Grado

[donunus]

I actually love the grado midrange but one thing that really bothers me is the highs. It's not that they are bright, they sound fake, plasticky, and dry/grainy to me. The model I am talking about is the ms1 with the quarter hole mod. I did the mod in the first place because they were dull and lacking in detail with the comfies covering the drivers. The sr60s were more exciting to me and didn't need a mod to sound good. Now the problem with doing this mod was that it made me hear how grainy these highs were and they still lacked the extension I wanted. Ok, Im gonna get on with it and ask the question? Is this grain present in all models of grado/allessandro or is there a model that maintains the sr60 excitement that have significantly less grain and more extension in the highs?
Is the 225 a good start or would even a gs1000 be wrong for me with the criteria I'm looking for. Hmm, highs should be at least as clean as the koss electrostats I once owned(ESP950)

 

[kramer5150]

Grados... even the MS1 wil reveal source and recording flaws. Straight into my flash player many tunes sound as you describe. But thats why I prefer a good PCDP for more critical listening.

With a good source and adequate amplification the MS1 is SMOOOTH.

Garrett

 

[granodemostasa]

i had the same problem with grados... the HF1 has wonderful highs, and is certainly not cold sounding or thin.

 

[donunus]

no more hf 1 though. so rs2?

 

[Pete7]

The highs being grainy sounds like a characteristic of Grados used with a Pa2v2 amp, which is listed in your profile. After having HD650's for 2 months, just for kicks, to hear what they'd sound like with an HR-2, I broke out my old MS-1's and I was shocked. Decent detail and no grain in the highs, surprisingly smooth and more enjoyable than the 650's to my ears. In the week and a half since, I bought the 325i's and sold the 650's. Reconverted to Grado, just like that, and satisfied.

 

[donunus]

so its my dillin amp then sheeea#%#% hehehe. more money to go then

 

[Ruppin]

Dononus,

There are far more experienced Grado owners than I am, and many have more experience with amps as well. I, however, do own three pairs of Grados (325i, HF-1, GS-1000), and other phones as well, so maybe my less sophisticated impressions might help. I would also remember that not too many of the GS-1000s out there are burned in yet, so wait a while before relying on the reviews.

I had used Senn650s (both balanced and unbalanced) , and AKG701s. I wanted to see what the Grado "sound" was, so I bought a pair of 325is. I have since learned that they have the most shrill treble of all the Grados. I didn't just notice "graininess" in the highs (on four different amps, Headroom balanced and micro, RSA Raptor, and BenchmarkDAC), I found the highs uncofortable at any reasonable listening level(distortion, shrillness?). The bass was there. Burn in hasn't helped yet.

I admit, I bought the HF-1s probably more for the comraderie than the expectation of quality. I certainly like them better than the 325i. They are less grainy, and the highs are smoother. But, there is less bottom, and what I would describe as less presence.

So far, I like the GS-1000s. I have been happy listening to classical (very detailed) but I'm not ready to commit yet. For rock, which I believe requires less accuracy and more oomph, they are great. I really haven't noticed any graininess yet, although sometimes I wish I didn't hear every little flaw.

Based on that experience, and what I think you said about liking the sr60s, I wonder if (especially if money is at all a concern) you wouldn't be happier keeping the sr60s for what you enjoy, and getting another brand for when you want smooth. Depending on your taste (which you can research in detail here) you might like a pair of Senns, AKG or Beyer. Not to knock the other companies (I just don't know them as well as I know Senn), Senn 555s are reasonably priced phones that are driven very easily.

Hope that was some help.

 

[F107plus5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 Grados... even the MS1 wil reveal source and recording flaws. Straight into my flash player many tunes sound as you describe. But thats why I prefer a good PCDP for more critical listening. With a good source and adequate amplification the MS1 is SMOOOTH. Garrett

Agreed! The source is vitally important! I have four different sources I use throughout the day and only one of them will give my MS-1s that Smooooothness and added accuracy!!

Unfortunately all my sources are used with a headphone out jacks; since I'm not currently running an amp.

I may just have to give in and do a bit more studying before I make my next purchase. I had hoped that I could get by without an amp, but my ears are putting up an argument about such logic.

What's anoying about the whole thing, is that while I have very good speakers in a very bad room and my cans are pointing out instruments that my speakers don't even "see", I sometimes have questions about the finest details of that previously unheard sound that even my MS-1s are having a problem delineating.

Gotta move up.

Gotta get even better cans.(I was already planning for that

)

Gotta go with the line out outputs, and that requires a good amp.(Didn't really wanna.

)

 

[donunus]

what is the penultimate amp with the best synergy with grados. price no object and under 200

 

[F107plus5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus what is the penultimate amp with the best synergy with grados. price no object and under 200

Yeah!! Now THAT'S the question!!

 

[Pete7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruppin Dononus, There are far more experienced Grado owners than I am, and many have more experience with amps as well. I, however, do own three pairs of Grados (325i, HF-1, GS-1000), and other phones as well, so maybe my less sophisticated impressions might help. I would also remember that not too many of the GS-1000s out there are burned in yet, so wait a while before relying on the reviews. I had used Senn650s (both balanced and unbalanced) , and AKG701s. I wanted to see what the Grado "sound" was, so I bought a pair of 325is. I have since learned that they have the most shrill treble of all the Grados. I didn't just notice "graininess" in the highs (on four different amps, Headroom balanced and micro, RSA Raptor, and BenchmarkDAC), I found the highs uncofortable at any reasonable listening level(distortion, shrillness?). The bass was there. Burn in hasn't helped yet. I admit, I bought the HF-1s probably more for the comraderie than the expectation of quality. I certainly like them better than the 325i. They are less grainy, and the highs are smoother. But, there is less bottom, and what I would describe as less presence. So far, I like the GS-1000s. I have been happy listening to classical (very detailed) but I'm not ready to commit yet. For rock, which I believe requires less accuracy and more oomph, they are great. I really haven't noticed any graininess yet, although sometimes I wish I didn't hear every little flaw. Based on that experience, and what I think you said about liking the sr60s, I wonder if (especially if money is at all a concern) you wouldn't be happier keeping the sr60s for what you enjoy, and getting another brand for when you want smooth. Depending on your taste (which you can research in detail here) you might like a pair of Senns, AKG or Beyer. Not to knock the other companies (I just don't know them as well as I know Senn), Senn 555s are reasonably priced phones that are driven very easily. Hope that was some help.

325i highs shrill and grainy? Maybe with your set-up, not with mine. I do find the highs to be more prominent than with the HF-1's and not at all recessed, but "shrill" would suggest sibilance, and it's just not present. Not to mention more detail and clarity as well.

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus what is the penultimate amp with the best synergy with grados. price no object and under 200

If price is no object, then why would it be under $200?

I'd check around the FS/FT forum and eBay for an RA-1 amp. That's the synergy right there. You should be able to get it for less than $250.

 

[iancraig10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7 , but "shrill" would suggest sibilance, and it's just not present. Not to mention more detail and clarity as well.

I also don't find them 'shrill'. Extremely open sounding with a ringing, clean top.

You can always try using 414 pads if there's too much treble. Makes them positively warm sounding.

Ian

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus what is the penultimate amp with the best synergy with grados. price no object and under 200

Millet Hybrid. The warm color of tubes, combined with the instant-on current of the solid state buffers synnergizes very well with all my grados. I prefer 12FK6 tubes to the standard 12AE6. IMHO the K6 tubes are lower gain and less "shouty" sounding.

I also like my earmax, but would not recommend it for everyone.

FYI... I think John's reference amp when he's tuning and tweeking these things is a Melos tube amp (I believe) and an RA1. Both are WARM sounding circuits.

 

[grawk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus what is the penultimate amp with the best synergy with grados. price no object and under 200

Why do you want the 2nd best amp under $200?

Hrm, if the best amp under $200 is the supermicro, maybe the govibe is 2nd best?