I have tested Solo that came with HP Envy Beat Edition... if you talking about bass, I think there is no need for amp, the bass is already to high and you can feel the speaker pumping your eardrums already. Really can feel the driver vibrate with bass. I may call it dancing headphone.

I think if you listening to hip hop, dance, trance (and alike), Beat really a good choice. For rock and pop... I did try the Solo... sound a little muddy.

Anyway, you should know that Beat was made by Dr. Dre and for sure the sound will follow his taste.

Go for E11... E5 won't be able to drive ES7 (I think)

E11 give you more option, E5 have limited option. E11 sounded better, punchier bass and clear treble. I have both. Now I keep E5 in my drawer...

Not sure I gonna sell it or not... before I have 2 E5 and 1 E3... E3 already sold to someone here... 1 of my E5 borrowed by a friend and next day he just pay me for it.. now left 1 E5...
Need to wait, I gonna ask my kids 1st, they want to use or not with their headphone...

If want best for all.. CMOY.. with RM500, can buy 2 units... buy with rechargeable battery installed to save the environments. And yes E11 also can... never try hippo.
E7 good if you also use for desktop...



The best way is to test yourself... using your own source and headphone.... you can feel how much differences with and without the amp... using different amp too to get one that suitable...

I suggest you the head to KLAV show this weekend for own test...

Let hear from the expert...
http://www.headfonia.com/music-on-a-budget...-amps-shootout/



never as I don't like multimedia headphone... those normally good for movie...

I think I have test it before at Carrefour... sound like 'budak2 ketuk tin'...

This post has been edited by nordingh: Jul 27 2011, 11:52 PM

Yes... latest one... I read at Singapore forum, some forumer start selling E7 and get E11 instead... E11 was made for user that need normal amp without the DAC function. (that the reason I don't have E7, I don't need DAC, but when E11 out, I upgrade my E5)

WOW... Corda

Hmm... OK...

When you play a music on your PC, all are in digital format. (ie MP3, FLAC), your headphone is for sure is analog. Digital data sent to your headphone won't give you anything or maybe you can hear a white noise up and down. So the DAC is to convert those Digital sound to analog before it's goes to your headphone.

Your sound card can do this but not all sound card are good especially that already built-in on your PC/notebook. Most use cheap DAC chip.

BY using E7 or other DAC, that digital sound will be pass to E7 and not using your internal sound card. This will give a good Digital to analog conversion because, of-course you will choose a DAC with a good chips like PCM2704.

Sample of USB DAC being discussed here in LYN http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1578682

There is a few seller selling this.


- this one belong to my officemate. Improved version for headphone user.

This post has been edited by nordingh: Jul 28 2011, 01:10 AM

If you happy with creative then no point invest a new DAC.

Ha ha.. E11 still new... not going to let go soon... not before I can afford some desktop amp.

with bro E1
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1868193&hl=

you can set time with him to test... really nice guy...

(don't forget to ask him to bring along AIAIAI TMA-1 for testing.. tangkap leleh nanti)

If you around KLCC can meet, I just nearby.

Just at kampung nearby... but only at night time...

External DAC still need to connect to PC.

From my understanding,
USBDAC is use your USB as the interface between PC and the DAC and to the headphone/speaker.

An external DAC basically has a coax or optical SPDIF input and analogue outputs, will converts a digital audio signal to an analogue signal. You could also use between the digital output on a DVD or CD player or media player.

---

Added on July 28, 2011, 11:42 pmCypher Labs AlgoRhythm Solo Black
$579.00

cost a bomb...

I saw this in Fiio website. My 1st impression was, the usb is to connect to a pc and become the USB DAC but when look at the Spec, it mean for power only.

D5 is the actual USBDAC from fiio.

Bro E1, any idea when D5 and E10 is out. Look promising products.

E6 don't have clips.. but can hang...

D5 have a sound input function... more for gamers but still can be use as usbdac for sure.

This post has been edited by nordingh: Jul 29 2011, 12:35 AM

Yup... I waiting for this... I did ask you when this available in post #148

I also posted E10 pic in my facebook wall

You're right about that... use Wolfson DAC .

you go to Pavi why not got to KLAV show at JW Marriot, just next to Pavi only... I heard Jaben bring so many amp there for testing.

I did mention in post #414.

I went there today and have a great.

Hippo around RM260
Fiio E11 around 235

Ops... eye too tired already after few hours at KLAV.... not read properly..

no hippo there.. canot test...

Offcourse too much different.. E11 can drive my SRH440 really good but E5 will not (at least to my level of hearing, I like my music to be loud, mostly heavy rock).. E5 won't give good response to music like that.



Ok guys, I got 3 amp tested tonight, E3, E5 (bass boost on) and E11 (high gain, EQ 2). Volume I put almost at same level.

Genre: Easy Listening
Song: Allan Taylor - 01 - Colour to the Moon.flac
E3: Less bass, boost more on mid and high... not really pleasant to my ears.
E5: More bass, a little boost on mid and high... fine for me.
E11: Better bass, mid and high... can feel bass separated from others.

Genre: Rock
Song: Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls.flac
E3: Bass, mid and high boosted together. Mid is really clear.
E5: Bass boost is good, a little boost on mid and less on high.
E11: Bass Boost is punchy, mid and high balance.

Genre: Pop
Song: 09. The Lady In My Life - Michael Jackson.flac
E3: Bass boosted, but more on mid. Mid make low and high not so clear.
E5: Bass boost is good, a more on mid and less on high. But better than E3
E11: Bass Boost is good, mid and high balance.

Genre: Classical
Song: 01 - Mozart- Violin Concerto no. 4 in D major, KV 218 - Allegro.flac
E3, E5 and E11: Balance in all. I can listen in pleasure with any of the amp. I can feel, I was in live show.

Genre: Wes Coast
Song: 07 - Dr. Dre - What's The Difference.flac
E3: Bass boost not so good, sound like broken speaker, mid is low. high a bit shallow.
E5: same like E3.
E11: Bass Boost a little better, mid and high same as E3 and E5.

Genre: Test sound
Song: 11 - Ultrasone production - Feuerwerk 2002 (soundclip - excerpt, Ultrasone production).flac - It's Firework sound.
E3: All firework was fired next to me. Not so real, can't determine the distance.
E5: Some firework was fired next to me.
E11: I can hear the distance between firework. Feel like the firework burned outside my house now. Some are fired behind me.

No need la...

If I got time I will test with MP3 file later... but FLAC is the best to test actually.

Yes.. feature your C30, which is awesome.

definitively flac will win...

Cube C30 itself is already awesome player. FLAC with normal EQ is good enough for me.

For MP3, can use BBE to make the music come alive with C30.

This post has been edited by nordingh: Aug 1 2011, 07:03 PM

Depend on the source bro... For better sound use FLAC.

also depend on the medium use for source to the amp, most headphone amp user like to use line out as source or LOD for portable player.

Since you asking... i have test MJ song repeatedly (320kbps MP3), using amp E3 and E5, source is Cube C30 and Sony Walkman S Series... same headphone*. EQ is at 0db for all.

Without amp... Sony less treble but Cube a bit better. Bass almost the same.

With amp, Sony still less treble but improve in Cube, clearer treble. For bass, Sony is too much for me, Cube have a punchy bass which I really like. Mid not amplified to much.

* My new Samson headphone still not full burn-in yet.

Change to Shure srh440 headphone... mid is out on both player. Only bass and treble is amplified.

nothing to do before going to bed... so i test la..



Thanks for adding more info...

FYI, Cube C30 is using Class AB amplifier inside which is better than Sony walkman. If want better output for Sony, need to use LOD. Hard to find LOD for Sony now. Even I still waiting for it to arrive. Cube C30 also can play FLAC but not Sony. I use MP3 320kbps to make a fair comparison.

Get the USBDAC...

PC (FLAC) --> USBDAC --> AMP --> good headphone..

but

Audio output: Analog RCA and Optical Digital out

even better... get the amp with Optical digital input..

Hmmm... if use my Philips headphone without the amp, even worst.. full volume still not enough.

Shure pair with Fiio E11 is better actually. E11 have higher output. I only turn volume to 3 is more than enough already.

---

Added on August 5, 2011, 1:07 amor get a modified PCM2704 USBDAC..

I use C30 with F1-pro at the office and headphone at home.. if I not in front of my lappy. 2 units of Walkman going to give to my kids soon, pair with their Skull Candy and Philips headphone.

Ok guys... going to enjoys David Foster and Friends concert now while hitting mafia on Facebook games.

Good night..

This post has been edited by nordingh: Aug 5 2011, 01:15 AM

Get the naked USBDAC from Slevin Sent... really bare naked, you can see her thingy..

I getting, Digital to Analog/Analog to Analog, Dolby Digital/DTS amp soon. Must have a pc/lappy with digital out with this. Gonna use to watch movie.

Did I also one of your August friends.. .. September also can.

ha ha.. fasting month.. my pocket also not so thick enough already..

I have tested from lower to high end headphone (no IEM, I'm not IEM user)
Grado PS-1 - need some good amp to drive but not really need high end one, portable amp good enough.
Grado SR60i - no need amp, better if have amp, good with Cmoy
Grado SR325 - never test with amp but with notebook, this one give a good sound.
Hifiman HE-6 - need a high end amp
Beyerdynamic Tesla T1 - also need high end amp
Shure SRH940, SRH840, SRH440 - E11 and portable amp is enough
AIAIAI TMA-1 - I didn't test using any amp, good enough with Sony Walkman alone.
KRK KNS-8400, KNS-6400 - need amp to boost the bass, this headphone is balance studio type.
Beats by Dr. Dre - good if pair with HP Beats Audio installed in HP Envy Beats Series, if use with portable player, need to use amp. - To much bass for me
Skull Candy NBA Series - no need amp but pair with E11, ada omph... the seller keep asking me where I bought my E11.
Philips HP890 - normal portable player cannot drive this, PC is OK... need amp to get full sound.
Samson SR840 - no need amp for normal listening but amp will give more clarity.
Superlux (3 model test) - same as Samson SR840 (Samson is OEM Superlux anyway)
Audio Technica M50 - no need amp too but better if pair with good amp
Audio Technica FW5 (pottery) - no need amp but the sound is craps, use with amp, better a little bit.
Sennheiser HD238 - no need amp, better with amp
Logitech headset - with or without amp, I not feel so much different.. got for free anyway.

I think I put all already.. maybe missing 1 or 2..

Some mention above I own..