Looking to upgrade from Icon IDO DAC/amp for Ipod

[sonicx2218]

Hi guys. I currently use the Nuforce ICON-IDO with my Grado RS1e with an all FLAC library on my ipod. I'm at the point where I can't tell if certain albums are just mixed "eh" or if a slight upgrade to the IDO would create a noticeable difference. The problem I have is that when a song gets "complex", it immediately feels like the soundstage completely collapses and becomes crowded. The setup works really well for my lighter, progressive-fare, but this is a noticeable issue when I am listening to a lot of metal bands. Do you have a recommendation for an Ipod DAC/Amp that would be an upgrade from the IDO within the 1-$300 range, or do you think the problem is simply just some bad mixing at certain parts? Thanks, and sorry for my noviceness!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Originally Posted by sonicx2218 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 

Looking to upgrade from Icon IDO DAC/amp for Ipod

Hi guys. I currently use the Nuforce ICON-IDO with my Grado RS1e with an all FLAC library on my ipod. I'm at the point where I can't tell if certain albums are just mixed "eh" or if a slight upgrade to the IDO would create a noticeable difference. The problem I have is that when a song gets "complex", it immediately feels like the soundstage completely collapses and becomes crowded. The setup works really well for my lighter, progressive-fare, but this is a noticeable issue when I am listening to a lot of metal bands. Do you have a recommendation for an Ipod DAC/Amp that would be an upgrade from the IDO within the 1-$300 range, or do you think the problem is simply just some bad mixing at certain parts? Thanks, and sorry for my noviceness!

 

The RS1 is a bigger problem than the iDo. First off, it doesn't need a lot of power, so the iDo's output is more than enough. 

 

Second, as much as the initial problem really is that there isn't enough soundstage depth programmed into such complex recordings, Grados aren't really known for their imaging due to the ergonomics on top of the jagged midrange response. For starters, they have a tendency for strong L-C-R with weak L-C and C-R, and you have cymbals exploding right by your ears. It sounds fine in terms of how AC/DC sounds more exciting than it normally is, but play Nightwish, Epica, or Rhapsody on it, and it's like if you were at the receiving end of successive blows. You know how in anime the show a first person view of the main character dodging fast punches? Or if you play fighting games, think of E.Honda's hand slaps or Charlotte's (Samurai Showdown) sword thrusts. Grados basically just throw everything at you, everything is coming at yo, and Epica singing about the WTC feels like being in the path of the debris. Or Rhapsody singing about what happened to the Princess seemingly more like you were her.

 

What I use for that kind of music, and practically everything else anyway, is the HD600, with the headband frame bent to reduce the clamp and HM5 angled earpads, but the HD650, K701, K702, HE400i with the Focus Pads, HD800, LCD-2, etc will work (if not better). Basically anything with a relatively smoother response curve and has good imaging.

 

 

 

 

[sonicx2218]

Thank you very much. I will try out the 

HD600 with the HM5 earpads! Only costs about as much as the grado 225s, so if they really are better for that than the 600 dollar ones I'm using now, I'll be sure to rave about them to everyone I know. 

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  Thank you very much. I will try out the 

HD600 with the HM5 earpads! Only costs about as much as the grado 225s, so if they really are better for that than the 600 dollar ones I'm using now, I'll be sure to rave about them to everyone I know. 

 

Just note that to mount the HM5 pads you need to gut the Sennheiser earpads. If you're buying the HD600 used and the pads are worn enough then sure, go ahead and cut out the foam and velour. Otherwise, wear out the Sennheiser pads first.

 

Either way, when mounting the HM5 pads, you need to cut out the velour cover completely and the foam will go with it (the foam isn't glued to the plastic). Next you mount the HM5 pads on the plastic spine, then trim its mounting fabric so it doesn't get in the way of the protrusion that allows the plastic spine to mount onto the Sennheiser earcups.