Fiio E5 Amp With Alpha BrainWavs

Lemur · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:50 am **Posts:** 99

offtopic : nope, but it's shipping, the hkp isn't up yet, so that means it's just gotten in their system. I'm anxious!

harlock · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:10 am

The PL-20's are fine without the amp. However the bass is lacking and an amp really allows the PL-20 to sound much better. The whole soundstage just opens right up. I think they sound batter than the Brainwavz, as long as they are amped. But then the cost of an amp and the PL-20's is more than double the price of the Brainwavz, and you can get the Brainwavz free with some players. So really, you will do good with either set. But if you are willing to build or buy and amp, you will find those PL-20's to be fairly sweet.

Lemur · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:50 am **Posts:** 99

did you just say build?

harlock · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:45 pm

Yes, I said build. Amp's are pretty simple devices. Infact, a little amp like the Chu Moy are fantastic projects for beginners in electronics. Here is a link to a simple video on how to build one. http://revision3.com/systm/headphoneamp

While the standard CMoy amp is simple to build, there is plenty of room for improvements. If you really get into it, you can build a much better amp like the Mini3. I sold mine about two months ago. I might build another one, but my WAY over engineered CMoy, sounds good enough to carry me though for a while. I also get about 18-20 hours use on single rechargeable 9V if I want to go portabale or leave it plugged into a 9V powersupply (which is where it's been for some time now). If I really want true poratability, then I stick with my little E5 now. Before that, I was using my Mini3 and E3.

Of course if you are using a major brand MP3/MP4 player then you can always build a LOD for it to go along with your amp. Thats where things start getting into the moderate money, time, and effort. But if you're new to the whole thing, then a simple CMoy amp is a good start. If you like the sound of a FiiO E3, or E5, then I would recommend a 2227or 2228 op-amp if you decide to build a CMoy. It adds just enough warmth to the input to feel some quality bass, but without enough loss in the highs so as to make it worth while.

Lemur · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:50 am **Posts:** 99

*sigh* and here I was thinking it was a positive aspect of my purchase that I accidentally got the pl-20's when I should have received the alpha's. Oh well, I suppose it isn't really worth the extra 20 bucks to me though.
Thanks for the info.

supporttekkie · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:47 pm

louisnomad wrote:

I have both E3 and E5, and 4 or 5 earphones, including alphas. What can I say? They were made to work together!

Even the PL30 does not sound so nice as the alphas... My Panasonic in ear does not work well with the E3 because of the bass boost, but its OK with E5 in "flat" mode. The PL30's are really nice in ear phones, but I have some problems to fix it in my ears (they are too big!

ops: ) and they only works with the 2 stage foam. I gave it to my girlfriend, but kept the 2 stage foam to the black one I'm planning to order.

Well now, I cannot wait to get my purchase. On Friday I just purchased, with a friends help, a pair of Alphas and the Fiio E5. I have a Cowon D2 that has great SQ (good old Wolfson) but the bass response is a little weak. Want to see how the Fiio's bass boost will help.

Thanks for the info louisnomad. :mrgreen:

Raz · **Joined:** Fri Jul 25, 2003 5:53 am **Posts:** 22200

Hope you like them when they arrive

supporttekkie · **Posted:** Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:08 am

So if I put my order in early on Friday (PDT); April 17th, 2009, when should I expect my order?

I really having a hard time waiting for the Brainwavez and E5. :twisted:

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