[sheffsteel]

I'm in the market for the best sounding mp3 portable set-up.

I'm willing to spend a few hundred pounds and I've been reading forums for a few weeks now.

My ideas so far are
OPTION 1: CowonD2 or even the new CowonQ5 with ShureSE530 ear phones.

I've read that Apple ipods and nano's sound below average using the "headphone out" socket, however many people seem to rate the "line-out" of the ipod.

So my other idea is
OPTION 2: Ipod Classic 80GB (apple lossless) with Graham Slee Voyager amp + suitable headphones.

If anyone has experience of a relative audiophile portable MP3 system then I'd really appreciate an opinion. Thanks.

[alexs2]

You could also try the Stax SR-001.

Its costs about £240,and includes the headphones and energiser.

The sound is a litte rolled off in the upper treble,but can easily be adjusted via the iPod,and apart from being a bit battery hungry(you should use the highest capacity rechargeables you can find),the sound is very good indeed.

[sheffsteel]

Thanks Alex,

I know the Stax stuff but didn't realise they do a portable amp and earphone.

I'm intending to audition whatever I buy and my budget is about £500.
I currently have a Naim system but wondered if there are any portable relative audiophile options.

I've been reading various forums for a few weeks (without posting) and the concensus of opinion seems to be mp3 players are designed for the mass markets and no companies seem interested in producing a machine with the best sound quality designed for audiophiles willing to pay a premium.

I know that in the US there are lots of companies producing very small battery operated amps and many swear by the Redwine Imod improvement to the ipod. However I understand that the Imod is not available for the new range of ipods and it was only available in the US.

I've found a shop (advanced mp3players) based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. They stock almost every mp3 player as well as the Graham Slee portable amp. They even let you pay for stuff to demo and return it in mint condition for a full refund.

I'll check out some reviews and stockists for the Stax. Thanks.

[McCol]

I'm using a 8gb nano with a line out cable to a Headsix portable amp with ety er4 earphones. The amp can be bought for approx £100 from Germany, not sure if the maker(Jan) does returns but you would more or less get your money back at headfi if you didnt like it.

I've tried the D2 and various other players over the last couple of years both with and without amps. The set up I have now just blows me away, lovely detail from the amp and ety combo.

[Guinnogs]

Hi,i have a 80bg IPOD video with a Ray Samuels Hornet amp and Shure E500's and the sound is fantastic,never tried any other combination so cant compare,but i'm not disappointed...............Alan...

[mattski73]

Originally Posted by alexs2

You could also try the Stax SR-001.

Its costs about £240,and includes the headphones and energiser.

The sound is a litte rolled off in the upper treble,but can easily be adjusted via the iPod,and apart from being a bit battery hungry(you should use the highest capacity rechargeables you can find),the sound is very good indeed.

the stax don't cost that much if you get to www.audiocibes.com that's where i got my stax sr001 mkII system. it is a different experience from your usual dynamic headphones. they do suck batteries dry in a matter of hours, the best i've managed is 4 hours, the worst with a pair of cheap batteries is just under 2 hours, so a mains plug is a must. i got one from maplins.

the unit is light, and could be called fragile, but mine have gone through a lot of abuse, including my wife dumping a load of clean washing on top of them, and they're still working fine.

they take a bit of getting used to, when it comes to comfort, and they need a bit of burning in, but you will get used to them.

but for £500 you might want to go the IEM/ Ray Samuels route.

[DorKnight]

On my iPod setup I use;

iPod 4G -> ALO Cryo Micro -> RSA "The Tomahawk" -> Shure E500

I also use Lossless on my D2 but I connect the E500s direct to it, the iPod produces a better sound using Apple Lossless with the above setup IMO.

[sheffsteel]

I've spent years listening to many hi-fi systems and I realise that much of it is down to personal taste. That's why I always prefer to demo whatever I buy. I also prefer to buy something from the UK with a gaurantee etc. Not fully confident of sending stuff off to the states etc.

I've read reviews on the Stax and I'm not keen on how they eat batteries (so will be expensive to run). However I've read some very good reviews on the recent Graham Slee Voyager, so my attention is turning to this.

I might continue to use my Creative Zen Vision:M with a Voyager (pending a demo).

What cable do people recommend? Do they make a difference? and where would I get a cable from?

Also what ear-phones would be recommended?
I may place an order with advancedmp2players here in the UK as they stock the GS Voyager amp, the Etymotic ER4-P's and the Shure SE530's. They also have a good returns policy that allows you to demo stuff and return stuff if returned in mint condition.

[DorKnight]

Ray, of Say Samuels Audio, is very friendly and helpful - His products are covered by a guarantee so you should be fine if you did decided to order from overseas (I've also had an excellent service from Jan Meier).

You could check out ALO for ICs;
http://www.aloaudio.com/

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by mattski73

the stax don't cost that much if you get to www.audiocibes.com that's where i got my stax sr001 mkII system. it is a different experience from your usual dynamic headphones. they do suck batteries dry in a matter of hours, the best i've managed is 4 hours, the worst with a pair of cheap batteries is just under 2 hours, so a mains plug is a must. i got one from maplins.

the unit is light, and could be called fragile, but mine have gone through a lot of abuse, including my wife dumping a load of clean washing on top of them, and they're still working fine.

they take a bit of getting used to, when it comes to comfort, and they need a bit of burning in, but you will get used to them.

but for £500 you might want to go the IEM/ Ray Samuels route.

FWIW,using 2500mA/H rechargeables,you can get much more than a few hours out it before recharging or changing batteries,but as you say,a mains adaptor is very useful.

[mattski73]

Originally Posted by alexs2

FWIW,using 2500mA/H rechargeables,you can get much more than a few hours out it before recharging or changing batteries,but as you say,a mains adaptor is very useful.

you're right a mains adaptor is useful, unless you hae your own battery company. i use uniross mAh 2700, and none of them have made it past 5 hours, with the volume at 12:00 or more.

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by mattski73

you're right a mains adaptor is useful, unless you hae your own battery company. i use uniross mAh 2700, and none of them have made it past 5 hours, with the volume at 12:00 or more.

I maybe dont turn it up so high!