hye guys n girls,

was thinking of creating a sticky for an amplifier recommendation thread , as i am looking for one and im sure there is alot other ppl want to ask for recommendation , they can ask here too instead doing a simple thread y not a sticky

this also include recomendation for standalone amp/ amp/dac combo

Source : Asus EEE netbook, Zune 30, Hippo Gumstick (.flac, .wma lossles .mp3 )

Cans : AD700 > future woodies

Requirement : anything as long as suffice my jump later on to ath woodies

Budget : 500-1k << 1 k oledi max if not i must fund sien , but just do let me noe ur recomendation eventhough + abit from 1k

Type : desktop / portable also cn as long as i cn use it *portable is a plus but if got desktop prefer that *


was thinking of a D1 Tubemagic by maverick, Meier Corda 3MOVE, Govibe Magnum, ppk, or ibasso line


THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FELLOW LYN-ers


few guides or referrence i found but im too confused to understand with

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/214588...dded-rsa-sr-71b

Make ur inquiries formatted like this

Source : pmp, tablet, lappy,
Equipment : existing amp, amp/dac, cans,
Requirement : What u want in the amp, the characteristic / sound siggy
Budget : exact figure at least xxx-xxx

This post has been edited by aztoiozalan: Aug 6 2011, 10:35 AM

Graham Slee Voyager, or GoVibe PPK came into my mind.

Hey you're right, this thread will be great stickied.

This post has been edited by tunertoobe: Jun 29 2011, 07:04 PM

how much is graham slee voyeger ? was thinking of ppk at first , but tkt not enough power to give juice eventhough i noe ath cans mostly low impedence . i heard ppk + hd650 symphonica was d best, can even give juice, but pcwork is genius dunno how he do wan

any suggestion mrjinggles? most probably i wud like to find neutral amp , n open spacious, lushly

bro jinggles : budget itu mmg i x makin nasi 3 tahun lae larvy

2nd the sticky. TS, you can add this link to your 1st post. I think it's really helpful.

Portable amp roundup! 56 portable amps reviewed and compared (Skylab @ Head-fi)

Most neutral amp I've heard? Lavry DA-11

From what I'm reading online, I don't think you need an amp for the AD700.

http://www.overclock.net/sound-cards-compu...amp-ad700s.html
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/497823...is-the-question
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/385793...setup-questions

^

as mentioned, also you may want to add some format guidelines, or other additional information to the first/2nd posts etc. can request mod to cleanup/delete posts if you need more posts spacing (like deleting the 2nd post for example)

can probably refer to the other already stickied threads for info.

i have also reported this thread for mods to sticky.

thats the case for most low/mid range audio technica headphones, since they are easily driven. with an amp however, it will definitely improve what the headphones can do, or if anything, add in coloration that my compliment the headphones.

example for my case:
AD900 weak in bass
govibe peak bass is rather colored, and pretty strong

paired up = really really well rounded headphone.

---

Added on June 30, 2011, 12:38 am
oh yea to add in, perhaps you may want to change the category tagging, as amplifiers can be used on pretty much any audio equipment, and not just headphones.

This post has been edited by Quazacolt: Jun 30 2011, 12:38 AM

ad300 -> hippo amp, go-vibe single.. i can say rm300+ range of amps.
ad500 -> needs amp at a level above it, can say rm500+ desktop amps, or rm700+ portable amps.

i dont see why ad700 does not need amping when i found ad500 needs lots of juice, unless all you are looking for is volume, just direct plug in to your computer output is enough.

also one more particular info that a lot of people dont know, is that low impedance headphone needs high current output amp, instead of high voltage swing. (gain/volume)

that's why tube amps always does well with at's, grados, etc, since usually tube amps have more current output plus lower gain vs solid state amp (high gain low current). probably 300mW or more is needed, but u only find that in those very powerful portable amps or desktop amps.

go-vibe ppk gave my 650 quite a big improvement probably up to 85%, but only about 50% of my old vtg. through yamamoto ha-02, i can say i got double (100%) improvement on vtg vs ppk, but only about 15% more on 650.

my previous ATH W10VTG power rating is 2000mW, 48ohm (most woodies have similar specs), most portable players output 20-30mW.. some more than 40mW, and most players can make any headphone go very loud and destroy the drivers, but that's not even a quarter of current needed for driving woodies.

in other words, ur amping it wrong. >_<

Uber Muzik TTD is a great introduction to tube amps. and to me, TTD can have the D1 tube magic for a snack anytime of the day. And if you change the stock tube to NOS tubes...

if you plan to go down woodies route, tubes are the way to go. SS will never give you the lush & musical mids like a good tube amp can.

let me know if you want to audition the TTD. i'll put you in touch with a pal of mine, George, who's in Cheras.

the general difference between tube amps and SS amps are like what you said. but now there are SS amps which are tuned to sound like tube amps while tube amps by changing the tubes, you can get close to SS sound too.

i would say:
SS = better extensions, neutral and more detail oriented. SS sound to me is like "< >", very fast response but sharp sounding.

Tubes = warm, lush and musical. Tube sound is more "( )" more rounded sound but slightly slower for transitions.

jinggles : i know but it is to give extra ooomph , and also for my future needs/ jumps i.e to ath woodies w1000 or equivalent, but woodies, was again keen on trying D1 maverick , anyone tried before?

owwh thnx bro daemon, sihat ka u? lama x nmpk online

btw was thinking corda3 move tapi no more discon, or a maverick D1 tubemagic, but that is solid state headphone amp, the tube just pre amp ,
other choices are like? so bro daemon u mean iz ad series or low impedence need more current n not voltage , so must find high current amp? < corda?

owh daemon : so the dacport is dac + amp? the one looking like a pen izzit oowh

geno : stepdance aritu sy dgr kwn punya, i likey the fowardness xpernah try with ad700

hongrui : ive never tried the ttd anywhere can audition it ?

hmm confused tubey or solid state,

but one question guys, GENERALLY Solid Stae is faster, extension , sparkle,

tubey = lush mids, warmish, slower speed , n ??

hope to get guidence from sifu here or taiko2 sume

correct me if im wrong pls.

owh thnx hongrui, will let u noe if i want to audition it im from kg pandan near cheras also

anyways guys, for a amp dac or amp standalone , obviously for amp part, the standalone amp wins kan>?
because it only concentrate amping headphones ?

if possible, can follow the format easier to look at our situaion like in d 1st post

i recomend u ibasso D2 boa or a ordnance .25

good reading.... i love this kind of discussion.... i know a bit about amps now....

suda tua, makin gemok. plus im occupied a bit recently, i also still hutang one amp for a friend here in lyn.
that amp has been tweaked specifically for vtg, the balance of the overall sound on vtg is very similar to 650 + lavry. Im still sorting out some noise humming issue. >_<

All audio technicas are low impedance, their highest one is probably my favourite choice air dynamic ad500, 60ohm.
u can take my conclusion that most desktop amps are better than portable amps for at's.
if i had to recommend, i would say get a dac/amp, improvement there would be better. as for going tubes or not, i would still choose to pair woodies with high powered solid state amp.
It needs the speed and extension of solid state amps.

the only thing that i can recommend you without any doubt now is the centrance dacport.
expensive, yes. but do consider that you will be buying a good amp (class A topology, very neutral and powerful), and also a good dac (very very hard to find), both in one compact form.
u can probably split the 1.5k pricing as rm800 amp + rm700 dac.
since all woodies are colored in their own way, u either find an amp that is neutral and retain their coloration, or find an amp that adjust the coloration to be closer to neutral (needs lots of testing and matching).
I cant imagine using full size woodies on the go with portables (possible scratch, and weak source).
I would save up for that and be done. a very simple transportable setup (laptop -> centrance -> headphone), no hassle or bulk to setup (no big box, weight, not enough bag space).

just one thing about the centrance, test it after its hot, may take about 15~20mins running time. I think it may sound very sharp on ur ad700 prior to warm up.
something about centrance choice of circuit topology, it takes the usb power and re-generate it using its own power supply unit, that needs sometime to warm up and stabilize as well.

eh abang stepdance sila kasi pendapat.

abang stepdance tak involve dalam desktop amp.... jadi abang stepdance tak boleh bagi pendapat! lol!

as im only involved in mostly portable solid state amp... and i dont know the tech terms of it....
so i guess let u guys discuss and it'll be a good read for me who noob about desktop amps and everything about it....
heck i even have hard time configuring ASIO4ALL on foobar lol!

yet ur gera says otherwise

good reah here guys, vote for sticky!

congrats.. ur already one step ahead of me. hence ur opinion counts!
i cant figure it out at all..

hahahahaha.... a step behind i guess... i still cant install it on my foobar despite i tried everything mention in the internet and using my logic.... hahahahahaha

back to serious cat mode thou..... if its portable amp... i should be able to answer by only much....

i c u have a fiio e5 in ur siggy.
should be quite good since u kept it side by side along with ur stepdance right?

casing only e5, inside who knows hahaha

ok gak. at least when come to my turn, the amp already burn in

mau jual pon berapa je dapat? honestly... im kindda attached to all my stuff.... i have hard time to sell it even thou its a fiio E5.... i was my very 1st amp... and i still remember the 1st time i heard the amp.... was very shocked it change the whole spectrum of my understanding about sounds.... hehehehe tiny things do make a great impression at that time....


about upgrading the amp... well, thanks for the idea.... could do some experiment later on!

I just bought an ATH ES7. So now looking for DAC/AMP to work together with it.
Budget is around RM500 (higher abit still possible).

Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

Gonna try that JDS labs cMoy on my ES7. The excitement.

I used to pair the ES7 with my AMB mini^3 amp (no DAC). it reduces the brightness of the ES7 while tightening the bass.

check these out:

http://www.avguide.com/review/four-superb-...ource=email-160

http://www.avguide.com/review/three-top-ti...ource=email-160

http://www.avguide.com/review/three-headph...ource=email-160