Fostex HP-P1 Headphone Amplifier

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $549.00
Today's Bonus:

• Digital connection from iPod/iPhone to HP-P1 via 30-pin dock connector
• High quality 32-bit DAC (AKM4480) and headphone amp for maximum sound quality
• S/PDIF Digital Out for professional recording
• Hi/Mid/Low 3-step gain control on the headphone out drives all headphone types
• Auxiliary analog Line Input for other MP3 players

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I have both the Fostex HP P1 and the combination ALO Continental/Cyperlab Algorhythm Solo. So I believe that I can compare both. The Fostex is an exceptionally well designed piece. It is good looking and relatively small. It is bigger than an Ipod, but will comfortably fit in a pocket with an Ipod. It is an all in one piece. As such, the battery is called upon to do a lot. The charge does not last very long. I think I get about 5-7 hours from a single charge. It comes with a USB cable and appears to be designed to be charged from the bus on your computer through USB. No problem. It takes longer to charge, but you can simply do it overnight.

With in ear monitors, the Fostex is a splendid performer. An Ipod with recordings in "loss-less" setting or better is simply deadly. I just about never listen to an Ipod (outside of a gym setting) without either the ALO Continental portable headphone amplifier/Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo DAC/digital transport combination or the Fostex HP-P1. The performance enhancement is revolutionary.

However, the Fostex does not have the juice to make an inefficient headphone sing. For instance, the Sennheiser 650 or Audese LCD2 sounds much better on the ALO/Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo combo. The Fostex sounds fantastic on probably all earphones and many efficient headphones. The ALO is two pieces and therefore is both bigger and heavier. It is not as convenient for truly portable use. I have the JH Audio-13 and the Fostex drives them extraordinarily well as does the ALO/Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo.

I have to say that I often prefer (slightly) the sound signature of the ALO/Cypherlab combination. It competes very favorably with an excellent desktop Dac and headphone amplifier. While the ALO combination can fit in a big pocket, it is too big to be truly comfortable or to be easily portable.

In conclusion, the ALO combination will fit all headphones wherein the Fostex will probably drive some headphones well. The Fostex will not make an inefficient headphone truly sing. The Fostex costs approximately half of the cost of the ALO Continental/Cypherlabs Algorhythm Solo. They are both superb performers.

Post Script

I have found that the Fostex HP-P1 has a wonderful synergy with the Shure 530 and Westone 4. I also really love the Fostex with the Sennheiser IE8, Audeo 232, and the Sony MDR 1000. The sound signature is full with great sound across the board. There is plenty of power for a full bass response, albeit tight and not exaggerated. The rest of the sound spectrum sounds great. The synergy of the Fostex and any of these really read earphone monitors is astounding--really astounding.

The charge lasts for 3-5 hours. I know that a this is not as long as all of us we would like to have, but this one gadget is: 1) an Ipod transport which in essence converts the Ipod into a harddrive or an independent stereo component (which of course disengages both the DAC and amplifier on the Ipod itself); 2) a DAC far superior to the DAC in the Ipod itself; and (3)headphone amplifier which is the sole means of controlling the volume once you have bypassed the DAC and headphone jack on the Ipod. Most of the great portable headphone amplifiers last much longer on a single charge. This is especially true of the Ray Samuels Audio, Leckerton, TTVJ, and Headamp Pico portable amps. These other portable amps are fabulous and keep a charge a lot longer, but then are not DACs or Ipod transports.

Considering that the Fostex HP-P1 is a great piece of equipment and at approximately $650.00, it is really a good buy!!

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Let us begin:

WHY:

It is believed that iPods are made for the great unwashed A Lossy digital signal is put through a second rate DAC, then a third rate amplifier and the signal is finally made available to your earbuds.

DIGITAL AND ANALOG STUFF:

An iPod plays a digital signal. The digital signal goes into a DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter). The analog signal from the DAC is then Amplified. (EXAMPLE: MP3>DAC>Amp> Headphones).

The Apple Dock Connector can bypass either the Internal Amp (Analog Line Out (ALO)) or bypass the DAC and the Amp (Digital Line Out (DLO)).

An ALO is used by many third party amp makers to provide a cleaner signal to the headphones. (EXAMPLE: MP3>DAC>Apple Dock Analog Line Out>Third Party Amp>Headphones).

A DLO sends the digital signal out of the iPod to be both converted to analog and amplified. (EXAMPLE: MP3>Apple Dock Digital Out>Third Party DAC>Third Party Amp>Headphones).

FOSTEX HP-P1:

Just about every Apple dock connector cable is analog out.

One of the few exceptions is the Fostex HP-P1. It uses a proprietary Apple Dock Connector that is digital line out. An iPod makes the digital signal available to the HP-P1. The digital to analog and the amplification is done within the Fostex.

MAKING SENSE:

To justify buying the HP-P1, your source MUST be Lossless and the headphones should have a MSRP North of $300.00. Anything less is a total waste of money. Sorry.

REVIEW:

Pros: In many respects, this is as good as it gets with portable music.

Cons:

Weight and Size: The Fostex HP-P1 is half again as big and heavy as an Apple Classic.

Cost: Even with a street price of $650.00, it is still a lot of money.

No Music Shaping: Remember, the signal coming out of the iPod is digital. You cannot run it through EQ.

Battery: HP-P1 will provide a day of "normal" listening (5 to 8 hours), but will run dry long before a players.

Amp: The amp will not drive high ohm headphones with authority.

Read Best Reviews of Fostex HP-P1 Headphone Amplifier Here

Using this with a new Ipod Classic and Ultrasone Edition 8 headphones; the sound is awesome. First time I can really hear longer decay of notes, better separation in a chorus, and more voices within the chorus. More separation and depth of bass. The construction is superb; the volume knob extending out is helpful with adjusting the volume from within a case; It trickle charges your IOS device, so you basically have to charge one item only, if you leave the ipod plugged in. Quality construction and performance!

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As a direct DAC for iPod it is a great option to get music direct from the iPod in digital format. Using FLAC utility for iPod you can listen hd traks, which is great!

Simply put,if you've read about this product(& honestly know how well recorded the music you listen to is & can benefit from using this)This product lives up to it's reviews. I had a Hifiman HM-602 for a while(It had a very"buggy"UI)that I don't believe sounded anywhere as detailed as the HP P1 does (& you are using the smooth Apple UI with it)