Grado GS1000 Comparison - Page 2

There seem to be a lot of disparaging opinions of the GS1000 floating around these forums. It almost makes me regret my purchase. Then I relax and actually listen to them, and all doubt has vanished.

Granted, I've upgraded from SR125s, and the GS1000i still need breaking in...

So far I don't see where all the hate is coming from.

That's what's important really. There's no reason to take my word on things that you know to be true or otherwise in your own listening.

Hell, nobody would like any Ultrasone or the Qualia at all if my word were law. That's the problem with talking about anything subjective on the internet.

I've heard the GS-1000s on a system with a badly matched amp and would agree with your comparison to your 580. I think your amp is a good match with the 580 in helping the attenuated highs for but a bad match with the GS-1000s which already have a hot top end.

I guess I'm fortunate to have the Melos with good tubes, a CD player with a tubed output and a turntable which all take that "digital" edge away and sibilance isn't a problem unless the recording really sucks. The HD600 is good for bad recordings, because the highs are veiled or layed back and don't make you pay for it, but overall the HD600 was boring and not on the same level as the GS-1000 to my ears, but I will always be a fan of the 580/600. I just couldn't get past the feeling of wanting more every time I listened to them.

The GS-1000s are definitely like the Qulias - they are amazing but don't appeal to everyone. However, so were the RS-1s and all Grados for that matter. The RS-1s have a jagged top end that can make certain frequencies come out and slap you. That's why many prefer the "old" style RS-1s because they are more balanced or put flat pads on them which ruin everything but the midrange... oh, but the midrange is nice . The RS-1 is far from accepted universally either.

So, I'd say Grado in general is a love or hate kind of thing.

Great review by the way, it's almost scientific in layout. I appreciate all the effort and detail put into it.

Anyone hearing unacceptable sibilance or harshness from their GS1000's should immediately cease and desist with their use and send the object of their dissatisfaction to me for a proper and ecological disposition.

PM for mailing address... don't wish for anyone to have to suffer.

That's very big of you for helping out

There is no doubt about appreciating somebody impressions and honesty behind it, thats the easy part. The dark side of the story when you are base your decision/opinion on it.
About bad matching. The huge, and I mean huge difference between say HD650 and GS1000 is that HD650 need to be pushed to be able to deliver and GS1000 have to be supported, cos what HD650 are able to deliver after been pushed, GS1000 have it as their basics. So, when you use the amp that created for pushing, what can you expect, even from USD2k amps.
Wrong energy leads to bad sinergy as one of results is sibliance and I am not even start about the source, which to me is the most important in the line.
So far I have had 2 OTL based amps, Aspen and Zana, which were good or great in many ways, but...After I upgraded to EAR first and short after my source I can easy say, STOP MAKING BAD RECORDS, but we all know the answer, arent we?

^ I've heard the GSs on many different set ups, and he is not exaggerating at all. Same goes for the HE-90 and other phones that don't have a good system. the HE-90 can sound painfully sibilant if not set up right, and that is the best headphone I've heard from a technical standpoint.

Some phones sound good on most amps, some can go from terrible to great. My K-1000 is an example. It sounds bright, thin and harsh on the wrong amp, and absolutely amazing on a very good amp.

But one thing that holds true is that the general sound signature will be the same, so you have an idea of what the GSs will sound like.

I think it is important to realize a few things. One is voltage, the other is current and finally raw power. Mechanics of the device. I know an SET amp that is really nice sounding but can't deliver much juice because the transformers used are really subpar, completely underpowered for the unit. Oh sure, the tubes based on minimum spec get what they need, but if a certain tube can have a peak voltage thrown across the plate that a certain transformer is only able to do in very very short spurts, the overall sound will be choked. Lack of dynamics, compression, clipping, loose bass and uncontrolled highs. I've heard this first hand while visiting at Wyetech Labs. I was able to hear the differences as 4 different transformers were swapped in. This was also based around 4 stock NOS tubes he had on hand which are not the high end boutique tubes one can get (Western Electric 300b's or KR's for instance). Anyhow, there are quite a few things that can affect the sound just based on the transformer and tubes used. We were dealing with high efficiency speakers (97db and 102 db) so power was not a problem. But the overall voltage delivered to the tubes and the output current was an issue and caused differences. I can't fathom why this wouldn't be true for headphones as well.

I've had the R10's four different times in my life. The first two times I had them for 1 month at a go. The second times I had them for 6 months at a go. Each time, 3 different units, two different versions, I felt that no amp I had on hand did them justice. Or, rather, I was ultimately disappointed in what this $4000 headphone was putting out there. Strident etched out highs, beautiful mids, pathetic, albeit tight, bass. So $4000 for an awesome midrange and a holographic sound? No thanks. I wasn't alone in thinking this, 3 seasons audiophiles heard them with 8 amps 4 front-ends and the outcome was the same. Ultimately, they were a let down.

What gives? Apparently, the SDS tailored for them is the ultimate amp and also the ultimate experience (or at least an ultimate) in dynamic headphone listening (if not all headphones). I corresponded with a few folks who felt the R10's were overrated, that is, until they heard them paired with an SDS at a meet. They were in awe. Well, if a single amp could transform this phone, if differences in amps can transform the speakers were listening to, then it goes to reason that certainly the right amp can make or break a headphone.

Yet, it also goes to reason that if one doesn't like the overall sound signature outright, that the perfect amp isn't going to magically change it. So if one does not like the presentation of the GS-1000's for instance vs. the RS-1's, then no amp is really going to convince someone that the GS-1000's are for them. That said, I used to feel that way about the HD650's and then I heard them with the old Max and I was blown away. Equinox cable + Max = bliss. Too bad the Senns clamp my head

Anyhow, besides the amp, there is also the person listening. The shape of the ear, the shape of the head, the sensitivity to pressure, frequencies etc mean people do hear differently and one person's king of headphones is another person's mediocre or even a turd

Well, as not electrical engineering skilled person I am not going argue about tech stuff, but...
How can you explain the fact that, and that's THE FACT to me, when I was using them with mentioned amps I always had the feeling, more or less, that some monster horse power were just pushing them, especially when the volume pot were up to around 11, where after 10 most troubles starting. And now, even I am going to push them quite high, nothing bad happens, only problem is that you cant take it for a long time, simply to loud.
After I upgrade my source the volume pot doesn't go up higher than 9, but if need it, no problem. But even in such set up all bad made CD's still just as bad and nothing can save you from such thing. GS1000 become open eye for me, but at the same time I was trying to solve the issue by buying SR225, SR325i, RS1 and as last one HP1000, to hear if that would make things more acceptable. Hell no, but it did help me to understand, again, that GS1000 are very special in many ways, where others don't even trying.
About the record quality. From the whole CD collection of my, which is very limited, I stop listen to a lot of stuff and that's not the sibilance only, its the way they were made. But the best part is the question, do I miss it? Yes and not. Yes, because a lot of classic rock have a very special place in my heart and no, because I started to appreciate way more other music, which I never even thought I would and GS1000 are huge part of such thing.
Your impressions aren't lie, exactly contrary, cos when folks who have same or similar system as you they can get a real picture what to expect. That's doesn't mean your system sucking, no, its just shows the reality of opposite world, when USD1k headphones cant deliver while USD 15 ear clips shine as an sun...

My Senn650 always sounds inferior to my Grados no matter what amp I use, what music I play. I even let all my friends at work try them on and see which one they like. the Grados comes out all top everytime(including SR80).

Very true. With the GS1000, you re-discover choirs and opera.

Blackmore you have a HP4! It is my dream dynamic phone amp, I imagine the Grado synergy is breathtaking!