Portable dac/headphone amp?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I'm just weighing up a few options at the mo

Have asked Nick about building me a headphone amp ... But everytime I think about it it turns into a pre/dac/headphone amp and if (more likely when) I get him to build me somthing I want it to be the dogs danglys ... Unfortunately dogs balls are expensive ... So that gonna have to wait

I have the caiman in place at the mo, which is actually bloody ace with the grados ... But its actually probably a bit too good for work ...
I am also probably likely to want to reinstate it into the loft system (despite my desires for a analogue only system up there ...

So, it strikes me that a portable headphone amp/dac might be quite a nice option ... I can use it at the office, but I can also take it wherever else I go ...
So yeah, USB input is a must!

I've looked at this fiio e7 ... Seems to tick the boxes ... Any good? What else is similar?

Budget - £100

I also need a iPhone output - whatever size whole the input on the above choice is

[StanleyB]

The iPOD is a portable DAC/headamp. It uses a Wolfson DAC chip..

[Yomanze]

The iPOD is a portable DAC/headamp. It uses a Wolfson DAC chip..

Not anymore they don't. :(

Everything after the 5th gen uses an 'Apple' DAC with a corresponding drop in sound quality.

[Tim]

I've had one of these for the past 2 years and I'm very pleased with it, small and portable with very good performance IMO. It works extremely well with my Ultimate Ears and Sennheiser PX 100's :)

http://www.ibasso.com/upimg/2009717231917.jpg

http://www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=42

[Fi-Wi]

I have he same iBasso as Tim's and also love it.

For what it's worth, it has a Wolfson WM8740 DAC Chip.

Big plus as well is that has 38hours play time per charge.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I think that's the same dac as in my majik ds ... This just came up in another thread ...
More cash than I really wanted to part with ...
Maybe some saving ...

I'm going away on holiday tomorrow, and despite the doubt over stans comment ... It does actually make sence to spend a bit more time with just the iPhone ...
To be fair, it doesn't sound to bad ... ... And I suppose, I could just be sensible and use spotify on it and do without the computer all together .... that had actually never occured to me you know :doh:
I'll see how I get on with the flac I have on the iPhone and the spotify downloads whilst I'm away and come back to this I think ...

In the meanwhile should anyone have any other suggestions ... ...

[Beechwoods]

I have an FiiO E7 and have been very pleased. Truly portable - runs off internal batteries and charges from USB when plugged in your your computer. Takes USB and analogue inputs. Sounds great, though I don't have others against which to compare - great versus the headphone outs on my Mac Mini and MacBook... I got mine for £60 or so from Amazon. I'd certainly recommend it if you're in the sub-£100 market.

http://anythingbutipod.com/2010/03/fiio-e7-headphone-amplifierusb-dac-review/
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/507363/fiio-e7-review

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FiiO-Portable-Headphone-DAC-Amplifier/dp/B003N0XDT4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307918177&sr=8-1

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Nice one Nick ... To be honest, it's much more in my price range than the ibasso
It's that wm8740 again ... Seems to be stalking me at the moment...
Don't you have an iPhone?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

This looks interesting combo ... Bit for walking about with a boost for the desktop ... Comes with a l3 thing for the iPhone too ... ...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FiiO-E7-and-E9-headphone-amplifiers-UK-Stock_W0QQitemZ290545447806QQcategoryZ48680QQvarZQ QcmdZViewItem

[Beechwoods]

Nice one Nick ... To be honest, it's much more in my price range than the ibasso
It's that wm8740 again ... Seems to be stalking me at the moment...
Don't you have an iPhone?

I do but I don't worry about Headphone amps with my iPhone. My IEMs don't need it and the stock performance of the iPhone is sufficient for my portable needs. I use the DAC at home to improve my computer listening.

The FiiO can plug into the iPhone via it's analogue input.

[Yoga]

This looks interesting combo ... Bit for walking about with a boost for the desktop ... Comes with a l3 thing for the iPhone too ... ...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FiiO-E7-and-E9-headphone-amplifiers-UK-Stock_W0QQitemZ290545447806QQcategoryZ48680QQvarZQ QcmdZViewItem

An excellent combo Hamish. When I get a portable DAC, it will be the Fiio E7. Read and heard many great things about it, my mate swears by it.

[idc]

If it is at least as good as my FiiO E5, the biggest bargain in hifi IMO, the rest of the range does sound superb going by reviews.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Done deal then I reckon ... Just gotta wait for the stuff on eBay to sell and I shall get me one I think ... I have read lots of reviews too they all seem pretty good apart from a batch that seemed to say most of the range (and most things up to £150) just "make it louder" ... By its self, louder is no use to me so I was slightly put off ... But ...
After a holiday with just the iPhone, a pair of Sony iem's and the grados the conclusion is def that the iPod doesn't quite cut it ... It sounds ... "Enclosed" for want of a better word ... I don't think it has the balls ... So maybe that "louder" alone with translate to "more power" which is exactly what I think is needed ...
Does that make any sense ... Maybe not, it's before 9am... :)

[idc]

Makes sense to me. I like clarity and detail and you get that with a touch of volume. My E5 is just enough to add that extra bit of oomph, without having to go too loud.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

For once someone sees logic in my blabberings ;)
The sound from the iPhone it's self isn't bad so as long as the added thing in the signal path isnt destructive (which I doubt from the reviews) I can't see how I can go wrong ... Especially at the price ...
Just gotta get a few £££ together now ...

[colinB]

My walkman sounds ok when plyed through its little class D amp but it doesnt really come alive until i put it through the Fiio. For little money you can use the amp line in with the oyaide cable they sell on ebay.

[idc]

Definitely use a LOD if connecting the E5 to an ipod, even if it is just to get the volume all controlled by the amp. But I am sure there is a sound quality improvement as well. FiiO do a nice one for about £6.