[Magicthyse]

Or the Sharp MD-MT821 for that matter...

Both have effectively the same output (821: 10mw/chan into 16ohms, 880: 5mw/chan into 32ohms)

I've just been looking at these portable amps with ruler in hand, and they're just too big - not exactly the size of a cassette, are they? More like considerably bigger than a cassette case... That's kind of a problem.

 

[wab]

My Sharp SR70 mdp has probably the same output as yours. It powers the Beyer's just fine. It can go very loud but the bass is a bit lacking. I usually have it at 15/30 volume and with bass on 1.
Hope this helps..

 

[Magicthyse]

Thanks for the reply. Could you tell me what other phones you have had? I'd just like to get a measure of what you mean by lacking bass. These will be my alternative portable phones (the other being the V700) and I'm not looking for thumping bass - rather for a balanced sound with good presence - including, yes, adequate bass - and also with more musicality than the Sennheiser 280 Pro, for example.

 

[wab]

Other phones I've had include Sennheiser HD580, HD495, MX500 and Sony MDR-EX70. IMHO, of all these headphones, the Beyer's have by far the best sound directly out of a portable's headphone-jack.
The bass is still tight en deep but I know that when I power them from my integrated amp's headphone jack it's a bit better. No big deal, still much better than your V700's

They're also very musical. I enjoy mine a lot these days, also directly from portables.

 

[acs236]

It sounds like you'd be happiest with an altoids-boxed amp.

 

[reynman]

Magicthyse,

I own the 250-80 but use the r900 with its pathetic headout. It powers the 250-80 without distorting it. Good bass, warm sound, nice details. It would probably sound better on the 821 you mentioned with the higher headout. I also use the r900/250-80 with my Altoids CHA47. Brings the 250-80 to another level.

Regards - reynman

 

[Magicthyse]

Lookes like these are the phones for me. Thanks - yet another phone to put on order

 

[Superbaldguy]

It never ends, does it?

 

[Magicthyse]

It does get a bit ridiculous, doesn't it? I spent more than I've spent on headphones to date effectively putting a headphone socket onto my amp! I'm curious about the etys (you must be a happy bunny huh?), but well, let's wait for the forthcoming brace of phones and see where I go from there...

 

[Superbaldguy]

As far as pure sound is concerned, the Etys seem to be the real deal. "Accuracy" is a word that is overused to describe the sound of the ER-4P's, but it's applicable. With the drivers so close to the ear, I can hear details that were previously not part of my recordings.

This afternoon, I tried out my D22 Eggos that have sat for a week, unused. They sound wonderful, but seem a bit laidback and quiet compared to the Etys. The enhanced output of the 4P's makes a big difference with those weedy Sony headphone amps.

I really have no reason to buy another set of headphones, at least not in the near future.