I'm looking to get a portable headphone amp, for both causual listening with my iPod Classic (loaded with Apple Lossless files) and also with a new portable FLAC player I hope to get (Fiio X3 second gen?). I also want to use it to boost the output to my Beyer 770s for live (open) taping. (I can never monitor my recordings when I get soundboard patches because the DR-100mkII's headphone amp is so weak. I have only been able to correctly monitor when I did a SBD/AUD matrix with a borrowed Mackie mic/line mixer. The headphone on that is really strong, though I can't find specs on the Mackie's headphone output alone.)
I like the Ray Samuels portable headphone amps (Hornet), though they are pricey. The Fiio e12 is a lot more affordable ($130). Has anyone compared the two? (Hornet vs e12?)
The e12 has an output of 850 milliamps, though I can't find specs for the output level on the Hornet.
I would be using the portable headphone amp with my Beyer 770s (250 ohms).
Thanks,
ONT-