[rwitt]

Hi Everyone,

I have Grado 80i's that are close to being burned in they have maybe 60-70 hrs. I really love their sound and would really like to hear them with a good amp. My budget is tops $500 preferably less. Right now I am using vintage gear headphone outputs which sound good but I'd like something good from today.

I have read about a lot of amps here but have not seen a definite "go to" amp for these phones.
Can someone help?

Thanks!
R

 

[rwitt]

Up...
Only looking for an expert on this!
R

 

[Trunks159]

Don't buy a $500 amp for a $100 headphone.    Just upgrade to something else.  A $500 amp won't even improve the SR80i's sound all that much.  Just buy another headphone, or focus on modding that SR80i of yours.  Buying the L-Cush pads makes a great different. 

 

[rwitt]

Yes they are reasonable in price. Still, I do need an amp...

Only expensive phones need an amp? I can try the cushions sure but a good amp is in order. 80's are decent phones.

 

[Trunks159]

Only headphones that have a high impedance (above 70 ohms in my book), or and with a low sensitivity rating (below 100 db maybe) really need an amp.  Amps will pretty much always improve the sound but with something like the SR80i (32 ohms), the improvement is minimal.
 
I'd definitely get the L Pads ASAP.

 

[flowza]

I remember someone saying that the Aune T1's work well with the Grados.

 

[Trunks159]

People say tube amps in general work well with grados.

 

[rwitt]

Is there an amp someone is using with the 80's that has proven remarkable?

 

[rwitt]

Bump...

Sorry, does anyone have any experience using an amp with these phones?

If I asked this on another forum they would send me here...

Thanks again.

 

[whirlwind]

The Little Dot 1+ is about $100 if you pick one up used.....also a schiit vali is fairly cheap and should work well also.

 

[rwitt]

The Little Dot 1+ is about $100 if you pick one up used.....also a schiit vali is fairly cheap and should work well also.

Whirlwind,
I've seen the praise for both of these on the forum. I've read a lot on the Vali but not sure on that one yet. I've got to find a decent link on the Dot 1+....

I know it's just an 80i, but I do love it and it deserves something!
Thanks for your reply - I will check the Dot 1+.
Ron

 

[billybob_jcv]

What everyone else in this thread is trying to tell you is that you will get a much bigger increase in sound quality from buying new $400 headphones and a $100 amp than you will get by buying a $500 amp for your Grado 80i. No one is saying your Grado are bad - but we are questioning your priorities. My advice is to buy a $100 amp for your Grados. When you get it, you will probably hear a small difference (make sure you carefully match the volume between amped and unamped before you decide). Then go out and buy $400 headphones, connect them to you amp, and compare them to your amped Grados. I suspect you will not hear a small difference, you will hear a big difference.

 

[Claritas]

I often amp SR80i with Objective O2, and it's even better that way: fuller-bodied treble, more open sounding, and very slightly better soundstage. I wouldn't have bought O2 for 80i only; I already had it for K702.

 

[rwitt]

I often amp SR80i with Objective O2, and it's even better that way: fuller-bodied treble, more open sounding, and very slightly better soundstage. I wouldn't have bought O2 for 80i only; I already had it for K702.

That is a great little amp. I have to think the SS technology inside is very clean and dynamic. I was thinking a good amp like this one or the others mentioned could only improve the sound in general and I was right. It just so happens you bought them for some higher end phones.
 
Thanks for the help...
 
Ron