Portable headphone amp

[Biggiesized]

Hi, everyone, I'm fairly new here but I've been lurking for the past 1.5-2 years--it's a nice escape while I'm at work.

To the point: I'm considering investing in a pair of Sennheiser HD650s. From all the research I've done, I think I'd like them. I've also gathered that these babies need to be driven properly with an amplifier. Is this completely true? Partially?

I've been looking at a portable solution, given the above information. After more extensive research, I've sort of narrowed it down based on this criteria:

• Can sufficiently/comfortably drive the Sennheiser HD650s

• Can run off of a replaceable battery--most likely a 9V

• Highest quality opamps and other components for a reasonable price--will spend more if justifiable

The few I've looked at are a custom Mini³ built by MisterX, a Meier Audio CORDA Headsix (Head-Fi special), CORDA XXS, and a Headstage Lyrix Pro total.

Has anyone used any of them? Are the XXS and Headsix essentially identical? Do I need an amp? I've read about cMoys but they sound junky. I'm looking to keep the amp under $200 and I don't think I'd care for features like crossfeed filter, etc. even if they are included in some of the ones I've listed.

My sources will most likely be an iPod for portable use (not in the public though--wouldn't want the HD650s to get damaged or nicked) and my computer for home listening.

Now I've also been considering a few other things. If I invest in a decent receiver (with a new Pioneer 9G purchase later this year ), would I even need a dedicated headphone amp? Don't most receivers have poor analog out components for headphones?

I've also looked at just upgrading my computer's sound card. I've been looking at a HT Omega Claro+ which has AD8610 opamps and a front panel connector. How well would that work just for a home listening solution and scrapping the portable one?

Thoughts?

 

[fmw]

Sounds like you're all set. I pod and computer.

 

[Biggiesized]

LOL

Do you have any thoughts as to which headphone amp I might go with? Do I have an appropiate setup? What about using a receiver instead as I've outlined?

 

[Brian_the_King]

I would say you would appreciate the addition of an amp, but I couldn't really recommend one off the top of my head.

Why not post this on headfi?

 

[Biggiesized]

I'm afraid of snake oil and escalation (i.e. this won't be good enough, try this more expensive one instead).

 

[fmw]

LOL

Do you have any thoughts as to which headphone amp I might go with? Do I have an appropiate setup? What about using a receiver instead as I've outlined?

Yes, use your Ipod. It is plenty portable enough. Somebody above mentioned snake oil. There is some snake oil in the high end headphone amp industry. I've had a couple. They work just as well as any preamp or receiver. In the old days we used portable CD players. Those are things ipods replaced.

 

[Biggiesized]

Will any of those work sufficiently well enough?

 

[Brian_the_King]

I'm afraid of snake oil and escalation...

True that, but it's quite a helpful resource after you cut through the ****.

If that's why you won't go on there, though, and you want to upgrade your headphone listening, I can tell you will see an improvement with the Headsix, and if you have the money to spend I say go for it [assuming you decide against the other two options I quoted you pondering about].

...Now I've also been considering a few other things. If I invest in a decent receiver (with a new Pioneer 9G purchase later this year ), would I even need a dedicated headphone amp? Don't most receivers have poor analog out components for headphones?...

Toss of the dice, you'll have to look up reviews for the receiver, or talk to someone that has one + some hp experience. Or just try it out when you get the receiver; you be the judge of SQ. The main issues people have with receiver hp outputs is the amount of noise, or the inability to drive high impedance headphones [and HD650s are high impedance headphones]. If you think the receiver beats your ipod, then there's your upgrade.

For instance, if you look at my portable rig against my home stereo.. plugging my cans into the receivers hp output sounds better than the ipod+amp. But my receiver just happens to have a solid hp out, there are certainly receivers in the same price range that have crappy hp outputs.

...I've also looked at just upgrading my computer's sound card. I've been looking at a HT Omega Claro+ which has AD8610 opamps and a front panel connector. How well would that work just for a home listening solution and scrapping the portable one?...

If you don't need the portable amp so your hps are portable, and are only looking for sq improvement.. I would do the soundcard instead of an amp.

But be wary if you choose this option. If you computer is exceptionally loud, that will be a problem since the HD650s are open cans. My computer has a 'broken' fan that makes quite a bit of noise, and as such I would never use it as my primary source [unless I replaced the fan, and maybe even moved the computer farther away from where I sit].


Good luck with this decision, you seem to have many possible options

 

[Biggiesized]

Well I'd be looking at a receiver that is new this year. The Pioneer 1018 looks tempting at $599 but I don't know how it'll perform. I'm curious if a receiver can match a dedicated headphone amp like the ones I've mentioned above. I don't know how the receiver will compare the iPod's headphone out, but I suppose it might be better. The big problem here is that I've yet to listen the to headphones, let alone buy them, so I don't know how the variables will react.

I have a pair of 120mm Silverstone FM121s and those suckers get loud at 2500 RPMs. The thing is they are rated at 110 CFPM and get really loud. However, I unplug them from time to time when I don't need them. When they're unplugged I can barely hear my heatsink, but I do hear my hard drives thrashing occasionally.

The bottom line is that I can afford this gear, I just don't want to make a bad investment.

 

[Brian_the_King]

Yea I feel ya. Well, if I were in your situation I'd get the cans now. Start there, see how they sound on your current setups.

As for what to do then... I don't know. I hate to change the basic part of your equation so far, but how do you feel about looking at different, lower impedence headphones? Many people on Head-fi will tell you that you can't get acceptable sound out of HD650s from an unamplified ipod. This is not so with low resistance cans such as those from Grado or Audio Technica, as two examples.

I don't get the true purpose of you getting these hps, though. I mean, if you get a portable amp I would also suggest a LOD for the ipod [read; more $]. But if you aren't going to leave the house with your cans [is that the case?], then just get that nice sound card, and use the hps on the PC and receiver. Unless of course you get low-impedance cans, then you can get proper sound right out of the ipod.

...I'm curious if a receiver can match a dedicated headphone amp like the ones I've mentioned above...

No, the vast majority of the time.

...I don't know how the receiver will compare the iPod's headphone out, but I suppose it might be better...

Usually it will sound better, especially in the price range you're talking. But I guess there will always be exceptions..


haha hope I'm helping, and not just ranting on

 

[Biggiesized]

I would use the headphones + iPod portably, just not on like public transportation.

I'm looking to get a good set of cans that I can use for many years. It seems that once you break a certain price barrier, lots of cans have high impedence ratings. However, these portable amps should take care of that satisfactorily.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a LOD?

I'd like to purchase just the receiver if they can do the job of the portable headphone amps and I'll forgo the whole iPod ordeal. I have a cheap pair of Sony MDR-V6s for those.

Basically, I'm trying to weigh my options here: what's the minimum I can invest without buying things that do the same thing? How many different means of listening to music can I buy within this budget?

Do you see where I'm going with this? This isn't exactly a simple question. I'm totally conflicted as to which way to lean. I suppose if I could listen to them first, it wouldn't be so hard. However, I don't know a way in which I could.

 

[Brian_the_King]

...Forgive my ignorance, but what is a LOD?...

= Line out dock

http://aloaudio.com/store/catalog/images/AuAg-Dock.jpg

So the amp gets a line out signal, rather than taking an inferior path through the ipods amplifier first.

...I'm looking to get a good set of cans that I can use for many years. It seems that once you break a certain price barrier, lots of cans have high impedence ratings...

But not all of them. Again, Grado and Audio Technica come to mind first.

..However, these portable amps should take care of that satisfactorily...

Certainly, if you buy one

...Basically, I'm trying to weigh my options here: what's the minimum I can invest without buying things that do the same thing? How many different means of listening to music can I buy within this budget?

Do you see where I'm going with this? This isn't exactly a simple question. I'm totally conflicted as to which way to lean. I suppose if I could listen to them first, it wouldn't be so hard. However, I don't know a way in which I could...

If I'm in your situation, I'd get 650s and a nice portable amp for the ipod and just use that. Say you skip the soundcard, what's your budget for amp/lod?

 

[Biggiesized]

Well the amp is something my father would most likely buy. He wants a new HDTV for the bedroom and I've already convinced him to buy a 9G Kuro. I figure nows the time to invest in a decent A/V setup. We already have a Samsung HL-S6187W in the family room, but use the stock television speakers. It's not an ideal place for HT.

How expensive is a LOD? That's the big question. That thing looks really cool and small, and thus it doesn't appear to be too expensive. I didn't know the iPod can output the signal through the charging dock port.

 

[Brian_the_King]

...I didn't know the iPod can output the signal through the charging dock port.

Yes, and it sounds better. How much better is up for argument, but it is superior. And idk how much you would spend, here's a pretty nice one [scroll down a tad].
http://www.fixup.net/talk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2208

I need sleep now, but here are three more possible amp options, though I think any of the ones you mention in the first post will work fine. You really may want to go on Head-fi to find the best amp for the 650s, or if you really don't want to subscribe there for one thread, I can go on and get an answer for ya.

http://www.portaphile.com/ordering.html
XIN SuperMini-IV [Scroll down some]
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphone-amps/the-mobile-line/headroom-total-bithead.php [also has a built in DAC with USB input, could be used on the PC w/out the need for a new soundcard]

 

[Biggiesized]

I've already registered there and have done quite a bit of lurking. Some of the threads I've read have been really helpful, like the 32 headphone amp shootout. I've also read some reviews of the Headsix and it sounds very promising. It's a small margin project meaning more bang for your buck.

Those other ones you've listed sound good but are a little out of my price range.

I've spoken to a few people about the BitHead and some of them were disappointed. Headroom's gear seems a bit overpriced.

Who else sells those LOD cables? That looks like a reasonable price to me.

 

[satish536]

well if your looking for a cheap/ bang for buck headphone amp.
I was in the same situation as u at one time and then being on a very limited budget had only one choice i.e both inexpensive and a good performer

Pocket amp v2 - Do some research on this.

Here's a thread
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/opinions-pocket-amp-v2-121963/

peace
satish

 

[Alex2507]

Here's a link to a thread that talks about a pair of headphones and a headphone amp. I subscribed to it because I thought it had some good info for me should I ever go that route. You might find it useful.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39706