do Grado's mate well with HeadRoom headphone amplifiers?

[noseallinit]

just came across another thread that disturbed me and I want to get the answer straight from the horses mouth.

do Grado's mate well with HeadRoom amps?

since just before I purchased me MicroAmp w/ 2006 Desktop Module and MicroDAC I had heard HeadRoom prefers Sennheiser and that they tweak their amps to sound best with them. that HeadRoom didn't care for Grado's and that Grado's are not a good match with HeadRoom amps.

truth is every model of Grado are sold by HeadRoom and a long running Packaged System was the MicroAmp and SR-60's(which is ranked high by HR). I thought the reason why the RS-1's got ranked lower is because HeadRoom preferred a couple of other headphones that sold for less. not that there was some kind of hate relationship going on.

now I cannot remember what was exactly said but this was a concern of mine when purchasing the MicroStack. all I remember is that Mike told me he preferred the AKG 701's. I do not ever remember him speaking that Grado's would sound bad with HeadRoom amps but that I would also benefit with a better set of headphones. at the time all I had was the SR-80's and I felt the MicroStack did wonders for them. not much longer and just before purchasing the 225's I had a chance to use the HD-595's for awhile. even though the HD-595's grew on me I still preferred the SR-80's from right off the bat. I think I just dig on the Grado sound but I do need to experience AKG and Beyer. now I own the RS-1's and not that a better amp would bring out the best in them, I think they sound great with the MicroStack.

now I am looking to upgrade from me 2006 MicroStack. amps that I see recommended for RS-1's are Tube amps but the amps I see that I like are Solid State. amps I am specifically interested in the most just happen to be HeadRoom products. the Desktop SE and Balanced Desktop plus the 2007 Ultra MicroAmp and DAC(and for various reasons pulling towards the most right now). possibly even the standard 2007 MicroAmp and DAC. maybe even the Millet Hybrid.

I'm looking to get a jump above the 2006 MicroStack. maybe I would like a just bit more of that warm syrupy sound that a tube amp may offer. does HeadRoom have a preference with the RS-1's and any of these amps I have mentioned? more than one preference? I do not see how I could go wrong with any of them but I would like a good jump and possibly one with best sound for the RS-1's.

one reason the Ultra MicroAmp sounds good to me is that I can more easily acquire it first and use it with me 2006 MicroDAC until I can afford the 2007 Ultra MicroDAC. I assume it would be a better upgrade to get the Ultra Amp before the Ultra DAC. maybe even the standard MicroDAC would be plenty. I will be using with me Rev A iMac G5 and possibly a better transport later on.

[mackay maus]

I've used everything from the 80s to the 1000 with different headroom amps, ranging from bitheads to maxed out home, and, to my tired old ears, the grados really sounded great.

Personally, I prefer the grados with my tube amps, and my 650s with SS amps, but that's just me.

I wouldn't worry.

Hope that helps.

[n_maher]

The current lineup of Headroom Modules in their higher end amps (Desktop, Home, MAX) all use a Jung-designed discrete diamond buffer on the output. As far as solid state devises go this circuit is well suited to your Grados in its ability to provide plenty of current which is what the low-ohm Grados crave. And based on what I've heard of Headroom's lineup I bet any one of them would pair quite nicely with Grado cans. If I were you I'd shoot for an amp with at least the Home module in it.

Finally, as far as the whole Grado/tube synergy is concerned I've heard my modified HF-1s out of a good deal of both SS and tube amps and my favorite was a SS amp.

[noseallinit]

thank you!

I realize people can have preference but to hear people say that HeadRoom amps do not pair well with Grado's just rubs on me wrong. every Grado I have owned has benefited from me MicroStack and I am really enjoying the RS-1's with the stack after moving up the Grado line. I'd like to hear a tube amp with them but I dunno if I will ever make that move.

now it's time for me to move up the HeadRoom line. unfortunate for me do to some sqaubbling at work it looks like the wealth of overtime I was getting has come to a hault through the first few months of the year. it should have lasted through the holidays for I was hoping to make this move a little sooner. in time..

[Uncle Erik]

You might want to try the HeadRoom Millett Hybrid. I haven't heard it, but I do have the DIY version. It's a lot of fun with Grados.

[Tyll Hertsens]

The scuttlebutt about HeadRoom not pairing well with Grados has a nugget of truth to it ... but just a nugget. WHich is, I just don't like the Grado sound very much. And that's about it.

Our amps are not "tweaked" with any headphone in mind, we're basically objectivists when we come out with amps. Our fundimental perspective is that a low output impedance (and amp with cajones) and low distortion will drive
any headphone well.

Nothing wrong with the Millett for Grados, but the tubes are in the middle of the circuit and the output is the same fundamentally as the rest of the amps. So, there's noting special about the Millett relative to our other amps re the Grados.

The Grado synergy with tube amps is an interesting debate, but fundimentally, the Grados have such a low impedance that it really makes the amp work for it. As a result, the amps will be showing relatively higher distortion with Grados compared to more high-impedance cans, so you get more "color" with Grados on a tube amp than with other cans. Because of this, I'd assume that Grados are technically better off on a SS amp than tubes.

Meh. I just kinda don't like them either way but YMMV.

[noseallinit]

what, ya don't like Grado's? q:O)>

thank you Tyll! for helping to clear this up for me. all I can say is I am really diggin on what the MicroStack is doing for me Grado's and especially the RS-1's. I'm hearing me ding dang weirdo music like I have never heard it before and I cannot wait to find out what some of the other HeadRoom amps I drool over will do for it.

[Redo]

I've used the MicroStack with 80's, 225's, and RS-1's. The MicroDAC is simply wonderful regardless of amp, but the MicroAMP (2006 w/ Desktop module) is forward sounding to me. I've heard a handful of other amps that were a better match, making the MicroAMP one of my least liked amps with the Grado's.

Hopefully I can audition some higher tier Headroom amps in the future so I can evaluate the sonic signatures. However, unless you like your Grado's very forward sounding, I don't think the MicroAMP is the best option. It's easily the most forward sounding amp I've ever used with Grado's. I do believe my SR225's are the limit on how bright I like my music, and the RS-1's sound out of control to my ears. So I'm only speaking for my experiences.

As for that MicroDAC, I love the unit to death. I may grab the Ultra down the line. Most excellent work on the DAC!


Edit:

The MicroAMP did excellent with my DT880's. DT770's, HD600's, K701's, and a bunch of other headphones all sounded great too. Only my love for SR225's drove me to other amplification (which ended up costing me my MicroDAC too ). The last thing to consider is I have been comparing the 06 MicroAMP to non-portable home amplification.

[Tyll Hertsens]

Originally Posted by Redo

I've heard a handful of other amps that were a better match, making the MicroAMP one of my least liked amps with the Grado's.

Thanks for your candor and comments, Redo. Glad you found a mate for your 225s. Whadja get?

[noseallinit]

Originally Posted by Redo

I've used the MicroStack with 80's, 225's, and RS-1's. The MicroDAC is simply wonderful regardless of amp, but the MicroAMP (2006 w/ Desktop module) is forward sounding to me. I've heard a handful of other amps that were a better match, making the MicroAMP one of my least liked amps with the Grado's.

Hopefully I can audition some higher tier Headroom amps in the future so I can evaluate the sonic signatures. However, unless you like your Grado's very forward sounding, I don't think the MicroAMP is the best option. It's easily the most forward sounding amp I've ever used with Grado's. I do believe my SR225's are the limit on how bright I like my music, and the RS-1's sound out of control to my ears. So I'm only speaking for my experiences.

As for that MicroDAC, I love the unit to death. I may grab the Ultra down the line. Most excellent work on the DAC!


Edit:

The MicroAMP did excellent with my DT880's. DT770's, HD600's, K701's, and a bunch of other headphones all sounded great too. Only my love for SR225's drove me to other amplification (which ended up costing me my MicroDAC too ). The last thing to consider is I have been comparing the 06 MicroAMP to non-portable home amplification.

what type of music and who are some of the bands you listen to?

those are the exact three Grado's I have had the pleasure of knowing. the SR80's, SR225's and RS1's.

I do like the intensity of Grado's! although I do not hear the RS1's as being brighter than the SR225's, I do feel the MicroAmp has toned down that sharp brightness I experienced with the SR80's straight out of me iMac. the MicroStack did wonders for the SR80's and with each step of the Grado's my sound quality has improved. although once I got the DAC a bit of that edge came back or rather is it the sound is just a bit more sterile. for the first time I used the EQ in iTunes since I had gotten the MicroDAC but what I gained with the DAC was well worth it. with the RS1's I can tolerate the volume just a bit louder and they seem to have more intensity of detail coming at me with many recordings. some songs do seem a bit fast but with most of me music I am just tripping out on what I have missed with me speaker systems. midtones can seem a bit off sometimes.

I wish I had more experience with other amps with me Grado's not to mention AKG's and Beyer's. maybe even a higher end Senn than the HD595's I experienced for a short time.

so what other solid state amps did you prefer using with the MicroDAC over the MicroAmp with your Grado's? any tubes?

I see you settled down with the Eddie Current. how are you enjoying it over the MicroStack? it's such a good looking amp! I had forgotten all about it until last night when a bud reminded me of it.

me bud has been searching out amps that people prefer with their Grado's and RS1's. he really wants to go with a tube amp and the Ultra MicroDAC. currently he is using a Gilmore Lite w/ DPS and Lambada???(not Stax) plus his 06' MicroDAC with his SR225's and MS2's.

did you get rid of the RS1's altogether?

Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens

I just don't like the Grado sound very much. And that's about it.

which headphones do you enjoy the most and with which setup?

which of your amps, including the new releases, up through the Desktop line do you think you would enjoy most with Grado's? or is there a particular HeadRoom Employee that likes Grado's that has a favorite HeadRoom amp that they enjoy with them the most?

thanks!