What is your "going mobile" routine?

Onkyo DP-X1 to various IEMs. Not the most convenient set, but good battery life and great sounds.

 

I throw a bluetooth speaker in my pocket and crank it. So long as you're wearing denim or leather it loads the speaker well enough that you get some bass.. guess that's only really an option if you're stalking through the woods or a vacant neighborhood though, huh?

For the longest time I used a Sansa Fuze & AKG K81. Enjoyable unoffensive sound, after both bit the bullet I got what seemed the most recent incarnation of the AKGs, a Y40. It may have just been that I've moved onto a smartphone since(portable MP3 player? In current year?!) but I was underwhelmed. And being that I was spending more time outside than in waiting rooms/school I just moved onto the above. The speaker actually sounds better than the AKGs so long as I keep it in a shirt pocket, I have zero idea why but I can put on a classical performance and the soundstaging is superior to a pair of closed headphones.

 

Oppo HA-2 strapped to a Droid phone(not primary cell phone) with Tidal (saved files, no streaming). Oppo PM3

 

Anyone remember the old days of portaphile?

 

I've been doing a lot of Transatlantic flying for client matters this year. IMO the NAD Viso HP50 are the best in-flight headphones by far.

While I think they sound great, that's not exclusively why they're my pick. NAD has a real ergonomic coup with their cord that can be plugged into either earcup! Delta One and most other BC/FC cabins have the headphone jack on the bulkhead next to one of your shoulders, depending on your seat number. With the HP50, you'll never have the cord draping across your body.

If I'm working on the flight I'll also plug my Total BitHead into my laptop. Otherwise I'll just use the iPhone or the in-flight entertainment. In room I use the TBH, because headphones sound more natural to me with crossfeed.

I also take ADDIEMs with Comply tips - Tyll measured mine for IF - but I almost never use them because even small IEMs like that bother me physically. I also take a pair of Sennheiser PMX100's for the gym/jogging and public transit.

My latest travel kit addition is a Riva Turbo X for the hotel, along with their carry bag. It sounds fantastic for something barely bigger than a decent travel steamer. If flat screen TVs sounded like that, there would be no soundbar market!

 

Some of my portables don't really need an amp, but get better with one: Aurvana Live, Focal Spirit Pro, IE8, Shozy Zero, UE Triple.fi 10
Some do: Momentum V1
Bluetooth is cool too: UE9000
And the Cipher cable: Sine

I either use my iPhone 5S or Fiio E7 + iPod. I need a coat pocket to use the latter setting, so summertime is a no-no.

 

About to do a trip to Japan with just my Note 7 feeding some Bose QC20s that I borrowed (normally QC15s or Shure SE215s). Usually, when I am truly mobile, I am not in environments or the state of mind where absolute sound quality trumps noise blocking and convenience.

 

I'm still waiting for the one portable over-the-head that does the following:

1. Bass boost (needed in noisy places) with good punch
2. Tight lows, little mid-bass boost vs subs
3. Neutral-ish sound-sig, small V-shape is ok
4. A sense of soundstage
5. Isolation
6. Comfort
7. Looks good

• Momentums are at least ok in all but number 2, maybe 3 - just too woolly and soft (1), esp without amping
• Aurvana Live basically has the sound covered, but lacks lots in isolation
• Sines have the sound covered too, but isolation and comfort are lacking
• HD25 falls flat on its face on numbers 2, 4 and 7, otherwise stellar
• Focal Spirit Pro fails on 1 and 6, maybe 7, great isolation
• UE9000 lacks slightly in some categories: 2, 3, 6, but it is surprisingly fun & good allover. The next one done well...
• V-Moda M-100 is a bass-head can, lacking big time in 2, 3 and 6. Somewhat in 5. Bass bleed aplenty!
• Porta Pro is in a really bad place here: 2, 3, 5 and maybe 7 are failed - they sound like bad mp3's, imo

Not surprisingly, very few of them fail in bass boost (1). Big hump in mid-bass (2) compared to subs is all to frequent, though. That's the easy lows boost to achieve. Number 3 is about going overboard with the V-shape, that happens lots. I'm not too picky about soundstage (4), but HD25 is particularly bad here. But, in terms of isolation HD25 and FSP are way ahead of the pack. The Focals are notoriously bad in comfort, but at least they have plush pads to go with that vice-grip. Sines have less pressure on the head, but have sub-par earpad cushioning - and why are they not leather? What looks good is very subjective, but no one will probably call Sines, Momentums, V-Modas or UE9000's straight up ugly. At least they made an effort. HD25 is the only pair that really shows it's not made for public use. The others are pretty understated & basic.

Noticably treble isn't something I've problems with. Most of these models are very smooth by nature. FSP has quite forward upper-mids, made for picking out drum hits etc. in a mix. So they are an acquired taste for portable use.

 

Yeah, I get your point. But this was basically about headphones without DSP (counting out UE9000) - that could cure many issues.

 

iPhone 6s+ and Westone UM Pro 20

 

@Zed Bopp

Do consider auditioning the Audio-technica ES770H and ESW990H.

 

Mobile: Phone (LG V10) --> Andromeda
Portable: Phone-->Mojo-->Andromeda
Luggable: Tablet+portable hdd-->Mojo-->KEF M500/Andromeda/Denon Envaya Mini BT speaker

 

I've sold most of my portable stuff. Paired down to the essentials:
Plenue D and Ibasso DX80
I switch between the CA Jupiter and Lyra and CL C6IEM and DQSM D2

Been considering adding the X5ii but I had the X3ii and sold it. Love the form but never cared much for the UI. But it is all about the sound. Heard much praise for the X5ii so I may give it a try.

 

Phone + Koss Porta Pro

 

Enjoying the local Sunday Morning Baroque program with this combo as I handle some business this sunny morning. Comfy and unobtrusive, and open. I don't need ultimate detail when I'm trying to work on other stuff.

 

Ak100>vorzuge amp duo> trinity phantom sabre

 

Ui is pitiful imo, specifically the wheel. Much better options out there

 

Ray, what would you suggest that comes in at that price (about usd 300) and features 2 micro sd slots? I was turned off by the UI and the wheel of the X3ii (I actually hated that feature on the iPod) but if it has a good sound, decent amp to run by itself and can last a decent amount of time, that ticks off a lot of boxes for me...I've had AK JR and AK100ii and was not impressed with what you get for the price.

I am only considering something else as I love the PD and DX80, just wanted another unit to try out...

 

I've really been concentrating on my desktop rig lately so I'm out of the loop. I'm looking to replace my x5ii because of the wheel. What about the questyle qp1r