Topic: Grado RS-1's, any price variance?

[jmz93]

I'm interested in picking up a pair of Grado RS-1's.  Am I likely to find much price variance online for such a big ticket item, at least in the world of headphones? 
Or to put it another way, do any of the audiophile retailers online offer much in the way of Thanksgiving sales?
 
Also, I'd be interested in any information on a headphone amp that supplies the right 32 ohm signal to the Grado's, but accepts balanced input signal on XLR's.  I was looking at the Grado headphone amp which is probably the perfect match for the RS-1's, but I'm worried that going from +4 balanced XLR's from my audio interface to the consumer -10dB RCA's on the headphone amp will degrade signals somehow, or mismatch things.  Sorry I'm not really up on the differences between line vs pro level, xlr balanced vs RCA unbalanced etc. 
Thanks for any help.

[George]

Sales on headphones, especially Grado's are practically non-existent.  Grado does a good job of controlling prices.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

audiogon or headfi.  you can always buy new pads

[JasonSobel]

I've had a pair of Grado RS-2 for years.  In regards to a headphone amp, I'd recommend a Grace Design m902 (or a 901, if you can find one used).  It's an excellent piece of gear, that matches very well with the Grado headphones.  and it's got balanced XLR inputs (as well as RCA inputs, and a host of digital inputs as well, if you want to use it as a DAC too).
http://www.gracedesign.com/products/m902/m902.htm

[edtyre]

I've had a pair of Grado RS-2 for years.  In regards to a headphone amp, I'd recommend a Grace Design m902 (or a 901, if you can find one used).  It's an excellent piece of gear, that matches very well with the Grado headphones.  and it's got balanced XLR inputs (as well as RCA inputs, and a host of digital inputs as well, if you want to use it as a DAC too).
http://www.gracedesign.com/products/m902/m902.htm

I'll second that about the Grace 902, i've had one for years and just like my V3, it's a piece
of gear you never get rid of. hard to find one used , but they pop up from time to time on
Agon.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1263865503&/Grace-M902-Preamp--headphone-a

[Jimna]

they make a sweet preamp for a system too...

[jmz93]

Thanks for the help guys! Much appreciated.

[Chilly Brioschi]

Amp?  Grace or the spiffy new Benchmarks
Either can muster the power those Grados need.

I'd go top-end Sennheiser, but that's me...