Try a headphone amp for a week.

StevieDvd · 23-02-2007, 9:06 PM

Try a headphone amp for a week!!!

OK the point of this is to allow anyone who has heard of, but not tried, basic headphone amplifiers to try one for a short while.

I have in my junk box a basic cmoy amplifier in a hammond case, it runs off a 9v battery and has a 3.5mm line in and 3.5mm headphone out. I'll send this to the first person on the list (we'll discuss that in a minute), they try the amp and post it on to the next in line on the list.

I don't make these, I don't sell them or recommend any particular seller of these basic amps, you can find them with google or on Ebay. I'm not in this for any money or reward other than a simple thank you.

Why would you want to try, well basically to see if you would want to bother with a headphone amp without the cost/hassle of buying one first. Connect it to your PC, hi-fi, dvd player, ipod or whatever and find out if there is any merit to using headphone amps over not using one. It's a basic one so don't expect miracles.

Rules
=====

You must be a UK member here for at least a month with over 50 posts. You agree to receive the amp either from me (if your are first in line) or from the previous borrower and to send it on in to the next person on the list in the same state as you get it within a week or so.

You may need to put a fresh battery in it when it arrives and depending on your own setup may need to get hold of cables or adapters. Since you know up front what it is and what connections it has don't complain if you have not got the correct cables/adapters or a battery. If it gets passed on to you with a usable battery or cables so much the better, but pass those on to the next person too. And if all goes well it will end up back in my possession and go back in the junk box.

I'll post a picture or two here over the weekend so you can see the amp, it's small so postage won't be a problem.

So post here if you'd like to be on the list, when we've got a reasonable list I'll send it out to the first person. What I don't want to do is send it to one person, get it back send it to the next etc as that makes my postage the highest. Let's see if we can get 6 to 10 to start the ball rolling.

Don't post names/addresses here. Details of the sender/receiver can be handled in PM when it's ready to be sent/received.

List so far

1 ush flynn
2. BAD Dave
3. Lawrenzini
4. spuddler
5. lisnalee
6. mho64

The cmoy and some cables in the pack:

The 9v battery holder draw:

Steve

ush flynn · 23-02-2007, 9:47 PM

thats an amazing idea mate, id like to be on the list to see if i can get an improvement from my etymotics without killing my ipod battery. More than willing to pass one with a duracell procell 9v battery on it

BAD Dave · 23-02-2007, 10:10 PM

Great idea! Count me in!
I have always been curious about portable headphone amps, particularly for use with an iPod.
Thanks,
David

GBDG1 · 23-02-2007, 11:33 PM

Could I be added to the list?

I have a little dot but am quite intrigued about the much talked about cmoy. It's fine if you decide that because I already have an amp I shouldn't be included

.

spuddler · 24-02-2007, 12:42 AM

Hi,you can add me to the list please.

Cheers BOB

lisnalee · 24-02-2007, 11:28 AM

Hi, Please add me to the list, I have been wondering if these would make a difference to my um2's

Cheers,

Dee

StevieDvd · 24-02-2007, 12:31 PM

Good, More replies than I expected in such a short while and I haven't even taken the pictures yet.

All added to the list, I'll get it all ready tomorrow as it looks like we can start the ball rolling.

I'll pm you ush flynn for an name/address when it's all ready.

Steve

ush flynn · 25-02-2007, 11:36 AM

great stuff

StevieDvd · 01-03-2007, 12:26 PM

Oh well not much more interest then. I may as well send it to the first on the list and see if anymore join in.

I have the amp and some cables ready to pack so will take those pics I promised and get it sent out tomorrow.

Steve

lisnalee · 01-03-2007, 8:51 PM

great news Steve, BTW how do you find the RSA hornet, been reading the reviews everyone seems to thinks it great, whats your impression?

StevieDvd · 02-03-2007, 1:16 PM

Well the package is now in the hands of the Post Office so hopefully will be with ush flynn by Monday.

I did include some basic cables and a new battery and posted some pics in the original thread.

If anyone wants to be added to the list (as per rules) just join in the thread.

Steve

StevieDvd · 02-03-2007, 1:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisnalee

great news Steve, BTW how do you find the RSA hornet, been reading the reviews everyone seems to thinks it great, whats your impression?

If you do a quick search here for 'hornet' and check out the threads that come up in the headphones sections you'll see my impressions (saves me re-typing)

You can certainly get cheaper portables but not many better in that feature/size arena.

Steve

hottstuff · 02-03-2007, 1:20 PM

Any chance of your neighbours across the water trying this out steve?

StevieDvd · 02-03-2007, 1:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hottstuff

Any chance of your neighbours across the water trying this out steve?

Don't see why not - per the list it will be nearest to you when lisnalee gets it, so an opportune time to join the list.

If you're happy to send it back to the next in line (or me if no one else joins) I'll add you on.

Steve

hottstuff · 02-03-2007, 1:39 PM

Great , thanks steve.
Moving to PM.

st200ol · 03-03-2007, 7:58 PM

Seems like an excellent way to get some extra 'burn-in' done on your amp.

GBDG1 · 03-03-2007, 8:06 PM

Out of interest is the Mini-Mini cable homebrew?

StevieDvd · 04-03-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st200ol

Seems like an excellent way to get some extra 'burn-in' done on your amp.

It's burned in but not used hence the offer - anything I have needing burn-in would be new and burning in now like my new Stello DA100 Dac.

StevieDvd · 04-03-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawrenzini

Out of interest is the Mini-Mini cable homebrew?

Yes I've made quite a few cables, hence such a full junk box. The mini-mini and the mini-rca were both diy stop gaps till I bought something better.

ush flynn · 05-03-2007, 11:59 AM

i have it in my hands here steve! nice little neat package you have sent out. Gave it a quick blast while i was at work but i only have a laptop and my ipod here. From what ive heard so far i like the sound it outputs as well as the fact that on about a 1/4 turn on the dial its louder than my ipod or laptop can output!
I wonder how much of an improved battery life i could get out of an ipod while using this little thing.

I have noticed that on low activity during a tune i can hear some background noise through the unit. Its hard to hear straight from source because i cant get that sort of volume out of it. But once it gets going i think it sounds great!
Ill stick a new battery in before i send it off and thanks for including all the cables!

hottstuff · 05-03-2007, 12:07 PM

My Denon arrived last week and sounds amazing through my technics cans.
Please remove me steve and thanks for putting me down on the list.
Looks like it will take me several weeks to settle into this amp.

StevieDvd · 05-03-2007, 2:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hottstuff

My Denon arrived last week and sounds amazing through my technics cans.
Please remove me steve and thanks for putting me down on the list.
Looks like it will take me several weeks to settle into this amp.

No problem I updated the list - hope you enjoy your new gear.

Steve

hottstuff · 05-03-2007, 2:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieDvd

No problem I updated the list - hope you enjoy your new gear.

Steve

I will

, but my neighbours & their Neighbours , Won't.

StevieDvd · 05-03-2007, 3:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ush flynn

i have it in my hands here steve! nice little neat package you have sent out. Gave it a quick blast while i was at work but i only have a laptop and my ipod here. From what ive heard so far i like the sound it outputs as well as the fact that on about a 1/4 turn on the dial its louder than my ipod or laptop can output!
I wonder how much of an improved battery life i could get out of an ipod while using this little thing.

I have noticed that on low activity during a tune i can hear some background noise through the unit. Its hard to hear straight from source because i cant get that sort of volume out of it. But once it gets going i think it sounds great!
Ill stick a new battery in before i send it off and thanks for including all the cables!

Can't say whether the volume will help the Ipod battery life as mine is always out of the line out connection. Some iem's do get a little hiss and the solution is usually an inline attenuator (I should have included one - doh) that would have given you a wider volume control range and cured the hiss.

My best advice is to keep using it for a few days and then switch back to see if you miss the extra detail, definition or soundstage etc - or don't notice a thing. I'm not a quick switch believer as once you hear more detail in one you'll probably hear it in the other as well as your brain will know it's there now. That's why I think certain people hear no differences in quick switch tests.

Steve

st200ol · 05-03-2007, 7:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieDvd

It's burned in but not used hence the offer - anything I have needing burn-in would be new and burning in now like my new Stello DA100 Dac.

Please put me at the top of the list for when you loan that out.

It looks like a seriously nice bit of kit, are you using it in USB mode from a PC, or digital out from something?

StevieDvd · 06-03-2007, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st200ol

Please put me at the top of the list for when you loan that out.

OK you'll be at the top

but it may be quite a while before I loan it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by st200ol

It looks like a seriously nice bit of kit, are you using it in USB mode from a PC, or digital out from something?

Been playing around with connections, I have an Emu0404 with both coax & optical out, an Airport Express with optical out and of course USB (built in and with usb-asio driver).

My PC is a Shuttle and I'm not over the moon with the usb audio on it so I tend to opt for optical for reduced interference. I've had far less hiss & crackle when sticking to optical.

Perhaps I have too much disposable income and am too fussy but I like neatness so the Emu0404 connectors are 'messy' and the airport express takes up an extra mains socket - so I'm peeking around for a bit-perfect soundcard with optical/coax connection on the back plate.

lisnalee · 17-03-2007, 12:19 PM

ush flynn, How's the amp testing goin?

ush flynn · 18-03-2007, 12:16 PM

very well thank you, nice little bit of kit this. Tis true that when its gone you realise what it had been doing to your audio. Been a bit of a delay sending to the next person due to lack of response but ive contacted the next in line. Shall be posting tomorrow if all goes well

BAD Dave · 18-03-2007, 12:45 PM

Ush,
I sent a reply to your PM as soon as I recived it.
Have sent another one with my address.
Thanks
David

lisnalee · 18-03-2007, 2:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ush flynn

very well thank you, nice little bit of kit this. Tis true that when its gone you realise what it had been doing to your audio. Been a bit of a delay sending to the next person due to lack of response but ive contacted the next in line. Shall be posting tomorrow if all goes well

Great news, Cant wait to get my hands on it.

I take it you will be buying an amp of some description ??