average_joe
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Posts
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- 299
OK, let me try to clear things up.
#1 - if you are using your D2, IMO the best bang for your buck is new IEMs, depending on the sound signature you like (return the 751 and get something better
). It most likely will add much more than any amp from your D2. Now, if you want a DAC/amp, that is another thing.
In the under $150 DAC/amp category I only know of the Icon Mobile and upcoming Fiio E7 in the portable category.
You could also get a T4 and a $50 computer DAC like something from Hotaudio.
So, what exactly are you looking for? An amp for your D2, a DAC/amp for your computer, or both.
Anyways, I was in a similar situation, trying to figure out how I was really going to use things, and what a good value for an amp would be. I got an E5 and an Icon Mobile and not to long after bought a sound card. From my Fuze headphone out, I thought the E5 and Icon Mobile didn't add anything compared to just using the headphone out. Actually, I thought both amps sounded a little worse. Things are different now that I use a LOD with my Fuse (at least with the E5, didn't have the LOD when I had the Icon Mobile).
The Icon Mobile was good from my computer, much better than from my Fuze, but my sound card sounded much better than the Icon Mobile from a soundstage standpoint, much wider and more 3D. And the bass of the sound card was also way better than the Icon Mobile, so I returned it.
When I listened to some $250+ amps at Can Jam via my Fuze LOD, and comparing with my E5 via my IE8, I wasn't really too impressed for the money. The sound signature was similar, and they didn't seem to add too much.
I think the AMP3 used as an amp offers a bigger improvement, especially for the price (not saying to replace the D2, but if you want an amp for the D2). Could be the listening environment (Can Jam), burn in, extended listening, synergy, but for the $160 of the AMP3, I am super impressed. The DAP function and earbuds are just added value IMO. I also use the AMP3 from the line out of my sound card as it has a different sound signature than my sound card and sounds very very good with certain headphones.
It is a tough decision, hope this cleared stuff up somewhat.
#1 - if you are using your D2, IMO the best bang for your buck is new IEMs, depending on the sound signature you like (return the 751 and get something better
In the under $150 DAC/amp category I only know of the Icon Mobile and upcoming Fiio E7 in the portable category.
You could also get a T4 and a $50 computer DAC like something from Hotaudio.
So, what exactly are you looking for? An amp for your D2, a DAC/amp for your computer, or both.
Anyways, I was in a similar situation, trying to figure out how I was really going to use things, and what a good value for an amp would be. I got an E5 and an Icon Mobile and not to long after bought a sound card. From my Fuze headphone out, I thought the E5 and Icon Mobile didn't add anything compared to just using the headphone out. Actually, I thought both amps sounded a little worse. Things are different now that I use a LOD with my Fuse (at least with the E5, didn't have the LOD when I had the Icon Mobile).
The Icon Mobile was good from my computer, much better than from my Fuze, but my sound card sounded much better than the Icon Mobile from a soundstage standpoint, much wider and more 3D. And the bass of the sound card was also way better than the Icon Mobile, so I returned it.
When I listened to some $250+ amps at Can Jam via my Fuze LOD, and comparing with my E5 via my IE8, I wasn't really too impressed for the money. The sound signature was similar, and they didn't seem to add too much.
I think the AMP3 used as an amp offers a bigger improvement, especially for the price (not saying to replace the D2, but if you want an amp for the D2). Could be the listening environment (Can Jam), burn in, extended listening, synergy, but for the $160 of the AMP3, I am super impressed. The DAP function and earbuds are just added value IMO. I also use the AMP3 from the line out of my sound card as it has a different sound signature than my sound card and sounds very very good with certain headphones.
It is a tough decision, hope this cleared stuff up somewhat.