Grado Fan Club! - Page 364

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich 

Quote:

Originally Posted by eltocliousus 

Can anyone recommend an amplifier/DAC combination or seperate devices for around $400 total, to pair with the PS500s? I've been looking at the O2+ODAC, aswell as the TEAC UDH-01 (mixed opinions on that one), but can't seem to settle as there's always one thing people dislike, makes a decision difficult. Size does not matter (home use), however I'd need USB input or spdif.

I don't know specifically for the PS-500, but the Musical Fidelity V-CAN-II is something I can recommend very highly (it plays nice with the RS-1, but then again, everything does!). VERY quiet amplifier, and that's basically the selling point imho. Perfect channel tracking (at least on mine), no bg noise, it's just completely out of the way of the signal. And that seems to work pretty well with the RS-1 (and any other dynamic can I've tried). So I assume it would work out very nicely with the PS-500.

I think Little Dot amps are also popular, but I haven't tried one.

Regarding the D/A converter - what are you hooking it up to? A computer? Can you just add a soundcard to this computer? Would be a lot cheaper, get you more options, and so on. In fact, I noticed that the X-Fi HD USB is back in stock on Amazon, and I would probably just get that either way (you get DAC, it has a headamp (no idea on quality/features/etc), phono preamp, DSP features, etc - it's like $80 too, very good deal!), and the V-CAN will bring you to just under $300.

IME, the PS500 is slightly (1-2dB?) more efficient than the 325is making it even easier to drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gradofan2 

 

Try a hair dryer on the rod tips - I'm sure they'll loosen and slip off when heated / expanded.

He's referring to the Magnum aftermarket metal rod tips, which Rhydon says NOT to remove as they are permanently glued.

Thankyou for the suggestions obobskivich, I am using my computer as the main source of files but I would prefer an external DAC, I'll have a look into the V-CAN-II, it is quite affordable and I could easily pair it with an ODAC as the DAC!

Quote:

Originally Posted by eltocliousus 

Can anyone recommend an amplifier/DAC combination or seperate devices for around $400 total, to pair with the PS500s? I've been looking at the O2+ODAC, aswell as the TEAC UDH-01 (mixed opinions on that one), but can't seem to settle as there's always one thing people dislike, makes a decision difficult. Size does not matter (home use), however I'd need USB input or spdif.

Jan Meier has a new portable amp that has a USB DAC.  The Grant Fidelity DAC/amp is highly regarded, as well. And that Musical Fidelity piece Obob suggested should be killer.  For coming right off a laptop, the AudioEngine D1 is a favorite of mine. It sounds great with the 500s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbophead 

IME, the PS500 is slightly (1-2dB?) more efficient than the 325is making it even easier to drive.

We can surely see if that's been tested...

And survey says:
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoPS500.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoSR325i.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoRS1.pdf

PS-500 looks substantially more sensitive! (it's 7.4 times more sensitive, which is not quite 10 dB (10x))

I still vote V-CAN - it does just as well with my more sensitive Audio Technicas, and still remains dead quiet and properly tracked. The thing you have to remember with more sensitive headphones is that they're more likely to let you know about noise or tracking errors within your chain, so it's a blessing and a curse. Thankfully the PS-500 aren't also some insanely low impedance, like 5 ohms, so they likely aren't going to attune you parcel-tongue, but it's still worth thinking about as you look at amplifiers.

See. this is why headphone measurements can be such bullsh*t.  I've owned both and I can ASSURE you that the PS500 is NOT10db hotter than the 325is.  One can "just" hear the difference.  I'm also pretty sure that 10dB does not quite equal 10x.  Not a real big fan of Tyll, but then, I LIKE Grados.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbophead 

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbophead 

IME, the PS500 is slightly (1-2dB?) more efficient than the 325is making it even easier to drive.

We can surely see if that's been tested...

And survey says:
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoPS500.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoSR325i.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoRS1.pdf

PS-500 looks substantially more sensitive! (it's 7.4 times more sensitive, which is not quite 10 dB (10x))

I still vote V-CAN - it does just as well with my more sensitive Audio Technicas, and still remains dead quiet and properly tracked. The thing you have to remember with more sensitive headphones is that they're more likely to let you know about noise or tracking errors within your chain, so it's a blessing and a curse. Thankfully the PS-500 aren't also some insanely low impedance, like 5 ohms, so they likely aren't going to attune you parcel-tongue, but it's still worth thinking about as you look at amplifiers.

See. this is why headphone measurements can be such bullsh*t.  I've owned both and I can ASSURE you that the PS500 is NOT10db hotter than the 325is.  One can "just" hear the difference.  I'm also pretty sure that 10dB does not quite equal 10x.  Not a real big fan of Tyll, but then, I LIKE Grados.  

I've never met the guy, but he seems pretty darned amiable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scootsit 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbophead 

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbophead 

IME, the PS500 is slightly (1-2dB?) more efficient than the 325is making it even easier to drive.

We can surely see if that's been tested...

And survey says:
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoPS500.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoSR325i.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoRS1.pdf

PS-500 looks substantially more sensitive! (it's 7.4 times more sensitive, which is not quite 10 dB (10x))

I still vote V-CAN - it does just as well with my more sensitive Audio Technicas, and still remains dead quiet and properly tracked. The thing you have to remember with more sensitive headphones is that they're more likely to let you know about noise or tracking errors within your chain, so it's a blessing and a curse. Thankfully the PS-500 aren't also some insanely low impedance, like 5 ohms, so they likely aren't going to attune you parcel-tongue, but it's still worth thinking about as you look at amplifiers.

See. this is why headphone measurements can be such bullsh*t.  I've owned both and I can ASSURE you that the PS500 is NOT10db hotter than the 325is.  One can "just" hear the difference.  I'm also pretty sure that 10dB does not quite equal 10x.  Not a real big fan of Tyll, but then, I LIKE Grados.  

I've never met the guy, but he seems pretty darned amiable.

Darn right.  i guess I should have said, not a real big fan of his assessments of headphones.  So sorry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Focker 

 

Jan Meier has a new portable amp that has a USB DAC.  The Grant Fidelity DAC/amp is highly regarded, as well. And that Musical Fidelity piece Obob suggested should be killer.  For coming right off a laptop, the AudioEngine D1 is a favorite of mine. It sounds great with the 500s.

It's nice to see peoples recomending Musical Fidelity,they don't seem to get mention very often,i for one have had my X-CAN V2 for 10 trouble free years now and considering the fact that it's ''always on'',meaning that it doesn't have an ON/OFF switch.that's saying a lot about it's reliability,plus i think it looks cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awgd8 

I am eyeing on the Fiio E17 , but darn Apple changed the IPad4 connector to lightning cable, just like the Iphone5. Now those 30pin generic LOD might not even work unless you buy the Apple lightning to 30pin adapter that cost around $20 or maybe the Apple camera kit $29 so I can hook up a DAC/amp.

Maybe I will just temporary use the 3.5mm to 3.5mm connector until Apple release a lightning to 3.5mm connector . That is a big IF!

Could you use a regular 30 pin LOD with the converter?

I hated the idea of leaving the tubes cooking all day and night so I purchased a Little Pinkie power supply for my V3, like the idea of being able to turn the amp on and off.