This system is built around headphones. There are plenty of people who frown upon this but in my circumstances (young child, I'm a student, limited space and moreover limited availability to listen given my wife and son's early sleep time and my late nights). Therefore, I have scoured the world for the best headphones and have consistently stopped in my tracks after listening to a Grado. I have had the opportunity to listen to all of the best, including Stax Omega II's, Sony R10's, Baby Orpheus, Sennheiser HD 650, and yet I continually come back to the Grado sound. Given this, I set out to leverage the best sound possible starting with my fine front-ends and moving down the line.
I am in transition now looking for a solid phono stage to match my new TT. I will then research some PC and Phono cables and be done for the time being (aside from tube rolling) until I graduate at which point I will investigate speakers which match the qualities of the Grados (Reference 3a's come to mind immediately).
Because I am a newbie in the analogue world, I would very much like some recommendations on phono stages in particular, 1k ballpark. I have on my short list:
Ear 834p
SFI Phono 1
Wrigth Sound WPP200C
Rogue Audio Stealth
Audiomat PH-1
As for phono cable, I will stick with the Extremephono Crimson for now until I can afford a better cable and moreover, become familiar with the sound of my tt.
Heavily modified unit. First modification was to the transport by Shanling - T200 SACD transport installed. Second modification by North Audio - headphone section disabled, transformers coupled to tube output, Hovland caps installed in tube output stage, all caps in SS stage removed and circuit rewired to avoid the need for any. Third batch was undertaken by Parts Connexion - LC Audio L Clock XO 3 + PSU, Black gates througout (save for Hovlands replacement), WBT NeXt Gen RCA jacks, damping coat, and vishnay resistor upgrade throughout.
Michell Engineering Gyrodec
This is the Gyrodec + Orbe platter/bearing upgrade as well as the HR DC motor upgrade
SME V
Grado Labs Statement Statement
An excellent upgrade from my Koetsu Black
EAR USA E.A.R. 88pb
Telefunken 6922
Wyetech Labs Opal
Not yet here, but on its way, this tube pre is known to offer incredible bandwidth and with a roll of the tubes one can get that tubey goodness or stick with eh stock NOS and get clean and mean.
Harbeth SHL-5
Rosewood finish
Wyetech Labs Sapphire
18W 300b monoblocks
E.A.R. HP4
One of the best headphone amps ever made. It uses 4x 6sl7's, I'm using a quad of 1944 Sylvanias which just sings with my Grados.
Melos SHA-X
This is the prototype model built for Joe Grado to test his HP-1000 series headphones. It was subsequently modified by Carlo Flores of Head-fi and Positive Feedback fame. The mods included black gates and auricaps througout, a neutrik headphone jack and a DACT stepped attenuator
Grado Labs RA-1
Battery Powered
Grado Labs HF-2
Prototype of the www.head-fi.org exclusive release
Grado Labs PS-1
This is from the special German run of headphones designed specficially for German studios. Unavailable directly in the US, it merges the warmth of the RS-1 with a close proximity to the neutrality of the HP-1000 series
Grado Labs PS-1000
Prototype of the flagship offering
Grado Labs RS-1
Original batch, brown leather headband and gold lettering
Audio Metallurgy GA-Zero
Audio Metallurgy GA-Zero
An interesting cable that offers the advantages of copper and silver with a sprinkling of gold, whatever that does
great setup...i am using a gramm slee V with my gyrodec...did you get a chance to audition it when you chose your EAR 834p? i wanted to go solid state since i have tubes everywhere else. by the way i am a headphone listener myself...singlepower ppx amp with senn 650's or ath w11jpn's. would love to hear all the gyro upgrades you have...not to mention that koetsu cartridge! congrats on the new grado's...i need to get myself to another head-fi meet to have a listen...
