[Sieg9198]

This may be a stupid question. But I really need some help.

What is the best amp(preferably portable amps)for AKG K701 under $350??

 

[d-cee]

i don't know about the BEST amp for the K701s

but a non-portable that is just a little bit extra money is the Heed Canamp

 

[stewtheking]

Headroom Micro line would be at least a transportable solution.

 

[Sieg9198]

oh, I heard of it before too, quite a lot of good reviews on it. How much??

 

[d-cee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sieg9198 /img/forum/go_quote.gif oh, I heard of it before too, quite a lot of good reviews on it. How much??

the canamp is about USD$400 iirc, the headroom micro amp is $299

 

[Sieg9198]

The canamp is a bit "big", microamp looks quite good though.^_^

I've done some searching and found out the hornet got some reputation too, is it good??

 

[johna]

Theres a lot of Hornet threads here.
Search and enjoy

 

[donunus]

Anyone like the headfive for the k701?

 

[user18]

I found the sound too thin on the Hornet. Although it can drive them well enough.

 

[d-cee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyone like the headfive for the k701?

loved it actually, was my mainstay for a while until I heard the canamp...

 

[ken36]

I certainly would never presume to answer this one. However, if you save, $10.00 a week for one year, you could add $520 to your $350 and be up in the Singlepower class. Now we have an Amp to discuss. IMO.

 

[blessingx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken36 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I certainly would never presume to answer this one. However, if you save, $10.00 a week for one year, you could add $520 to your $350 and be up in the Singlepower class. Now we have an Amp to discuss. IMO.

Why stop at one year? If you save till retirement...

 

[saisunil]

I had Headroom Micro - it is quite good. I compared it with XM4 from Practical devices - there was minor difference - only found when I did A-B back a forth a few times - Micro had bigger soundstage and better built but XM4 is smaller and has a lot more features and you could roll opamps.

Recently I received Dr. Xin's Macro LE and it sounds amazing with AKG 701 - the amp has bass boost too - which works well with AKG when I need it.

I was thinking of keeping XM4 as a second amp but I'm going to sell it and get a tube headphone amp

Sunil.

 

[Romanee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by user18 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I found the sound too thin on the Hornet. Although it can drive them well enough.

Just curious … were the 701s you heard thoroughly broken in? (…maybe 300+ hours, tho' some would say even more…)

Also, what source were you using/hearing, and what interconnects?

All those can significantly impact the sound coming out of the 701s, which even fully matured are very component (and music) sensitive.

I found my Hornet with ALO Jumbo Silk Dock and Zu Pivot 1/4-to-1/8 adapter cable to produce a fairly robust and very satisfying sound through the 701s — even from my 5.5g 80GB Video iPod, and certainly much better SQ via X-Ray CD Transport > Muse DAC.

(iPod is my benchmark for portables since I'm not going to drag around a big transport+DAC.)

At work the sound's better out of Mac G5 Tower > glass toslink optical > Spitfire DAC > Zu Pivot RCA-to-1/8" IC > Hornet > Zu Pivot 1/4"-to-1/8" > K701 (tho' for comfort I prefer my DT880-250/2005).

In any case, my own personal experience has not been a thin sound with Hornet > K701.

 

[amphead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by saisunil /img/forum/go_quote.gif I had Headroom Micro - it is quite good. I compared it with XM4 from Practical devices - there was minor difference - only found when I did A-B back a forth a few times - Micro had bigger soundstage and better built but XM4 is smaller and has a lot more features and you could roll opamps. Recently I received Dr. Xin's Macro LE and it sounds amazing with AKG 701 - the amp has bass boost too - which works well with AKG when I need it. I was thinking of keeping XM4 as a second amp but I'm going to sell it and get a tube headphone amp Sunil.

I'll have to take a look at Dr. Xin's Macro LE, Sunil. I usually build my own amps but sometimes a better engineered product is the way to go. Looks like you registered a long time ago and rediscovered the forum.