portable headphone amp — The Watering Hole

6 posts

Hookbender #1 · Dec 13, 2014 01:07 UTC

Here we go again, right? ;D

So, I travel for work. I like to listen to music at night in the hotel. That's why I'm into headphones and stuff so much.... just so you know.

So, I picked up one of these.....

http://www.amazon.com/E17-Alpen-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B0070UFMOW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418432427&sr=8-1&keywords=fiio+e17

Now, I didn't think much about it. Just decided to give it a try, if I don't like it, send it back. this thing is killer. Hooked this thing up to my K240s headphones, among others, and damn it's impressive. Really wakes up headphones well!!! Plenty of power. Pretty damn clean too.

Anyway, it's perfect for traveling or maybe even home applications.

desertbluesman #2 · Dec 13, 2014 03:09 UTC

Looks good, good luck with it......

akatomcox #3 · Dec 13, 2014 18:39 UTC

I would like to get one of their players with a decent amp built in. The X3 or X5. The amps are very nice but I don't want an extra component to carry around.

Hookbender #4 · Dec 14, 2014 00:12 UTC

You could get headphones a lower ohm rating. Easier to drive headphones.

http://www.amazon.com/X5-Resolution-Lossless-Music-Player/dp/B00I4Q9S32

akatomcox #5 · Dec 15, 2014 14:03 UTC

I have a set if Westone 3 earphones. My current player is Cowan j3. Decent but I think a better source is my next step up.

Hookbender #6 · Dec 15, 2014 23:30 UTC

Tobe — Dec 15, 2014I have a set if Westone 3 earphones. My current player is Cowan j3. Decent but I think a better source is my next step up.

I have a Cowan i6 I think and a X7. This little amp with either is killer. I have shure se210's, I never use the amp with those, but I do use my AKG240s, Grado's, etc... ;D..... and it really sounds good with the amp. I do wish Cowan would go old school volume knob or something. Theirs sucks.

I think your source is better than most. I would experiment with different headphones. One that fills the void that makes you consider change. I've never tried the Westones, but I read about them. Suppose to be damn good earphones. But another set by a different maker that produces the sound you like is a huge possibility as well. Just saying... experiment some. Lot easier to change headphone than to rig up another setup of some expensive (probably, to get better sound than a Cowan) kind.