New decade, end of the CD?

I'm still surprised to see you sing the praises of the iQube, I would have thought Class-D amps, by their very digital nature, would be an anathema to you.

Edited by Dean - September 29 2011 at 02:33

Catcher10 wrote:   oliverstoned.......what is the one under the Zune? I have a ZuneHD 32GB (Flash) which compared to the first generation Zune 30GB (HDD), they lowered the output on the newer ZuneHD models, so my Monster Turbine Pro Golds sound like transistor radio ear plugs . If I can find a good value in an amp then I might look into a nice pair of closed cans.   thanks

That's the Qables iQube V1 - €400 ($550), unless you want the "good" one, then that's €1200  ($1600)... and if you find that hard to swallow  - don't worry the PCB is made from medical grade epoxy (!?!?!) and OFC copper. It's a bit of an over-kill for ear-buds, even $300 ones. If all you want is to get back some of the volume, then there are a few sub $100 portable headphone amps that would do that (such as the Fiio E11), though I'm sure someone will tell you the $375 RSA Emmeline P51 is the way to go (even for ear buds). However I think amps designed to drive big Hi-Z cans will kick out too much voltage for low impedance ear buds (but sure, they'll be as loud as f...)

Dean wrote: Catcher10 wrote:   oliverstoned.......what is the one under the Zune? I have a ZuneHD 32GB (Flash) which compared to the first generation Zune 30GB (HDD), they lowered the output on the newer ZuneHD models, so my Monster Turbine Pro Golds sound like transistor radio ear plugs . If I can find a good value in an amp then I might look into a nice pair of closed cans.   thanks That's the Qables iQube V1 - €400 ($550), unless you want the "good" one, then that's €1200  ($1600)... and if you find that hard to swallow  - don't worry the PCB is made from medical grade epoxy (!?!?!) and OFC copper. It's a bit of an over-kill for ear-buds, even $300 ones. If all you want is to get back some of the volume, then there are a few sub $100 portable headphone amps that would do that (such as the Fiio E11), though I'm sure someone will tell you the $375 RSA Emmeline P51 is the way to go (even for ear buds). However I think amps designed to drive big Hi-Z cans will kick out too much voltage for low impedance ear buds (but sure, they'll be as loud as f...)

Catcher10 wrote: Dean wrote: Catcher10 wrote:   oliverstoned.......what is the one under the Zune? I have a ZuneHD 32GB (Flash) which compared to the first generation Zune 30GB (HDD), they lowered the output on the newer ZuneHD models, so my Monster Turbine Pro Golds sound like transistor radio ear plugs . If I can find a good value in an amp then I might look into a nice pair of closed cans.   thanks That's the Qables iQube V1 - €400 ($550), unless you want the "good" one, then that's €1200  ($1600)... and if you find that hard to swallow  - don't worry the PCB is made from medical grade epoxy (!?!?!) and OFC copper. It's a bit of an over-kill for ear-buds, even $300 ones. If all you want is to get back some of the volume, then there are a few sub $100 portable headphone amps that would do that (such as the Fiio E11), though I'm sure someone will tell you the $375 RSA Emmeline P51 is the way to go (even for ear buds). However I think amps designed to drive big Hi-Z cans will kick out too much voltage for low impedance ear buds (but sure, they'll be as loud as f...)   10-4.........beaucoup dinero for a HP amp!! I like the $100 tag or less.......For $550 I add in another $200 and I get the NAD C356 BEE integrated amp I want.....

The RSA amps indeed sound very good (i use to own one)...there are at the top of the world pyramid...

Now for a budget one, there's this

but it's not that small and i must recall that the best of these portable amps cannot drive properly a big can such as Senn 6XX.

There's also the Triad Audio Lisa III which smokes all the others battery powered but it's not portable, being too big.

It's something to put on a table in the garden

Edited by oliverstoned - September 29 2011 at 03:13

oliverstoned wrote: The RSA amps indeed sound very good (i use to own one)...there are at the top of the world pyramid... Now for a budget one, there's this but it's not that small and i must recall that the best of these portable amps cannot drive properly a big can such as Senn 6XX. There's also the Triad Audio Lisa III which smokes all the others battery powered but it's not portable, being too big. It's something to put on a table in the garden

Eww, neither of those look pretty  The first looks like fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down but for $99 you can't expect it to be drop-dead gorgeous (though isn't that difficult to make things look nice). I think the second was carved from the wood of the ugly tree, but $700 for Op-Amp based amplifier - you're having a laugh.

oliverstoned wrote: Too bad we did not compare my excellent Discman D25s without amp Vs Imod + amp because Sean would have realized that the amp really add something in term of bass, dynamic, soundstage.

Edited by Sean Trane - September 29 2011 at 03:54

Sean Trane wrote: oliverstoned wrote: Too bad we did not compare my excellent Discman D25s without amp Vs Imod + amp because Sean would have realized that the amp really add something in term of bass, dynamic, soundstage.   I'm sure there is a difference, but when you're travelling, it will go unnoticed or will be interefered with the surrounding traffic and crowd noises...     I'll probably one day invest in one of these lossless system (because carrying around the discs has become indeed inconveniant), but I won't search for a mega bass amp (well maybe the cheapest one you mentioned, if really necessary).... a good pair of headphones should do..   But I'm probably years away from getting to that stage.     oliverstoned wrote: Here are the nice looking ones   yuuuuck!!!   I preffered the damaged fruit fallen from the ugly tree that Dean was mentionning.

It's a matter of taste, indeed i always choose black version myself, but why not a green or a blue one? not so ugly.

oliverstoned wrote: It's a matter of taste, indeed i always choose black version myself, but why not a green or a blue one? not so ugly.

Edited by Sean Trane - September 29 2011 at 04:24

Sean Trane wrote: As for the green with the white front pannel, no thanks ... all of the other colours (incl the blue) have a glossy nail varnish finish on them. It's only a little box to put into the pocket, not a furniture for the living room OK, so the risk are lower (indeed an electronician can still deal with power supplys and stuff), but it's still not a certified installation, so you won't be covered by insurances... You could even be sued for responsability (not that I would evensuggest that it will even happen) Certainly, and i thank you for making me aware of that, but i'll never change my system for stupid regulations, i even see it as a an attempt to personal freedom.

Edited by oliverstoned - September 29 2011 at 09:38

What's cool is once you've got the amp, you can upgrade any good portable source (big Discman which have a superior output line or big walkman) thanks to a min/mini cable