The Grado HF-2 Review/Comparison Thread

[iponderous]

I am in agreement with The Monkey, roadtonowhere08 and boomana's views regarding burn in. There have not been any notable changes in the sound signature of my dynamic driver headphones or earphones to my ears as a result of simply using them.

[Currawong]

There were distinct changes with the HF-2s over the first few hours...30-40 seems about right. Since then, nothing noteworthy. The changes included a tightening of the bass, and I don't believe they were changes in my brain, as flabby bass is flabby bass and I don't like it. I agree though some changes are of the "getting used to" type. Maybe we need to persuade Headroom to measure some headphones when they are new and after some hours of use (without being removed from the dummy head) and see if there are any differences.

[jdkJake]

Originally Posted by The Monkey

No listening fatigue at all. I've never been able to say that about a Grado.

While my long-term Grado experience is limited to the SR225i, I have to agree, this headphone does not induce listening fatigue like the 225. I can listen to them for hours on end without developing what I call "Grado-ear".

That being said, while mighty fine sounding headphones, they do lack just the slightest bit of that Grado "sparkle and sizzle" the SR225i's present.

Not a bad thing, just different.

I was hoping there would be a clear "winner" that would render the other obsolete. Unfortunately for my wallet, this has not shown to be the case.

For now, I will keep both as they present different perspectives. Similar, but, still quite unique, still very..., very..., what's the word I am looking for....

jk

[The Monkey]

Originally Posted by Currawong

Maybe we need to persuade Headroom to measure some headphones when they are new and after some hours of use (without being removed from the dummy head) and see if there are any differences.

That's a pretty good idea.


Also, the Grado earpads still suck. A lot.

[baka1969]

Hi,

I've had my HF-2 for several months now. I was in the first shipment after Can Jam (I have #33) and have been back and forth about posting; wanting to post my impressions since then. I didn't want to post them when I initially did for fear of the FOTM syndrome.

There have been times I've loved and hated these.

I enjoy the added warmth, the almost Senn-like sound without stripping away at it's essence. There's a terrific fullness of music that's played with these. I think the mids are pretty wonderful for the most part. I tape modded the bowls and got addicted to the added bass slam the HF-2 has over the other Grados I've heard. I think the highs are by far the most refined of any Grado I've ever owned. The sustain and decay are a step ahead of the already capable SR Grados and are kind of great. That aggressive Grado sound I like is still there. 'F1' aside, I think they're gorgeous. And comfy as hell.

Then there's the congested mids that seems to plague these Grados more so than others I've enjoyed. And the HF-2 is less detailed. The 325is is the detail king of Grado, but the HF-2 is even less capable of extracting micro detail than the SR-225. The soundstage (with bowls) is also a bit more constrained than the 325is but about on par with the 225. And although not nearly as shrill and sibilant as the 325is the HF-2 is still a tad more sibilant than I'd wish. Also the HF-2 is the slowest of all the Grados I've owned. Not to sloppiness or smearing, but compared to the others there's less sharpness on the attack.

As the HF-2 has been my only full sized can for several months now I've just been enjoying them with the bowls tape modded. But recently, as some things changed with me, I decided to change things up with my headphones. I ordered a pair of SR-125s after my brother was in town visiting me. He fell in love with my HF-2 so I ordered him the 125. I converted him over from Bose. I also ordered the Bagels for my 'phones and I ordered the AKG K-701 yet again.

This changes everything! Well the 125 I 'borrowed' to compare them so I'd have a reference to remember what my others (the 80 and 225 mostly) sounded like. And I've stated above how they all compare to the HF-2.

The 'Bagels' and the (well burned in) 701 arrived on the same day. So I decided to try the bagels first. I think they really almost transform the HF-2 completely. I want to say first, that, unlike what I've heard about the jumbo pads, I think they actually DECREASE the sibilance not increase it. I believe these large pads make this headphone sound terrific. It seems to balance it all out. The mids, highs and lows are seem more harmonious together. The soundstage is much, much wider and really adds an airy quality to music that the bowls just can't do. And the bagels do it without sending you to the back row as Senns seem to do. Maybe it's just me but I think there's a bit of that lost detail that came back that other Grados have in aplomb. It didn't fix everything, like the congestion, but it made the HF-2 very enjoyable again. I'm wearing them now.

That is... Until I compare them to the AKG K-701. I just absolutely love these. This is my second time with them and I think that I almost wish I didn't get them. Almost. Compared to the HF-2 with bowls it's a night/day difference. You notice how colored the HF-2 is and how neutral the 701 is. I won't rehash a review of the 701 but they are better at everything. Period. I was tapping my feet silly. LoL

However, I still love the HF-2 with the jumbo pads and they still make music sing with a fullness and meatiness (sp) I can't give up. If I didn't get the bagels I think these just might be up for sale. The pads saved them.

Please know everything is just my opinion and how they sound to me. But that's cool, they are my ears after all.

Thanks,

Ross

[grawk]

It's interesting how people hear things differently. I would never describe 701s as more likely to inspire toe tapping than hf2s...

[baka1969]

Originally Posted by grawk

It's interesting how people hear things differently. I would never describe 701s as more likely to inspire toe tapping than hf2s...

I just can't seem to get enough of the clarity, detail and resolution the 701 offers. I'm a detail freak and, to me, it's a very enjoyable part of listening to music. And when I want to kick back and listen to music I do. They're less fatiguing than the HF-2's sibilance to me ultimately. Plus it's less annoying than me not hearing the detail I love. I only wish the AKG extended and octave or two (three?) lower down below. But the bass they have is of excellent quality.

I really like the HF-2 and spent hours last night listening to them. These are by far the best Grado I've had the pleasure of listening to. After hearing the SR-125 I appreciate the HF-2 even more.

I have eclectic music tastes so I'm not only listening to one genre.

If there is a better version of the AKG K-701 and what it offers and does, I want to own it... Within the reach of my wallet of course.

[woof37]

Originally Posted by grawk

It's interesting how people hear things differently. I would never describe 701s as more likely to inspire toe tapping than hf2s...

+1

The K701s lack dynamics, imho. They sounded pretty sublime for well-recorded classical though.

[grawk]

My take on it is the K701 is a headphone without obvious flaws. I listen, and I can't hear anything it's doing wrong. Unfortunately, it also doesn't do anything particularly well, and I find them completely dull. But people I respect like them, so they're not in the same category as some other headphones I don't like.

[baka1969]

Originally Posted by grawk

My take on it is the K701 is a headphone without obvious flaws. I listen, and I can't hear anything it's doing wrong. Unfortunately, it also doesn't do anything particularly well, and I find them completely dull. But people I respect like them, so they're not in the same category as some other headphones I don't like.

I hope I'm not hijacking the thread, but I think it depends on one's objectives and perspective about what we all want listening to our music.

[SemiAudiophile]

the K701's amazed me at first also, it's a nice headphone. but they are dull and get boring after a while. when i had them they were the headphone with the least amount of head time. i prefer the HF2 with bagels much, much more. a Lambda can do everything the K701 can, but so much better.

[rasmushorn]

Originally Posted by SemiAudiophile

the K701's amazed me at first also, it's a nice headphone. but they are dull and get boring after a while. when i had them they were the headphone with the least amount of head time. i prefer the HF2 with bagels much, much more. a Lambda can do everything the K701 can, but so much better.

Exactly the same happened to me. K701 on a tubeamp was fantastic. But the SR325 got all the listening time back then and the K701 had to go.

[HeadphoneAddict]

I'm back to the GS-1000 pads for most of this evening's listening. I'm re-visiting the jumbos since I didn't like them at first but almost everyone else did. It's not as bad as I remember, and the highs are definitely crisper and more present. Bass does not seem diminished, and mids are not too recessed. I'm gonna leave them this way for a while and see how it goes.

[rasmushorn]

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

I'm back to the GS-1000 pads for most of this evening's listening. I'm re-visiting the jumbos since I didn't like them at first but almost everyone else did. It's not as bad as I remember, and the highs are definitely crisper and more present. Bass does not seem diminished, and mids are not too recessed. I'm gonna leave them this way for a while and see how it goes.

The jumbo-pads are better when the HF-2's have been breaking in for some time. In the beginning I thought the sound was too thin with the jumbos. But now they are my favourites.

[maguire]

Hey rasmushorn, have you decided on which you prefer?
325is v HF-2?