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Author Topic: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots  (Read 4548 times)

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Marvey

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Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« on: December 06, 2011, 05:00:13 AM »

A unique take on the Grado: http://www.symphones.ca/magnum.htm Think of them as an even more refined RS-1. Measurably similar to RS1, retains Grado qualities, but much cleaner. This is the real deal and definitely not BS.

Again, this is the v2.5
« Last Edit: July 10, 2012, 01:35:01 AM by purrin »
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Marvey

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Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Frequency Response Graph
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2011, 07:17:29 PM »

Much better matched than Grado RS-1 and much smoother treble. At the same price too. LOL! I can't remember exactly, but I think the measurements were performed with flat pads. Click here to compare to RS-1.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2011, 07:19:34 PM by purrin »
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victor25

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Re: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2012, 04:16:55 PM »

Hmm now I am interested in these. Do they still have that same liveliness as the RS-1? Are they more comparable to a PS-1 perhaps?
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Marvey

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Re: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2012, 05:08:06 PM »

Yup - just as lively, but silky silky smooth in the treble.


A few people have purchased the drivers from him and cups from someone else. It's my understanding there is quite a wait for the metal cups that he makes.
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Questhate

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Re: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2012, 05:36:25 PM »

Marv, I have a V4 Magnum if you want to measure? Supposedly it's the "final" version.
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Marvey

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Re: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2012, 04:13:03 AM »

Maybe I'll bring up the measurement rig to the Bay Area meet.
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Questhate

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Re: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2012, 05:06:57 AM »

That sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing this contraption. I'm envisioning a big steel chamber, with a small circular window in it (like a WWII submarine). A sole mannequin head rests upon a stool in the center. A lone spotlight casts a small shadow as the headphones are lowered onto the measurement noggin with a small crane from the ceiling, like the arcade claw from Toy Story (or was it Toy Story 2?).
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victor25

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Re: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2012, 09:34:14 AM »

Will these eventually be available as a normal purchase. It seems a bit silly to buy a 325i, and then have it fully modified. I guess it would be hard to sell the 325i's drivers too.
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Questhate

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Re: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2012, 01:08:08 AM »

Will these eventually be available as a normal purchase. It seems a bit silly to buy a 325i, and then have it fully modified. I guess it would be hard to sell the 325i's drivers too.

Nope. As far as I know, there's no option to buy a "fully completed" Magnum from Symphones. However, there are a ton of options to put one together for cheap.

Funny to say, but the hardest part to obtain is the cheap Grado headband/rod blocks/gimbals assembly (which I believe is the main reason you can't get them from Symphones). You'd have to pull one off another Grado, or there are some replacement Sony headbands that can fit the cups perfectly. The MDR-V150 or MDR-V6 ones are known to work (~$15 - $20 for the headband).

Rhydon sells the drivers for 120/pair or drivers+aluminum sleeves for 240/pair.

You can buy drivers and then commission someone like Marty or Ohrenholz to build some wooden cups (~150 ish). If you go this route, you'd need a headband (from a Grado or Sony replacement ones), and a cable.

Or you can buy any model Grado, and stick in the drivers+aluminum sleeves. A few people have compared plastic outer cups from the SR60-SR225 Grados, with aluminum outer cups from SR325/MS2, and those don't make much impact on the sound -- so really any Grado can be upgraded.

If you like the Grado coloration (like I do), then these are definitely worth it.
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victor25

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Re: Symphones Magnum v 2.5 CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2012, 03:10:15 PM »

Thank you for your informative reply. If I understand correctly, I could order just the magnum drivers, and place them in a SR-60i?
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