Grado modders go Magnum

[orangecr]

I've had Grados for a while now, and I love them. I've also read a lot about magnums and they look very interesting. I couldn't resist and sold my SR225i (surprisingly easy and at a good price in Costa Rica) to order all the components to build a set of magnums.
 
I am going to use Symphones X drivers, Vibro Classic Cups, and stock headband and cable from Alessandro MS1 for now.
 
I am not sure they count as magnums, and certainly is not modification either, but hopefully they are going to be the last headphones I buy in a long... Who am I kidding? 

 Maybe I am wrong, and the placebo effect will affect me, but I have high expectations for this headphones.
 
I am starting to understand the "sorry for your wallet" thing now.
 
Hope my English makes sense. 

 

[joeq70]

Quote:

I've had Grados for a while now, and I love them. I've also read a lot about magnums and they look very interesting. I couldn't resist and sold my SR225i (surprisingly easy and at a good price in Costa Rica) to order all the components to build a set of magnums.
 
I am going to use Symphones X drivers, Vibro Classic Cups, and stock headband and cable from Alessandro MS1 for now.
 
I am not sure they count as magnums, and certainly is not modification either, but hopefully they are going to be the last headphones I buy in a long... Who am I kidding? 

 Maybe I am wrong, and the placebo effect will affect me, but I have high expectations for this headphones.
 
I am starting to understand the "sorry for your wallet" thing now.
 
Hope my English makes sense. 

Hello! You make perfect sense. Sounds like you will have built a very legitimate set of Magnums. Let me tell you...the difference between the Magnum V5 and SR225 is vast. Please report back with your impressions when you have everything put together!

 

[kskwerl]

Hello! You make perfect sense. Sounds like you will have built a very legitimate set of Magnums. Let me tell you...the difference between the Magnum V5 and SR225 is vast. Please report back with your impressions when you have everything put together!

How big is the difference from 325 to V5? I ordered the drivers cups and headband but its taking forever to get the actual drivers

 

[chrislangley4253]

Quote:

How big is the difference from 325 to V5? I ordered the drivers cups and headband but its taking forever to get the actual drivers

should be very substantial.

 

[kskwerl]

should be very substantial.

Thanks Chris, that's a bold statement and gets me excited because I already think my 325s sound superb

 

[devouringone3]

99 % of the people here prefer the sound of the Magnum to that of the SR325(i).
 
I am only aware of one (*or two, actually) person on this forum who prefers the sound of the SR325is.

 

[fleasbaby]

*sigh* still waiting on my build. Rather than go through the fiasco I did last time, I am waiting for Headphone Lounge to put it all together for me.

Going from 225i to Magnums myself. Can't wait to see how I feel about the difference.

 

[kskwerl]

Quote:

*sigh* still waiting on my build. Rather than go through the fiasco I did last time, I am waiting for Headphone Lounge to put it all together for me.

Going from 225i to Magnums myself. Can't wait to see how I feel about the difference.

What kind of fiasco, I'm curious cause this will be my first time building magnums

 

[kskwerl]

GF picked up the packages for the VX today yay! Still need the cups though

 

[Biscuitz]

Quote:

How big is the difference from 325 to V5? I ordered the drivers cups and headband but its taking forever to get the actual drivers

 
 
Quote:

*sigh* still waiting on my build. Rather than go through the fiasco I did last time, I am waiting for Headphone Lounge to put it all together for me.

Going from 225i to Magnums myself. Can't wait to see how I feel about the difference.

 
 
Quote:

I've had Grados for a while now, and I love them. I've also read a lot about magnums and they look very interesting. I couldn't resist and sold my SR225i (surprisingly easy and at a good price in Costa Rica) to order all the components to build a set of magnums.
 
I am going to use Symphones X drivers, Vibro Classic Cups, and stock headband and cable from Alessandro MS1 for now.
 
I am not sure they count as magnums, and certainly is not modification either, but hopefully they are going to be the last headphones I buy in a long... Who am I kidding? 

 Maybe I am wrong, and the placebo effect will affect me, but I have high expectations for this headphones.
 
I am starting to understand the "sorry for your wallet" thing now.
 
Hope my English makes sense. 

I'm excited for you guys awaiting your Magnum V5's! I will agree with what's been said: I think the V5's are a substantial improvement over the Grado SR series. They are head and shoulders above in regard to clarity, detail, and instrument separation - the result is addictive.

 

[orangecr]

I'm excited for you guys awaiting your Magnum V5's! I will agree with what's been said: I think the V5's are a substantial improvement over the Grado SR series. They are head and shoulders above in regard to clarity, detail, and instrument separation - the result is addictive.

I am counting on that! 

 I feel so much better now.
 
Hopefully my next investment will be a good headphone amp; I am going to have to settle with my E07k for the moment (which is not that bad IMO).

 

[Twinster]

Quote:

99 % of the people here prefer the sound of the Magnum to that of the SR325(i).
 
I am only aware of one (*or two, actually) person on this forum who prefer the sound of the SR325is.

 99%  

 really ????  maybe people from this thread but I think this is a very bold estimate. I guest I'm one of them. Who's the other person?

 

[chrislangley4253]

Quote:

I am counting on that! 

 I feel so much better now.
 
Hopefully my next investment will be a good headphone amp; I am going to have to settle with my E07k for the moment (which is not bad at all IMO).

you will likely not see any improvement from that amp.. Especially with magnums/grados.

 

[orangecr]

Quote:

you will likely not see any improvement from that amp.. Especially with magnums/grados.

I now it will not improve my headphones performance, but there is a noticeable difference between my laptop's sound card and the Fiio. Unfortunately it is all I have for now, and can't afford anything else for the moment 

. It will have to do the job until I save some extra money.
 
When the time comes, I will post back to ask for ideas.

 

[scootsit]

Quote:

Quote:

you will likely not see any improvement from that amp.. Especially with magnums/grados.

I now it will not improve my headphones performance, but there is a noticeable difference between my laptop's sound card and the Fiio. Unfortunately it is all I have for now, and can't afford anything else for the moment 

. It will have to do the job until I save some extra money.
 
When the time comes, I will post back to ask for ideas.

I think you misunderstood Chris. I don't want to speak for him, but I am pretty sure I know what he means. The E07, despite it's fairly low cost and all that, is pretty damn awesome. You might get a touch more headroom elsewhere, a tiny bit more current, and maybe a better DAC, but you won't find THAT big of an improvement going to a better amp. Fiio makes pretty great stuff, especially for the cost. About the best you can do for Grados is a good DAC, a tiny bit of gain, and a unity-gain buffer. That's exactly what the E07 is. Could you find something warm and tubey, or with a bit more headroom, or with a bit more current? Probably. Will you notice any real difference? Probably not.
 
Chris swears by the O2, and nwavguy (the designer of the O2) has pretty much demonstrated that it's only marginally better than the E07.