If the iRiver is at least as good...you should be in good form.
Thanks Zanth for your endeavour (Mr. Grado likewise, of course). I learned a lot and read your write-up with pleasure; though I've never had a chance to listen to any Grado phones yet (I hope that is going to change in the future :580smile: ).
As far as DAPs, iRiver is way better than any iPod (especially iRiver iHP 140- like the one of wolfen68's), but of course all these have their limitations... Anyway, for the time being it's all I need with my 2XS plugged in :580smile: )
Zanth - Thank you for a wonderful and enlightening interview. John Grado sounds like a terrific person, and his company produces wonderful headphone products. Although I really enjoy my RS-1/RA-1 setup, I really wish that John's company would produce a headphone that matches or exceeds the performance of the Sennheiser HE90, and the Sony R10, both of which are superior to the performance of any Grado headphone. Since the R10 and HE90 headphones, which are no longer produced, are recognized to be about the best dynamic and electrostatic headphones ever made, and since they were made by German and Japanese companies, it would be great to see an American company (i.e., Grado) produce a modern headphone that exceeds their performance. Were John Grado to produce a headphone that matches or exceeds the performance of the HE90, and were such a Grado headphone to cost substantially less than the HE90, John's company would become much more admired and famous. Under such circumstance, Grado Corp. would be truly revered by heaphone audiophiles everywhere, and it's fame would result in many more headphone sales, especially sales of such a magical Grado headphone that could replace the Orpheus HE90, as king of headphones. Lets hope that Grado has the gumption to take on this challenge.
Headphoneus Supremus Prolificus: Head-Fi's most prolific poster.
Today some of the little nubs on the right housing of my KSC-35 plucked off so the pads no longer snap tight on the housings. But you know, I can live with semi-floppy pads for a few more months until the Grado Streetstyles come out!
Moderator Headphoneus Supremus: Moderator and SHAman who knew of Head-Fi ten years prior to its existence
Thanks for the compliments Mike.
As for an electrostat at all let alone one that would best an HE90, I doubt that will happen any time soon. The fact that there is not even a hint of consensus on which headphone is the best in dynamic land means that your opinin of the R10 as superior is just that..an opinion. I personally find the RS-1's better than the R10's overall. Though I wholeheartedly admit the R10's excel in certain areas. Just as I feel the HD650's are better in some ways to both the RS-1's and R10's etc.
Save for the 3D headstaging, I think the PS-1's are as resolving as the R10's, perhaps not as articulated though, but that is a fault I find with the R10's...bumped up highs and lack of bass. Different strokes for different folks. However, given he is pretty well the only American manufacturer of headphones, it would be cool to see some insane statement product.
When I asked this of John, he admitted that he likes to sell things that he builds and to sell to many folks. Perhaps he feels a really outrageous headphone, cost no object type...would not sell all that well, or may not be worth his while given the time to design and then produce etc. Still, I'm with you, I'm always open to new insanely high level phones. I'm still waiting to hear the Qualias, HE90's and some L3000's. The Ultrazones I guess...I can do without
Moderator Headphoneus Supremus: Moderator and SHAman who knew of Head-Fi ten years prior to its existence
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jahn
Today some of the little nubs on the right housing of my KSC-35 plucked off so the pads no longer snap tight on the housings. But you know, I can live with semi-floppy pads for a few more months until the Grado Streetstyles come out!
I was considering recabling my KSC 35's with some Moon Audio cables. Yeah, utter insanity but the stock cables suck..and the sheath tears easily. Now that Grado is comeing out with StreetStyles, I'll definitely hold off on doing anything.
It's funny but if you really think about it, John Grado is like a rockstar to us. Look at the massive anticipation for this interview and the subsequent admiration in the responses. Nobody gets this much love except someone who creates something that fans hold dear to them, like a favorite rock 'n' roll song.
__________________
Eastsound CD-E5 -> M³ with STEPS -> HD600 with Cardas Cable
Headphoneus Supremus: Only one ban in 5000 attempts!
Thanks a ton for writing up that incredibly lengthy interview Zanth! I was also expecting a Q&A format but you yourself it didn't work out that way and that's just fine. Do you plan on putting this interview into some sort of archive?
__________________
Yes, I'm a taper. I tape live concerts and I listen to them.
taper: dpa4061>dpa mma6000>iriver H140
listener: rio karma/iriver h320>shure se530
Moderator Headphoneus Supremus: Moderator and SHAman who knew of Head-Fi ten years prior to its existence
Quote:
Originally Posted by gloco
Thanks a ton for writing up that incredibly lengthy interview Zanth! I was also expecting a Q&A format but you yourself it didn't work out that way and that's just fine. Do you plan on putting this interview into some sort of archive?
If folks really want I can see if I can permanently sticky it or move it to the headphones featured section. I'll have to pass that by the other mods.
As for the format, though I will simply be including the Alessandro bits and the carts info at a later time (likely this weekend) and I will clean up the writing style, fix my grammatical errors, spelling etc., I can do the Q&A format at the end like an Appendix. It will still be paraphrased mind you but at least everything will be in one area for ease of use etc.
I wish that I hadn't mentioned the R10, since there is lots of disagreement regarding which dynamic headphone is best. But, there is almost no disagreement regarding the HE90 being the best of all headphones. So, obviously the HE90 is the one to equal or beat, and hopefully at a lower price. I find it really hard to believe that a product that was developed perhaps two decades ago (i.e., the HE90) can't be bettered with 2005 knowledge and technology. As for the number of sales that Grado can make with such a headphone, since each HE90 costs about $5,000, it takes Grado the sale of seven or more RS-1's to make this much money. So, Grado would need to sell fewer such super high quality headphones, to make as much money as they now make by selling lots of lower cost headphones. And, I also believe that they would sell lots and lots of HE90-equivalent headphones, if they had the know-how to develop and produce them. And, think of the prestige that Grado would gain by producing the world's best headphone. They would thereby gain the crown of being top-dog heaphone producer, thereby replacing Sennheiser in this regard. But, if John Grado is either incapable of, or too lazy to grab hold of this opportunity, then he and we are the loosers. BTW, I hope that John Grado is reading this thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanth
Thanks for the compliments Mike.
As for an electrostat at all let alone one that would best an HE90, I doubt that will happen any time soon. The fact that there is not even a hint of consensus on which headphone is the best in dynamic land means that your opinin of the R10 as superior is just that..an opinion. I personally find the RS-1's better than the R10's overall. Though I wholeheartedly admit the R10's excel in certain areas. Just as I feel the HD650's are better in some ways to both the RS-1's and R10's etc.
Save for the 3D headstaging, I think the PS-1's are as resolving as the R10's, perhaps not as articulated though, but that is a fault I find with the R10's...bumped up highs and lack of bass. Different strokes for different folks. However, given he is pretty well the only American manufacturer of headphones, it would be cool to see some insane statement product.
When I asked this of John, he admitted that he likes to sell things that he builds and to sell to many folks. Perhaps he feels a really outrageous headphone, cost no object type...would not sell all that well, or may not be worth his while given the time to design and then produce etc. Still, I'm with you, I'm always open to new insanely high level phones. I'm still waiting to hear the Qualias, HE90's and some L3000's. The Ultrazones I guess...I can do without
Linear Mode
