Gears to take when travelling aboard

Brit dad's terror after being arrested in Egypt and driven 240km through the desert after security workers mistook his iPod speaker for BOMB - https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3263193/dad-arrested-egypt-electronic-device-ban-headphones-mints/

Interesting news but maybe it does reflect that some of our devices are not commonly recognised but people outside the audiophile circle

I hope it's appropriate to post here. It seem to be gear talk and discussion. Lets share which amp/DAC are most not suitable for taking onboard. Woo audio WA8 may get you shot I reckon

 

It's really not even worth it these days. The cmoy used to be ideal as a cheap portable amp, but you can completed products now for <$30.

 

Interesting, I saw the Daily Mail article for this and they called it a speaker too. A good example of copy/paste journalism there.

It's surprising this hasn't happened before, may of these devices must look like bombs to bored security personnel.

 

Most people do not even understand the concept of headphones needing amplifiers, so trying to explain that to someone coming out of left field isn't going to work. Much easier to say that it's a portable battery. Of course, it doesn't help that it looks like a DIY tin can.

I remember when people used to have these ridiculous triple stacks of dap/dac/amp. Far easier to just carry it all in a camera bag along with some lenses so it'll be dismissed as part of your photography kit.

 

I have flown many times with one of these in carry-on:



(it's about the size of a 500ml mineral water bottle)

That said, it was mostly to European countries, or domestically. I did get asked what it was by a security guy in Copenhagen- and I explained that it was a Bluetooth travel speaker. He mostly wanted to know if it was any good, as he was looking to buy one himself. Danish airport security are much more friendly than their US equivalent, it turns out.

 

Personally no longer carry too many gears when traveling. A Sony 1000x for flights and a pair of Andromeda for hotel on iPhone

 

There's a particularly obnoxious set up (I think on HeadFi) where there was even a 120mm PC case fan involved. I think the stack had more volume than most mITX cases.

 

I'm based in the US, I travel a lot to Canada and Europe (UK, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Portugal in the last year), Japan (including domestic flights between Haneda or Narita and Hokkaido airports). I've carried a diverse set of electronics, including Apple laptops, DAPs (iBasso, Questyle), various Android phones, and tablets digital cameras, avalanche transceivers, and a battery-powered Pieps avalanche airbag backpack (my profile pic is from backcountry skiing with avalanche potential). The only time I had to explain anything was when I was selected for a "random" check flying back from Kelowna, BC via Seattle. Had to turn on everything and explain what it was. Not so enjoyable as I had caught food poisoning from a sandwich in Vernon BC on my way to Kelowna, and I'd rather be in a more private place than waiting in line and explaining at length what all that stuff was.

 

The one thing I had great fun trying to take as carry-on was a record player. Organic bits plus electrical bits equals all sorts of flashing red alerts for airport security so I ended up having to repeatedly unravel all my careful packing so they could check out what the hell it was.

 

Stuff with switching power supplies.

 

I always travel light, so I limit my audio kit to just an iPod Touch, Beyer D1350s, and RHA T20i - that does me fine for when I'm away.

I'd previously considered taking my dragonfly along, but then thought about what might happen if security wanted to check what's on the "USB stick" and couldn't actually read anything. There's no amount of explaining you can do when a member of security thinks they're onto something.

I think in this day and age it's just sensible to just take what can be easily identified by security personnel. I've got to say that even though we're all familiar with it, an old Altoid tin packed with electronics with a battery is exactly the kind of "improvised device" that will flag up a security alert.

 

I recently wrote a little article on this subject based on my recent experience traveling abroad for client matters.

http://hometheaterhifi.com/blogs/traveling-audiophile-primer/

 

I suspect the OP was thinking of flying abroad rather than traveling, but I take my trusty Nuprime IDA-8 and a pair of two-way speakers with me when my wife and I travel North America. The IDA-8 is a compact 100w/ch amp/pre/DAC that works pretty darned well for my needs. As for flying, a pair of IEMs suffices my needs.

 

With my one pound chunk of copper called the Sony NW-WM1Z I've gotten in the habit of taking it out of my bag and putting it in it's own bin/dog-food bowl at the airport. Too many times my bag was marked for extra screening due to them not knowing what that chunk of metal was. Now if they want to take a look at it, at least it's by itself and doesn't require them going through my entire bag.

 

Most of my travel right now is weekly. My kit works great for domestic. I'm headed to ireland in august so I'll be putting this to the test. I upgraded from my FIIO x5/a5 to an onkyo dp x1 and reused the fiio case. I got a voyager tool bag from harbor freight for 7$. The bag is big enough for a hard drive and beyerdynamic headphone case (with a spare set of titan earbuds). http://imgur.com/kPMa1lY .

 

For audio, a non-bluetooth (wireless may be prohibited in an airplane) IEM that seal well. For me that is SE215, ATH-E40, or similar in size. A cable with a volume control in it of some kind is needed. A battery pack for backup power just in case you run low and cant charge on the plane/train. An electricity plug adapter that matches your target location requirements. A device to play the music or general audio. For me this is an android phone. Ear plugs (industrial hearing protection) for sleeping are a must for me. This is available at drugstores in my area.

If you can't take all of your stuff with you in one carry on and one backpack, you are taking way too much stuff. This much luggage is more than enough for a few weeks vacation overseas if you wash (i.e. by hand) and dry your clothes at your hotel.

Go and experience the world. Don't hide in your gear. For me, the audio gear is a means to make the plane or train easier to handle and nothing more.

 

I travelled through China for a year. I had a set of custom Stage 3 and the DT1350 with me. Both proved to be extremely durable and served well as great travel companions. Chord Hugo was my apartment/ hotel evening affair and I used a Cozoy Aegis to boost the smartphone output. For short local walks I also took several budget IEMs with me, like Sony MH1 and Xiaomi Piston. I did lose them as they dropped out of my pocket or I don't know.
I also bought a Oppo PM3 because the local price was too good, but not before my last month.

I couldn't travel without CIEM anymore but I'd probably replace the DT1350 with a pair of ANC phones like the QC35, unless I travel into the wilderness. Then the 1350 are probably more durable.

 

I agree completely that long-term travel is absolutely a different thing. In that case, I too would bring something a bit more substantial than the bare necessities; however, on a normal-length vacation, less is very much more.

 

Perhaps we should change this to gears not to take when travelling by air...

The most troubling item I ever had with me while travelling in my carryon was a Samson Meteor Mic... http://www.samsontech.com/samson/products/microphones/usb-microphones/meteormic/

You can see how that raised a few eyebrows at security...

 

LOL