atomiccow 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 Well I see that pretty much everyone has an amp with the DAP and I don't... lol. And I was wondering, what exactly does an amp do? I read the stickied article on amps but all I got from it was that amps make your music sound better... Well basically, I'm a complete noob with amps cuz I don't have an amp. So can someone tell me exactly how much better an amp can make your DAP sound? Is it a huge difference? And about the price ranges of portable amps and some good ones that maybe I can try? And do portable amps use rechargable batteries or AAs or 9 volts or what? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
That dude 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 I asked the same question when i first joined. hope this helps... Link Here Welcome, and pls do forum search or googling before starting new threads. Chances are the question have been asked before. Have fun! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atomiccow 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 Ok so from what I gather, amps can make your DAP sound better or worse... hmm. Well I'm hoping to audition an amp sometime. Right now I use an IAudio X5 and a UE super.fi 5 pro, which is not mine yet, Uncle Wilson was nice enough to lend me one of his test pairs for my personal use until a stock comes in for me I hear a lot about the Little Dot Micro and HP-I and various Xenos amps. And I also hear interconnects are very expensive... . I'm looking to try a portable amp, hopefully with a rechargable battery, and not exceeding $150. So anyone know an amp to set me off in the right direction? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ahdui 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 oh, so u r the bugger who took the testing sf5pro lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qsilver 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 (edited) oh, so u r the bugger who took the testing sf5pro lol. LOL, welcome to SGheadphones. Entry Level: LDM+, PA2V2, Crossroad I should say around same level in terms of SQ. Higher Level: Xenos, Go-Vibes and blah blah. Highest Level: Xin, SR-71, Hornet M, Larocco. This is just a reference for you might not be acurate. Btw you can audit Crossroad, Go-Vibes at Jaben. Edited October 4, 2006 by Qsilver Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeremy 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 Do note that high sensitivity & low resistance headphone or earphone is not really necessary to get a portable amp to drive them as your DAP had sufficient power to drive them. I would said if u are using a higher end DAP & phone, in order to get the utimate sound. U definitely need a portable amp to drive them. I feel that the sound will be much much better even no doubt I never own or listen to a portable amp before. Currently still waiting for my SMIV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atomiccow 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 would said if u are using a higher end DAP & phone, Umm, a higher end DAP? How high end do DAPs go? The X5 is certainly comparable to the Ipod and any other DAP out there. If people use amps with Ipods, I don't see why you wouldn't use it with an X5. LOL, welcome to SGheadphones. laugh.gif Actually I'm not new. About..... a very long time ago, I signed onto this forum and was asking about the Westone UM1 and of course thats where I found out about Jaben Network too. lol. So ya, I do own a UM1 as well but from what I gather, amps don't help the UM1... lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeremy 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 I heard its a FOUR month wait now?!?!? Anyway, I think the waiting should be worthwhile. I think maybe can get mine faster as wat I read from Xin's forum that no more development for SMIV at the time being. Umm, a higher end DAP? I think by looking at the price of the DAP, u should be able to tell. Currently quite a lot of low end cheap China brands in the market. Some of them never heard before. I feel that popular brand like Apple, Iriver. Iaudio & etc should be consider high end brand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atomiccow 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2006 That is what I own, an Iaudio X5 and a UE Super.fi 5 pro.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeremy 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2006 That is what I own, an Iaudio X5 and a UE Super.fi 5 pro.... Anyway, I had never heard an Iaudio before. But as wat I hope to hear when an portable amp is used, its the wholesome & fullness of each tone & rhyme. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qsilver 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2006 with your present setup, you can give Go-Vibe or better still Portaphile V2(Maxxed) a shot. Just a suggestion, doesn't mean it will synergy well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeremy 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2006 with your present setup, you can give Go-Vibe or better still Portaphile V2(Maxxed) a shot. Just a suggestion, doesn't mean it will synergy well. Really appreciate that but I had already placed an order for a SMIV, now still waiting..... . After that, maybe wanted to upgrade my headphone.......but see how first. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ahdui 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2006 Portaphile v2 is great for its price. goes great with my nano and um2. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qsilver 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2006 Sorry jeremy the suggestion was for atomiccow. You dun need that as you are waiting inline for your Xin @ Dui, i already eyeing on 1 now. keke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atomiccow 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2006 with your present setup, you can give Go-Vibe or better still Portaphile V2(Maxxed) a shot. Just a suggestion, doesn't mean it will synergy well. Appreciate the help. Are these all available at Jaben for testing? I'm going down tmr after school to see if my super.fi 5 pros are in yet. What type of good interconnects are there and about how much would a decent one cost? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites