Grado Amp Clones

skrol
skrol Posts: 3,375
edited March 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I have seen several knockoff Grado headphone amp clones on EB and elsewhere. They claim to be designed identical to the famous Grado amps and even upgrade things like caps. I have also seen DIY kits. All of these are at very affordable prices. Is this junk, a scam or good deal?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320494701279&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220566687166&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Stan
Stan

Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
Post edited by skrol on
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Comments

  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited March 2010
    Or you can build a Millett minimax and have a far better amp.
    There's a lot of choices out there. The Grado amp isn't all
    that high end of a design, and there's a lot of others out there that
    will perform as well. Go to head-fi and do your homework.
    Are these exact clones? No idea. But the Grado amp can be equaled
    or bettered with DIY pretty cheaply. Look up the CMOY, which is supposed
    to be about the same design. And it can be built fairly cheap.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited March 2010
    I read that the CMOY works well for higher impedance headphones but is not ideal for the low impedance Grado. I may buy or build a clone for my office. My Grado and and Denon headphones load down my computer sound card. The minimax looks really cool and would be great for home.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited March 2010
    skrol wrote: »
    I read that the CMOY works well for higher impedance headphones but is not ideal for the low impedance Grado. I may buy or build a clone for my office. My Grado and and Denon headphones load down my computer sound card. The minimax looks really cool and would be great for home.

    My Minimax works very well with Senns or Grados.
    But I've gone crazy and went to Stax and an Exstata.
    Nothing like 600 and +-300vdc to test your DIY skills.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited March 2010
    So, does your hair stick up when you wear the electrostatics?
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited March 2010
    skrol wrote: »
    So, does your hair stick up when you wear the electrostatics?
    What hair? Nature has removed THAT problem.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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