Grado modders go Magnum - Page 7

From the example that I've heard in some CABILLAS shells, they're pretty much the best Prestige drivers around, they'll scale as high as the headphone you wanna build... you'd better order soon though I think Martin Customs is going to explode soon once more waves of pimped Grados come out for review for more influential people on the boards.

I cannot wait for impressions on these drivers - I've taken my SR-60s as far as they can go for SQ besides recabling (wood cups, felt holes, dynamat, etc.) and when I posted in the SR-60 Mod II thread about the best recabling options I was pointed right here.

Since these drivers cost about as much as silver cables and will likely do a LOT more I'm totally stoked.  I was hesitant to drop the coin on silver cables when I listened to an RS2i in a hi-fi store yesterday, because it was still noticeably superior in terms of detail and overall sonic refinement to my getting-expensive SR60s...

I'm curious to see how these stack up against the RS2i and HF-2, two Grados I'm looking at I'm probably gonna ditch the modded SR60s..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverickmonk 

This thread makes me want. Makes me want a LOT. About how "high" on the Grado scale do the magnum drivers sound, for instance? As clear as the RS1? As clear as the 225?

I've never heard the RS-1 / RS-1i.  However, I've heard the MS-Pro from Allesandro.  The Magnum drivers are very capable.  They are easily as clear as the 225 - yet, more resolved when it comes to the sound.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by KimChee 

I'm curious to see how these stack up against the RS2i and HF-2, two Grados I'm looking at I'm probably gonna ditch the modded SR60s..

Since you're just one state over, I was going to invite you to head over for a listen once I get my drivers.  However, I just realized that your location is 271 miles away.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by meltdown100 

I cannot wait for impressions on these drivers - I've taken my SR-60s as far as they can go for SQ besides recabling (wood cups, felt holes, dynamat, etc.) and when I posted in the SR-60 Mod II thread about the best recabling options I was pointed right here.

 

Since these drivers cost about as much as silver cables and will likely do a LOT more I'm totally stoked.  I was hesitant to drop the coin on silver cables when I listened to an RS2i in a hi-fi store yesterday, because it was still noticeably superior in terms of detail and overall sonic refinement to my getting-expensive SR60s...

 

Oh yeah driver > cable. I'm being completely honest about that. Cable is just to add that last 5% to your audio chain IMO. It does make a quantitive difference that as time continues, is really impossible to prove to others, but a driver is a driver, also I feel that you could resell the V4's without incident if you needed to.

From what I heard in the example I listened to, they sound like an SR-325 on roids, easily to the level of the RS-2 I had, for it was inside wood, is it an RS-1 killer? Well, I haven't heard an RS-1 since 2007, but I can tell you that it's looking like a very strong possibility. Hell if you could build a really sick Grado using Marty, Rhydon, and *cough* as a resource, but it'd probably come WELL above the PS500, thats just blind speculation, but it's hard to imagine what could sound better than that.

There are about to be two Magnum'ed woodies that I'll be getting my hands on, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to write about them or not? I might have to pass my findings onto the original owners for them to add onto their personal thoughts if they feel like making them public.

I think the driver membranes are a wee bit stiffer, which translates to speed, which is something you'd probably want a stiffer chamber material for. The wood adds flavor and sort of mellows out the sound and making it warmer. This is my comparison between the actual Magnum V3 325i and my personal RS-2, both with some 26AWG unmentionables on it, the Magnums for the most part are definitely UP there.

That being said, the PS500 from all appearances looks to be a damn fine product... I just need to get a hold of one myself, I have no idea where the RS-2 lies against the PS500. Money is a bit tight now, but hopefully I'll score one, although with all the Grados I own I WOULD like to obtain a Hifiman EF2A for some tube flavor in my chain

My basis for comparison is also what skews things for me, as I'm sure it does to some extent for everyone - ears get tuned to gear after a while.  My headphones usage in the past couple of years included K701s (which I sold) and RE0s and ER4S for portable use.

So I am used to a more bass-light / analytical sound, which is why I was considering the silver cable to squeeze a little more detail from the modded SR60s before hearing about the Magnums.  I definitely want to see what the impressions are on the V4s, but it sounds like the earlier Magnum versions have not disappointed anyone so far, which is great.

All in all I am still very happy with the headphones as they've turned out, the stock SR60i was too fatiguing after 20-30 minutes, too much 'sizzle'.  Now I can listen for hours, as I already have :).  But I'm going to play with the felt behind the driver to see if I can tighten up the bass a little.  I listen to a lot of busy music, prog, metal, etc. and that's where the boomy bass becomes apparent - but the cleaner slower stuff (like blues) really comes through nicely.  Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa and Gary Moore tracks I listened to all sounded really fantastic.  I think it could be a speed issue, and I can see how the driver would travel further with being so opened up and therefore lose the ability to keep up with faster music maybe...     

To answer Strat's question, if the RS2i sounds better it sounds better.  As proud as I am of what I have created, and the process is undeniably loads of fun, it still wouldn't change what my ears are telling me.  I'd probably keep my customs could see myself getting the itch to buy an RS2 or RS1 down the road, knowing how I am.  But to be fair, I haven't compared both on the same rig yet.  That could change everything. 

does rhydon's liberated drivers fit into cabillas's cups perfectly?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinteddy7 

does rhydon's liberated drivers fit into cabillas's cups perfectly?

I think this remains to be determined.  Marty has been quite busy - but, it would be interesting to get his input on the driver installation for the set of Magnums that he built.  He does have Grado driver "blanks" for test-fitting his wooden cups as he builds them.  Due to his experience with fitting many Grado drivers, I feel his input would be best to let us know this information.

Also, it's either that or wait until the end of this coming week (or so) when my Magnums arrive which will be paired with my awaiting Cabillas cups.

Well I've read everything in the magnum thread, and people who own hd800's and lcd2 rev2's are saying the magnums (built from 325/ms2) compete right up there in that class. And that's what's gotten me really interested. If I can get something that sounds like something in the 1200$ range for a maximum investment of 400-500$; there's no doubt in my mind that Rhydon's made something very very nice.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Himself 

Oh yeah driver > cable. I'm being completely honest about that. Cable is just to add that last 5% to your audio chain IMO. It does make a quantitive difference that as time continues, is really impossible to prove to others, but a driver is a driver, also I feel that you could resell the V4's without incident if you needed to.

 

From what I heard in the example I listened to, they sound like an SR-325 on roids, easily to the level of the RS-2 I had, for it was inside wood, is it an RS-1 killer? Well, I haven't heard an RS-1 since 2007, but I can tell you that it's looking like a very strong possibility. Hell if you could build a really sick Grado using Marty, Rhydon, and *cough* as a resource, but it'd probably come WELL above the PS500, thats just blind speculation, but it's hard to imagine what could sound better than that.

 

@ Strat - I definitely agree, and who wouldn't get a real kick out of matching or besting a highly regarded set like the RS2 with about $300 in total investment and some elbow grease?  My modded SR60i is starting to really grow on me, I realized I might not have completely burned in the drivers since I tore these apart a long time ago straight out of the box as a new pair.  So I've been running them for a couple of days now to make sure the drivers are broken in.  I also did a felt mod to the grille in the cups that controls the bass better, I now have tighter bass while also an increased/smoother delivery of mids and highs.  They're sounding killer now.

I just noticed that the Little Dot 1+ sells for $120ish...

Lucky I got my E7 for cheap... 

Y_Y

Anyone has experience pairing Grados with Little Dot 1+ ?