[16tons]

Somehow I came to think that this always touted „specifically tuned“ is just about how the back damping of the drivers is done (felt etc over some of the holes…) while reusing the same drivers. Would make sense to me.

I ve found a site where sell drivers X "tuned" for 225/hemp. It seems like a driver X (identical to my sr60x) with 2 hole covered

 

[plakat]

I m Italian, here the grado headphones are overpriced, e.g. the hemp costs 700 euro or more, bought mine on ebay second hand from Spain for 300

Ouch… 700€ hurts. I’m living in Vienna, so not in Grado promised land either, but happy to have a decent local shop.

 

[Luckyleo]

I just want to pass along a quick impression. A couple of days ago and at a friend’s request I borrowed his Monolith Cavalli Liquid Spark. First thought it looks much better in person, the build quality is very nice with a wonderfully smooth potentiometer.

All of that is nice to know but what bowled me over with just how good the sound performance was for an amp that is usually below $100. I currently am listening to my GS3000x, last night the SR325x. Will continue comparing but this amp works very well with Grados.

Any Grado fan needing an inexpensive but very good sounding small desktop amp needs to check it out. Most of the reviews out there are very positive.

Thank you for your thoughts! I'm tempted, but would like to ask what other amps do you listen to regularly with your GS3000x ,and how they compare to the Liquid Spark.

Thanks

Leo

 

[elitico]

Hi,

I‘m trying here then to. I just bought a used a pair of Grado 225e with S-Cushion pads. Shall I order a pair of Grado L-Cushion pads for best sound? It is the pads that originally came with the cans from what I understand?

I’m not planning to play around with pads. I just want to get the right ones and stop there.

 

[Philimon]

I’m not planning to play around with pads. I just want to get the right ones and stop there.

Besides sound you will also find personal fit and comfort varies quite a bit from person to person.

Im still padrolling RS2x… L-pad (genuine) are just not sympatico with me for longer listening sessions. They create pressure points on my ears that get sore over time. .

Velour pads might be an acceptable compromise since they are very comfy. Ordered the hybrid velour/leather version to see if they can warm the tonal character a little bit…

The velour pads soundstage are in no way squished like flat pads. Frequency response seems slightly tilted upwards (bright), but vocals seem properly restrained unlike seeming 2kHz prominence of flats. With RS2x, pads like F-pads or Geekria donuts basically sound flat then slight 2-3kHz+ peak, then afterwards highs attenuated too much. S-pads with RS2x are actually closer to L-pads in sound but you do lose on soundstage and seeminly last bit of air and detail (in that case I could just use SR80 with F-pads instead and save a few hundred $).

fyi, Geekria donuts, similar to F-pad sound but tad brighter. Works okay with SR60/80 but not quite as well as F-pad imo.

^ velours

 

[544322]

iPod Classic and Little Bear with Grado RS-1, a very enjoyable combination!

Anyone know if a little higher quality 30-pin to jack cable? This one was only 20 bucks off Ebay.

 

[Philimon]

Anyone know if a little higher quality 30-pin to jack cable? This one was only 20 bucks off Ebay.

How can you expect high end sound from a mere $20 cable? What is wrong with current cable that you wish to fix?

 

[544322]

How can you expect high end sound from a mere $20 cable? What is wrong with current cable that you wish to fix?

Cable just looks flimsy. The sound is fine. But we all know it can always be better.

 

[elitico]

Besides sound you will also find personal fit and comfort varies quite a bit from person to person.

I will maybe regret it later, but I just ordered the Grado L-Cushion pads now. I will have to try different pads later if I can’t stand them.

Your velour pads looks very nice. I just don’t want to get into a rabbit hole with 10 different pads for different music and so on.

The S-Cushion that for some reason was on my used 225e seems to degrade the sound from what I’ve read.

 

[ESL-1]

Thank you for your thoughts! I'm tempted, but would like to ask what other amps do you listen to regularly with your GS3000x ,and how they compare to the Liquid Spark.

Thanks

Leo

Sorry for the delay, quite the busy day. I will list some choices I have and like and look to follow up with thoughts and impressions and keep it solely to the GS3000x.
Note: listing is currently random but that will eventually change.

TEAC HA-501 dual mono class A
HeadAmp Gilmore Lite mk2/ class A
with Golden Reference Power Supply
Mjolnir Dyna Low
Violectric V200
Grado Signature HPA-1
ALO PanAm, Gateway & Passage
Cavalli Audio Liquid Carbon (1st variant)
Monolith Cavalli Liquid Spark
Schiit Lyr

I am not including any of my portable/transportable amps a number of which sound great with Grados. Should anyone have an interest in that catagory PM me directly or just post here.

Back to some nice blues with Mike Bloomfield.

 

[daveya]

I will maybe regret it later, but I just ordered the Grado L-Cushion pads now. I will have to try different pads later if I can’t stand them.

Your velour pads looks very nice. I just don’t want to get into a rabbit hole with 10 different pads for different music and so on.

The S-Cushion that for some reason was on my used 225e seems to degrade the sound from what I’ve read.

I feel the same about the S pad, I have to turn the volume up which says something. I have the 325x and RS2x coming today and a variety of pads including two lots of G one which is taped, so going to have a long sesh

 

[Luckyleo]

Sorry for the delay, quite the busy day. I will list some choices I have and like and look to follow up with thoughts and impressions and keep it solely to the GS3000x.
Note: listing is currently random but that will eventually change.

TEAC HA-501 dual mono class A
HeadAmp Gilmore Lite mk2/ class A
with Golden Reference Power Supply
Mjolnir Dyna Low
Violectric V200
Grado Signature HPA-1
ALO PanAm, Gateway & Passage
Cavalli Audio Liquid Carbon (1st variant)
Monolith Cavalli Liquid Spark
Schiit Lyr

I am not including any of my portable/transportable amps a number of which sound great with Grados. Should anyone have an interest in that catagory PM me directly or just post here.

Back to some nice blues with Mike Bloomfield.

Thanks!

Leo

 

[JaquesGelee]

Anyone know if a little higher quality 30-pin to jack cable? This one was only 20 bucks off Ebay.

Sure, ask Matt from FAW. Got a few of them, but stack length and a longer one. But this has pinout for graham slee voyager. Sold most of my iPod Collection, but i still got a lot left..

 

[daveya]

Well, RS2X in da hoose, comparing with my 325x and having some pad fun to boot.

Didn't take long to just not bother with the 325, just can't compete with the RS2x, just muddy in comparison. I've pad rolled the 325 to oblivion and back and always came back to the stock F. Seems I'm doing the same with the RS2x, just keep coming back to the L.


G is ok, tape mod awful, and L is poor on the 325 and F poor on the RS2x, and the comfy just ok on both.

Interestingly I have cut a hole in some comfies and use them upside down on both and they sound great! Going to experiment more with those.

I can't dial some EQ into the 325s to get them remotely close to the RS2x, but I can sneak a little bit more bass into the RS2x and it's fantastic. I use UAPP/Qobuz with Mojo2.

The RS2x are well worth the money for me, just opens up the music , imaging and clarity just suck you in. You forget you are gear testing and just enjoy .

Use lots of tracks to test but Eva Cassidy has never sound so good neither has Cat Stevens but Sandstorm Darude just cracked a beat and took me back to the clubs.

Superb headphones

 

[16tons]

This is my hemp with jack 3,5mm connectors and sr60x drivers, it works great but I ve listened not enough to the original for remembering how it sounded. I m evaluating if leave it as it is or spend 130€ to replace the driver with the originals one