quite a while since we visited this thread
My last post was in Sept
Anyhow, the point isn't the circuit layout exactly but the fact that the opamp was novel. In fact, if one examines the history (Rickcr42 has written about this the best and actually reiterated it just recently in Pink Floyd's drama thread) the opamp was the key to the design. This was a little known opamp that just happened to have wonderful current output and sounded great with Grados. No one knows how long they spent on this or how many opamps they tried, but the fact is..this opamp is/was the key and as such, this is the reason so many want RA-1 clones vs. a CMOY. R&D plays a part and why should Grado's hard work be ripped off easily? Ray's portable amps are also dead simple, text-book circuits, but with him covering his opamps it is a "hey, figure things for yourself!" remark to those that just want to come in and make knock-offs for profit.
From what I understand about SET circuits (or well, tube circuits in general) there are only a handful of possible configurations and then the rest is just swapping in parts and or tweaking things here or there. So why do some tube amps cost $1k and others 350000 if the circuits are everywhere! Obviously people are willing to pay for craftsmenship, reliability, warranty as well as good sound. There are those that claim all amps sound the same, tube or ss. Hey, whatever floats your boat, I don't feel that way nor do a good plenty of folks. For those that do hear a difference, why is it that an amp with the same circuit similar parts but made by different companies sound different? Seems the reasoning used there is easily applicable to the case of the RA-1. You may not agree, you may not think there is a difference in the sound, but certainly that is not the concensus on the forums.
Obviously something is going on. For those that want the magic of the RA-1 with the Grados, they get that by buying the RA-1. The choice is up to the individual. No one is forced to buy and as for the cost to profit ratio, Grado makes a heck of a lto less on their amp than most do around here. The RA-1 is not the simplest circuit either (though it is pretty close!) and yet other manufacturers don't take nearly the same heat. Grado seems to be a target and this stems from a time when the RA-1 was the only real amp for Grados and it continues on today, despite there being a whole whack of manufacturers who not only make a similar or even more basic circuit but charge more, make more and enjoy no flack from the community.
With the plethora of amp choices available now, I honestly don't know why so many fuss about an amp that is 10 years old now? Grado does not advertize, folks buy it either on the recommendation of their dealers or from online suggestions. If they end up buying and they enjoy it, who is to judge them? Move on...move on folks, life is too short.