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Author Topic: Portable amps  (Read 81423 times)

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zerodeefex

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #370 on: March 24, 2014, 03:33:35 PM »
Quote from: Anaxilus on March 24, 2014, 02:33:51 PM
If you are using any typical stand alone DAP/phone, my portable rig likely sounds and performs better than yours.  I know because I've heard most of them.  There's only one candidate on my radar atm as a replacement and it's not out yet and is very expensive. 

Are you using phone > ODAC > Leck?
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Hawaiiancerveza

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #371 on: March 25, 2014, 07:40:52 AM »
 There's only one candidate on my radar atm as a replacement and it's not out yet and is very expensive. 

[/quote]
What amp would that be? 
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funkmeister

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #372 on: March 25, 2014, 01:43:22 PM »
Good question. I'm also interested in the answer.
I, personally, have an affinity for TI DACs so I'm curious about the JDS Labs C5D.
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Elysian

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #373 on: March 25, 2014, 04:00:43 PM »
Quote from: Anaxilus on March 24, 2014, 02:33:51 PM
An amp is never 'needed' as you put it.  For anyone running mp3s I'd recommend against wasting your money.  A portable amp should hopefully be a better amp that is more transparent improving the sound quality by letting the original recording pass through unmolested.  Some IEMs will benefit from added power/current as expressed in dynamic and transient response, others will not.  Larger and more drivers and more crossover networks could possibly stand to benefit from some extra push.

For those of us that are used to the quality sound of our ToTL hadphones, speakers , amps and DACs willing to spend $1-$2k to get similar audio performance from our portable rig requires us to take a hit on degrees of portability.  Better/best sound simply costs more real estate than an iphone can afford, period.

On a related note, my UE18s arrived a few days ago and I've been putting them through a lot of listening. I've noticed that they scale appreciably. I've been trying different permutations between a Cowon D2, Cowon D2 -> Mini3, and my full desktop rig (with Wavelength Wavelink -> Berkeley -> Placette Active), and the UE18s sound pretty different with each chain.

With just the DAP, the 18s are like 'this is alright but not worth x10 more than my old IEMs', to the desktop rig 'wow, I could conceivably downsize my collection and live with this'.

I'd agree that fidelity/clarity is, by far, the biggest thing that improves. Yes, the bass does sound a bit clearer and well-defined, but overall the desktop setup just brings everything into focus much, much better.
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Hawaiiancerveza

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #374 on: April 06, 2014, 05:21:06 AM »
Has anyone heard the TU -05b?
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funkmeister

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #375 on: April 06, 2014, 12:37:06 PM »
I had never even heard of the TU-05b before you mentioned it. That thing looks crazy.
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Anaxilus

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #376 on: April 06, 2014, 04:36:37 PM »
Quote from: Hawaiiancerveza on April 06, 2014, 05:21:06 AM
Has anyone heard the TU -05b?

I heard it in October but can't remember the details.  I do recall it didn't make me want to sell anything I have and I also don't recall vomiting.

Caveat: Since it's a tube amp, the tubes used can lead to wide varying impressions.
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Hawaiiancerveza

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #377 on: April 06, 2014, 04:38:06 PM »
Hmm.. ok.  I see an opportunity to get the Triad L3 for a pretty good price.  It it that good? 
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Anaxilus

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #378 on: April 06, 2014, 05:59:42 PM »
Quote from: Hawaiiancerveza on April 06, 2014, 04:38:06 PM
Hmm.. ok.  I see an opportunity to get the Triad L3 for a pretty good price.  It it that good? 

Is it that good?  Definitely one of the top 2-3 portable/transportable amps I've ever heard w/ my UERM for my tastes and priorities so far.  Will it cure cancer?  I don't think so.
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thegunner100

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Re: Portable amps
« Reply #379 on: April 06, 2014, 06:45:15 PM »
Quote from: Hawaiiancerveza on April 06, 2014, 04:38:06 PM
Hmm.. ok.  I see an opportunity to get the Triad L3 for a pretty good price.  It it that good? 

If you decide to not get it, let me in on the deal! I may buy it.
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