[swspiers]

  Every time I try a headphone other than a Grado...I can't wait to hear my Grado's! 

I've been like that for the past 3 years, until these darn 400i's.  Jamming to Bonamassa right now, "Had to Cry Today" is stunning with these things.  No temptation to switch at the moment.
 
I do miss the weight of the Grado's though...

 

[joseph69]

  I've been like that for the past 3 years, until these darn 400i's.  Jamming to Bonamassa right now, "Had to Cry Today" is stunning with these things.  No temptation to switch at the moment.
 
I do miss the weight of the Grado's though...

I know I need plant more time for these to burn-in, they only have about 6hrs on them, and they do sound real good, but I don't know what it is. I'm going to try and keep my patience though…I think.
 
EDIT: 
BTW, the gimbals are pretty scratched up on the pair I got…one side is a lot worse than the other, which really surprised me being they have such a nice finish and are very well built.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

So from above, the LD + is great, the MAD EYE HD is even better, and the RA-1 is described to be like the much cheaper CMOY.
 
Has anyone listened to the RA-1 vs. either the LD + or the MAD EYE HD?  Just curious,  as it is built by the headphone manufacturer (or at least sold by them!), just as the HDVD 800 is sold by Sennheiser and recognized to be one of the best for the HD 800.
 
The RA-1 price, at around $400, is intermediate to the LD +1 at just over $100 and the MAD EYE HD at around $700. 
 
Just curious about the RA-1!  Gets a lot of "sure is overpriced" press (see here:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/91223/is-the-grado-ra-1-a-cmoy#post_1060648 ) but I have not found any comparative listening to either of these two tube amps.
 
I'm interested because I aspire to buy a PS1000e, and I read that that headphone will scale up in quality with high-quality upstream components.
 
Thanks!

 

[bassboysam]

I have the LD1+ and a WA6, and while for the money the LD is very good, I prefer the WA6. Deeper bass, wider soundstage and sweeter/smoother treble. The WA6 also works very well with my LCD2 and HE-4.

 

[bpcans]

I have the LD1+ and a WA6, and while for the money the LD is very good, I prefer the WA6. Deeper bass, wider soundstage and sweeter/smoother treble. The WA6 also works very well with my LCD2 and HE-4.

The Woo Audio WA6 is a stunning revelation to anyone who hasn't experienced the lush full sound of a tube headphone amplifier.

 

[whirlwind]

  So from above, the LD + is great, the MAD EYE HD is even better, and the RA-1 is described to be like the much cheaper CMOY.
 
Has anyone listened to the RA-1 vs. either the LD + or the MAD EYE HD?  Just curious,  as it is built by the headphone manufacturer (or at least sold by them!), just as the HDVD 800 is sold by Sennheiser and recognized to be one of the best for the HD 800.
 
The RA-1 price, at around $400, is intermediate to the LD +1 at just over $100 and the MAD EYE HD at around $700. 
 
Just curious about the RA-1!  Gets a lot of "sure is overpriced" press (see here:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/91223/is-the-grado-ra-1-a-cmoy#post_1060648 ) but I have not found any comparative listening to either of these two tube amps.
 
I'm interested because I aspire to buy a PS1000e, and I read that that headphone will scale up in quality with high-quality upstream components.
 
Thanks!

I have never heard the RA-1 so I really hate to say anything about it....but I believe it to be just a high end cmoy.
 
The LD1+  is a hybrid amp, meaning it has opamps and tubes....so you can roll both....but it is not a pure tube amp.
 
To get a pure tube amp, it will cost probably at least $500 unless you buy one used.....which you can and which is fine.
 
If you dont have a problem with your RA-1, heck just use it....especially if it sounds good to you.
 
One of the wonderful things about Grados is that they are only 32 ohm and are so easily amped.
 
I have found out that a higher end headphone takes more advantage of a good dac than say a low end or even mid-fi headphone.
 
I could tell a very small difference with my RS1i and my new dac...it was there, but to be honest...it was minimal gain.
 
With the HD800 the difference was much more pronounced, there was more of a wow factor so to speak.

 

[jaywillin]

The lcd2f has arrived !

 

[bbophead]

   
The Woo Audio WA6 is a stunning revelation to anyone who hasn't experienced the lush full sound of a tube headphone amplifier.

Plus about a gazillion.

 

[XLR8]

Pictures and how do they sound.
TIA...
 

 

[joseph69]

  Pictures and how do they sound.
TIA...
 

Just take a look at the WA6 photos in my signature…but I put the wood on, otherwise it comes in slier or black brushed aluminum.
And I couldn't agree more with bpcans/bbophead about the sound!
What doe TIA mean?

 

[ruthieandjohn]

The Woo Audio WA6 is a stunning revelation to anyone who hasn't experienced the lush full sound of a tube headphone amplifier.

Any comparison of, the Woo Audio WA6 to the MAD Eye HD?  Especially on Grades?  They are very close in price.

 

[diamondears]

Guys, any suggestion on best desktop amp for Grados (RS1i and SR325is) in addition to Chord Hugo? Budget is USD2,500, more or less.

 

[BelialSeraph]

Guys, any suggestion on best desktop amp for Grados (RS1i and SR325is) in addition to Chord Hugo? Budget is USD2,500, more or less.

Never personally tried them, but the Woo Audio WA6 and MAD Ear+ gets a lot of love from the Grado afficionados

 

[joseph69]

Guys, any suggestion on best desktop amp for Grados (RS1i and SR325is) in addition to Chord Hugo? Budget is USD2,500, more or less.

$2500.00 is your preference, but thats a lot of money!
You can get a WA6 and the tubes you like for a lot less and be extremely happy IMO/IME for both the 325is/RS1i. 

 

 

[steaz]

Hey everybody. Wanted to check in as a first time Grado owner. I bought a pair of SR60e's on a whim when I was demoing headphones in New York. Gotta say they really surprise me with their sound. I own a pair of HD-598 Senns and am seriously thinking I prefer my SR60s, at least for now!