[MikeLa]

I'm currently using my IMod 4G as a source for an office setup, it’s time to take it on the road. I need your advice on which portable amp to purchase. I’m leaning toward the Hornet plus ALO Cryo X Silver Mini 2 Mini. I will use mostly IEM’s (yet to purchase) but would like to try my HD650’s and Qualia 010’s – your thoughts?

[Vinnie R.]

I'm currently using my IMod 4G as a source for an office setup, it’s time to take it on the road. I need your advice on which portable amp to purchase. I’m leaning toward the Hornet plus ALO Cryo X Silver Mini 2 Mini. I will use mostly IEM’s (yet to purchase) but would like to try my HD650’s and Qualia 010’s – your thoughts?

Hi MikeLa,

There are lots of iMod owners using RSA Hornets (and the smaller little-brother, the Tomahawk) and really love that combo (many of them are members on Headfi.com), but if you are looking to spend less, take a look at this one:

http://www.aloaudio.com/mseed/mseed.html

Ken at ALO owns both, so he might be able to provide you with details about how they compare, and which of his cables work best between the iMod and each headphone amp.  He did mention to me that the mSeed can keep up with more expensive competition..

Sorry I can't share my own experience on this with you because I only use the iMod as a source in my 2-channel home audio system    I'm sure one day I'll get a nice pair of headphones and amp (for listening late at night w/o disturbing my wife and baby daughter).   

Happy 4th!

Vinnie

[slwiser]

I'm currently using my IMod 4G as a source for an office setup, it’s time to take it on the road. I need your advice on which portable amp to purchase. I’m leaning toward the Hornet plus ALO Cryo X Silver Mini 2 Mini. I will use mostly IEM’s (yet to purchase) but would like to try my HD650’s and Qualia 010’s – your thoughts?

To get a multi varied response you can come on over to Head-fi.org and ask your question or simply research what others are using.  I just completed a listen session using the iBasso T1 and T2, the Headamp AE-1 and AE-2 and my Xin Reference.  The Xin Reference is something special but you would have to wait a little bit till  Dr. Xin gets these into real production.  The Ray Samuels (RSA) amps of course are great little amps.

[MikeLa]

Thanks guys, I'll check over at Head-fi.org

[Loftprojection]

Thanks guys, I'll check over at Head-fi.org

Watch out, you're in for quite a journey!

[acd483]

I've gone through this search as I'm considering sending my older, now unused iPod to Vinnie for upgrading. It seems that people are gravitating towards either the Ray Samuels Hornet/Tomahawk or the Meier Corda Move. I think most of the guys on Head-Fi look for ultra-resolving amps with crystalline highs, etc. They also tend to like Rock music. So when I read the Corda Move is warmer and darker, I got excited. It's also $70 less than the Tomahawk. I'm probably going to end up with the Move. Then it's figuring out what pair of IEMs to get! Another nightmare.

[Loftprojection]

I've gone through this search as I'm considering sending my older, now unused iPod to Vinnie for upgrading. It seems that people are gravitating towards either the Ray Samuels Hornet/Tomahawk or the Meier Corda Move. I think most of the guys on Head-Fi look for ultra-resolving amps with crystalline highs, etc. They also tend to like Rock music. So when I read the Corda Move is warmer and darker, I got excited. It's also $70 less than the Tomahawk. I'm probably going to end up with the Move. Then it's figuring out what pair of IEMs to get! Another nightmare.

What type of music do you mostly listen to?  I have an Imod feeding either a Ray Samuels XP-7, a Tomahawk or a Jasmine T200 tube amp depending if I'm at home or on the move.  I listen mostly to jazz. 

In my opinion RSA amps are not like you describe them, they are not "rock" music amps.  They have very well defined highs but not harsh at all, once you listen to one of them I would be surprised if you would say you need something warmer/darker.  They are a bit "analytical" sounding but have very smooth mids.  For IEM's, it depends on your budget but the Vmoda Vibe is pretty good for $100, if you are willing to spend more $$$ then the Shure E500 are great.   

By the way, if you go Imod, go for a good amp and cans if you want to see what the Imod is all about.  If you go for a cheap set of cans and a cheap amp, you will probably just find that the Imod is a bit better then your old Ipod.  When you read over at Head-fi that people find the Imod an incredible improvement over the stock Ipod it is because they have the other components to resolve the improvement the Imod brings.  I've seen a post there the other day where a guy said he couldn't ear much difference between Imod and Ipod, well either he was listening to badly recorded rock or his amp/can was very low-end.

Hope this helps.

[acd483]

What type of music do you mostly listen to?  I have an Imod feeding either a Ray Samuels XP-7, a Tomahawk or a Jasmine T200 tube amp depending if I'm at home or on the move.  I listen mostly to jazz. 

In my opinion RSA amps are not like you describe them, they are not "rock" music amps.  They have very well defined highs but not harsh at all, once you listen to one of them I would be surprised if you would say you need something warmer/darker.  They are a bit "analytical" sounding but have very smooth mids.  For IEM's, it depends on your budget but the Vmoda Vibe is pretty good for $100, if you are willing to spend more $$$ then the Shure E500 are great.   

By the way, if you go Imod, go for a good amp and cans if you want to see what the Imod is all about.  If you go for a cheap set of cans and a cheap amp, you will probably just find that the Imod is a bit better then your old Ipod.  When you read over at Head-fi that people find the Imod an incredible improvement over the stock Ipod it is because they have the other components to resolve the improvement the Imod brings.  I've seen a post there the other day where a guy said he couldn't ear much difference between Imod and Ipod, well either he was listening to badly recorded rock or his amp/can was very low-end.

Hope this helps.
[/quote]

I listen to a lot of mids-rich music. I didn't mean to imply that RSA amps are bright and fatiguing, all I was saying is that given the rock-heavy bias of Head-Fi, a "warmer and darker" amp would probably fit my listening profile better.

FYI: at work I listen through Grado SR-80s...which are at the limit of my brightness tolerance.

I like musical, not analytical sounding amps...yet at this point the two top contenders for me are the RSA Tomahawk and the Corda Move.

[Loftprojection]

I listen to a lot of mids-rich music. I didn't mean to imply that RSA amps are bright and fatiguing, all I was saying is that given the rock-heavy bias of Head-Fi, a "warmer and darker" amp would probably fit my listening profile better.

FYI: at work I listen through Grado SR-80s...which are at the limit of my brightness tolerance.

I like musical, not analytical sounding amps...yet at this point the two top contenders for me are the RSA Tomahawk and the Corda Move.

I think you might be a bit wrong about the rock bias at head-fi.  Yes there is a lot of "young" listeners there but many of them are just "young audiophile" and they have some well recorded music to use for critical listening and evaluation.  I can't be considered on the young side anymore, I guess I've already passed mid-point    but I think you can't really go wrong with either of the two you are looking at.  Neither will be a great amp to take advantage of the Imod but both will be as good as you can get for portable use.  I used to have the ancestor to the Move and the Tomahawk is definitely a notch above both musically as well as for a refined sound but the Move as probably narrowed the gap now.   Have fun with the new toys!

[Paul_Bui]

I think a warm sounding headamp will fit the iMod 4G nicely.  I ended up having two iMods, both full of FLAC music, and am going to get another one soon.  While there's an RWA SB2 feeding Altmann DAC in the main system (with TVC and AS Patek amp), these days I listen to music through an iMod/MPX3/ATH-W1000 setup almost exclusively.  The musicality and synergy of the combo are clearly winning my heart over the 2-channel system.  As a sweet bonus, I carry along one or both iMods when driving on the road, and with a Cardas mini-2-mini IC the music played through the iMod and car stereo is dynamic, clear and clean.  It sounds damn good!   

Vinnie's iMod is really something very special:  as a 60gb/80gb jukebox it's both portable and musical.  While it can practically be used with giant killer headamps such as RSA Hornet or XIN Reference, I feel that it shines when associated with more ambitious equipment.