Wow, lots of misinformation going on here.
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I just recently bought my first high quality headphones, Grado Sr 80i. I am so impressed and I love the soundstage and I think that the treble which some people complain about being to sharp is perfect. However, although not a bass head i would like to increase the bass on the Grados with out reducing the treble a little bit so I am considering an amp. I also plan to upgrade to SR225i in the future so I want an amp that can handle both phones. Can you please give me the pros and cons of the following. My current possibilities are:
-Electric Avenue pa2v2
-Little Dot 1+ Portable Amp
-Little Dot 1+ Tube Hybrid
-Little Dot MK II Tube
P.S. I don't want to exceed 140 USD and am open to any suggestions.
P.P.S. Are tube amps portable? Thanks!.
1) Do not use an amp to equalize a set of headphones, use an EQ if you want some bass boost, there is no harm in that. There is harm in coloring ALL of your music with a colored amp, IMO.
2) Both the SR80i and the SR225i are ridiculously easy to drive. Neither needs an amp. The only reason to get an amp is for piece of mind and for an ultra clean signal. To put it simply, if you aren't hearing noise that you want to get rid of and the music is loud enough on your Grados, you have absolutely
NO need to get an amp.
3) The SR225i have even more of a bite than the sr80i. If you find yourself wanting more bass out of the sr80i.. I'd maybe recommend moving on from grado, or up to something like the ms pro or rs1.. I don't really think you'd be happy with the sr225i. Definitely try to demo them or buy from somewhere that will let you return them if you don't like them.
4) The PA2v2 is a good starter amp, if you just want to try one out. But, be aware that it picks up radio frequencies like no other. You can forget having your cell phone anywhere near it.
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Actually SR80 doesn't demand an amp, it sounds good already plugged in directly to iPod
Out of those choice perhaps PA2V2 is your best choice, the tubes will make it sounds smoother and mellower. I didn't know there is a LD 1+ portable amp so i haven't tried it
There are some tubes that portable, mostly are desktop though
The pa2v2 doesn't have tubes.. Also, tubes don't always make the sound smoother and mellower, that's a large misconception. It depends on the amp and on the tubes used.
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i have had an sr80 for about 4 years and i love it to death. it sounds a million times better with an amp. i paired it with a little dot mk ii and it sounded phenomenal. i say tubes are the way to go with grado. also, you're going to need a dac as well.
Your sr80 does not sound a million times better with an amp. If you insist it does, what is your source and what is your amp? I say tubes definitely aren't the way to go with grado, you are taking a colored headphone and further coloring it with a tube amp. He definitely isn't going to need a dac as well. That depends on what his source is and the quality of it. If he's hooking up to a good portable player or soundcard, he doesn't need a dac.. or an amp.