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The HP-2's have landed...and they are here to stay! - Page 7

post #91 of 220
6/7/05 at 5:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanth

HD650's definitely have more sparkle. This "sparkle" is something Grados just don't have, R10's have the most, Omega II's come close, HD650's are in there as well. I feel this is about a tipped top end (I know Omega II owners will argue this is not so per say, and I agree, Omega II's are fast fast up there and this provides some sparkle) Also, I think some of the note separation really helps up top too, at least in initial presentation and dissecting of audiophile want lists. But I feel the Grados, HP-2's in particular provide a more "natural" top end and a better "metal percussion" though I would love that shimmer the R10's do with cymbals
I have a kurt elling recording where the drummer is hitting incredibly fast rolls and single strokes on his ride cymbal, the rhythm is seriously like 32nd/64th notes, if not faster. The speed and clarity is both present on 650 and hp-2, on the hp-2 each attack is a little bit more precise and the "tsk" sound is slightly more articulate. however, the 650's have this shimmery effect, almost like its exxagerating the trailing edge of each of those 32nd/64th notes, its beautiful in a very ethereal sense. The Hp-2's kind of just put their nose up in the air and say "huff, why bother, im too sophisticated to do that kind of stuff anyways (...hp-2's walk away with pride and confidence still in tact...)"
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post #92 of 220
6/7/05 at 5:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jahn

I tried to compensate later with the C-Pads - i'm looking forward to the NYC meet to have my C-Padded SR200s go up against the HP-2 again. We'll see who has the bass and soundstage now, biatch!
Hey that's cheating! Its like baseball and the c-pads are steroids, that ain't a level playing field buddy! (...HP-2's still hurt from recstar24's previous comment on lack of added shimmer, walks further away with nose in air, huffing and puffing with slight indignation...)
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post #93 of 220
6/7/05 at 5:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by recstar24
I have a kurt elling recording where the drummer is hitting incredibly fast rolls and single strokes on his ride cymbal, the rhythm is seriously like 32nd/64th notes, if not faster. The speed and clarity is both present on 650 and hp-2, on the hp-2 each attack is a little bit more precise and the "tsk" sound is slightly more articulate. however, the 650's have this shimmery effect, almost like its exxagerating the trailing edge of each of those 32nd/64th notes, its beautiful in a very ethereal sense. The Hp-2's kind of just put their nose up in the air and say "huff, why bother, im too sophisticated to do that kind of stuff anyways (...hp-2's walk away with pride and confidence still in tact...)"

Yes exactly! This is so it! I don't want this to turn into an HD650 hating thread, because save for the clamping effect, I do enjoy the Senns, I just prefer Grados more. Cause well, they are better
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post #94 of 220
6/7/05 at 5:51pm
Haha! That reminds me of an old example i once used when comparing my cans -

When you hear a cymbal through this can, it sounds like...

DT770- SHCTZTZTZZZHIISSSZZZ

MS-2 - Tsssssss...

SR200 - "Hello, I'm a cymbal."
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post #95 of 220
6/7/05 at 7:05pm

I have been looking for a Joe Grado HP1 or HP2 off & on over the last 2 or 3 years. However, the pricing has to be right, because I'm probably going to sink more money into them by having them recabled with 99.99% pure silver wire. With the darker HP1000 sound (compared to other Grados), I feel they can stand the extra brightness the silver cales would add. Furthermore, the cable would maximize the detail and clarity.

I have already had Headphile mod some Senn HD-25-1's and the difference is so dramatic, since the original cable was mostly plain steel. I don't hear any sibilance to speak of with the Headphile cable.

I am waiting for the completed design and construction of the new mini-sized LaRocco Pocket Reference amp. However, I have future designs on buying a few phones (AKG K501, possibly a HP1/HP2, a SA5K) and having them modified with silver cabling to maximize detail. This cowboy likes him a little detail!
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post #96 of 220
6/7/05 at 7:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jap

I have been looking for a Joe Grado HP1 or HP2 off & on over the last 2 or 3 years. However, the pricing has to be right, because I'm probably going to sink more money into them by having them recabled with 99.99% pure silver wire. With the darker HP1000 sound (compared to other Grados), I feel they can stand the extra brightness the silver cales would add. Furthermore, the cable would maximize the detail and clarity.

I have already had Headphile mod some Senn HD-25-1's and the difference is so dramatic, since the original cable was mostly plain steel. I don't hear any sibilance to speak of with the Headphile cable.

I am waiting for the completed design and construction of the new mini-sized LaRocco Pocket Reference amp. However, I have future designs on buying a few phones (AKG K501, possibly a HP1/HP2, a SA5K) and having them modified with silver cabling to maximize detail. This cowboy likes him a little detail!

have you heard hp-1000's before? I don't find them dark, just not as forward as other Grados, still at the stage, just not on the stage licking the beaded sweat from the singer's cheek
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post #97 of 220
6/7/05 at 7:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanth
have you heard hp-1000's before? I don't find them dark, just not as forward as other Grados, still at the stage, just not on the stage licking the beaded sweat from the singer's cheek

Yes, I have heard the HP2's before. I meant they sounded "dark" only in comparison to other Grados. Perhaps I should have said they are "not bright" or that they sound "just right." I'm a longtime Grado man so the legendary Grado brightness that some complain about doesn't really bother me.

The HP2's I heard certainly let you know what the other elements in the system were doing. At the Illinois meet, Ray Samuels was there with his famous amp switcher. He provides the switcher to allow users to compare his amps (e.g., the XP7 or HR2) to other, larger amps (like the older Headroom amp-ware), and, typically, one is hardpressed to tell the difference. The HP2 was the only phone capable of allowing me to detect clearly which amp was which, a tribute to its great transparency.
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post #98 of 220
6/7/05 at 8:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jahn
Haha! That reminds me of an old example i once used when comparing my cans -

When you hear a cymbal through this can, it sounds like...

DT770- SHCTZTZTZZZHIISSSZZZ

MS-2 - Tsssssss...

SR200 - "Hello, I'm a cymbal."
Dude, best comparison ever...Zanth, sticky Jahn's post asap
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post #99 of 220
6/7/05 at 8:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jap

The HP2 was the only phone capable of allowing me to detect clearly which amp was which, a tribute to its great transparency.

Oh yeah for sure!
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post #100 of 220
6/7/05 at 9:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jahn
SR200 versus HP-2. (....) Yep, that's the HP-2. It wasn't subtle - it was very obvious that those honkin metal cups lent bass and soundstage.
True. I must confess. I drool before HP2 too.. and I wouldn't be so surprised the metal cup could yield such unsubtle difference, noticing the difference heard on changing the pads around.

This brings back my interest on spotting the core differences between sr200(with HP drivers) and HP2, HP3. Would it seem foolish to assume,

sr200 drivers(with HP drivers) + HP2 metal housing + cable that goes with HP2 = HP2? At least closer than expected?

If that sounds about right, then I would, I am sure you would too, would be interested in placing the sr200 driver on a metal cup for once. This might as well end up turning up as my part time project!

From the pictures of the exposed drivers of both sr200 and HP2 I have seen, they looked pretty damn similiar, but who knows. I am sure Larry knows!
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post #101 of 220
6/7/05 at 9:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by braillediver
Now that there’s a Grado Love Fest going strong I need a suggestion or advice.

I’m jones’n for a new pair of headphones. Just worked 5 months solid overtime so I’ve earned it.


RS-1’s or PS1 Pros?

I love the fun and excitement of the RS-1’s but the space and depth of the HP2’s makes them my headphone of choice right now.

To me the RS-1’s were like music on both sides of my head where the HP2’s connected it through my head.

The HP2’s have awesome base now that I’ve dialed in a tube combination with the HP4, Tung-Sol 6SL7GT Round Plate ¾ black Glass on the input and Philips Jan 6SL7GT on the output.


The difference’s between the 2 headphones I’m aware of are the weight, bass and price.


So the question is: With the HP2’s as a reference \ starting point what are the pros and cons comparing them to the RS-1’s and the PS Pros?


Sorry to hijack the thread but with all the Grado experience and knowledge focused on this thread I thought I could gain some insight.


Thanks

Mitch
Owning the RS1s ,Hp1s,Hp3s,& Ps1s & having owned the Hp2s,The Ps1s are the best Grados made,only downside is the weight.
I use mine with bowl pads,all others use flats.Driven by my modded Melos/EMM labs setup.I am a Grado man, always have been, Bought the HP2s new(still kick myself for selling them,years back.)
I was listening to a Kimber Kable Isomike pure DSD sampler I picked up at the HE2005 show using the PS1s,Incredible soundstage,extending well past the earpieces,bass impact on the PS1s can sometimes be startling.
I love the Other Grados,I even have a new spare set of HP1 drivers & cable I picked up from Joe Grado before he moved down south,I love the HP phones ,But in My system that is very resolving the Ps1s just take the Grado sound to the next level IMHO.
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post #102 of 220
6/7/05 at 9:17pm
here are some quick notes. THe MS2i shares more in common with the HP1's or 2's but it is not close. The 325i's share more in common with the Ps-1's save for the 325i metallic edge it adds to notes.

None of them really share anything in common with the Rs-1's. Apart from the Hp-1's and Ps-1's soundstaging with regards to the Rs-1 soundstage.


Jap>I am not so sure about the silver rewiring myself. You are adding a forwardness to the HP-2's which does not exist therefore you are changing its tonally dead attributes. Would it not be easier to partner it with a more forward amp?

Actually the HP-2's (besides the hd600) are the only headphones I will partner bright amps to. Other than that I can't stand Bright or tonally flat amps. I prefer warm sounding amps.

Even more funnier is I don't actually like the Grado highs. What attract me to Grados besides their bass impact and fun is the listener placement. I like to be seated at the front or on stage rather than middle or at the back. If you notice most of my amps are on the warm side of flat. This takes the edge of the typical Grado highs.

Zanth>I will have to check out your Melos for sure. I can drive the Rs-1's harder and nuttier than the PS-1's in respects to it's bass performance. Maybe I need to change the tubes for something different in my Melos for the PS-1's. The Melos I am using and the tubes the Rs-1 has the extension and the slam. I don't find the Ps-1's go deeper.

But in my SS amp the Ps-1's have the edge. I only have one SS amp for my dynamic cans as I generally go with the tube sound.

But Zanth you can't use your Melos as reference as it's one of the kind. There is no comparison so it won't be fair. You need to use an amp where there is at least more than one....

I wonder if any headfier has converted an hp-series phone for balanced use and how that might affect the sound overall.

I can't wait to meet up and compare all these phones with you. Especially some of the ones you have not heard.

It will be like Grado V the enemy.

As for the hd650. I like it. But to be honest I actually prefer the hd600 for effortless listening.

You better get ready there are more phones on the way...
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post #103 of 220
6/7/05 at 9:34pm
Thanks Everyone. There’s a ton of really good and detailed information here to digest.


Mitch
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post #104 of 220
6/7/05 at 9:40pm
Thread Starter 
I simply have to comment some more on the bass performance on these hp-2's. They are OUTSTANDING! You can hear each and every bass note, clearly articulated, tight and tuneful and fast as two hummingbirds doing you know what.

I could of really used these badboys in college when i was taking music theory and had to do all that music transcription and listening. Especially for jazz, it helps transcribing stuff when you hear each and every note exactly how it is placed without any extraneous bumps, peaks, or valleys
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post #105 of 220
6/7/05 at 10:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoRedwings19
Jap>I am not so sure about the silver rewiring myself. You are adding a forwardness to the HP-2's which does not exist therefore you are changing its tonally dead attributes. Would it not be easier to partner it with a more forward amp?

If I ever get an HP1 or HP2 I can discuss the effect of the silver wire with Larry of Headphile. If he doesn't know by now what I want (detail and neutrality), I'm more than willing to remind him. I am more than sure Larry has modded some HP1000's already; so he would be able to let me know what to expect.

Due to its great transparency, the HP1 or HP2 make great reference phones for checking other gear in the system or for checking the quality of the recording itself. I wouldn't want to destroy or tarnish that functionality.

I was just sitting here, minding my own business, and now these Grado groupies have me dreaming about HP1000's again ....
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