Strange PPA experience with 225's...

[Blorton]

I need a sanity check here.

Last night, I borrowed a balls-out PPA from an awesome fellow HeadFi'er and gave it a listen for several hours. This particular PPA has all the upgrades and sounds great at nominal volumes.

What was interesting is that at moderately higher output levels, and while playing a non-busy track, the amp ran out of juice at a volume level much lower than I've gotten out of my denon receiver's headphone jack!

At that point, I thought "This is nuts!" and plugged in my old high-impedance 240's. They sounded better through the PPA than I've heard them sound in ages! (They are unlistenable through the Denon and I have actually had them stored in a closet for that reason.)

So I'm thinking the PPA just doesn't have the current-delivering ability that Grado's need. Does that sound right, or am I on crack?

I'll be able to try out a lot of other amps at next week's meet, so hopefully this is not just my imagination.

The experience has me strongly considering going with the SA5K for the next can upgrade as opposed to the RS-1.

I've got dynalo and dynahi projects starting soon, so hopefully one of those will enable me to keep on loving that wonderful Grado sound.

Any comments would be most appreciated.
Dan

 

[grandenigma1]

I would say something is up... how the heck loud were you trying to go

a maxed PPA should have no trouble driving anything you throw at it far beyond listening levels.

 

[chillysalsa]

Something must not be set up right, it shouldn't clip with Grados even with only 1 intersil buffer at ear-splitting levels.

 

[dmb367]

What exactly happened, aka "not enough juice"? Did the music start clipping or just not get loud enough?

 

[Blorton]

The first sign is reduced dynamics, clipping and distortion follows soon after.

Sure seems to me this is one of those impedance issues...

Oh yeah - the volume level I like is a bit shy of being in the front row at a live rock concert.

Dan

 

[Lil_JV]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blorton Oh yeah - the volume level I like is a bit shy of being in the front row at a live rock concert. Dan

There's your problem! It's not the amp, it's just just your ears that suck. Stop listening so loud and it will sound fine.

JV.

 

[mulveling]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil_JV There's your problem! It's not the amp, it's just just your ears that suck. Stop listening so loud and it will sound fine. JV.

People listen at different sound levels for various reasons. Telling him to lower the volume won't help solve the problem in this case. I have some idea of the levels Blorton listens at - while it is quite loud, I do find it odd that he's having this trouble.

Edit: And AFAIK his ears are quite resolving, in fact.
Blorton, I guarantee that if your new Gilmore amp displays the same issue, then it's the cans, not the amp

 

[Blorton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulveling Blorton, I guarantee that if your new Gilmore amp displays the same issue, then it's the cans, not the amp

Lol. Yep, I'll get to the bottom of it sooner or later. Can I borrow your RS-2's?

If only someone had a pair of SA5K's I could borrow...

Dan

 

[braillediver]

Is this battery powered? If so how fresh are the batteries.

It almost sounds like the batteries might be about done?


Mitch

 

[Thaddy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blorton Oh yeah - the volume level I like is a bit shy of being in the front row at a live rock concert.

Oh man, this is Asterix all over!

 

[Blorton]

This PPA has the external STEPS power supply. No batteries here.

(looks at Thaddy sideways)

Dan

 

[Thaddy]

He had tinnitus problems, we'll just leave it at that.

edit: I just noticed your signature too...

 

[Blorton]

More information than probably anyone cares to know....

Go louder!

Cheers!
Dan

 

[purk]

Dan,
Maybe you need an amp with more power? There are not many SS amps that will sound better than the Maxed Out PPA, maybe you should try the Dynahi or Headroom Max.

 

[Jazper]

VERY curious about the setup of this PPA.. it should easily be able to drive 225s..