Amp for SR325i?

[kschul2]

I'm about to purchase Grado SR325i's and will be using them with a 60GB iPod photo through a sik lineout. What's the best choice for an amp for them? I've done a lot of searching and reading and I'm pretty sure the Gilmore Lite will work best but are there some others I should look into also? Not sure about price range, but definitely under $500. Doesn't have to be portable but wouldn't hurt either. Any other suggestions?

 

[recstar24]

My suggestions would be Gilmore Lite w/ DPS or Ray Samuels SR-71. I prefer the sr-71 - the gilmore sounds bright to me whereas the sr-71 is voiced on the warmer side of neutrality, both amps have great impact, are very dynamic, and will offer a great detail and clarity. The sr-71 to me is a little more liquid and organic sounding, whereas the gilmore has more of a cooler sound to it.

Based on your music preference and how you feel about your 325i's now, you should take it from there and aim for synergy

 

[joelongwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by recstar24 Based on your music preference and how you feel about your 325i's now, you should take it from there and aim for synergy

I am in full agreement on the goal being synergy. I just received my 325i last week, and, to my ears, the Grado RA-1, much maligned and pooh-poohed as a "cheap" amp on these forums, has great synergy with the 325i.......very smooth, detailed, balanced, excellent bass, and none of the harshness typically associated with Grados. I've tried the 325i with a number of amps including RKV, Sugden Headmaster, Portaphile V2, PocketampV2, CHA47, and Xin SuperDual. The RA-1 is my favorite, because it doesn't seem to add or detract anything from the sound of the 325i.

 

[recstar24]

I really need to hear an ra-1...sorry to threadcrap, how is the ra-1 with hp-2? i have rs-1 already so theres no need to go there and that magical combo, but i still havent even heard that one either

 

[joelongwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by recstar24 I really need to hear an ra-1...sorry to threadcrap, how is the ra-1 with hp-2? i have rs-1 already so theres no need to go there and that magical combo, but i still havent even heard that one either

I actually don't find the HP-1/RA-1 too enjoyable. Neutrality + neutrality = Boring..........at least for me. For my ears, the HP-1 likes tubes.

 

[en480c4]

I'm a big fan of the 325i's with the Millett Hybrid. They really sound great... none of the harshness but all of the detail. The tubes seem to really go well with the Grados... my 325i's and my friends 225's.
I'm not so much a fan of them with the PPAv2. It's a detailed amp already, and while it sounds pretty good with my 580's and it's fantastic with my 650's, it doesn't go well with the 325i's... for me at least.
For a solid-state amp, the M^3 and the 325i's do work pretty well together. The M^3 is a very smooth amp and is a little more detailed than the Millett, but still not harsh.
That's the limit of my experience with my 325i's. Hope it helps...
Good luck!

 

[recstar24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelongwood I actually don't find the HP-1/RA-1 too enjoyable. Neutrality + neutrality = Boring..........at least for me. For my ears, the HP-1 likes tubes.

hmmmm....tubes to add tone to HP-2.....ahhrrgghhrrgg (...cure homer simpson drooling impersonation...)

 

[mjg]

really digging the grace 901 with my ms2i...

Very poppy/authorative midbass... Has great high end handling, a touch towards foward, but then again so are the grados... Will probabllt have great results with yer 325i.

 

[kschul2]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to look into those. Does anyone have any experience w/ the Gilmore Lite/SR325 combo yet?

 

[morphie]

Not yet. Notice the "yet" there. So far the best amp hands down I've heard with the sr325i or any Grados for that matter, except the HP-2 and PS-1, is the RA-1. It is a sure buy, that won't cost you too much, and you are sure to get great synergy and an awesome sound.

 

[kschul2]

Thanks for the reply. Looking at the RA-1 I notice there's two different ones, one is battery powered and the other uses an outlet. Is there any other difference? Is one of these better than the other?

 

[morphie]

Yes. I haven't heard this myself, but having heard battery powered vs AC powered I can say there will be a subtle difference in sound. Depending on your source though, that difference can be rather small. If you're thinking of buying one I ould go for an AC version though, unless you need to transport it, its always the safest bet.

 

[kschul2]

So you're saying while there's only a small difference, the AC version is better? That's good because that's the one I'd be getting anyway since I have no need for portability and I'd rather not have to deal with batteries.

 

[morphie]

Yes I believe an AC version of the amp would result in a cleaner, fuller sound altogether, especially if you're feeding it a signal from an iPod lineout, with no DAC in between.

 

[Zweroboi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphie Yes I believe an AC version of the amp would result in a cleaner, fuller sound altogether, especially if you're feeding it a signal from an iPod lineout, with no DAC in between.

Hmmmm what a strange claim.

GoodCans states the opposite: http://www.goodcans.com/HeadphoneReviews/gradoamp.htm. Anyway, AC looks way more convenient.

P.s. Do iPod output digital signal so there is sense for a DAC "in between"?