An Interview With John Grado - Page 14 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Xanadu777 · 07-31-2005, 08:51 AM

Very nice piece of work and I certainly appreciate both John's and your efforts on putting this together.

While it's all very interesting and well written, I find the fact that from the sounds of it, just 2.5% or less of all HP1000's are created less than equal of much interest to me. Throws the whole HP3 quality issue out the window to me. Even if you have an HP3 it's probably an HP2, haha...

I know there was a Grado "Jr" speaker since I have a pair, but had no idea there were 5 speakers designed. I wonder how many of those designs made it to production besides the "Jr". Maybe that's more a Joe question.

An electrostatic hybrid would be the bee's knees. Not sure how it could be pulled off other than a side by side (for a true electrostat). Doing that would create some sweet soundstaging though.

It always seemed to me that John wasn't looking to get filthy rich, but providing a nice sounding product. Nice to read it confirmed too. I like the retro product line rather than the spacey looking junk some others are putting out. Keep it real and functional and keep the main cost to equate to sound quality.

I was hoping for a new top end can to replace the PS-1 and approach HP status. I'll keep hoping...

I'm honored that John doesn't mind me modding his cans, though I had heard that previously. I'm sure he knows a product can/will increase in sales when there are aftermarket options available. If the product wasn't a fine one in the first place, there wouldn't be any options, at least not from me. Grado's are my favorite cans to mod without question.

The RS-1's definitely have a magic that very few cans have ever attained.

I wasn't clear on what is built out of house, is it just the wood housings and leather or everything?

Thanks again to both Zanth and John for some fine reading and info :rs1smile:

Cerebral_Mamba · 07-31-2005, 09:05 AM

Thanks, it was a great read, though I am a little dissapointed that new products are not going to be out. i was hopping tah in a years time, i could save up and be in time to grab their highest end latest offering

But NO MENTION OF ALESSANDRO.

Also, since almost every year Sennheiser is churning out new models, wouldn't not working on new products or improvements to the present line become an issue when others surpass what the Grado provides today. I mean, I am sure there were no competition to the RS1 and SR60s at their time of release, but now, the margine is steadily reducing. Hmmm. I guess i was just hoping for something new to buy.

Thanks again to Zanith and John for the interview.

diredesire · 07-31-2005, 09:54 AM

True thanks to both parties for allowing us the pleasure of a read. I'll burn through it tomorrow, but it's now 3:00 on the west coast, and i think i'll hit the hay. Too bad there's no mention of alessandro (assumption fromthe post above)

Rob N · 07-31-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cerebral_Mamba

Thanks, it was a great read, though I am a little dissapointed that new products are not going to be out. i was hopping tah in a years time, i could save up and be in time to grab their highest end latest offering

But NO MENTION OF ALESSANDRO.

Also, since almost every year Sennheiser is churning out new models, wouldn't not working on new products or improvements to the present line become an issue when others surpass what the Grado provides today. I mean, I am sure there were no competition to the RS1 and SR60s at their time of release, but now, the margine is steadily reducing. Hmmm. I guess i was just hoping for something new to buy.

Thanks again to Zanith and John for the interview.

Just think you'll be saving money

John obviously feels he can't improve on the sound at present.Some companies bring out new products every few months (eg MF) whereas others only bring out new products after many years (think SME who have just released their first new tonearm since 1987).

Anyway thanks for a great interview,Zanth.

robzy · 07-31-2005, 10:08 AM

_Amazing_ interview Zanth.

I read it while listening to Jack Johnson through my MS-1s and enjoying every single bit of them. I now appreciate these cans more than i ever have. Just to know the legacy that is behind them.

Rob.

hardbop · 07-31-2005, 10:09 AM

Thanks, Zanth, and very well done. It's good to confirm that Grado, the man and the company, is of high integrity, both personally and professionally. That quality comes through all the way down to the final product. John Grado deserves every bit of the success he enjoys.

Here's to that 20% increase.

Yellowjacket · 07-31-2005, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cerebral_Mamba

But NO MENTION OF ALESSANDRO.

This is actually relevant to my situation. My first jump into the Grado world from Senn would probably be with MS-1 so I was hoping to get John's opinion on the relationship with Alessandro.

MdRex · 07-31-2005, 11:50 AM

THANK YOU Zanth...

I can't wait for the new streetstyle...

mariadoc · 07-31-2005, 01:45 PM

great read!, when enjoying my music with the headphones, i will enjoy them even more when thinking about John Grado and his company's philosophy.

When i came at the part about mods, i expected to read something about the Alessandro's though

Jahn · 07-31-2005, 02:00 PM

I wondered why "Gone Daddy Gone" sounded so good on my rig - it's that darn Xylophone! Ella sounds divine as well, and "Before you accuse me" from Clapton unplugged sounds amazing. All tracks I'm happy to own the original redbook for, so I get a sense of what John is driving at, nice!

Thanks for all your efforts Zanth, that was above and beyond!