sr325 unamped?

[Braddlac]

my friend is thinking about getting some sr325's (from veritas) but he most likely wont be getting an amp. is it worth it? he is obsessed with tool and rock in general. will he still be a happy camper?

 

[Kirosia]

Yes.

 

[Bosch]

While I wait for my headphone amps to arrive, I am currently running my Grado SR-325s from amplifier / pre-amp headphone jacks, and the results are quite acceptable. The lows, mids and highs all have good definition and presence. Then again, the pre-amp is a THX "ultra certified" component (whatever that means) and the amp in my bedroom is a British-made stereo amp, so I doubt the headphone gear on either beast is too shoddy. What is your friend using?

As others have said in other threads, a headphone amp will certainly improve the sound quality coming out of your friend's Grados. It depends on whether he also wants to hear fine nuances or is just happy to rock out. An amp that is well matched to the Grado SR-325s will pump the sound up more and exploit this heaphone's particular virtues - speed, clarity, bass - while also bringing any shrill treble under control.

 

[aaroncort]

I use my SR-325s both amped and unamped. Unamped I use them thru a Creative nomad jukebox 3 and several vintage sony PCDPs with highly acceptable results. The bass is kind of week and the highs although stong arn't quite defined without an amp but I never noticed anything untill I started using an amp.

 

[kiz]

ok that's cool. yea this is for a friend of mine who wants to get a pair of headphones ever since he heard Tool through my A900's. I redirected him to the sr-325 for rock. He'll probably be using his computer with an av-710 soundcard. lol that must be confusing. i was posting from my friends computer who is also a head-fi member last night. just to eliminate some confusion.

 

[kiz]

would they be okay with the av-710 or should i go with something that can drive em a bit better from not just being a line out like audigy 2...i actually am considering getting a pimeta so maybe i could just sell him my old cmoy and he can use taht with the av710

 

[yblocgerg]

Tool+325's=holy sweetness.
That is all.

 

[kiz]

good to hear! I'm a fan of tool but this kid...he is addicted. listens to lateralus atleast twice a day. he'll be happy.