[what?]

no amp wanted,

new or used.

id like a killer 'SQ' portable set up.

modest volume required, best sq desired.

yes i know for $1600 with all sorts of additional items things can be much better.

but what would be a 'killer' portable rig.

just headphones (full iem or bud) and source $350 ish......

 

[Uncle Erik]

Get the best pair of Grados you can afford and run them straight out of an iPod of your choice. Be sure to consider either used; you can save a lot of money. I think I've seen a used RS-2 going around $350 here recently, so if you already have an iPod, that would knock your socks off.

I only use IEMs when I need isolation. Otherwise, I run a RS-1 right out of my iPod. No amp, no magic cables, nothing else. It's not as good as running them off a good tube amp, but I always enjoy it and don't see any point in buying anything else.

So go get the Grados you want and jack them into your DAP. I think you'd be happy jus like that.

 

[eb3604]

phonak pfe and cowon s9

 

[TacticalPenguin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eb3604 /img/forum/go_quote.gif phonak pfe and cowon s9

this

or pick a sony + ety ER 4, ety phones have great lineups with sony player's slight accentuation on bass (or so I notice)

 

[ethan961]

I vote for the phonak + s9 combo.

 

[pellothed1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacticalPenguin /img/forum/go_quote.gif this or pick a sony + ety ER 4, ety phones have great lineups with sony player's slight accentuation on bass (or so I notice)

I agree with this. My wife is using an 8GB Walkman that I was quite jealous of until I got my iPhone. The Sony made me realize how much a difference there is between the newer technologies and the old (I was still using an old iPod Photo, I guess that's a generation 3 iPod and felt it pretty much required an amp).