Travel Technology - Advisability of travelling with pocket CMOY amp?

Hi Folks,

Not sure whether this belong in this forum or TravelBuzz so I'll leave the mods to decide.

I recently purchased a CMOY amp off Ebay to use with my Ipod. It is pocket size and does a very good job indeed.

I plan to travel in just over a week and was initially planning to take it with me to use on the flight. However it struck me that I may have some grief taking it through UK airport security.

Basically it is a pocket sized sealed metal case (silver colour) with a large rotating knob on the front along with a toggle switch, blue led, and 2 audio jacks. I've refrained from posting the Ebay link contaning a picture as I'm not sure of the board's policy in this area.

Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid but the thought crossed my mind that it may look somewhat "dodgy" to someone who doesn't know what it is - "detonator", "minature bomb" etc comes to mind.

So - should i err on the side of caution given the state of airport security these days and leave it at home? Has anyone on the board travelled with such a device?

Thoughts appreciated.

A what? I take it it's some kind of headphone amp?

Take it with you if you want to. As long as it isn't on the disallowed list, why are you worrying about it?

-David

A what? I take it it's some kind of headphone amp?

Take it with you if you want to. As long as it isn't on the disallowed list, why are you worrying about it?

-David

Yep it is a portable headphone amp.

Natural paranoia I guess, especially with the heightened state of airport security these days :(

I've just come across this (http://www.davidrmunson.com/convergence/?p=45)

Mind you the amp in the link is one of the more "home brew" type versions. The one I've purchased is more refined in appearance but still not a branded "commercial" headphone amp.

yeah, they do all kinds of silly stuff in the name of security.

Does it really matter how refined it looks? All electronics probably have the necessary circuitry inside them to be used to make something else. Don't you remember how Spock was always able to create some sort of communicator from buttons, thread and a battery in the old Star Trek?

-David

You should see all the audio gear I schlep around! Some of it custom designed/made by myself! Keep it in your bag, hang low, don't draw any attention to it, and you shouldn't have a problem! It helps if this box you have is professionally made, and doesn't look like something that someone built at home. An altoid-like case, while very cool, would seem suspicious to the uninitiated.

The only thing security takes interest in all my stuff is the high end microphones I carry with me. Their odd shape always catches their attention, so I have gotten used to taking them out of my roll aboard and into the bin for xray so it doesn't trigger an unnecessary bag search.