Get an iPod, two Cardas interconnects, and a Headroom Total Bithead. Forget MP3 and load the iPod with 16/44 or Lossless. That combination will do justice to your very nice phones. Merry Christmas.

I second that recommendation in its entirety (the headphone amp and lossless files will give you the quality bass you crave.)

I 3rd that recommendation with one small change, save a bit of money and get the total airhead, It is a bithead w/o the soundcard which you don't need.

could somebody explain to me this bithead business? And also, if anyone knows, can I rip my CD's in lossless with itunes? If so, how? thx-jord

go to headphone.com and you can learn about the bithead and the airhead, oth are headphone amps but the bithead also has an audiophile soundcard to use with your computer. If you only want a headphone amp for your ipod then you only need an airhead.
With the advent of the transporter and Squeezebox , the bithead is overkill.

It's not as good as the TP or SB and isn't neded for ome computer audio.
The Total Airhead is an Airhead with upgraded parts.
I run my Total Airhead from my Ipod to Etymotic 4's. The sound is excellent
for portable use

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also, if anyone knows, can I rip my CD's in lossless with itunes? If so, how?

Click on the "Preferences" and "Advanced" menus, and you will see a sub-menu for codec choice. Choose Apple Lossless Coding.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

While I completely agree with all of the above recommendations regarding the use of an iPod coupled with an external headphone amplifier, if you really want to take the sound to the next level I strongly suggest that you check out www.audiolineout.com and consider using one of their excellent lineout connectors in lieu of the standard mini to mini connector as the connection between the amp and the iPod.

The use of the line out feature on the iPod bypasses the iPod's built in headphone amp, which is pretty inferior by audiophile standards, and vastly improves the sound. The improvement is not subtle. This trick is not widely known outside of the headphone community but should be.

You might also want to look at some other portable headphone amps, such as Headroom's MicroAmp and Ray Samuels' Hornet or Tomahawk amps.

Can you please explain the difference between Ray Samuels Hornet and sr 71? Which works better with an IPOD? Which do you prefer?

Thanks in advance

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Can you please explain the difference between Ray Samuels Hornet and sr 71? Which works better with an IPOD? Which do you prefer?

Thanks in advance

I suggest that you take a look at http://www.head-fi.org/ There is a wealth of headphone and amp knowledge there.

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Jazzfan, I use an Apple Universal Dock for iPod connection to my amp. The dock has a line out derived from the dock connector. But I'm wondering whether the sound is compromised because the lineout output can be adjusted with the iPOD volume control. What do you think of the Apple dock/iPOD as a music server?

That's strange because when I have my iPod connected via the AudioLineOut cable using the docking port on the iPod the volume control does NOT work. So that's a very good question and one that I'm unable to answer. I'll try getting an answer for you over at Head-Fi and report back.

Can you recommend an interconnect that works well with an ipod and hornet? There are many options and i'm looking for something that matches and travels well.

Thanks

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Can you recommend an interconnect that works well with an ipod and hornet? There are many options and i'm looking for something that matches and travels well.

Thanks

That's an easy one to answer since at a headphone meet I attended where I met Ray Samuels, the gentleman who makes the Hornet and an all around nice guy, even he uses one of these (or some variation of it) and that is an audiolineout. Here's the link:

AudioLineOut

The Absolute Best Way To Connect An iPod To A Portable Amp, Bar None. Worth every penny and then some, no need to thank me, just buy me a drink at the Home Entertainment Show in NYC this spring

They have umpteen different interconnets. Which one that they sell would be the best fit for the hornet and ipod?

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They have umpteen different interconnets. Which one that they sell would be the best fit for the hornet and ipod?

I don't have a Hornet, I use the Headroom MicroAmp and an iPod and the audiolineout I use is the Bling Bling Doc but I would also recommend the ALO Copper Dock, either one would be an excellent place to start. Of course you could go crazy and get one of the higher priced models like The Silver - Version 2 for $145 but hey it's your money and I can't tell you how to spend it.

Some people swear by the more expensive models, some people swear at them.

Can someone that actually owns the hornet comment on what would be a good choice for at home and travel use?