How many people here use portable headphone amps with their portable audio?

If you do let us know what you use and if you find it an improvement over just straight out of your portable device?

I just got my first portable headphone amp a Ray Samuels P-51 Mustang, I find it improves the sound out of the Sony Walkman D6C and the DC2. I should have done this a long time ago.

Apologies for being negative here but to me one portable device is enough for me to carry around...ive oftern thought of buying one of those sony portable eq's but can't be bothered with the extra wires or batteries,so iv'e never bought one..

Glad you like it though mate...keep on rokin...

man that thing is pretty tiny, how powerfull is it?

Hey Radio Raheem no problem, I thought the same too. since I got it, I wish I done it sooner. It has improved everything about my portable music. I am hearing more of what is on the tapes, I am getting more resolution and separation. I am hearing more of what I get on my home system.

For all of that it is worth carrying the extra kit.

I wear my personal stereo on my belt anyway, so I’m just getting a leather case made so I can have the amp on the belt next to the personal stereo.

Hi driptip it is very small and can drive headphones of upto 300 ohm load. It was tested driving AKG 701 full size headphones to high level. For me I do not need it loud as I use Etymotic ER-4S which blocks out external noise to upto 42db.

RSA do do one smaller amp still see pic

Here are the spec’s of the P-51 Mustang

50 K input impedance.

5 ohms-300 Ohms output impedance.

250ma per channel drive capability.

rail to rail input/output voltage swing.

Freq. response, 5hz-100K

No caps in the signal path.

56 hours of play back using IEMs from single charge.

3.7-4.2 volts Lithium ion powered

Charging time about 2 hours.

Dimensions...

1.5" width

2.25" length

.7" hight.

about 4-5 Oz weight

I'm currently using the TTVJ Slim portable headphone amp which has greatly improve my listening experience through the LOD connection.  I notice the stereo separation is wider, bass has more impact, and the sound is much cleaner and louder. RR, I know how much you like bass and volume, you can just strap your amp to your portable device with Fiio silicone bands. Trust me they're worth the added bulk.

Specifications:

• Frequency response: DC to >100kHz, ±1dB; 20Hz - 20kHz ±0.1dB @ 1V out
• Maximum output: 3.29V RMS into 150Ω; 2.14V RMS into 33Ω
• Output source impedance: Approximately 2Ω
• THD+N: 0.004% @ 1V RMS out into 150Ω or 33Ω
• Broadband noise: <10μV RMS, unweighted, integrated over 20Hz - 20kHz
• Output DC offset: <5mV
• Input impedance: 10kΩ
• Maximum input level: 2V RMS
• Channel tracking (gain difference between channels, all volume steps): <±0.2dB
• Maximum gain: 0dB, 10dB, or 20dB (switch-selectable), ±<0.5dB
• Dimensions: 104mm long x 70mm wide x 12mm thick

THE USB DAC section

The DAC uses a TI (Burr-Brown) PCM2704... TI info is here:

thinking about trying one out

the Fiio E11 seems pretty cheap - but is it any good compared to the Mustang?

I've thought about getting one, just never gotten around to it, also have wondered is it really necessary if my IEM are already hyper-sensitive to my media player's internal amp? 

Just so I can get a clearer picture, mind if I ask you to include the type of cans you'd use with your amp? i.e. In-Ear Monitors or Headphones

I use the amp mostly with my over ear headphones, such as the Sennheiser HD-595 or the Amperiors. From what I've read IEM's don't benefit from an amp as much as much as the higher impedance over ear headphones, but the amp sure improved the sound of my UE triple Fi 10's. @ Claret badger, the Fiio E11 and E17 get pretty good reviews for the price.

Check out these two threads: The Sub-$200 Portable Amps Shootout – 11(+8) amps compared , The Sub-$100 Portable Amps Shootout – 8(+1) amps compared.

I've been using a FiiO E9 on my home PC for a couple of years now.  The FiiO stuff is well-made and an excellent value.  I love the nice metal volume knob to control inches away from my fingers.

For my portable audio, the idea of a carrying around yet another thing (phone, player, keys, wallet, now amp?) to potentially lose is what kept me from buying a portable amp.  But I like retro's idea of banding the two devices together.

retro IEM’s do benefit for amp’s especially if they are balanced armature drivers, most portable audio like iPods etc interferes with balanced armature drivers. My IEM is Etymootic ER-4S which is a difficult load and being a balanced armature drivers needs the amp.

The amp is not about power to make the headphones sound loud, it’s more about having better control of the headphone drivers.

I don't know, but a few people do rave on about the Fiio amps.

Have a look at this article, it may help on looking for amps http://www.headfonia.com/the-u...table-amps-compared/

I use a FIIO as well model E5....very compact and useful when I need that extra punch or on low volume tracks

I purchased an amp to bypass my portable players internal amp in order to improve the overall sound quality and separation when listening to lossless files, I understand that a portable amp does much more than make the music louder. I also read that IEM's should be matched to certain amps depending on their sound signature, my amp has a warm sound which was what I was looking for. The Fiio E06 is a very inexpensive and neutral sounding amp to start out with.

retro...i didn't  know about the FIIO bands you use until i saw your set up....pretty neat...might get me a pair...

They work really well, but I would like to get a custom leather case in the future.

Interesting... So from your source: is the output (amp's feed) taken from the iPod's dock and wm-port (Sony) or is it sourced from the player's headphone jack?

If your amplifying sounds sourced from the player's dock hidden line-out, then using a a high quality after-market amp would make sense. However besides those iPods and Sony's I don't see many other players out there with a line-out option - It's not the 1980's or 90's.  

Straight from the WM port and the Ipod dock, there's a noticeable improvement in sound quality.

Yeah, I've never purchased an iPod before, after demoing on in their store, I refuse to buy one simply cause their internal amp suck, think farting in a paper bag would give better bass response. 

Question. Where would one source a WM-Port to Mini-Jack cables from?

I only have a input cable with my X1060, I believe it's used for recording, only I'm not sure how it records. I've tried in an amp/active speakers and there's no audio. 

I purchased mine from a seller on ebay, he's located in china, so it may take about three weeks to ship.

Yes I do use my amp from line-out from the DC2 and D6C  as it gives a better result. You can still get improvement from the headphone socket but yes line-out is better.

This:

http://www.fiio.com.cn/product/index.aspx?ID=14&MenuID=020301

is very interesting.

On most iPods, the output from the 30 pin connector is significantly better then the headphone output, so this is likely to give better results for me.

anyone tried one or own one? 

Maybe off-topic slightly. I dont use a headphone amp, but I use a Duet2- and its amazing. I use the Duet2 is mainly to connect a condenser mic to my macbook for home recordings. But as a bonus the Duet2 (which has a great DAC built in) has a headphone output, and music sounds so totally amazing through it that when i listen to it off the macbook computer headphone output. 

I often use my CMoyBB, specially when I pick up a walkman without bass enhancement; i.e.: a DDII, a DC2, a D6C...

But when I'm at home I use my sound card as a external amp. I connect the walkman to the line IN, apply a good EQ curve (that I found way better than any simple bass enhancement embedded in a switch). This way I have the exact bass I want and the exact treble too. I have a few curves I've created for slight, medium and strong EQ, depending on the music and how is it recorded...

I wonder if the Fiio 17 has a good EQ for doing something like that...

Here is my combination of equipment. It was very nice find for me how nice music can sound with portable amplifier... I use FiiO E11 - I bought this model just because of positive feedbacks from a lot of users on the internet... Dont know, maybe there is some better amplifiers ? Anybody knows ? I would like to test another ones to find better results !

My Skyliner Mark II already has a more then decent headphone amplifier. 40 mW has quite a punch

What is "Skyliner Mark II" ??? =)

Skyliner is a Philips personal stereo LINK ERROR.8558/reply/lastReply

It's not just about power, a lot more to it than that.