Share your new kit

Jackobyte

Baza210 wrote: »

Makes a good bit of difference with the PortaPros.

Do you happen to have a pair of M50's? And if you do, does it make much difference? It's my M50's from a Walkman that I'd be buying it for.

MagicMarker

Baza210 wrote: »

Yeah, I'd say so. It only cost €20.

http://www.inearmatters.net/2011/08/reveiw-fiio-e6.html

Would this seriously make much of a difference for the average listener?

Brian

Jackobyte wrote: »

Do you happen to have a pair of M50's? And if you do, does it make much difference? It's my M50's from a Walkman that I'd be buying it for.

No. But the M50s are higher end headphones than the PortaPros so it probably would help, especially since they're studio 'phones rather than portables.

MagicMarker wrote: »

Would this seriously make much of a difference for the average listener?

Depends on their other equipment.

Also, I just bought a FiiO D5 off a UK head-fi'er, to see if it works with my electret microphone from Giant Squid Audio Labs.

ReacherCreature

Baza210 wrote: »

Makes a good bit of difference with the PortaPros.

How much of a difference? I use PortaPros with an Ipod touch, and I like my sound. More depth is better. It's not like I have the volume on the Ipod all the way up or anything.

MagicMarker

Baza210 wrote: »

Depends on their other equipment.

How about Klipsch Image S4 buds, a phone and some MP3s, some of which aren't even 320kbps?

Jackobyte

Baza210 wrote: »

No. But the M50s are higher end headphones than the PortaPros so it probably would help, especially since they're studio 'phones rather than portables.



Depends on their other equipment.

They run at 38ohms and my walkman definitely can't put out that so technically they should benefit, but I was just wondering whether you had tried them. I'll find someone with both before lambayrules get them in! :P

Brian

MagicMarker wrote: »

How about Klipsch Image S4 buds, a phone and some MP3s, some of which aren't even 320kbps?

Probably not enough of a difference to warrant carrying and charging an extra device. But hey, it's only €20. If you don't like it, sell it to JackoByte

Jackobyte

MEGABUMP!


Received a nice ol' stocking filler off the big man yesterday.

ReacherCreature

Report on what they're like please!

Jackobyte

ReacherCreature wrote: »

Report on what they're like please!

Massive difference in power of cans when running my M50's off my Sony A845, which was a very weak powered mp3 in the first place compared to an iPhone and the like. No real difference when running them off my computer soundcard though, which was to be expected anyway.

I got it with the L5 Walkman out cable as well and I have to say, I'm even more impressed with that than I am with the amp.:pac: It makes an even bigger difference again versus the stock cable. With the L5 cable, the sound is fuller and louder than the audio 3.5mm to 3.5mm Male to Male cable that came supplied and by no small margin either. It is instantly noticeable when I swap between the two, but that is probably down to the shortcomings of my mp3 player rather than anything else. Max volume could now be used as a speaker for an entire room to listen to, but I wouldn't recommend it as it may damage the drivers. I wasn't going to pick up the cable but I am delighted I did now.

EDIT: One negative comment to make, the clip direction makes the amp extremely awkward to place comfortably on a pair of jeans. It goes across the player diagonally meaning the amp sits at an angle on you.

Morf

Audio Technica ATH-M50

Contemplating whether an amp would be worth it for improved sound quality.

nesf

Current shinies: (Sennheiser HD598, Fiio E10 Amp/DAC, Fiio E5 Portable Amp)



Meant to order an E6 but made a mistake. Happy out with the E5 though, does exactly what I need it to. Unamped the HD598s are fine for rock/metal but lack a bit of volume for classical if you like it fairly loud like I do.

ReacherCreature

Is it worth getting one of those amps for Koss PortaPros?

nesf

ReacherCreature wrote: »

Is it worth getting one of those amps for Koss PortaPros?

If you're unhappy with the volume, yes. If there's distortion or similar at the volume you like on your MP3 player, yes. For sound quality in general, no.

I'm deeply sceptical about the benefits of amps for sound quality. Not a single amp I've tried that's been neutral has benefited the sound coming out of my headphones. Caveat: Some like the E5/E6 have a bass booster function, this is a nice feature and makes one worth getting if you feel the bass coming out of your headphones is too weak/low.

Brian

And your headphone sample size is...?

nesf

Baza210 wrote: »

And your headphone sample size is...?

5. Mostly opinion is based on blind tests of amps and audiophiles not being able to tell expensive amps from cheap amps when everything is volume matched. That and blind tests, I can't tell my amped from unamped headphones or my E5 from my E10 when it's all volume matched.

Scubadevils

Finally got a set of the TMA-1 today, as mentioned in the 'great prices' thread I picked them up for 80 euro in Dublin airport this morning, absolute bargain considering the RRP is 200. I've only been able to listen on my Cowon S9 as I'm not at home but have to say I'm very impressed so far - a lot of bass as reviews have stated but a nice rounded sound too and very comfortable... aside from DJ use these will definitely be my 'fall asleep in bed' headphone and general heavier duty use... they seem really well built and up to falling off my head and me then falling asleep on them!

The plan this year had been to get the SR80 but I'll forget about them for now... at least till July or so anyway :pac:

nesf

nesf wrote: »

If you're unhappy with the volume, yes. If there's distortion or similar at the volume you like on your MP3 player, yes. For sound quality in general, no.

I'm deeply sceptical about the benefits of amps for sound quality. Not a single amp I've tried that's been neutral has benefited the sound coming out of my headphones. Caveat: Some like the E5/E6 have a bass booster function, this is a nice feature and makes one worth getting if you feel the bass coming out of your headphones is too weak/low.

Actually I'll add another condition that I forgot yesterday. If your mp3 player or source has a high output impedance for your headphones (NwAvGuy's rule of thumb is have output impedance 1/8th of your headphone impedance) then something like the E5 makes sense as it'll drop the output impedance to something approaching 0. If the output impedance is high then it'll audibly change the frequency response of the headphones, potentially to something less desirable and in this instance the amp will improve what you're hearing.

Usually this is only an issue with badly designed products or IEMs though. The Koss PortaPros at 60 Ohms shouldn't have a problem with any decently designed mp3 player. My Etymotic hf3s on the other hand at 16 Ohms will be a lot more temperamental with different mp3 players.

Nonoperational

Recently added a set of Ultimate Ears Triple Fi 10 to the collection. I think they are absolutely outstanding tbh. Paid $100 from a decent Head Fi member who got an extra set on Black Friday.

This takes the set to 5... Triple Fi 10, Klipsch Image S4, Beats Studio, Denon D2000, Sennheiser HD555. All driven by a Fiio E7. Gotta stop now...

yimrsg

Ordered shure triple flanges for my fischer audio dba-02, (the stock ones have a tendency to come off in my ear too easily) and sennheiser 414 pads for my alessandro ms1i which I'll do the reverse quarter mod on.

nesf

yimrsg wrote: »

Ordered shure triple flanges for my fischer audio dba-02, (the stock ones have a tendency to come off in my ear too easily) and sennheiser 414 pads for my alessandro ms1i which I'll do the reverse quarter mod on.

I've heard good things about these ones: http://www.iheadphones.co.uk/comply-t200-black-large-5-pair.html

I've yet to try them though, considering ordering some this month though I'm beginning to hate the sound of my Ety's.

Brian

yimrsg wrote: »

Ordered shure triple flanges for my fischer audio dba-02, (the stock ones have a tendency to come off in my ear too easily) and sennheiser 414 pads for my alessandro ms1i which I'll do the reverse quarter mod on.

I tried them on my ER-4Ps, they hurt to take out from the strength of the seal. I try to use hybrids on my DBA-02s now but have to fit a foam core on the shaft since it's a different size...

yimrsg

nesf wrote: »

I've heard good things about these ones: http://www.iheadphones.co.uk/comply-t200-black-large-5-pair.html

I've yet to try them though, considering ordering some this month though I'm beginning to hate the sound of my Ety's.

Never really liked foam although the only ones I've used are shure olives foam from a crappy se110 and didn't really like them, they deteriorate quicker than silicon and take longer to get a good fit. The stock triple flanges are super at adding isolation and bass impact so I'm reluctant to move away from what works for me. I've read on Head-fi, some posters swearing by trimmed complys but I can't see it bettering the isolation, convenience and longevity of silicon triple flanges.

Baza210 wrote: »

I tried them on my ER-4Ps, they hurt to take out from the strength of the seal. I try to use hybrids on my DBA-02s now but have to fit a foam core on the shaft since it's a different size...

The triple flanges included with the dba-02 were a revelation for me as I'd never used them before (the re0 biflanges didn't really suite for deep insertion), the only flaw was them coming unstuck very deep in the ear and not having a tweezers to hand. As long as they tips stay on when I take them out I'll suffer any pain gladly.

This post by Clieos really helped make an informed decision:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/304963/fyi-various-iems-tips-pictorial-comparison-updated-sept-29th-2011

padraig_f

Ordered a Schiit Asgard to power my HD650s

Brian

Why not an Objective-2?

corpo3030

I've gotten all of these within the last couple of months. So far the Grado is the best sounding, followed by the JVC, then the Denon, and the Sennheisers. The Portapros aren't as good as people told me they'd be.

PPC

padraig_f wrote: »

Ordered a Schiit Asgard to power my HD650s

Looking at ordering one of these in the next few months, did you ordered directly from Schiit?
What DAC are you going to be running with it? I'm tempted to get a Bifrost with USB, else probably just a HRT Streamer II.

Nonoperational

Got a bit of time to listen to the AIAIAI TMA-1s the last few days. Very impressed. They look pretty great in my opinion. Retro style and feel like a high quality product down to the way they were packed.

The sound is a little bass heavy but for the price they're downright impressive. Comfortable and good with any music I threw at them. Overall I'm delighted with them for €90. I was thinking of buying them to sell them on but I won't be doing that which I suppose is a pretty strong endorsement.

eclectichoney

Just picked up this for my sony e765 mp3 player:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-SRSNWGU50-CEK-Walkman-Speaker-Control/dp/B002MUBVFO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336117053&sr=8-1

Actually surprised how decent the sound is after a bit of burning in, and it's great they way it fits the walkman perfectly: no cables etc.