Portable Audio

Just got an iPod photo with the iMods from Redwine Audio. I've also kept my original iPod photo, so I have an identical stock unit to compare to. I won't be able to do any real comparisons until the Black Gates burn-in, but initial impression is that attack is faster, low-end is deeper. It seems to be a more dynamic player as well. More details once the sound settles down. Even now, I've heard worse sources that cost a lot more.

Writing reviews is something I really enjoy. I've been doing that in Brazilian forums for a while, but as there are so many amazing reviews of them in English, I never really thought about posting one. But then I reckoned it would be good to try and write one to see what you guys think, especially since there is a larger number of experienced people here that can hopefully give me some feedback - I'm definitely opened to criticisms! I'll be happy to read what you guys think of this review and obviously even happier it it helps anyone. I wrote it originally in Portuguese and I translated it just now. It's been a while since I came back to live in Brazil, so I'…

I did a search for HM801 and HM-801 and only found a reference in the thread on the last bought item. I hope it is ok to start this thread on the HM-801 that Fang of Head Direct sent me to try/test. I have had the pleasure to both buy and get loaner pieces from Fang in the past and I have been very pleased with his customer service. Needless to say I was excited to try this unit without having to front the $790 asking price. I did have to buy a 32 GB Kingston Type 4 SD Card, I bought it from Newegg for about $85 including S&H. Note: If the initial impressions hold over the next couple of weeks I may have be buying this unit. Anyways this is not going to be so m…

Anyone else can't wait for the Zune HD to come out? I've been wanting a portable web browser with music/video playing capabilities without having to use iTunes for a long time. In case people don't know what it is, it's like an iPod Touch, with less/crappier apps, at least initially, but has HD radio and a better screen. Prices are estimated to be around 250 for the base 16 gig model and maybe 100 more for the 32 gig version. There's rumors about a trade-up program Microsoft might be setting up where you can trade your old Zunes for credit for new ones. I'd love for that to come to fruition since I have an old 30GB I don't use much anymore.

I haven’t seen anything about the Ibasso D12 on this site. When my friend at work ordered one, I did a search and found nothing. I apologize if this is a duplicate thread. So let me briefly discuss my direct comparison between it and the Pico Dac/Amp combo that I made while borrowing the D12 for two days. I only used the USB input for both. And I didn’t make any attempt to isolate the DAC from the amp in either model. I only used the stock op amp in the D12. All comparisons were made using my JH-13s. The D12 is larger in all dimensions, making it considerably less portable. But it does offer a lot of features the Pico doesn’t. Like the D10, it has toslink an…

better start coming around For the times they are a-changin'

This gizmo has popped up like one of those after-the-rain mushrooms in other threads, so I'm doing the taxonomy thing and giving it a thread of its own. Three of us have one. We have each used it in different ways. So here's my experience: First off, my copy changed character in its first hours of operation, enough so that trying to figure out what was going on with it was frustrating. I think it's odd for electronics to "break in" much. If they change at all, they just seem to get "a little better." This thing sounded yucky and differently yucky every time I picked it up. I'd recommend a few days in the picnic cooler before listening. Once I got it figur…

I've been having sooooo much fun putting together a 100mph audio system I just couldn't resist posting it up for your viewing pleasure before it starts moving too fast to see. You see, I bought me a super slab gobbler (highway bike) and I had to rig up some music. This is what it looked like when I bought it. A week later it looked like this. Didn't really have to take it apart that far just to install the gear, but I wanted to see what was under the hood. (BTW, what's under the hood is a 1300cc, 140hp, 100ft/lb torque screaming Yama-mill.) Then I did a bunch of this shit. And now it looks like this: Guess how …

sorry for posting another imod thread. I am deciding on two different options for next tax return. I could get an Imod or a pico with dac. as far as how I would amp the imod I have a emu0404 usb which I would run it through for its internal amp. however I am starting to think the pico would be the better choice. I am also considering buying a small laptop about 11 - 12 inch screen and I already have a large portable hdd. so I am considering using the pico with a lappy instead of imod. if it would sound better through the lappy and pico than imod and emu 0404 than that would be the btter choice. I have allessandro ms2 already so I am alright in that department. thanks alot…

Headamp's product page has a small blurb about a new future product. pico POWER Portable Amp Coming in the future. Powerful like a desktop amp, small like a Pico. Recommended for hard to drive headphones. Are there more information available in meet threads and such?

Okay, so now that I have had my Sextett's for almost two weeks I have fallen in love with them. This means that my little PA2V2 is sadly not going to cut it as my only portable amp. Oddly enough, the headphone output from my Macbook Pro has better quality than the PA2V2. It is not as loud, but the PA2V2 was having trouble in the midrange and it sounded really bad. Anyway, back to the point. While I don't currently have the money to spend on a Pico, I want to know if I should just save up the money to get a Pico or save a little money and get an iBasso offering or something similar? I will be using my cans with my Macbook Pro mostly and every now and then with my …

Seems pointless to the end user, but they're probably a-fixin' to eliminate the 3.5mm (1/8 inch) jack: http://9to5mac.com/2014/06/03/apple-introduces-mfi-specs-for-lightning-cable-headphones-support-arriving-in-future-ios-update/ Obviously, this could lead to new headphone and accessory sales (again – moar DACses?). Bluetooth still seems to be a muddle re: sound quality: http://www.cnet.com/news/can-aptx-give-you-better-sound-over-bluetooth/

So I picked up the Chord Mojo as a B-day gift to myself and wasn't expecting to be blown away but so far after 2 days I am pretty stoked. Bests the portable players I have here like the Sony NW x2, iBasso dx90, Caylx and the 901. Sucks that it is not a full dap and I have to strap it to a note3 or iPhone or computer but worth the hassle. Anyone else here take the plunge on this, it so far has kicked ass with the JH13 and 16s as well as my LCD X and the AT W3ks, Lots of texture and spatial cues with the mojo. More info t come if anyone is interested. Pairs very well with IPAs and pale ales!

I won an iMod from Vinnie at the NYC Meet. Well, not exactly won. I bought it for $100. I currently have a 5.5G iPod, but the LCD screen is starting to flake (I bought it refurbed from Apple) and Vinnie informed me that I would need to get an ALO LOD, which I think is $85 to use the iMod. I'm not a huge fan of that arrangement. Would it be wiser to find a cheap 4G and get that done?

Fang from Head Direct has loaned me a HiFiMAN HM-801 portable player. I am waiting for the Kingston 32GB SD card I purchased from Newegg to start trying this player. I would like to load the SD card w/ FLAC files however I first would need to convert the music I have in Apple Lossless to FLAC files and I would appreciate your help in which converter I should use. I have spent the last two days doing searches and I am dizzy with all the names (foobar, dbamp, etc). Look forward to your suggestions. Thanks.

Other than the impedance, is the only thing truly separating the two an added resistance to a p to s adaptor? Have been looking for a er4s, got offered a p at a nice price and thinkin about just getting the adaptor.

So a few weeks ago I used my last pair of foamies for my long-loved ER4Ps. No big deal, I think, and march off to Amazon to order a bag to make sure they'd get here in time for the 30hrs of plane flights that I have in the next week. So the new tips arrive and I immediately notice that the foam is different and the inner tube is now thicker. But whatever, what difference can it make. I toss a pair on and head down stairs to workout with some tunes... WTF is this? :mad: They sounded like shit, seriously congested, muffled and so far from their crystal clear selves that I knew something had to be wrong. But eff it, I'm in the middle of a half hour ride and I mig…

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I have a few microSD cards with DSD files that work fine in the Chord Mojo, Fiio M7 and a Cayin player. But when I put them in the 1A, it goes through building a database routine, but then does not recognize anything in the card. If I plug the card back into any of the other listed above, the music shows up as usual. Is the Sony player different in terms of formatting? Suggestions appreciated! Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Has anybody tried the new AudioQuest DragonFly Red DAC? It has been getting good reviews and it seems to be the perfect form factor and price for me. I bet AudioQuest has been making a lot of money from this gadget in the last couple of years.

Hello, Can any RSA Shadow owner tell me their experience with the potentiometer on the Shadow? I've read that some have found it unreliable/awkward while others love it. One thing I can't find out (and I've searched a lot) is what the "push" aspect of the lever/push potentiometer control is for. Is it necessary to push the switch to adjust volume either way to prevent accidental adjustment or does it have a separate use. (It's confusing as there is already a power switch)

My 40gb iPod photo has been acting up the past few weeks, and this morning, it died for the fourth time as I tried to listen to my audiobook during my commute. I had bought this from Best Buy (don't ask me why), and still had their protection plan in place so I took it to their customer service. If I'm lucky, they'll accept it as a lemon and I'll receive a comparable product from the current production as a replacement in 6 weeks. If I'm unlucky, they won't accept it as a lemon and they'll return it to the store in 6 weeks (at which point I can choose to get it repaired). So either way, I'm without my iPod for 6 weeks and we'll see how long before I break down and end …

Somehow I never heard about the Red Wine iMod until just this week. I'm wondering if this is still considered a first-rate upgrade. If not, is there another iPod mod that's better? I use a 4G iPod, Apple Lossless files, RSA Hornet, Westone 4s and Sennheiser HD650s. And, as of this week, my Westone ES5s are on order. Should I get my iPod iModded?

http://shop.hoodiebuddie.com/ there was a vendor trying to sell these things on campus...