Customer Reviews

Grado RA-1 AC Version - Headphone Amplifier

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am writing this review to clear up some distortions of reality concerning this product. This little box comes in at least 3 versions. The first is a battery operated only version. The second is a AC power only version. The first two are relatively low powered with excellent sound when paired with a set of Grado headphones as intended. Most Grado headphones are low impedance and high efficiency cans.
They don't require a lot of power to push them. The third option is the ACHG unit. This stands for AC powered with high gain. These will push high end high impedance headphones. No problem. Full warm tones is what you get with all three. Grado is known for its impeccable quality. Remember you have a simple unit with simple design. Two stereo RCA in jacks on the back and a 1/4 inch headphone out on the front. If you want to use this with computers or ipods you need to get a 3.5mm to RCA male Y cord adaptor. This cost less than 10 bucks in most cases. If you are going to compare this amp with other headphone amps you should be dealing with the HG version. Drawbacks are a lack of a combination battery with AC version. A lack of a dedicated DAC/USB interface which will allow a direct digital connection with your computer. However the line out or headphone out jack of most computers work fine with this unit without a direct digital connection. So there's room for improvement. For what it is, and in this price range it's superb. The mohagany wood frame is gorgeous. A very unique product with distinct styling. I hope this clears up some confusion and makes you purchasing decision a little easier. My personal choice is the Grado AC regular version. For most the high gain version is a bit over the top.

I opened this amp and the circuitry consisted of one opamp, a volume control, and an LED. The wallwort "power supply" is very cheap. How Grado came up with a $425 price is beyond me. The mahogany box has to be the most expensive part. I was surprised a reputable company like Grado would try to pass off this piece of junk. Keep looking.

After purchasing 2 pairs of Grado headphones (125, RS1) I agonized about purchasing this companion product. I finally decided to buy a competitive product from ElectricAvenue - a similar portable headphone amp. Comparing the product I purchased with the RA1 from a friend, I'd have to say I could detect no noticable improvement in sound quality. Both units did out-perform the sound from the headphone jack of the CD player we were using. My friend, however, did subjectively pick the Grado over the unit I purchased. Of course, he owns it.

Two things bother me about the Grado. It's price and the fact that it's limited by the source driving it. Due to the latter point, I decided to look for a CD player that had a high-end headphone amp built-in. Enter Marantz. Starting with the CD5001 model, you can get an excellent player that offers an improved built-in circuit for headphones. So, for $299 you get a great source and a nice headphone amp with volume control all in one.

I decided to move up a bit and chose the Marantz 8260, which is considered the low-end of the reference series units. In side-by-side comparions with the 2 outboard headphone amps, the 8260 was again equal by my ears. My friend again picked the Grado amp. I should note that both amps benefitted from the signal quality of the 8260 over the run-of-the-mill player we used in the first test.

Since most portable sources are not going to offer a high-end signal like that from Marantz players, I do not see a benefit in paying the price for a standalone Grado unit.

Everything was very easy and clean. No problems at all placing the order or finding my product. Its sound warm, smooth, full-bodied, non-fatiguing and rich. Perfect!

Ridiculously overpriced, style over substance. Amps half its price will do a better job.

About $5 worth of electronics in a fancy $300 wooden box.