The Fifth Element

The Fifth Element #69 Contacts

Sidebar: Contacts

Arcam, Pembroke Avenue, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9QR, England, UK. Tel: (44) (0)1223-203200. Fax: (44) (0)1223-863384. Web: www.arcam.co.uk. US distributor: American Audio & Video. Tel: (866) 916-4667. Web: www.americanaudiovideo.com.
Grace Design, 2434 30th Street, Boulder, CO 80301; PO Box 204, Boulder, CO 80306-0204. Tel: (303) 443-7454. Fax: (303) 444-4634. Web: www.gracedesign.com.
Howard Leight by Honeywell, Sperian Hearing Protection, LLC, 7828 Waterville Road, San Diego, CA 92154. Tel: (800) 430-5490. Fax: (401) 232-3110. Web: www.howardleight.com.

ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Mortsnets's picture
Submitted by Mortsnets on December 27, 2011 - 1:39pm

I got the Howard Leight Sync headphones for Christmas and you can actually listen to music while mowing the lawn, or while your son watches cartoons, or your wife watches reality TV!

Appreciate the lower cost audio gadget coverage.

John Marks's picture
Submitted by John Marks on December 31, 2011 - 6:28am

I thought that they were nifty, and, a great bargain.

JM

pacinnovative's picture
Submitted by pacinnovative on December 30, 2011 - 3:55pm

Anyone considering using the Grace M903 as a control center for their A/V media center and wants to use remote controls, had first better test their existing equipment's remotes compatibility with the Grace M903.

I made the mistake of assuming that Grace would use discrete remote command coding for the M902 that I purchased a few years ago. After first having to return the remote control for repair, I then set up my system only to find that the commands for my Toshiba TV and DVD Recorder/Player would cause all manner of reactions in the Grace. The Grace's remote volume commands would cause the Toshiba TV to change Inputs and Set-up settings!

I contacted Grace and they politely explained that I was screwed and they had no plans to change their remote coding. After the M903 was introduced, I contacted Grace to find out if they had corrected this (in my opinion) engineering faux pas, and was told that they had not addressed any issues with the remote control system.

I ended up having to eat the $100+  remote and physically block the Grace's remote sensor so that I could use the Grace with my A/V system. 

I like the sound ( I also own the Benchmark DAC-1), and agree with John Marks assessment of it's character.

Ralph D. Skelton pacinn@earthlink.net

John Marks's picture
Submitted by John Marks on December 31, 2011 - 6:33am

Perhaps the reason Grace can't do anything about "their" remote under the current arrangements is that they purchase their remotes from the Jeff Rowland Design Group. I had no idea this problem existed, so, thanks for the warning.

The 9000 series is as close as Grace gets to a "prosumer" product. The next step up , their component-sized monitor controller, has an optional wired remote control, which is the usual full-professional way of doing things.

I did find the 903's sound a step up from the 902's.

Ciao,

John

benleo's picture
Submitted by benleo on February 6, 2013 - 11:01pm

I had a Brick, read this review of the M903, needed a headphone amp and thought how could I go wrong.  Here is how: I was provided a Wavelength Cosecant, It completely and totally blows away the M903.  The soundstage and life-like qualities of the Cosecant are in a different, and better universe, than the M903.

Don't misunderstand me.  THe M903 sounds ok, and Grace is wonderful company and was very helpful to me regarding a driver issue, but if you have the $$$ buy a Cosecant.   

I have no idea who listened to these two DACs and put the M903 in the A group and the Cosecant in the B or C.  They must have had a bad head cold.

Just this man 's opinion, but one that is deeply felt.

Good listening to everyone.

X