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Do you consider any Grado headphone as High-end?

post #1 of 60
7/26/08 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 
I had thought to start this thread as a poll including the usual suspects like PS-1, HP-1000 (HP-2 and HP-1), GS-1000, RS-1... but for my lack of knowledge managing it to allow multiple answers, just in case someone thought several models qualified, then I've decided to leave it as is.

I've never been a Grado fan, nor found the models I knew (up to RS-1) specially interesting or genuinely high-end. It's been recently that I've been exposed to the PS-1 and HP-2. I still have to listen to the GS-1000.

I won't post my thoughts in detail about those phones at this moment, eventually I might do, but I find both rather interesting and with some performance features which IMHO would place them in the HE category, no matter which was their original MSRP or the prices they reach nowadays. I don't think HE is a matter of price, weight, brand or size.

What's your take?

Rgrds
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post #2 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:02am
well, a balanced HD650 with a good amp/source is considered high end, so why not a pair of headphones that cost more than that? I guess it does come down to sources in headphone, as there are a few choices for really expensive stuff. If you don't include grados, then you are only left with out of production headphones (bar a few, but then why include them and not grado?)
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post #3 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:09am
I consider the RS-1, PS-1, HP-1,2 and even the modded HF-1 to be high end. All of them scale up to the higher end amps. I don't particularly care for the 325i but I don't see anyone using them with higher end amps (in my experience at least).
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post #4 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:15am
What about alessandro? would you consider the MSPro to be high end?
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post #5 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:18am
I consider the RS-2 and higher to be high end. For certain music and gear I find the RS-2 sounds better than the RS-1. Both the RS-1 and RS-2 are IMO much better sounding than the GS1000 which I have never cared for.

The modded HF-1 sounds superb and should be given an serious listen.
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post #6 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:35am
"I consider the RS-1, PS-1, HP-1,2 and even the modded HF-1 to be high end. All of them scale up to the higher end amps."

Yes. The RS-1's get better and better as the rest of the system improves.

Now a pair of balanced RS-1's really intrigue me.


Mitch
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post #7 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gautam View Post
What about alessandro? would you consider the MSPro to be high end?
I probably should have included the MS-Pro and the RS-2 in my post.
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post #8 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tyrion View Post
I probably should have included the MS-Pro and the RS-2 in my post.
hehe, thanks. btw, what "mods" are you talking about for the HF-1. i was thinking of doing some mods on my ms2i, as soon as i get them that is.
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post #9 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:47am
I have never heard the vintage Grado stuff, but I think everything starting with the RS2 in the current line-up could be considered high-end. And I would include the MS2 and Pro Allesandros too. And in this pretty large group my fave was the dragon-recabled RS2s - pretty close to perfect in the Grado world imo.
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post #10 of 60
7/26/08 at 11:47am
I've heard the [new] RS-1 and GS-1000. I can consider them "high-end" but not think of them as "genuinely-high-end". There's difference between that in my book.

Right now, my only interest in the Grado line-up is the PS1. And maybe... the vintage RS-1 if anything.

Back to the question I can think of the HP1000s, vintage RS-1, and PS1 as high-end headphones.
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post #11 of 60
7/26/08 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Akabeth View Post
I've heard the [new] RS-1 and GS-1000. I can consider them "high-end" but not think of them as "genuinely-high-end". There's difference between that in my book.

Right now, my only interest in the Grado line-up is the PS1. And maybe... the vintage RS-1 if anything.

Back to the question I can think of the HP1000s, vintage RS-1, and PS1 as high-end headphones.
Would you care to elaborate a bit more, please?

I think we have some lack of consensus determining what's and what is not HE. Some seem to think that it's a matter of price, little availability or other factors other than pure performance. I find interesting that the only commented condition to qualify as HE has been "up-scalabilty" of their sound mated with HE amps, but I still have to find any headphone, even mid-fi one, that doesn't sound better when paired with an outstanding amp.

I'd be thankful if all you could give some more comments on why you think from RS-2 and up the Grados are HE, or for that matter, why the SR-225 aren't. BTW do you think HD-600 and K701 are High-End?

Rgrds
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post #12 of 60
7/26/08 at 3:43pm
Good luck finding a consensus. If everyone agrees it's based on performance then it's still a gray area. It must be completely flat and transparent or is it acceptable to enhance some frequencies and colorize? The other factors are easier to measure but the sound.. Very subjective.

Would it help to think of other categories? What makes a car high-end, clothes, etc..

Workmanship? Usually I think. Performance, not always. Price and availability, almost always. Or maybe it can't be compared in this way. Just throwing it out here.

I personally love the Grado sound. No real point of reference since I haven't heard many other phones of decent quality except the ER-4p's which I never got super excited about. And I admit that a big factor in my recent purchase of the RS-1's is the wood housing. I find them incredibly sexy for some reason. I also want to experience the difference between them and my SR-225's.
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post #13 of 60
7/26/08 at 6:27pm
Imo the RS1 and GS1000 are very close, even if not quite there.
But from what I have read (no personal experience) I am quite confident that the HP1000 and PS1 are "there". Especially when running balanced.
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post #14 of 60
7/26/08 at 10:18pm
Is it the offendibility (TM) of the 325's that don't quality it as high end? Anyone that is commenting should say the line that they draw as high end with other companies as to provide a point of comparison.
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post #15 of 60
7/26/08 at 10:36pm
It's pretty tough to argue HP1000 is not high-end and maybe a bit less tough to argue about RS-1.
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