Practical Devices headphone amp , or other , for iMod ?

nodiak · « **on:** 9 Feb 2006, 06:54 pm »

I was going to buy a PracticalDevices XM2 for $85 but they phased it out and now have XM3 for $135.
So wondering if anyone has heard XM3? Is it as good as XM2?
Any other headphone amp to recommend?
Thanks, Don

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 07:35 pm »

Quote from: nodiak

I was going to buy a PracticalDevices XM2 for $85 but they phased it out and now have XM3 for $135.
So wondering if anyone has heard XM3? Is it as good as XM2?
Any other headphone amp to recommend?
Thanks, Don

Hi Don,

You might want to post on Headfi as well (www.headfi.com)....lots of headphone users and there has to be someone on that site who has used both. Perhaps the "portable audio" or "amplification" forum there?

Regards,

nodiak · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 09:22 pm »

Thanks Vinnie...I think...oh my gawd, another ocean of technology/products/opinions to sift through. These folks are way into it, which of course is who I need to listen to...

Don

gary · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 11:14 pm »

I haven't heard the new version (I didn't even know about it until I saw your post in fact) but i have the original one and I really like it. You need a pair of relatively efficient headphones as the amp is very noisy when you try to turn it up past about 11 o'clock. For instance, it doesn't drive my Koss earbuds very well but it does perfectly well with my ultimate ears studio.fi 3's. The crossfade is a gimmick, and I wish you could get one without it, but other than that it's a great little amp for the price... especially when fed by the iMod.

If you really want one of the original ones, pm me because I'd be tempted to sell you mine and upgrade. I travel a lot and the new case is smaller and more rugged and cooler looking so naturally I want one.

Gary

nodiak · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Feb 2006, 05:18 pm »

Hi Gary, thanks for the offer I'll think about that. I mostly want a hp amp for when I'm working (in a woodshop), so may need some efficiency,not necessarily the ultimate fidelity. I also don't want to spend much, so your offer sounds good. Do you think the amp fits my situation?
Don

gary · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Feb 2006, 08:44 pm »

I think the amp would work pretty well for you unless your headphones are really inefficient. When I say the amp gets noisy as I turn it up past 11 o'clock that's kind of a relative thing... I'm looking for a dead silent background to match that of my modded iPod so I think I'm a lot more demanding than you would be in this respect. It sounds like you wouldn't be so particular so I don't think there'd be a problem.

Gary