I searched the cable and headphone forums for any threads geared towards the Black Dragon Single Terminated GS 1000s, but came up with little..
Well after owning and hearing the stock GS 1000s, I was very impressed. Although their sound signature has been deemed the Un-Grado of the lineup, there are passages and music selections that these cans absolutely excel at and then some that other cans simply can not match..and still other music selections that some feel that HP/PS-1 do better than the GS1000.
The Black Dragon GS1000 is possibly the most detailed yet balanced sounding Grado phones produced by John Grado at low levels.
Not only is the Black Dragon Cable sturdy and professional looking, its effect on the GS helps the phone become more full sounding overall; but the phone still has the attack and an enthusiasitic or livelike reproduction of the master analog signal that is just sublime. There is no struggle to discern the marks in the mid band or anywhere really in the FR or within the sound stage. The sweet Grado Mid Range is here, and further from the RS away from the listener, the sound and presentation is more realistic yet littered with detail and dymanics. The GS exibits massive imaging abilities VS other Grado phone and the Black Dragon cable seems to improve upon this trait. The marks in the extreme lower and upper register are improved in the way of clarity and overall tone. And although indicitive of a Grado phone which tends to be with a slight color, this works to a positive attribute in making certain genres more life-like.
The larger headstage of the GS accentuates the note decay with vast depth and pinpoint accuracy imaging, which together helps place much of the music accurately. This effect helps to portray nice control of tempo and PRaT. This gives the soundstage as a result a more 3D and organic body.
On the Beatles MFSL Help (LP), and in the song "
Another Girl" --when the song goes .."
I ain't no fool but I don't take what I don't want.."
The speed and rhythm of this song, as it thumps, delays, and bounces along naturally to retain its tempo is absolutely life-like on the BD GS1000. I can not explain it really, it sounds magical, alive, and 3D in terms of the imaging and tone. The imaging capabilities of the GS really help the phone shine in this area. Where the BD GS1000 differentiates and relates itself from an HP-2 (HP1000) is in imaging a more 3D headstage while pulling off its own "disappearing" act. (like the HP1000 disappears sonically, this phone may disappear comfort-wise).
The headstage appears clearer and easier to distinguish between transients and primary soundstaging bearing more depth and breathing more realism into music.