Yes it will works. But i would recomend you changing the cable to get the best out of it because of its poorer quality. Any non stock cable will do. DIY canare, hardware shop cable (I don't think you can find any short cable there), or any other cable. Just change it then you'll get a much better sound. What USB DAC are you using? Does it contain any amp? I think that adding the E3 amp will smooth out those harsh pure signal from the USB DAC into a more enjoyable sound.

Agreed. But i would say cable is still the last part to upgrade and should only be upgraded when it has become a limit to your setup. Just upgrade your source such as DAC and amp until reaching ur budget allowed then change the cable to improve the setup. Cable improvement to me is still small as compare to changing source, amp and headphone. So if on a budget some cheap diy cable will do fine until those cable has become a limit of your future setup.

This post has been edited by Akuma no Hana: Oct 29 2010, 04:39 PM

This is what i did. But i use 18awg jaben/ALO cryo silver instead of the cheaper version which is slightly thicker and bigger in size. I use crossroad LOD instread of direct LOD with cable.

Not to forget a bit added in soundstage.

It's damn expensive.

Wow that USB DAC have to find some casing for it. Just be careful not to break those soft part when connecting your dac. Those connector are very fragile better find some casing for it soon. And adding those usb cable together will be worth it RM3 only. For the cable i just found one cheap cable. And if you still haven't bought the cable i think this 1 will be great for budget minded people. RM25 for 15cm is enough. Don't go any further than 15cm since you will use it with ipod. http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1568734

I would suggest E5 instead of E3. Reason is that you do not need to buy AAA battery so often unless you have rechargeable AAA battery lying around. And E5 got volume control which is very useful indeed especially connected to the USB DAC. Most people said both sound very identical so you should not find any issue with E5. Running your ipod through LOD instead of headphone jack sound better.

No it will not help improve since your IEM cable will be limiting it. Don't care what marketing term those people use better don't get it. If you want to custom it then you will have to custom it straight till the soldering on the earphone itself. But the cost might be high and hard to get thin wires for iem.

Please do avoid E3 and E5. If you are back few years ago I will still recommend them. But currently good amps are competitively aforedable. If you are looking for just a volume booster that is better than both E3 and E5 then get the E6 instead, if you want to improve sound and performance get the E11 or the JDS Labs cMoy instead.