Small enough to carry on a keyring, the super-simple Fireye Mini from Firestone Audio (who brought you the ILTW high-rez DAC Geoff Morrison reviewed this week) packs enough punch to power your portable phones. When Brent Butterworth examined miniature headphone amps in December, he commented that the Mini "reminded [him] of some of the old tube amps I’ve owned, with the same fat, satisfying sound." So if you're in need of more power for your new headphones, the Mini's well worth considering — especially, of course, if you can get one gratis.
Firestone Audio have given us a Fireye Mini to give to a lucky reader, so one of these solid, easy-to-use performers can be yours — and as usual all you'll have to do to qualify to win is share your thoughts with us. This one comes to us in a lovely white finish, suitable for any wardrobe or keyring.
This week's topic: How big a percentage of your listening time is spent with headphones, as opposed to speakers? Are you listening to headphones on the go, at home, or are you doing both? And has this mix changed over the past few years? No need to address all of these points, but clue us in to your changing headphone listening habits and how they've changed over time.
The winner will be chosen randomly from among those who leave on-topic comments. You will have to register, however — no anonymous commenters, we need a valid e-mail contact address to inform you of your win. We'll take entries until midnight (Eastern Time), on Wednesday, February 22nd, and notify the winner via e-mail by Friday, February 24th.
Best of luck!
With everything everyone is saying stuff like, "I need them for work", "I use them 99% percent of the time", "they're technologically superior to everything else", and all the other mumbo jumbo, what more can I say, "Can I have Them"?
You had me at, "...old tube amps I’ve owned, with the same fat, satisfying sound." I recently got a late 60's receiver handed down to me from my father. I'd like to get that rich sound "on the run"!
I would be interested in seeing the difference this would make
I am still trying to find my "best" solution for listening to my music -- hopefully this is step in the right direction -- thanks...
I primarily listen to my music when I'm on the go using my iPod Touch. When I do listen at home the whole family listens as well, sometimes much to their chagrin.
In a household where space is premium, and a seemingly, thousand activities occur simultaneous, listening-hearing music via some type head phone is mandatory. Oh for the days of kicking back if front of the stereo getting one's hair dried by cranking up the volume to 10 and the neighbors don't complain rather offer play request?!?
Headphones for exercising along with an Ipod. Speakers with my home theatre or television. There are some really good 'phones out there for not much money.
I use headphones almost everyday.
I listen while I am at work, I listen while I am out riding my bike and I listen while at home and my wofe doesn't want to hear what i am listing to.
As a teenager, I was on my walkman & discman everywhere I went.
Through my twenties that changed a bit, now that I am in my 30's I find I am back to headphones and ear buds a lot.
My listening style is so eccectic sometims just the basic headphones can't provide that oomph needed.
I use earphones most of the time, mainly when I'm listening to my iPod and when I'm mixing/mastering audio as a sound engineer. I've been an audio engineer for over twenty years. Earphone systems have risen to the point of accuracy that I now trust them over using traditional speaker systems. The only time I use speakers now are to test audio mixes or listen to TV/movies through my home theater system.
I get pretty good sound on my phone's music player, from my Klipsch Custom2 earbuds. Wonder if this will be an improvement?
On my desktop I use a Creative Soundblaster external DAC/Soundcard and dedicated headphone amp, to drive my Sennheiser HD 595's. The improvement there, is noticeable.
I would think no matter how good the amp you are still dealing with mp3's that might sound that good anyway.
I like the small size.
I don't get to use them as muxh as I like. I have a set of IEM's for exercize, but I wish I had more time for critical listening witha good set of circumaurals.
My wife does not enjoy the music that I do, so I have listened to considerably less music at home since I have been married. An iPad holiday gift prompted me to purchase a decent pair of closed circumaural headphones and begin ripping my CDs and vinyl to digital for listening from the iPad. Since then, I have been listening to about 1-2 hours a day and rediscovering music I hadn't listened to in years. Aside from some occasional car listening, I'd say that nearly all of my music listening is through headphones now.
I love headphones. They allow me to play music as loud as I can possibly stand it. Also, they block out lots of outside noise.
Due to the amount of time I spend commuting (via bike), and the fact that my work environment doesn't support the idea of blasting my music through a nice set of speakers -- headphones likely account for close to 80% of my listening habits. That said, when I can use speakers, I always prefer that option.
Who doesn't use headphones? Mine are at home.
My use of headphones is 80% for music and 70% for video. I have Bose comfort 1 for airplane travel. I use klipsch image s4 for iPod listening. LG tone for Bluetooth and senheisser HD 420 for wired use (those headphones are 20+ years old and are still my favorite). Having tinnatus and getting older make headphones a must have for me.
I always listen to my music while I'm sitting on the toilet by headphones, and speakers while I'm sitting at my desk. I used to be a headphone person, and listen to headphones all the time, but the adjustment to speakers has been a welcome change. I love my headphones, but the sound from my Audioengine speakers is hard to beat. Earbuds are great for walking around outside because you just tuck them in your pocket when you're done, but they don't sounds nearly as good a pair of quality headphones.
I always listen to my music while I'm sitting on the toilet by headphones, and speakers while I'm sitting at my desk. I used to be a headphone person, and listen to headphones all the time, but the adjustment to speakers has been a welcome change. I love my headphones, but the sound from my Audioengine speakers is hard to beat. Earbuds are great for walking around outside because you just tuck them in your pocket when you're done, but they don't sounds nearly as good a pair of quality headphones.
This would be awesome, then I could use my good phones with my phone :)
I primarily use headphones at work - probably about 30% of the the time that I'm working I've got headphones on.
Probaly about half, including treadmill/hiking/biking time and a wife who doesn't like music as loud as I do.
I usually have to spend most of my listening time at home using headphones to avoid disturbing the people I live with. I unfortunately don't get much time to use my system, so headphones are really the only way I can listen to music most of the time.
Well, it depends. If I am listening to music, then about 70% of the time I would use my high-end headphone setup; but when I watch movies or live concerts on DVD or Bluray, I use my speakers 100%.
I use my headphones mainly at home and sometimes during the Gym workout. Now that high-end headphone setup (headphone + amp + dac) have come a long way, I have started to listening to my music (both analog and high-quality digital) more so often with headphones than speakers.
*** Warning *** Just a note to few readers who commented earlier that they use their headphones while on the road. You need to be aware and pay extra caution of your surroundings if you use a noise-cancelling or noise-isolating headphone while walking/jogging/running on the road. I came across a recent news that accident-rate has increased in recent years because pedestrians or joggers were using their headphones and simply weren't aware of the surroundings.
Portable DACs are becoming popular. I wonder how these sound compared to the HM101. I guess anythings better that onboard sound card
I don't like using headphones at all because most head phone build too much pressure in my ears. I only use open backs when I'm at home. I'm looking into getting a pair of akg q701.
I started really using headphones about 4 years ago when i started working 12 hour shifts at night. So now i use them about everyday cause when I'm off I have to use them when I'm up late at night so I don't disturb my family.
This is exactly what I need!
Can hear in the car with the family!
I listen to headphones both at home and on the go, and its probably 70% headphones 30% speakers, and that's mainly in the car. I'd love to win this!!!
I use my Shure 425 earbuds on the go ... usually with an iWOW adapter plugged into the dock port. At home, I usually use my Sennheiser 855s. I find I use them more as the technology has reached the point that my headphones & Yamaha RX-V765 sound better than the Klipsch KG202 speakers my wife gave me for Christmas 20 years ago. She's a lovely lady and I do love her so. A lot of the music I listen to require me to use headphones since she 'tolerates' it but would really prefer not hearing.
Started listening to headphones again a couple years ago at work on an old pair I dug up and then upgraditis hit. Now have two new pair and 2 portable amps in the past year. Listening time has bleeded into home use, too. Started to listen to music a little more on my speakers, too, though it is a minority compared to headphone use.
I'm all in. I use phones for everything.
I use my Shure 440 headphones when I am on the computer and on plane trips.
This is about 40% of my listening time
GREAT
I occasionally use earbuds while riding the bus, and I sometimes use full size headphones while listening late at night. Together, this represents maybe 7% of my listening time, but I might listen more if I had better headphones and a decent headphone amp.
Despite working at a fairly good electronics store, I tend to spend most of my time listening to headphones. Probably 90% of my listening is done through about three or four different headphones scattered at various places I spend more than a few hours at. I'm also one of those strange people who like earbuds more than in-ear headphones (I know I sacrifice a bit of sound quality, but I just haven't found a pair that fits perfectly). Of course, if given a choice, I always go for a good set of over-the-ear headphones.
I usually listen to speakers but I am recently getting into listening to headphones.
Right now I'm using my headphones more than usual. Maybe 75% of the time.
I haven't listened using headphones in over a year. I used to use headphones when I had a full-time job.
My headphone use has increased due to the advent of iPod/iPhone/Kindle Fire/laptop gizmos. Have made the migration from over-the-ear cans to earbuds.
If I had one of these, I would probably listen to headphones more often.
I’ve been listening through headphones since 1963; Koss SP3 was the model I used for monitoring live recordings on a Norelco 401 reel-to-reel tape recorder. Also used them to listen to the recordings my parents didn’t care to hear, as well as any music while they were asleep. Presently, I use Sony MDR-7504 and Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones. The Klipsch Image S4 in-ear headphones are great for on-the-go listening. I still use headphones for on-location recording and for after-hours listening, which my wife really appreciates. Headphones continue to be an important part of “feeling the passion” of music. When people don’t seem to understand how I can just sit and listen to music, it is quite likely their music software is of poor quality; the delivery hardware is of poor quality; possibly both scenarios. My involvement in listening to music would be greatly reduced without the benefit of headphones.
I do most of my headphone listening with a pair of Sony studio monitors I got in 1993. They are still the best sounding headphones to me. I've replaced the padding with some high end pads, but other than that, they've been flawless. I'd love to try them with this amp.
I'd like to give that a try...
I never used a Headphone Amp with any headphones I have owned. Look forward to trying one and also using Phono tube pre-amp with my SL1200 to see what it adds to the sound quality.
Seems like headphone amps and external DACs are all the rage. I have a HiFiMan EF2A I use with my (everyone hates) Bose first gen QCs. I like the warmth/sound of the tube amp.
Love to try. Thank-you.
Bout 50/50 headphone to speaks. Usually music on phones, movies and TV on speaks
I listen to headphones all the time when I'm on the go. I have custom IEMs and I don't think the portable listening experience can be any better. The isolation they provide is out of this world.