Which amp? Grado SR225

[Aman]

Hey all!

Looking for an amp for my Grado headphones and don't want to spend any more than three hundred dollars.

I was wondering if I should go tube or solid state, and which one of those choices would be best for me.

What I think is lacking most on these headphones is the lower midrange and bass ranges - the bass is very IMPACTFUL, but it sounds like it's a bit limited, it "rolls off" too quickly. I hear that a tube amp would be best to improve upon this area of sound. I also would like to hear more lush midrange since I listen to a lot of classic rock, loud and soft.

I was going to go for the MG Head OTL, but then I scratched that. I was also thinking about the Perreaux SXH-1 rev .5 - I am able to get that for under 200 dollars from somebody used. Some other choices in this range would be the Gilmore Lite, I guess - I hear that they were designed with the Grados in mind, but I also hear that they make the highs really shrill.

Other things I have heard is that the Ear+ and the PPX3 both do really well with Grados, but they are out of my price range. Is there any amp that drives the Grados equally as well and has the same type of sound?

Another thing that I am really looking for is build quality. I live in a dorm, so I want it to be able to survive the common college drama

This is where the Perreaux was of a concern for me, as the build quality isn't fabulous - however I am told the sound is excellent with grados.

I appreciate anybody who bared with me and read this entire post. I have been holding back on an amp for far too long - All help is greatly appreciated!

Andrew

 

[sacd lover]

Look no further than the gilmore lite. The amp is small,well constructed, exactly your budget at $299, upgradeable in the future with a heavy duty power supply option, and most importantly the amp sounds great. This amp was made to pair up with grado headphones but I find it sounds excellent with senn hd650's. I have a very similar gilmore v1 and the v1 mated well with the beyer dt880 and I suspect the lite would too. The v1 I currently own and the lite I auditioned with the stock power supply have worked very well with any headphones I have tried with them. The gilmore amps have never made the highs shrill in my setup and I am particularly bothered by peaky, grainy or unrefined treble.


www.headamp.com

 

[dd3mon]

Gilmore Lite. Grado's sound better through this than anything else I've tried (admittedly limited) - but I'd be very impressed if anything at the price point could beat it for Grado's. Detailed, impactful, full and without overbearing treble.

I've had my SR-225's for just about a week now along with the new Gilmore Lite, and I'm definitely enjoying the sound. It is a much different presentation than my MG Head/HD600 combo gives me - not necessarily better or worse, just different. I was planning on selling the setup that didn't measure up to the other, but now I'm thinking about keeping both setups, as they have different strengths and weaknesses.

-dd3mon

 

[Aman]

I forgot to mention that I can pay three hundred if I'm lucky.

If not, what alternatives are there (for say, 200 or lower)? Is the Perraux then a good idea?

Thanks!
Andrew

 

[Sean H]

I've been listening to the SR225's with the new Gilmore Lite for a number of months now and find it is an excellent pairing. I did a joint review of the new Gilmore Lite with sacd lover, who idiotically didn't mention the review and provide a link (kidding Earl

), a few months back that you can find here that might help. The Gilmore Lite, the new one at least, does not seem to impart any bright character IMO and echo dd3mon's impressions of the amp. It has a nice balanced treble range that while revealing is very clean but smooth. I use a M-Audio Sonica and listen to a LOT of mp3 audio and have no complaints of brightness myself.

The Perreuax does pair well with Grado's from my experience. Build quality is quite good actually, IMO. Granted I used it with SR-60's when I owned it but it did do a nice job with them. The Perreaux is more colored than the clean and very neutral Gilmore, it has a warmer if not slightly slower but very musical and full sound.

The thing with Grado's is they come to life in a magical way with high current amplifiers and it's why the Gilmore Lite (high current) pairs so well with Grado's.

 

[GoRedwings19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean H I've been listening to the SR225's with the new Gilmore Lite for a number of months now and find it is an excellent pairing. I did a joint review of the new Gilmore Lite with sacd lover, who idiotically didn't mention the review and provide a link (kidding Earl ), a few months back that you can find here that might help. The Gilmore Lite, the new one at least, does not seem to impart any bright character IMO and echo dd3mon's impressions of the amp. It has a nice balanced treble range that while revealing is very clean but smooth. I use a M-Audio Sonica and listen to a LOT of mp3 audio and have no complaints of brightness myself. The Perreuax does pair well with Grado's from my experience. Build quality is quite good actually, IMO. Granted I used it with SR-60's when I owned it but it did do a nice job with them. The Perreaux is more colored than the clean and very neutral Gilmore, it has a warmer if not slightly slower but very musical and full sound. The thing with Grado's is they come to life in a magical way with high current amplifiers and it's why the Gilmore Lite (high current) pairs so well with Grado's.

I would like to recommend Earmax pro with the sr-225's. I used this combo extensively and enjoyed it immensly

 

[dd3mon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 I would like to recommend Earmax pro with the sr-225's. I used this combo extensively and enjoyed it immensly

If you can find an EMP for less than $300 I'll buy it

-dd3mon

 

[MagusG]

Gilmore lite, and dont look anywhere else. If you can't afford a new one, at least try and get a used one. The synergy between gilmore+grado is just too good to ignore.
-Mag

 

[jpr703]

I've been listening to 225's with a Shellbrook Audio Pimeta that Drewd built. It was a little less expensive than the Gilmore Lite and the sound is very good.

 

[froggi]

how does the Gilmore Lite work with the alessandro series?

 

[Enverxis]

Ive heard the Creek OBH-11SE are good for grados, but thats just what ive heard.

 

[Aman]

So if I like more colored, rich, and full sound I should go for the Perreaux? Will I lose any impactfulness of the Grados in the process?

Thanks guys!
Andrew