Amp for Clip Zip

[irwin]

Hi,I'm new to DAP's. I'm using Sennheiser PX 100 II's with my Clip Zip, and am pretty happy with this combination.Would using an amp (maybe a Fireye Mini) improve the sound ?

[CrowdAds]

[musichound]

Welcome to ABI,
No, an amp would most probably only increase the audio volume.

Also, please increase the font size on your posts. They will be easier for members to read.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by irwin

... Would using an amp (maybe a Fireye Mini) improve the sound ?

No, an amp doesn't improve the sound, you can read this thread to get an understanding of what portable amps can do.

[irwin]

Thanks for the response,I will increase the font size.I did read the thread about portable amps prior to posting,and will redirect my question in another thread.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by irwin

Thanks for the response,I will increase the font size.I did read the thread about portable amps prior to posting,and will redirect my question in another thread.

With your headphones, no amp is necessary.

[Mikerman]

Originally Posted by irwin

Hi,I'm new to DAP's. I'm using Sennheiser PX 100 II's with my Clip Zip, and am pretty happy with this combination.Would using an amp (maybe a Fireye Mini) improve the sound ?

While you likely don't need an amp, some amps actually can affect the sound and, for example, enrich it--for example, I have found this with a FiiO E3 amp, a pleasant surprise.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by Mikerman

While you likely don't need an amp, some amps actually can affect the sound and, for example, enrich it--for example, I have found this with a FiiO E3 amp, a pleasant surprise.

As an amp the E3 is inferior to the one in the Clip series, so using it makes no sense. It'll just decrease SNR.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Mikerman

While you likely don't need an amp, some amps actually can affect the sound and, for example, enrich it--for example, I have found this with a FiiO E3 amp, a pleasant surprise.

Really? The E3 muddies the sound, since you can't disable the built-in bass boost. I still have one, collecting dust. Best thing about the E6, on the other hand, is that there is a setting that bumps bass a little bit without muddying things up.

[Mikerman]

Originally Posted by saratoga

As an amp the E3 is inferior to the one in the Clip series, so using it makes no sense. It'll just decrease SNR.

Good to know.

However, regardless of the engineering, I typically don't use it (and it's not needed). But when I have, the sound has seemed a bit richer and fuller, noticeably so.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by Mikerman

Good to know.
But when I have, the sound has seemed a bit richer and fuller, noticeably so.

Its a well known effect that people tend to interpret louder music as richer. Usually this just means that the volume on the amp and the player weren't carefully matched.

[Mikerman]

Originally Posted by saratoga

Its a well known effect that people tend to interpret louder music as richer. Usually this just means that the volume on the amp and the player weren't carefully matched.

Thanks, but after a fair amount of experimentation at the time, am pretty convinced it wasn't a "louder sound" situation--it was the sound itself.

[musichound]

Originally Posted by saratoga

Its a well known effect that people tend to interpret louder music as richer

As in the mistake people make when listening to HiFiman players?

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Mikerman

Good to know.

However, regardless of the engineering, I typically don't use it (and it's not needed). But when I have, the sound has seemed a bit richer and fuller, noticeably so.

Image from http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Vario...%20vs%20E5.htm
I don't interpret that as "richer" at all.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by musichound

As in the mistake people make when listening to HiFiman players?

Absolutely....lol.

[Mikerman]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

Image from http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Vario...%20vs%20E5.htm
I don't interpret that as "richer" at all.

That's not a comparison to the Clip itself. And regardless, the ears hear what they hear; and ears are different.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Mikerman

That's not a comparison to the Clip itself. And regardless, the ears hear what they hear; and ears are different.

The Clip itself is pretty flat....




So if your ears interpret the E3's rolling off all the frequencies from the lower mids on up as sounding "richer", then more power to you.

[Mikerman]

Yep, I have good ears. At the time that the FiiO E3 amp came out, others reported hearing a difference (positive) in music's tone.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Mikerman

Yep, I have good ears. At the time that the FiiO E3 amp came out, others reported hearing a difference (positive) in music's tone.

With very bright headphones, its roll-off can be a positive....but that's about it.

[Mikerman]

What can I say? Based on my personal experience with the amp.

[keyb_gr]

It's got a moderate amount of bass boost, so any cans that can use some of that will sound better... and any muddy bass bloat monsters won't. Simple as that.

On rather low impedance cans (32 ohms or less) of only moderate sensitivity, an amp may actually be worth a shot, as the player's built-in amp does struggle a bit... I mean, it'll still go plenty loud (as in full output swing even into 16 ohm loads), but distortion spectra leave some room for improvement.