[Jbucla2005]

Love my Grado SR125x. I'm using an Antique Sound Lab MG-Head OTL MKIII in transformer mode to amp them.

 

[Plautus001]

Hello friends,

Can someone advise a good Amp that works well with our Grado HP? No tubes please. I have a Schiit Valhalla 2 and despite liking the sound, the background noise sort of bothers me. Already changed tubes, better with original tubes but still there. Also not a big fan of the original tubes sound.

I was thinking something like a Rebel or Gilmore amp. Any other thoughts?

I usually tend to a more organic, even warmer, sound.

Cheers.

Asgard 3... really love with my Grado headphones

 

[Jbucla2005]

Hello friends,

Can someone advise a good Amp that works well with our Grado HP? No tubes please. I have a Schiit Valhalla 2 and despite liking the sound, the background noise sort of bothers me. Already changed tubes, better with original tubes but still there. Also not a big fan of the original tubes sound.

I was thinking something like a Rebel or Gilmore amp. Any other thoughts?

I usually tend to a more organic, even warmer, sound.

Cheers.

The Schiit Valhalla 2 is not a great tube amp, imo. I didn’t like it because I found it bright and not so smooth. I prefer my MG Head DT and it works great with my Grados in transformer mode.

 

[jonathan c]

Hello friends,

Can someone advise a good Amp that works well with our Grado HP? No tubes please. I have a Schiit Valhalla 2 and despite liking the sound, the background noise sort of bothers me. Already changed tubes, better with original tubes but still there. Also not a big fan of the original tubes sound.

I was thinking something like a Rebel or Gilmore amp. Any other thoughts?

I usually tend to a more organic, even warmer, sound.

Cheers.

Gilmore Lite Mk-II with Golden Reference power supply unit is an excellent choice for Grados.

 

[RHMMMM]

Thank you, the cable is fine and so is the source. Nothing conspicuous can be seen on the driver grille. The only thing left to do is the Grado service and a driver replacement.

Get a resolution yet? Send them back?

 

[jonathan c]

Although I am not using a Grado headphone, so I will just leave by the side door quietly.

…. boo hoo , we love a Grand Exit !!!

 

[Shane D]

…. boo hoo , we love a Grand Exit !!!

I am getting old and boring.

 

[jonathan c]

I am getting old and boring.

If that’s true, it’s for all of us …

 

[tkemp5513]

Just so everyone knows, Grado drivers are very hard to destroy. I know this because I had my 225x plugged into my Hugo 2 while it was at line output levels. I think that’s the term, its basically all the way up. Max volume. I think it’s like 3/4 of a watt. They sustained that volume for at least 10 minutes…I’ve run them through the ringer looking for audible signs of damage. Nothin’.

 

[joseph69]

Same guy behind those… Fried Reim

Was going to say doesn't Lake People make Violectric

 

[jonathan c]

Just so everyone knows, Grado drivers are very hard to destroy. I know this because I had my 225x plugged into my Hugo 2 while it was at line output levels. I think that’s the term, its basically all the way up. Max volume. I think it’s like 3/4 of a watt. They sustained that volume for at least 10 minutes…I’ve run them through the ringer looking for audible signs of damage. Nothin’.

What can destroy a driver is running it at ‘max volume setting’ with an amplifier of insufficient power. The distortion-induced ‘jagged’ power pulses of high frequency will burn out voice coils.

 

[Gradostax fan]

Love my Grado SR125x. I'm using an Antique Sound Lab MG-Head OTL MKIII in transformer mode to amp them.

I find the sr125 models are often overlooked. Most people either stay at SR60/80 or straight to sr325/225

 

[solid12345]

Hello friends,

Can someone advise a good Amp that works well with our Grado HP? No tubes please.

If you’re willing to spend a little bit of money and can find one on the used market, my Focal Arche is the best SS I’ve heard with Grados bar none. Especially with a tube preamp. It’s just liquid smooth bliss with crystalline highs. Class-A power. I’m usually a tube guy but it feels sort of like the best of both worlds, you maintain the analytical nature of SS with a hint of tube warmth that removes the typical shrillness you get from Grado on wrong amp pairings. Granted i’m running it with a Chord Dave into a McIntosh C2300 preamp which brings it into the end game territory but even with the built in DAC alone it’s close. It elevates my GS3000x to Susvara or Utopia territory IMO.

 

[Mightygrey]

If you’re willing to spend a little bit of money and can find one on the used market, my Focal Arche is the best SS I’ve heard with Grados bar none. Especially with a tube preamp. It’s just liquid smooth bliss with crystalline highs. Class-A power. I’m usually a tube guy but it feels sort of like the best of both worlds, you maintain the analytical nature of SS with a hint of tube warmth that removes the typical shrillness you get from Grado on wrong amp pairings. Granted i’m running it with a Chord Dave into a McIntosh C2300 preamp which brings it into the end game territory but even with the built in DAC alone it’s close. It elevates my GS3000x to Susvara or Utopia territory IMO.

I concur that the Arche is a brilliant match with Grados - it sounded superb with my GH1.

 

[16tons]

The grado hemp and the Sr2/325x have the same flat pads? They seem slightly different to me