[duffer5]

Hifi Rose 150b

Fiio M17 DAP

Hiby 2020 R6 DAP

Ultimate Mest MK2 IEM

Shure se846 IEM

Output “Frontier” audio monitors

OPPO Ha-1 and PM-1 (Planar HP)

CocoPar portable 17 in monitor

SoundRise Pro 9 speaker stands

 

[newworld666]

I am still trying different types of DAP & Portable Amps with my newly arrived Grado GS3000e ..
With a modded WM1A by Nayparm helped with a Centrance Ampersand or with the powerful FIIO M17...
Clearly faster and deeper low frequencies when power is there, though Grado's reputation should be an easy to drive Headphone... but I think it's not so easy.

 

[mulveling]

I see Sony MDR-SA5000, I upvote. My pair says "Hi"

I liked them the previous times I'd heard them, but I'm even more impressed now. Very close to the detail and speed I remember from Qualia 010, but with a much more "normal" midrange and a very reasonable headband/fit mechanism. Rivals great electrostats in these attributes, but with better "jump" factor and slam. On paper or on first listen, you'd think a headphone with a tipped-up response like this must be fatiguing, but the treble is so smooth and clean (completely free of all ringing, glare, and distortion) that they're magically fatigue-free. This pair has a Black Dragon re-cable and the Beautiful audio leather pads. They're wonderful headphones that got a lot of play time this week!

 

[Chastity]

I liked them the previous times I'd heard them, but I'm even more impressed now. Very close to the detail and speed I remember from Qualia 010, but with a much more "normal" midrange and a very reasonable headband/fit mechanism. Rivals great electrostats in these attributes, but with better "jump" factor and slam. On paper or on first listen, you'd think a headphone with a tipped-up response like this must be fatiguing, but the treble is so smooth and clean (completely free of all ringing, glare, and distortion) that they're magically fatigue-free. This pair has a Black Dragon re-cable and the Beautiful audio leather pads. They're wonderful headphones that got a lot of play time this week!

Mine are still very stock. My big disappointment is from the pads, as the rear lip is pleather, and prone to flaking. The cups themselves are actual leather, and have endured nicely. I agree about having great upper presence and no fatigue at all. In fact, when I compare cans, it's the Sony's I use as a baseline. The low end is recessed, but that was intentional according to an interview with one of the engineers. They were trying to replicate what a bass sounds like in a club and you're sitting about 4-5 tables back, which is a rather spot on description.

My current can is the Monolith M1570, which comes very close to the SA5000's strengths, but has better low end extension and presence, and isn't as wide as the Sonys. If you wish, listen to Billy Joel's "The Downeaster Alexa". You'll pick up in that song that the bassist and drummer are creating the sense of the rocking of a boat, and the SA5000 have the width to demonstrate this.

 

[VancityDreaming]

I am still trying different types of DAP & Portable Amps with my newly arrived Grado GS3000e ..
With a modded WM1A by Nayparm helped with a Centrance Ampersand or with the powerful FIIO M17...
Clearly faster and deeper low frequencies when power is there, though Grado's reputation should be an easy to drive Headphone... but I think it's not so easy.

Do you notice any degradation with connecting an amp to the wm1a? What gain and volume do you set your wm1a to when plugging it into an external amp? Thanks!

 

[jjshin23]

I see you've also got a nice kicks collection

Can’t have too many hobbies

 

[jonathan c]

there ought to be a thread on that

Foot-Fi.org

 

[jonathan c]

Giving the HD6XX (with all foam removed, Chicopee Chix #8311 inserted as driver screen) a whirl…

 

[thecrow]

Foot-Fi.org

Tread-fi

 

[Zachik]

Giving the HD6XX (with all foam removed, Chicopee Chix #8311 inserted as earscreen) a whirl…

Was the removed foam used for your Grados, as earpads?

 

[jonathan c]

Was the removed foam used for your Grados, as earpads?

Only for the IEMs

 

[newworld666]

Do you notice any degradation with connecting an amp to the wm1a? What gain and volume do you set your wm1a to when plugging it into an external amp? Thanks!

Without any true line out with Sony WM1A, I connect all my portable external amps to the WM1A in balance mode with the power set to max in low gain mode on the DAP..
I can say, that at the same volume pressure between the external amp and the WM1A => I, definitely, can't catch any sound quality difference with the Grado GS3000E, the Sony Z7MK2 or an IEM like Vision Ears EXT. But, I can get a more realistic volume level with most of my external amps (Centrance Ampersand or Less BX2+).
I would say, it's really worth to give a try. I like the WM1A DSP features, It's really an improvement for lower quality files... Actually, with the Grado, I imagine the Single Ended connection can be a real SQ limit for the stage size (In balanced mode, the closed DCA Stealth offers a large stage than the open GS3000e).

 

[sprellemannen]

Amazing Benchmark-gear, and it looks stunning as well.

 

[phthora]

Amazing Benchmark-gear, and it looks stunning as well.

Thanks! It's become my endgame* set-up, exactly what I wanted out of my gear. Unfortunately, Zeus there doesn't seem to like the LCD-5.

 

[Lord Rexter]