ik2000
617
Portable Music Setup
Hello all,
I thought I'd share another passion of mine, high end personal audio. As I travel a lot, I haven't had the urge to indulge in a serious home setup, and as a big music fan of all genres, low quality audio on the move was something that I had to accept.
My first investment was a decent pair of earphones (or as the price and quality increases, they are known as In Ear Monitors, IEMs). I bought a pair of Shure SE535 IEMs, which greatly increased my listening pleasure. But as good as the IEMs were, something was missing in the sound. My primary sources for music were my ITunes collection via either my Iphone, or Ipod Nano.
A few years ago, I invested in a portable amplifier from a Chinese manufacturer called Fiio. They put out high quality products at very decent prices. As I am sure many know, when it comes to audiophilia.... well, you can spend 50k USD on headphones, so good pricing is always important!! Suddenly, the music breathe a lot more, there was more depth in the sound, and I finally felt I was getting closer to audio bliss!
As with all things tech related, sometimes making life easier doesn't make it more enjoyable. Early devices had an analog output (LOD), but now most devices only output digital (Just to be clear, this is different from using the headphone jack to listen). So if I wanted to listen to good quality music from my latest phone, the Samsung S7, I needed to add another device. Fiio make another product which is a combined Digital to Analogue converter, and an amplifier. The difference here, is that instead of using the devices DAC to convert music and listen to it via the headphone socket, it bypasses the internal chips, and does the conversion seperately - and then amplifies it. The difference in using a specialist DAC vs the internal run of the mill components in today's smartphones is mind blowing. It is just a better interpretation of music from the digital file that has been passed into it. Below, the USB OTG cable will plug into my phone (but i needed the phone to take pictures)!!
So far so good! I am getting closer and closer to audio bliss! However, no matter how good the seal on your earphones/IEMs are, they are still not perfect. The only solution? Custom designed IEMs to fit my ear perfectly!
I opted for the Ultimate Ears 11 pro, which I present to you below! You need to have molds created from your ears via an audiologist, which are sent to the manufacturer. In Ultimate Ears case, 2 weeks later, these arrived! They are quad drivers, 2 drivers for the bass, 1 for mids, and 1 for treble.
WOW. With this current setup, I have achieved as close to musical bliss as is possible with a portable setup. The other important thing in achieving a good sound is that the quality of the initial digital file also needs to be good. With streaming services stepping up their game, I subscribed to TIDAL HIFI (the lossless music version). This was a game changer for me, as my initial music collection was built over many many years, using Itunes to rip from a CD, and the quality of the files aren't great. To update them all to high quality files is a BIG project, one that I would rather avoid if possible!! They are fine when listening with a basic setup, but with the enhanced sound now achieved, the difference between hi resolution and low resolution files is very very apparent!
Planes, cars, trains, even sleeping have now become a real pleasure with this setup in hand! The other beauty about custom IEMs is that due to the fit, even if you are not listening to anything, you still achieve a very high level of sound isolation (-26db), so you can block out the outside world!!
Is anyone else into portable audio setups?
Cheers, Imran
Portable Music Setup
Hello all, I thought I'd share another passion of mine, high end personal audio. As I travel a lot, I haven't had the urge to indulge in a serious home setup, and as a big music fan of all genres, low quality audio on the move was something that I had to ...
Here i am
Let's say first that the audio file quality is definitely the main issue. 128 kbps mp3 needs no high end equipments, thus every part plays a relevant role. I use to listen to my audio file with my phone, WAV or AIFF from CDs; today, with cheap memory card...
Totally agree with the audio file....
Actually, if anything, I have found low res files sound worse with good equipment than with not-so-good equipment! You are right, it isn't ideal to carry an extra device, but I have found myself willing to carry it because I enjoy the sound so much! In th...
I assume is like a 4 tourbo's watch
An amazing technique' example, but i doubt anyone can hear a real difference.
Nice kit Imran
I share your passion and having good portable sound works well with my lifestyle (too much time on planes, trains and taxis) so most of my music listening is done away from home. Very nice kit you have - I am sure it sounds fantastic! I have been using Je...
I think you and I are going to be good friends, hahaha!! I have been eyeing the JH16s!!
Unfortunately, now that I have seen how music can sound portably, I am exploring things in more details. I am very familiar with JH Audio, I tried the JH11s side by side to the UE11s, and were very similar, but the UEs just felt right. HOWEVER, when my lo...
Many excellent options nowadays
When I got my JH16s there were not so many custom IEMs out there. I upgraded to a mid-range silver cable and am still very happy. Now you are really spoilt for choice and many are excellent. It's down to personal taste. Agreed passive sound isolation with...
I will take a look at the AK70 and AK300
There is a big headphone show happening in Singapore this weekend (CanJam), I am hoping to go to the London event in July and be able to play in person with a lot more toys! I have been looking into the newer DAPs with Android capability.... the good thin...
Superuniti is an all-in-one
preamp, streamer, dac, amp, just add speakers. And a power amp when you are ready to upgrade.
I understand.
I moved from a iPod nano and a pair of Shure SE535\'s to this setup. This was simple since I already had my cd collection loaded on a Kaleidescape that is completely uncompressed. Copied everything to a SD card and I was in business. When playing the trac...
Aaah the Fiio X3
I have heard very good reviews about this, and have been eyeing up the X5 iii being released soon I believe. And you're right, I actually now look forward to flying, close my eyes, turn on the music, and bliss!! Thanks for sharing your setup Jerry.
Now you got me thinking and I ordered a A3 Amp.
Looking forward to even better tunes.
It seems the A3 is the newer version of the E11 I posted in my first pic
At that price, its a no brainer! Let me know how it works with your setup! Purists eh... if they're not tempting you into buying watches, they'll find some other way to make you part with your money hahaha
Check out Noble Audio
I have their 10 armature Kaiser (the K10), as well as their 9 armature Katana. Different tunings, both very high end. Highly recommended. I have a JH16fp, not bad, as well as several other ciems. The dynamic driver Future Sonics ciems are interesting, for...
I have heard huge things about the K10
Very hard to come across one to try out. They will be at a show in London in July, so hopefully I will get a chance to hear them. You do bring up a point that I had only noticed since I upgraded my setup: Different tunings. Reference monitors, bass-heavy,...
Yes, try everything and say hi to Brannan for me
I have the k10 custom, a 4-driver Noble ciem and the Katana is universal. Try the Katana and new K10encore. You will likely walk away having put down money for one or the other.
Wow, through me back to my McIntosh and Thorens days...
Great post, opened for me a whole world I was not aware of!
It's very very personal
One mans meat Another mans poison. One way to narrow is to know the sound signature that you like and that would narrow down the potential equipment. Cheers PAt
To be honest, I thought I knew what sound signature I liked!!
But now I am more confused.... each signature has a particular genre of music that I feel works better - unfortunately I listen to such a varied selection of music (Jumping from Drum and Bass to Classical for example), that I no longer know what I want! I...
Don't do it
Hi ik2000, You should not post thinks like this. I used to be a proud owner of a Stax electrostat, but that passion kind of got lost in the transition to digital - now you come and post your amazing set up, and back I am searching and looking for someone ...
hehehehe
One thing I would point out is that IEM 'soundstage' can't compete with the top top headphones (so I have been told) due to the physical size and other constraints... However try them out and see how you go! Let me know how your journey goes, and glad to ...
Fiio is on its way, wanted to start mild and went for a stage 3, ue seems to be in the cards though.
I do have a somewhat serious home system, but on the road there is some catch up to be done...
Thanks for posting this. It was a great intro into the possibilities high end personal audio.
I'm very much in the camp of iPhone and $15 ear-buds but I really need to hear the difference decent equipment makes.
7
Does the setup change with iPhone 7 or do you just go for usb-c connector and thats it?
I would specifically try and ask the manufacturer or the place where you buy it from
One reason I left Apple and moved to Android (using a samsung s7) was due to issues like this (plus many many others) - I would believe that the usb-c connector would be fine, but it is better to confirm from wherever you are buying it from. I don't think...
Now I owe you a beer.
Flying will be forever changed now. Adding the Fiio A3 is a welcome addition. Feels a lot like going from standard issue earphones to my Shure SE535 then to my AKG\'s. Adding the amp takes everything to a much better level. The amp actually does more for ...
You're right, amps make a big difference for the larger headphones.....
I had to restudy my physics when I started looking into this more. The problem with the larger headphones is that they have a higher impedance/resistance, so need more power to drive them fully. This is where an amp comes into its own. A lot of people say...
Mine is much less ambitious than yours but centered on Shure IEM.
I have Shure 325 with IPhone 6 and I subscribe to Tidal HiFi as well. I love the Shure IEM and live tidal! Great write up and pics! But be careful, audio is a rabbit hole!! You\'ve been warned
Too late....
I am already knee deep in the hole and sinking The Shure 325s were the very first IEMs I got, and I place the blame on them for starting me down the slippery slope!
This is funny.
My first good earphones were Shure SE215\'s then SE535\'s then almost went with the SE846\'s after I stepped on the 535\'s. Ended up with the AKG K3003i.
Yes.
Hi ik2000, Because of you, my ue18 are here now. Wow, never thought possible - thanks for making me join the club...
I see you also have the OPPO HA-2?
It is always rated as one of the best DAC/Amps out there. I'd like to try it out one day. Is there a noticeable difference between the sound compared to the Dragonfly? And you have FA3s for when you dont want to take out the UE18s! Glad to have helped, I ...
DAC
So far I do not really notice a difference, so as the dragonfly is smaller and does not need charging, it gets more light of day. There might be a difference with higher quality music input, but that will need to be the next step. Do you only do tidal or ...
I do both TIDAL and stored music...
The problem is, all of my music (at last count about 4,500 tracks) were all in low quality format, a collection built since the iPod first came out in 2002/3 if I remember correctly. To change that all is a big task, and not sure how to do it!!! Since may...