the AD900. To my ear, with the bass boost off, I notice no difference at all in the sound. With the bass boost on, the AD900
has a stronger bass, but still does not sound great with bass-heavy genres. Didn't try out the bass boost with the hd25 since they have plenty of bass on their own. The Fischers have not arrived yet, so I can't comment on them. Overall, this is disappointing. I knew that the HD25 and AD900 would not respond strongly to an amp, but I expected to notice at least a minor change.
 
Also, the accessories that come with the A10 are kind of cheap -- the cord that plugs into the line-out connector comes loose easily and has to be screwed back in. 
 
As for the issue with the location of the volume switch -- on the one hand it seems like it's not too likely to get pushed accidentally, but on the other hand if it does get pushed accidentally, it could really badly damage my ears. But this seems to be the case with most portable amplifier designs -- none that I've seen, at least in this price range, has a volume lock.  It really makes me appreciate the volume lock switch design of my iPod nano. Is it possible to hook it up to the iPod in such a way that the volume is controlled by the iPod?
 
So I'm thinking about ordering the z02 next, but I'm not sure. For one thing it does seem to have a volume control that goes one step at a time and is therefore harder to mess up. On the other hand, it seems like it would not really function as a neutral amp since it boosts the bass even on the lowest bass boost setting. Maybe my money is better spent on more headphones rather than more amps. 

From everything I read, it sounded as if the amp to beat in the even in this price bracket and even a little bit above it was the Fiio e11. I have not received it yet but it should arrive today. I did not consider the A10 because the reviews of it didn't particularly align with my interests but I was considering a ZO2. Ultimately it boiled down to wanting the best of both worlds and to me it seems like the e11 should be a solid amp without bass boost (for BA iem's and cans that don't need bass) and then give good clean bass boost without a bunch of mid-bass or distortion (for er4's and RE0's lol). I will try come back and throw up an opinion of it of you like but keep in mind, like you it will be my first amp.