Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › An Interview With John Grado
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

An Interview With John Grado - Page 15

post #211 of 486
8/2/05 at 2:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanth
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 ).

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 )
Reply
post #212 of 486
8/2/05 at 3:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by root
Anyway, for the time being it's all I need with my 2XS plugged in )

Heh, then it will do just fine with the RS-1's
Reply
post #213 of 486
8/2/05 at 9:18pm
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.
Reply
post #214 of 486
8/2/05 at 9:37pm
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!
Reply
post #215 of 486
8/2/05 at 9:38pm
Thread Starter 
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
Reply
post #216 of 486
8/2/05 at 9:40pm
Thread Starter 
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.
Reply
post #217 of 486
8/2/05 at 9:48pm
Thanks Zanth and John Grado for the great read.

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.
Reply
post #218 of 486
8/2/05 at 10:31pm
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?
Reply
post #219 of 486
8/2/05 at 10:43pm
Thread Starter 
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.
Reply
post #220 of 486
8/3/05 at 1:30am
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
Reply
post #221 of 486
8/3/05 at 1:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeg
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.
I hope he reads this thread but skips your post. John clearly stated why he has not really gotten into the whole new headphone thing - his priorities are very clear, spending time with his children and family is much more important to him than going through extensive research and development which would take away time he would rather spend with his kids.

It's easy for people to harp on the RS-1's, saying they are colored and what not or that they don't compare to the big-wigs like the HE90 or R-10. In my humble opinion, they are right up there, the RS-1's can do things which simply amaze and in certain aspects are unparalled by anything else i have ever heard. Sure they aren't perfect and are not for everyone, but they have a very unique and special "flavor" that on some music sounds heavenly, and it makes me realize that John is a freaking genius to be able to make certain instruments sound so freaking real. He has proven to me that he has the ear, know how, and resources to create something truly special, and I would imagine and bet that we have not heard the end of what John Grado is capable of.
Reply
post #222 of 486
8/3/05 at 2:07am
I understand a dad wanting to spend quality time with kids and family. But, John is also heading one of the very very few American headphone companies, and I hate to see this company merely sitting back on its laurels, and just continue to crank out its old and proven technology. I would hope that if John wants more time for wife and kids, that he'll put someone else in charge of advancing his company's technology and developments; i.e., someone who has more time, interest, and ambition with regard to making this company great. Thus, what John should do is *delegate* this responsibility to someone who is at a point in career where they don't need to devote most of their energy to family, rather that to the job. My hope remains that Grado Corporation will take over from Sennheiser, the credit for producing the world's best headphone, and hopefully at a price that's less than $3.5K. It would be nice to see a US company assume this position, and it would be great for us headphone enthusiasts to have such a headphone available to us. And, as a Grado headphone and amp purchaser and user, I do hope that John Grado reads this.

Quote:
Originally Posted by recstar24
I hope he reads this thread but skips your post. John clearly stated why he has not really gotten into the whole new headphone thing - his priorities are very clear, spending time with his children and family is much more important to him than going through extensive research and development which would take away time he would rather spend with his kids.

It's easy for people to harp on the RS-1's, saying they are colored and what not or that they don't compare to the big-wigs like the HE90 or R-10. In my humble opinion, they are right up there, the RS-1's can do things which simply amaze and in certain aspects are unparalled by anything else i have ever heard. Sure they aren't perfect and are not for everyone, but they have a very unique and special "flavor" that on some music sounds heavenly, and it makes me realize that John is a freaking genius to be able to make certain instruments sound so freaking real. He has proven to me that he has the ear, know how, and resources to create something truly special, and I would imagine and bet that we have not heard the end of what John Grado is capable of.
Reply
post #223 of 486
8/3/05 at 2:31am
We'll see how it turns out. It will be awesome to see the new streetstyle Grados but beyond that I'm sure we'd like some things to look forward to. If John doesn't want to do it, then who's gonna force him? I say he should enjoy his family, but keep exploring that 'Grado' sound or maybe take a new approach - consumers like that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeg
I understand a dad wanting to spend quality time with kids and family. But, John is also heading one of the very very few American headphone companies, and I hate to see this company merely sitting back on its laurels, and just continue to crank out its old and proven technology. I would hope that if John wants more time for wife and kids, that he'll put someone else in charge of advancing his company's technology and developments; i.e., someone who has more time, interest, and ambition with regard to making this company great. Thus, what John should do is *delegate* this responsibility to someone who is at a point in career where they don't need to devote most of their energy to family, rather that to the job. My hope remains that Grado Corporation will take over from Sennheiser, the credit for producing the world's best headphone, and hopefully at a price that's less than $3.5K. It would be nice to see a US company assume this position, and it would be great for us headphone enthusiasts to have such a headphone available to us. And, as a Grado headphone and amp purchaser and user, I do hope that John Grado reads this.
Reply
post #224 of 486
8/3/05 at 2:40am
For john to go the way of big companies, always making new products would be a tragedy to the instiution. It says something about how he cares abotu the quality of his product, and his values as far as hand made, vs big factories, effiency, and assembly line.

Let him keep things the way it works, He doesn't need big time clientelle to continue his buisness, he is in the perfect niche right now, and gets the respect and dues he needs to stay satisfied.

Why mess with what works? I like the quality of grado products, a problem with audiophile sickness is never being satisfied and always wanting better. Sometimes a good thing doesn't need to be always improved and tinkered with.

That's the difference to me between quality, and just new technology.
Reply
post #225 of 486
8/3/05 at 2:47am
Since John owns Grado Corp., I know that no one can force him to match Sennheiser's HE90. But, since John knows that the HE90 is almost unanimously considered by Head-Fi members to be the world's best headphone, I hope that his pride will cause his company to rise above their second rate status; i.e., second to Sennheiser, and Sony, in the production of top-notch headphones.

Quote:
Originally Posted by deadlierchair
We'll see how it turns out. It will be awesome to see the new streetstyle Grados but beyond that I'm sure we'd like some things to look forward to. If John doesn't want to do it, then who's gonna force him? I say he should enjoy his family, but keep exploring that 'Grado' sound or maybe take a new approach - consumers like that.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphones (full-size)
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › An Interview With John Grado