Grado PS-1 Recable Questions

[Voltron]

I am debating reterminating the stock cable with balanced XLRs vs. doing a complete balanced recable job, and there is an incredible void in Head-Fi where information and impressions on recabling PS-1s should be. I would love to hear people's suggestions on recable options that they have heard or whether anybody has simply reterminated with XLRs on the stock cable.

I have heard two great sounding custom-recabled balanced PS-1s, but neither ayt999 nor Ray Samuels are in the business of recabling cans. There must be more pairs lying around with something other than stock cables. Even single-ended recable jobs would be relevant if they are done with cables that are available in the market.

For example, somebody around here must have bought -- or at least heard -- that beautiful recabled Moon Audio Black Dragon pair with high-end connectors, right? Has anybody heard a pair with an SAA Equinox cable? How about other Moon pairs or [AK]Zip/Apuresound pairs? So, how are they? How do they compare to stock or any other recabled/reterminated pair you have heard?

Bueler? Bueler?

 

[Icarium]

Hrm well at one point I was going to go with ayt999 for a Qualia cable but then I ended up backing out because I was spending money too fast to really put a big chunk on cables.

He was willing to do it as long as I was willing to wait on him to do it... like work on it a bit whenever he had a bit of down time.

However, Qualias I can have recabled with the headphone in my possession etc etc.

[AK]Zip will have the best turn around time and I've liked his cable the best though the Moon Audio Black Dragon comes close... though I don't like how fragile it is (Thick gauge pure copper and all that).

Of course I haven't heard anything with PS-1s in particular ;p Though frankly I'm pretty determined to [AK]Zip it for every pair of my headphones. Getting a v3 Qualia cable with Furutech Rhodium XLR connectors in probably next week or week after. 1st!

 

[vcoheda]

well. someone has a pair of PS-1s with Black Dragon cable and Furutech XLRs. is it possible that someone other than a head-fier purchased them. or maybe a head-fier who just doesn't post (that much).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarium /img/forum/go_quote.gif Getting a v3 Qualia cable with Furutech Rhodium XLR connectors in probably next week or week after. 1st!

if i had any high-end headphone i would get the Furutechs as well. at $150 a pair, it doesn't make sense - or makes less sense - for the common stuff.

 

[penger]

Are you talking about the pair the Drew put on ebay a while back?

 

[larryminator]

If I had to recable them, I would enlarge the holes, and recable them with my Joseph Grado Reference Cable RCA 2m lenght balanced.

I saw a pair like this.

I must admit that the cable of the PS-1 is pretty basic.

 

[Voltron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif well. someone has a pair of PS-1s with Black Dragon cable and Furutech XLRs. is it possible that someone other than a head-fier purchased them. or maybe a head-fier who just doesn't post (that much).

Quote:

Originally Posted by penger /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are you talking about the pair the Drew put on ebay a while back?

Yes, it was Drew's eBay pair that I mentioned, and it is quite possible a non-Head-Fier bought them. It was nicely turned-out, and Drew could do another recable for me. I am just looking into options, and I continue to be amazed that a highly regarded, high-end can like this has been recabled so seldom. The prior threads on the subject either have zero responses or no real information at all. It's amazing and I am hoping that this thread can draw people out.

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

I have a ps-1 with a custom cable made by aural thrills using solid core beryllium copper alloy and an rs-1 with black dragon re-cable. I was more impressed with the change in sound of the ps-1's then the rs-1's for what its worth. I had to get someone to attach my ps-1 cable though.

Biggie.

 

[Voltron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotoriousBIG_PJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a ps-1 with a custom cable made by aural thrills using solid core beryllium copper alloy and an rs-1 with black dragon re-cable. I was more impressed with the change in sound of the ps-1's then the rs-1's for what its worth. I had to get someone to attach my ps-1 cable though. Biggie.

Thanks Biggie. Any details on improvements to the PS-1s? Was it balanced or s/e?

V

 

[Voltron]

Back to the top in the futile effort to get input on this topic.

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voltron /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks Biggie. Any details on improvements to the PS-1s? Was it balanced or s/e? V

The cable was s/e, but I later had it converted to 4-pin xlr. I'll just paraphrase my impressions from what I posted about 3 years ago:

My new cable is around the same bass heaviness as the old cable, but it has more fullness to it, and yet its tighter, clearer and faster. Before I couldn't hear the extended low-end people talked about, I just heard the lower octaves being played back louder then the rs-1 does. Now that the extra bloat in the bass has been cleared away, I can hear that they do indeed go lower then the rs-1's.

Whats really impressed me about the cable is the increased smoothness. Before the sound was liquid, but it was missing that last bit of liquidness that the omega II's are known for.

The other thing I'm noting is the soundstage. Recordings in my system had nice depth in my system before, but the placement on the singer was always the same, a little bit less forward then the rs-1's. Now depending on the track, the singer may be up in my face or far off in the distance, and everything is very focused.

The other things I'm noticing is that everything is oh so clear and free of distortions. Also the prat is even better then before. The tone is similar to the old cable.

Biggie.

 

[wakeride74]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotoriousBIG_PJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif The cable was s/e, but I later had it converted to 4-pin xlr. I'll just paraphrase my impressions from what I posted about 3 years ago: My new cable is around the same bass heaviness as the old cable, but it has more fullness to it, and yet its tighter, clearer and faster. Before I couldn't hear the extended low-end people talked about, I just heard the lower octaves being played back louder then the rs-1 does. Now that the extra bloat in the bass has been cleared away, I can hear that they do indeed go lower then the rs-1's. Whats really impressed me about the cable is the increased smoothness. Before the sound was liquid, but it was missing that last bit of liquidness that the omega II's are known for. The other thing I'm noting is the soundstage. Recordings in my system had nice depth in my system before, but the placement on the singer was always the same, a little bit less forward then the rs-1's. Now depending on the track, the singer may be up in my face or far off in the distance, and everything is very focused. The other things I'm noticing is that everything is oh so clear and free of distortions. Also the prat is even better then before. The tone is similar to the old cable. Biggie.

That sounds pretty good!

Al - I had the same problem with my first pair of PS-1 and found no info on it. Plenty of people that will do it but no info on the end result. After hearing the recabled D5000's Apuresound did at the last meet I'd probably ask him but that's my taste.

 

[penger]

Well I guess if no one has any input, you could email the aftermarket cable guys (Moon-Audio, SAA, APS, etc) and ask them what kind of sound signature their cables impart on a pair of PS-1's. Obviously they will try and convince you their cable is the best, but I guess it'll give you some information opposed to what you know now.