View Full Version : best value portable earphone amps and earphones
Any ideas on these from users?
Aligauld
21-11-2016, 20:21
Hi Grant,
It's not particularly cheap https://www.amazon.co.uk/OPPO-na-Oppo-HA-2/dp/B00U1PQVWU but my son got one of these from his work.
He works for CEX so got it for about £170 with his discount and he swears by it.
He uses it when he is out and about with his Fiio X3 and says the quality is very very good.
Again it's not cheap so might not be what you're looking for but it does the job handsomely.
Cheers,
Alistair
Lawrence001
21-11-2016, 20:23
On the amp front I had a fiio e12a and quite frankly it was rubbish. I preferred the sound of my iPod with all my IEMs including my hard to drive Sony quad armatures. It was rated as a good fiio, I get the impression that some reviewers of portable equipment dont set the bar as high as us "audiophiles". Now a nice cmoy amp with a 9v battery that's different, I love mine. I started with a JDS labs bass boost in an Altoids tin but then came across Zigis who sold a variable bass boost with a knob which I find much better. You can also overdrive it at home with a PSU I think mines 24v. Keep 2 9v batteries charged and you can switch over when out and about if one runs out. SQ is good enough to match an entry level desktop amp.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
jollyfix
21-11-2016, 21:00
PM sent Grant
I had a Chord Mojo (only sold as I stopped commuting) and thought it was a step above anything else in the same category. Drove IEMs and big AKGs equally well. Didn't sound too bad in my main setup either, at least the equal of the Rega Apollo I had at the same time.
Thanks all. I will start checking these out
Any ideas on these from users?
Hi Grant, do you want it to be truly portable, i.e. in your pocket, and on the move?
I use an iFi nanoDSD, which is compatible with Android/iOS/Windows via USB (OTG for android), has it's own on board battery, and can be set to power itself, or power/charge from the host device (usually a laptop/PC).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Headphone-Android-Portable-Consumer-Electronic/dp/B00LK03WYU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1479828459&sr=8-3&keywords=ifi+nano
I'm very happy with it, works very well with my Sennheiser Momentum IIs
That said you wouldn't want to carry it in your pocket...;) It's more to use at a destination, than on the journey, although I do use it on planes and trains...
Another advantage is that it has stereo RCAs out, in addition to the HP socket
Hi Grant, do you want it to be truly portable, i.e. in your pocket, and on the move?
I use an iFi nanoDSD, which is compatible with Android/iOS/Windows via USB (OTG for android), has it's own on board battery, and can be set to power itself, or power/charge from the host device (usually a laptop/PC).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Headphone-Android-Portable-Consumer-Electronic/dp/B00LK03WYU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1479828459&sr=8-3&keywords=ifi+nano
I'm very happy with it, works very well with my Sennheiser Momentum IIs
That said you wouldn't want to carry it in your pocket...;) It's more to use at a destination, than on the journey, although I do use it on planes and trains...
Another advantage is that it has stereo RCAs out, in addition to the HP socket
yes, pocket size but if it can be utilized on desktop or main system if needed its a bonus. Just found my sony buds. sound pretty decent with the phone streaming Amazon actually. got a set of sony bluetooth ones too that were state of the art in the day(quite a while ago admittedly). got them on charge at moment. Either dac/ amp or maybe just amp may be enough. Its for my enforced bed times lol. Actually thinking of keeping amazon system for a few months, while I trial all the others, but its the cheapest and has no ads etc, plus it has all the music I ever bought from them which is quite a few tracks... about 4000 I think.
The nano and the oppo look very nice, but out of budget i think at moment. Have another option via a trial of of an amp from Dave(Jollyfix) which I may well try now ive found the buds. Had a decent set of sony over ear ones too but they seem to have varnished:eyebrows:
yes, pocket size but if it can be utilized on desktop or main system if needed its a bonus. Just found my sony buds. sound pretty decent with the phone streaming Amazon actually. got a set of sony bluetooth ones too that were state of the art in the day(quite a while ago admittedly). got them on charge at moment. Either dac/ amp or maybe just amp may be enough. Its for my enforced bed times lol. Actually thinking of keeping amazon system for a few months, while I trial all the others, but its the cheapest and has no ads etc, plus it has all the music I ever bought from them which is quite a few tracks... about 4000 I think.
The nano and the oppo look very nice, but out of budget i think at moment. Have another option via a trial of of an amp from Dave(Jollyfix) which I may well try now ive found the buds. Had a decent set of sony over ear ones too but they seem to have varnished:eyebrows:
...at the other end of the scale, amp only, the little FiiO ones are pretty good...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FiiO-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Upgrade/dp/B01CSSQXJ8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479889615&sr=1-1&keywords=fiio+e6
...I have its predecessor the E6
A Graham Slee Bitzie - https://www.amazon.co.uk/GSP-Audio-Bitzie-USB-DAC/dp/B00SU4ND8Y
If you join the forum, and post there you can get 10% off.
Yes thanks. Thats even dearer lol. I am a poor old man ! Next thing is earphones ...thats another minefield if reviews are concerned. Ive 3 sets here.. well 2 and a set of headphones to be accurate. Think the bud type are more portable. Each pair sound different and none are perfect. Think the overear blutooth buds from sony are best .not quite buds but loop over ear. They were the most expensive in the day at about £75 i think. Sony actual buts were fairly cheap at a out £25 at a guess. Headphones are overear set from lidl and are fairly recent and cheap. Sound ok but not keen on having a headstrap.
Any good cheapish buds out there that dont deafen you with bass?
Aligauld
24-11-2016, 17:01
Hi Grant,
These are the ones I use when I'm on the train to and from work. I think they are pretty decent.
Sony MDR-EX650AP
They bettered my Soundmagic 10's.
Cheers,
Alistair
Was looking at those but at 60 notes thought they will come down in price soon. Got the sound magic 10 s on my list get decent reviews for price
I'm using Sony dr bt30q Bluetooth ones at moment. Could do with new felt covers tho
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161124/6d130dcdaadacba384351a9ae5332d32.jpg
Any good cheapish buds out there that dont deafen you with bass?
I had some of these until I left them on a plane, very good VFM/SQ, they even survived a trip through the washer...;)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SoundMAGIC-E10-Earphones-Silver-Black/dp/B005HP3OB0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1480007637&sr=8-4&keywords=the+soundmagic+e10s
...damn it all, I'll treat myself to another pair! :cool:
martian sunrise
24-11-2016, 17:55
I gave up after the second pair pooed their pants. The junction of the cable to the bud fails too easily.
I gave up after the second pair pooed their pants. The junction of the cable to the bud fails too easily.
Was that the sound magic?
I gave up after the second pair pooed their pants. The junction of the cable to the bud fails too easily.
My previous pair seemed fairly robust, but that was 3 year ago, we'll see when they arrive...I mostly use my Sennheiser Momentum IIs with my phone these days, but occasionally I need earbuds...:)
Second the Mojo recommendation - love mine.
I'm really happy with my HiFiMAN RE-600S Songbird earphones (http://www.hifiman.com/products/detail/127).
Great deal on them here (http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/Headphones.6/HiFiMan.418/RE600S/HiFiMAN_RE-600S_Songbird_High-Performance_In-Ear_Monitors__IEM___Latest_Version_-_V2_.14987.html)
Review here (http://www.head-fi.org/t/730297/review-hifiman-re-600-songbird-true-to-its-name)
http://www.hifiman.com/archive/images/product_images/2013-08-02/328895791bfc76e0392969cb779ead63/23-08-19742-3bf64d71f2b2e3c53b26a94f9a148b90.jpg
My favourite portables to date are the V-Jays. Value is critical for me, because I always look for sub £50 for my ultra-portables. Have used a lot of portables including expensive ones from Shure, and used in-ears for long enough to realise that I don't like them. I prefer open backs, so I can actually hear stuff when out and about & prefer the balance / comfort. The Jays headphones are a bit like the Koss Porta Pro with tighter bass and more sparkling highs. A fun fun fun design that makes AKG & Sennheiser portables sound boring.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41-A9S9t6hL._SY355_.jpg
Thanks for all suggestions. I am coming to the conclusion that best way forward if i do go forward is to bring one of my old phones out of retirement(android) and use it with a dac amp, and better buds or the like. Or just an amp and buds. Make it a dedicated streamer with just bare min on it. Could then put own music on a card as well.
Ive a few to pic from but the old erricson might be past it. So the motorola razr or my s3 with the big battery.
Ive a few to pic from but the old erricson might be past it. So the motorola razr or my s3 with the big battery.
If you want to use a DAC you'll need to check if the phone in question has USB host capabilities, the S3 might work with the USB Audio pro app...:eyebrows:
Theadmans
26-11-2016, 19:13
My favourite portables to date are the V-Jays. Value is critical for me, because I always look for sub £50 for my ultra-portables. Have used a lot of portables including expensive ones from Shure, and used in-ears for long enough to realise that I don't like them. I prefer open backs, so I can actually hear stuff when out and about & prefer the balance / comfort. The Jays headphones are a bit like the Koss Porta Pro with tighter bass and more sparkling highs. A fun fun fun design that makes AKG & Sennheiser portables sound boring.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41-A9S9t6hL._SY355_.jpg
..these V-Jays are great - think I paid about £20 for them delivered from Amazon.
I have Sennheiser Hd650s for serious Hi-Fi use - but whenever I am away from home I use the V-Jays (and I don't feel I missing too much).
..these V-Jays are great - think I paid about £20 for them delivered from Amazon.
I have Sennheiser Hd650s for serious Hi-Fi use - but whenever I am away from home I use the V-Jays (and I don't feel I missing too much).
Another advantage is that phones drive them just fine, no real need to amp them up.
Seem a bit dearer now those. Interesting design though. Was looking at some bluedio cans too. Look good and spec seems decent for money. Hard to say what they sound like. You get the usual glowing reviews but who is reviewing them on say amazon...maybe kids who are impressed with lots of bass it seems for all earphones. As i say its a damn minefield
Well you have 2x HiFi nuts recommending the Jays who (I) have owned / own STAX, Grado RS1, Sony MDR-V6 etc. ;)
I haven't heard the Bludios though.
Amazon are oostock of them. About £40 so not bad. I see they do dearer models too. They are on my list :)
Got a set of Marshalls for now to dip my toe in until i decide on a full set.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161207/71c65be529a4e3eaa8d84795c78c46e4.jpg
They are well enough made and sound very nice indeed. Perhaps ohmage might be slightly on high side especially on the samsung s3. A bit more ooph on the iphone5
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.