Audio-GD C2.1 and Grado RS2i...........Match Made In Heaven Or Keep Looking?

C-2.1 with Moon OPA possibly.  

I think for the Grado, the Audio-GD Fun might be sufficient.  I know the Audio-GD Fun thread contains many comments about grado users. That way you get a dac and amp combo.

I think the Audio-GD C-2.1 might not be necessary, unless you already have a quality dac.

I suggest the Fun with Moon OPA. 

Wow vince, 6 posts in 8+ years....Nice!!!!!!

I need to stay away from this place too....lol

Well, I own the RS2 and C-2 and can say Grados sound great from the C-2.  As sling posted, I have the Moon installed atm...Gives it a hint of warmth...

Yeah, it's difficult to find anything on the C-2. And there literally isn't anything out on the C-2.1 because they just updated it about a month ago. Though it's supposedly more neutral than the C-2.

I haven't heard that many amps but based on research I bought a Little Dot 1+ Hybrid and can honestly say that it is amazing with the RS2i. 

Now that my NFB-2, and C-2.1 has arrived. My first impressions with my Grado SR325is is good. Nothing wrong with this combo. :]

are you using ACSS or the Moon OPA with them?  how is the comparison? 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by V3ng3anc3 

Now that my NFB-2, and C-2.1 has arrived. My first impressions with my Grado SR325is is good. Nothing wrong with this combo. :]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sling5s 

are you using ACSS or the Moon OPA with them?  how is the comparison? 
 

Sorry, I only have ACSS and Audio-gd sent me the wrong cables so I can't even use the other inputs.

I tried my combo DAC 19-DSP + Audio-GD C2 (with OPA Moon when i made the test) with a Grado RS-1 (not mine), first i made a try with ACSS the result was satisfying : Big Bass well controlled, C-2 has good "grip" on it, medium was extremely pleasant, detailed and smooth and slightly colored (on some cans medium tend to sound too "metallic" or "woody", on the RS-1 it was just perfect), highs were smooth and extended but with a bit more "crunch" than all other Headphones i tried, but it was the first time i was listening a Grado...

My friend (the owner of the Grado) put it on his head and tell me that the sound was very good (he use to listen the RS-1 on his rig : Cambridge Dac Magic + Head-Amp Ray Samuels Audio HR-2), and then we tried both with the Moon OPA, i find the sound different but not better IMO : with the Moons the bass was more "chesty" and gave a better sensation of deepness but was also a bit more "boomy", the medium was slightly more colored and the highs sound more "rounded" (soundstage seems also a bit wider).

My friend preferred the sound with OPA Moon and tell me it was excellent, and I tend to prefer with ACSS because i found it more accurate...

The test was done on the track "So what" from the Album "A Kind of blue" and some various other pop/rock songs.

The end of the story was : two days ago, i bought a Grado :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by vince321 

Hello All,

 

Thanks for the info.

 

There has been many years of in-activity, so not many posts.  Mostly I'm a "lurker" who reads a bunch and absorbs what others on the board post and try to wade through all the superficial info.

 

With that being said, I do have a DAC so am not interested in the FUN.  In addition, who knows what the future holds for additional head phones?  Best to be prepared with plenty of power.

 

Based upon the responses above, it appears this amp may be a good fit?

If your DAC isn't from Audio-GD and don't have ACSS connectors C-2 or C-2.1 is not a good choice, the good thing of these amp is the ability to switch from ACSS (Discrete amplification) to OPA amplification, but if you don't connect your source to the ACSS connector, it's just a simple OPA amplifier... good amp but for 350$ you can find a better tube amp...

Or there's a second possibility you ask to Audio-GD to replace ACSS connectors by RCA connectors... and then you connect the both input (3 and 2) of the C-2 to the output of your DAC (a Y connector can help), so you'll have the ability to switch from ACSS to OPA (and if you want, install OPA Moon).

I have found that RS2i tend to sound slightly harsh with SS, but if you want to go this way, the KICAS Caliente is a good choice at the current sale price.  Do a search and you will find that some found the Caliente to work well with the RS1i. At this price range I will also be interested in the forthcoming Musical Paradise 301 MkII.

That's the good thing about the C-2.1, it has ACSS which is neutral which can be bright for the Grados but it also has an option to go RCA using for example the Moon OPA through RCA which is more softer, tube like musical presentation (according to Audio gd). 
 

But having said, that, tubes are the best but for solid state, audio gd is a good compromise. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeni 

I have found that RS2i tend to sound slightly harsh with SS, but if you want to go this way, the KICAS Caliente is a good choice at the current sale price.  Do a search and you will find that some found the Caliente to work well with the RS1i. At this price range I will also be interested in the forthcoming Musical Paradise 301 MkII.