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    Headphone Amplifiers

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by Nocturnal310, Oct 5, 2008.

  1. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Any recommendations for good Amps ..

    I need one for my HD555 to improve on the highs & the bass.

    midrange is fine.




    Pico is unavailable currently.

    iBasso Boa?
     
    Nocturnal310, Oct 5, 2008
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  2. bobblaine

    bobblaine Notebook Consultant

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    Yea i need an amp too but i dont know anything about amps.
     
    bobblaine, Oct 5, 2008
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  3. lixuelai

    lixuelai Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    If you want a cheap one to get started. You can get a Fiio E3 on dealextreme for $8. Works well with my HD555. Boosts the bass a bit without making it muddy. It was well received at Head-Fi as well.
     
    lixuelai, Oct 5, 2008
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  4. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    grrr, you got my buying addiction going. :p I decided to get it for $10 from a HK ebay reseller, just benefiting my own country (city) man. :D
     
    Johnny T, Oct 5, 2008
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  5. Syndrome

    Syndrome Torque Matters

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    I can't say much about the synergy with those headphones, but I nearly bought the ibasso Boa, Its a good deal. The Pico is nice, but it costs more and like you said, unavailable.
     
    Syndrome, Oct 6, 2008
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  6. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well i already have FiiO E3 ...used it for sometime..

    but i didnt really enjoy it for all kinds of music.

    i ll also be getting iBasso Boa most likely
     
    Nocturnal310, Oct 6, 2008
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  7. meat curtain master

    meat curtain master Notebook Guru

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    meat curtain master, Oct 6, 2008
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  8. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Wow..thanks for finding that thread.

    he's got HD595...quite similar to HD555.

    i went out to try some amps today... the one i really liked was RSA Hornet but its like $400. so will try some cheaper ones tomorrow at other stores.
     
    Nocturnal310, Oct 6, 2008
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  9. Signal2Noise

    Signal2Noise Über-geek.

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    Signal2Noise, Oct 6, 2008
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  10. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    being on Head-fi brainwashes u... i had no choice so i got iBasso D2 Boa as my Bday gift.


     
    Nocturnal310, Oct 7, 2008
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  11. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    thats my post on Head-fi.

    will update it to keep content synced
     
    Nocturnal310, Oct 7, 2008
    #11
  12. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    So how much was it total, and how much of a REAL difference does it make?
    I have the Razer Barracuda headsets, and I`d like a little more kick out of them...
     
    eleron911, Oct 7, 2008
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  13. garetjax

    garetjax NBR Freelance Reviewer NBR Reviewer

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    If you want to purchase a quality headphone amp, check out the folks at HeadRoom. They pretty much have everything but a virtual testbench of all their available amps. They are very knowledgeable and helpful, and have pretty good pricing as well.

    Headphone.com - HeadRoom Headphone Amps
     
    garetjax, Oct 7, 2008
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  14. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    I`m in Europe right now, so the names are what I`m looking for...
     
    eleron911, Oct 8, 2008
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  15. Leon

    Leon Notebook Deity

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    Fiio! Fiio! Fiio! Great with my (well, not really mine yet) Grado SR60's.
     
    Leon, Oct 8, 2008
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  16. Leon

    Leon Notebook Deity

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    Hmm. You're not going to get more out of a pair of headsets for gaming with an amp. (usually)

    I would recommend buying a new pair of headphones, like the audio technica AD700's. These have a huge sound stage and will be a immense upgrade from the Razer's.
     
    Leon, Oct 8, 2008
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  17. slwiser

    slwiser Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, a portable head amp does make a difference. It is not simply more loud, as a matter of fact some don't have any gain at all or much anyway. What happens is that you get better handling of the headphones impedance swings from the bass to the highs. More control of the sound with more power when you need it. It just doesn't wimp out on you.

    I have the Boa and Headroom's Total Bithead. I have owned the iQube Headamp's AE-1 and and heard the Pico. I am a long time member of Head-fi.org.

    Recently ordered a Dell Mini to serve as a music server for my headphone systems. Yes I have others that are much more extensive than my portable setups. Two desktop setups, one at my computer and one at my easy chair.
     
    slwiser, Oct 8, 2008
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  18. Signal2Noise

    Signal2Noise Über-geek.

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    Out of curiosity, which amp is your favorite?
     
    Signal2Noise, Oct 8, 2008
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  19. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    hey whats ur username? ..i am as usual Nocturnal310

    i couldnt find PICO .. (i bet thats ur fav)... out of stock and no one willing to sell their.
    and

    i heard Boa improves with burn in? does it?

    Btw for newbies.


    A Headphone amplifier if used with iPod's LOD does more than just boost volume.

    what it does is it to carry a pure undeteorited signal and then re-amplify it.

    lot of people do it on head-fi.. nothing new.

    but u need to have a good headphone to feel the difference .... a Razer Barracuda is not a good headphone for music and hence it wont benefit. u get AD700 or HD555.. these are 2 highly recommended Gaming headphones as well.

    they got a huge soundstage and good imaging.
     
    Nocturnal310, Oct 9, 2008
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  20. Signal2Noise

    Signal2Noise Über-geek.

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    I prefer IEMs and use Shure E3C and Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro. Will they benefit from an amp?
     
    Signal2Noise, Oct 9, 2008
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  21. Syndrome

    Syndrome Torque Matters

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    If you ask me, any headphone can and probably will benefit from a proper source. Now, if its enough benefit to justify buying an amp? Thats a different story. Even some IEM's(SE530) really benefit from an amp, and I'm sure even the Razer Barracuda headphones would, simply because your getting a better signal, and the headphones will deal with that signal how ever it can, but the better the signal to start with the better the sound will be regardless. Although in alot of the average listeners cases, you will get more benefit by putting the money into some nice headphones, rather than buying an amp for less-er headphones.
     
    Syndrome, Oct 9, 2008
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  22. Sadie48

    Sadie48 Notebook Guru

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    [I'm looking too. thanks for the thread.
     
    Sadie48, Oct 9, 2008
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  23. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    guess what i used my Amp with MX400 earbuds.

    woa.. those little earbuds just sounded like PX100 .

    they had a much bigger frequency spectrum when amped.
     
    Nocturnal310, Oct 10, 2008
    #23