Grado RA1 accident.

[kwilkins]

I ordered a RA1 for my GS1000s but accidentally ordered the RA1/ac with the ac cord. I meant to get the battery-powered unit. I’m planning on making an exchange but have two quick questions.

Is there any change in the audio quality between the power cord and the battery powered unit? Is anything lost using batteries?

I’m just building my system and currently have my iPod Classic 160GB going straight to the RA1. I was a bit surprised that I needed to have the volume all the way up on the RA1 and about 65% on the iPod to achive the same volume as I had been using on the ipod straight to the gs1000s, which was between 65% and 70%. Is this normal?

Thanks for any info and advice you can offer a newbie.

Ken

 

[kramer5150]

IIRC the loose (IE = unregulated) standard for home audio line outs is 2Volts. Many portable DAPs are have a difficult time reaching that output level. When amping my headphone outputs I turn the player volume up pretty high, in an effort to reach that 2 volt home audio standard, that way I dont have to turn the amp volume knob up so high.

I dont think its a set rule though.

 

[Clutz]

I'm sure some people here will think I'm trying to cause trouble, but I'm not. If I were you, I would return the RA1 and send the money on a better amp. The RA1 is little basically a super overpriced Cmoy amp whcih can be bought for about $50 including a battery. You could get a much better amplifier called the Mini^3 for about $120.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwilkins /img/forum/go_quote.gif I ordered a RA1 for my GS1000s but accidentally ordered the RA1/ac with the ac cord. I meant to get the battery-powered unit. I’m planning on making an exchange but have two quick questions. Is there any change in the audio quality between the power cord and the battery powered unit? Is anything lost using batteries? I’m just building my system and currently have my iPod Classic 160GB going straight to the RA1. I was a bit surprised that I needed to have the volume all the way up on the RA1 and about 65% on the iPod to achive the same volume as I had been using on the ipod straight to the gs1000s, which was between 65% and 70%. Is this normal? Thanks for any info and advice you can offer a newbie. Ken

 

[vvs_75]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clutz /img/forum/go_quote.gif You could get a much better amplifier called the Mini^3 for about $120.

X2

 

[kwilkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 /img/forum/go_quote.gif IIRC the loose (IE = unregulated) standard for home audio line outs is 2Volts. Many portable DAPs are have a difficult time reaching that output level. When amping my headphone outputs I turn the player volume up pretty high, in an effort to reach that 2 volt home audio standard, that way I dont have to turn the amp volume knob up so high. I dont think its a set rule though.

Thanks for the reply. I raised the volume on the ipod all the way and now have the amp volume about half way. I think it sounds better as well.

 

[kwilkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clutz /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm sure some people here will think I'm trying to cause trouble, but I'm not. If I were you, I would return the RA1 and send the money on a better amp. The RA1 is little basically a super overpriced Cmoy amp whcih can be bought for about $50 including a battery. You could get a much better amplifier called the Mini^3 for about $120.

Thanks for the advice. I did read a few reviews of the RA1, which were mostly positive, and it sounds quite good to me. However, I'm new to all of this and am still learning. I'll check out the Mini^3 and some other portables. I'm going to a meet in Philadelphia this Saturday and hopefully will have a chance to listen to some other amps and compare to the RA1.

Ken

 

[darkswordsman17]

Is there a reason you're going out of the iPod's headphone jack and not through a line out dock? At least, I thought that the volume setting of the iPod had no influence on its line-out.

 

[kwilkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkswordsman17 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is there a reason you're going out of the iPod's headphone jack and not through a line out dock? At least, I thought that the volume setting of the iPod had no influence on its line-out.

I just haven't gotten a line out cable yet. Do you have one you would recommend?

Ken

 

[silverrain]

1) I've seen amps that have LESS power to drive cans, when using battery vs. wall, power.
2) If you go from amplified-headphone-out, to line-out, you again may have LESS power to drive your cans.
It sounds like maybe that amp was not really meant for those cans, or maybe your source just isn't putting out enough power itself.
Some combos are rather marginal power-wise.

 

[roastpuff]

x3 on the get another amp. RA-1 is definitely not meant to be portable, and only really shine with certain Grado headphones. Mini^3 is a good idea, so's a Go-Vibe V6/7, a Xin amp of some sort or a Ray Samuels Tomahawk or Hornet. Much more versatile than the RA-1, and they'll likely work better as a portable set-up due to their size and battery life.

Also, get a Line-out Dock. Take some off your amp budget and get a Line-out Dock. Please.

It really improves on the iPod headphone-out sound.

 

[rb67]

Definitely get a line-out dock. I also would consider a different amp if you're still not happy after using a line-out.

 

[jirams]

Grado RA1 accident

Some might argue that the biggest accident is ordering this device?

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwilkins /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the advice. I did read a few reviews of the RA1, which were mostly positive, and it sounds quite good to me. However, I'm new to all of this and am still learning. I'll check out the Mini^3 and some other portables. I'm going to a meet in Philadelphia this Saturday and hopefully will have a chance to listen to some other amps and compare to the RA1. Ken

Thats your best bet... get out and listen to different circuits and form your own opinions.

I am not a huge proponent of the RA1, and have posted some strong opinions about it in the past. HOWEVER those are just my opinions. Furthermore (IMHO) an ipod headphone out is not a revealing enough source to really capitalize on the finite differences between many amp circuits. So, for this case, the warm-groovy sounding RA1 may be a favorable circuit with the OP's setup, and directing him to other more revealing amps could be less favorable.

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jirams /img/forum/go_quote.gif Grado RA1 accident Some might argue that the biggest accident is ordering this device?

I think its a better GS1000 amp than RS1 amp.... strange.