An Interview With John Grado - Page 16

Sennheiser's Orpheus HE90 is *old technology*, and what I'm hoping is that Grado will use new technology to produce a headphone that's better than the old technology HE90, although at a lower price. But, it's doubtful that Grado is really up to the challenge. Seems that they just want to sit back on their laurels, and keep on punching out their same old headphones. I suppose that their corporate motto is "lets just play it safe." Too bad for the rest of us.

Mikeg,

Is it that you don't like grados or something?

Why do you jump to these conclusions, most people who enjoy what they have aren't complaining about the companies ethic or what they do.

You can't compare grado to sennheiser, particuarly because sennhesiser is a major industry player, though thye do have audiophile products, obvfiously you know it's not their only application. They are enabled to take these risks, if they don't do well, they end production anyways. There isn't a legacy behind sennheisisers like there are with grado stuff. I think it's special the way it is.

The sitting back on their laurels thing i think is exageraated, but totally redoing their entire line, according to what i understand is saying their is a problem with a particular product. When a product is doing well, people like it the way it is, and buy it alot, doesn't it seem as if they are doing the right thing?

We are the kinds of customers for grado, and probablly alot of people who aren't posting here, competing with sennheiser probablly is the last thing on johns mind, for a damn good reason.

Just to add, he didn't leave out making a statement product in the interview as an impossiblity, they might try and make another top dog headphone, but why must it be to say they are the best? I think the competition is what's wrong, and maybe you call it complacent but they are satisfying a good part of highend headphones by continuning their tried and true headphones. I'm sure he can care less if we think he90s are the best, and that's still just an opinion anyways.

It's interesting hearing the opinions of what John Grado should do with his company. Even though some of it's criticism, it's earnest, and shows that Grado Labs in its current state has rabid fans chomping at the bit.

The rational fan in me wants to see Grado Labs become an international force with a larger portfolio of amazing products that rival the best the biggest players have to offer. And that Grado's products garner more mainstream acceptance. Grado headphones become better finished and at lower price points.

The other part of me loves that Grado Labs is a smaller company that produces retro looking headphones out of a house in Brooklyn. And the headphones really look like they were made by a few dudes in a basement and i dig that it screams "I wasn't built on a massive assembly line in Taiwan." This part of me loves the fact that John Grado doesn't release new products in cynical yearly intervals just to sell something 'new' to a jaded market. When the product decides it's ready, John will sell it.

Both views have merit, but from the sound of the interview, John Grado sounds like he knows what he wants out of work and life, he's attained it, and he's satisfied. That's really admirable and I can't fault him for it. That's exactly what I want for myself.

Why? National pride? Bragging rights? Niether of those put food on the table.

Did it ever occur to you that there's a reason Sony stopped producing the R10 and Sennheiser stopped producing the HE90? Despite your assumptions on the economics of the matter, perhaps the business of selling $3000 limited-run headphones isn't really all that profitable.

Sure, I think it'd be cool if the "HE90 killers" were hand-made right in Brooklyn, but it's not my nights and weekends that would need to be sacrificed, it's John Grado's.

You mean he should *hire* someone to take on this responsibility. Do you have any idea what it takes to research & develop a product like what you're describing?

I assume you have pretty good ears, and you must have a few bucks laying around that you could afford all that gear in your profile...how about you hire a few engineers and create the world's greatest headphones yourself Mr. Armchair Audio Engineer...you got the "gumption to take on this challenge" and risk your retirement fund?

Living to please other people is a dangerous, fruitless game. If I had the choice of being Van Gogh or a happy but unknown 18th century portrait painter who supported his family, I'd take the portrait painter gig any day. You say John Grado is too lazy, cowardly, or incompetent to try to "beat the HE90"...I say he's wise enough to know not to bother.

I've just read this entire thread, and what a fun one at that! I can see where it really would represent one of those "special moments" in life that Jason described so well. Thanks, John, for taking the time and being so candid. And thanks, Jason, for sharing it all with us and giving us a front row seat.

this place is evil, i tell you!!

and zanth.. you are a BAD, BAD man!!!

since i found this site a few weeks ago, i got the super.fi pros, followed by MS-1 two weeks ago. now i am feeling the urge to get the RS-1 & RA-1 pair.

do i fight that urge or do i just give in and start saving??



thanks (zanth & john grado) for making my days more enjoyable..

Tempted to Upgrade!

Upon knowing that John will release nothing new in the near future (except the street-style phone), I'm tempted to have an upgrade from the MS-1 to SR-325i just because it is the latest model of the Grado's line and it utilises (supposedly) the same technology of the PS-1!

One issue that wasn't discussed in the interview is the future of Grado Labs. As an admirer and user of their products, one of my concerns is how Grado Labs is going to continue to grow and innovate.

It seems that Joseph Grado produced the HP series to his own specifications, tuning it by ear to make it sound the way he wanted it to. Similarly, John Grado designed the current line by ear and to his own specs. The results speak for themselves, from the SR60 to the RS-1 and also the PS-1.

One question then is who, if anyone, is being groomed to take over Grado Labs the way John took over from Joseph. Granted, it is probably still too early to raise this issue, but due to the relatively small size and nature of the company, this is critical to the continued success of the company.

Just to put some things I feel in perspective about Grado & Sennheiser. I have been using the SR325i for a month now and persuaded my roommate who did not want to spend large amounts but wants a can to listen to a lot of metal to buy an SR60. He received it yesterday and I sat down with it for an hour or so today just to see how it compared to my SR325i and the results were absolutely shocking.

The SR60 had a little more forward presentation for metal and rock music and somehow I was vastly enjoying the music from it than from my SR325i. The 325i added more depth to music but was receded and was NOT as fun and interesting as the SR60 and I just cant figure out where did my extra $230 go. I wanted my Sr325i to be significantly better, but instead, all it did was add a little more depth and ear-piercing highs, while the SR60 was SO MUCH fun to listen to. Even though I am evidently not happy with my 325i, it goes out to say something great about Grado.

Unlike any other brand, John Grado is very particular and devoted to what he does and i have no doubt that making extremely good headphones is his true passion, for if it was not, he would not have made the cheap Sr60 sound so good. Instead he would have done what the other money minded capitalists like Sennheiser, sony etc. do, i.e. make cheap crappie sounding crap for the lesser priced models. The SR60 was released 10 years ago and imagine at that time when all other companies were making dung headphones for that price, John released the SR60. In effect, we owe our gratitude to him for having raised the standard so that other $-dwellers like Senns & Sony are forced today to make good stuff even in the lower price-range.

If a small company like Grado can do this much, I am mighty sure that with all the money in the world, a company like Senn. can surely ace it. But they won't ever make a headphone that costs $70 perform 95% of a model that costs $300 and 85% of one that costs $700. So, I request all those folks that criticize John Grado to ponder and analyze matter a little more before churning out opinions.

They better damn well keep on punching out the same old headphones! Because those headphones are, in my opinion, stunningly amazing.

Why improve a design that is already as good as can be?

Why do they need to say they've created the worlds best headphones?

Rob.

Saving? That's what credit cards are for.

For the same reasons that Sennheiser produced the HE90, and Sony produced the R10. Company pride, and company prestige. IMHO, these are important qualities for outstanding companies, as well as for outstanding teams. BTW, there was a hint that John is considering the development of a combo-dynamic/electrostatic headphone. I hope that he listens closely to an HE90, during the time that his company proceeds with such an exciting development, if they do.

Although I do agree with you partly, I do not consider it a necessity. Sennheiser & sony are big players. Just because Microsoft does something fancy (and they can totally afford to loose all the money they put into it), it doesn't require Apple, Linux, etc. do something for just the sake of excelling it and by not doing so, it doesn't mean that they have failed. As an average Joe, i really don't care if Grado makes a $3000 ultimate headphone, 'coz I won't be able to buy it. i would rather that they spend that time meaningfully in improving/inventing products for the larger purpose. Its just my views..

Agreed, although I would like to see Grado beef up their woody cans to more properly fit their prices. For $700 for the RS1's, they should still have that wooden case, even if it's not of premium wood (still a nice touch). And the RS2's should come with the extension cable or mini adaptor, at least. Basically, the top of the line packages could be a little more robust, but I find that despite my long buried thread on making a uberstatement can, Grado already has their version of what's high end, but it's a bit easier to attain(i.e. PS1's and used HP series models go for around $1k+, other companies' cans are usually 3x that). Still though, if Grado ever wants to go all out, all power to them. Of course, I'm quite content with where they are now.

,
Abe

FYI, whey RS-1's came with the wooden case, they didn't come with an extension cable or mini-adaptor that they include today.