PS1000s shipping - Page 7

i'm not sure EMU/total airhead + HD800 or PS1000 is the best division of funds anyway.

The prices have been lowering for the older models as the new i series is being rolled out but in terms of MSRP, the prices haven't dropped, but they haven't gone up either. The RS-1's had an MSRP of $695 when they were first released and they have the same now. The price didn't go up with inflation. So in effect, they are far cheaper now than 10 years ago.

ha ha - you got me there. Those are the ones that I use when sitting at the computer or kicking back in a chair (outside of the sweet spot of speakers) or when It's early or late and I have to be quiet (neighbors).

The main reason I liked the GS-1000s is if I want to go to bed and listen to music AND needed a large sound stage (symphonies, classical), I can listen to them laying down. Obviously, I use a pillow that keeps my head angled enough to make it work

I've actually listened to the K-1000s laying down, but that is far from ideal.

I take it you don't have a wife sleeping next to you? Myself, I'm relegated to using my trusted ER4Ps in bed....

The bass is authoritative but not out of control. It isn't as hard to tame as the PS-1's. Whereas many enjoyed the PS-1's bass, some found it overwhelming, particularly if coming from a leaner headphone. There is a distinct kinship with the style of bass of the GS-1000's and the PS-1's in lineage but not so much as with the HP-1's. That is, an exceptionally snappy leading edge but shortened decay. The PS-1000's offer a great attack but the decay is longer, the sound lingers. Some may feel this is exaggerated bass, others will feel this is realistic bass. Best way to sample this is with a test disc that has bass note tracks. It becomes very easy to tell which sounds more real.

It is more liquid than the GS-1000's but less liquid than the PS-1's. It therefore sounds more transparent than the PS-1's. As Sanderman indicates, switching up discs one gets to understand the disc very well, yes there is a fun sound throughout, but it is not a "heavy handed" colouration. It's funny to think that the PS-1's are heavily coloured when many (when first released) felt the RS-1's were heavily coloured in comparison and that the PS-1's were so very close to the HP-1's but with better bass and a faster sound. Then folks started to write that the GS-1000's were less coloured and more transparent. With the PS-1000's it sounds like they are not as dry as the GS-1000's but also they don't gloss over details, it merely seems to be a more organic sound. Again, a great way to test this is with a few discs where it is very apparent the music was very close mic'd or the opposite (test discs again are great for this) so that one can feel confident in the ability of the phones. This goes for any headphone.

One has to remember, at least for me, when commenting on differences, we are talking the last 10-15% of music here. When comparing Grados as a group, differences will be quite audible for those familiar with the headphones and one will easily be able to pick out variances; however, we are dealing with the same family of headphones. Those thinking that the difference between a GS-1000 and a PS-1000 will be akin to the difference between iBuds and Omega II's are going to be in for an unwelcome surprise.

What occurs then is that one will realize something like this: "hey, when I'm listening to headphone X, I'm never thinking about getting something better, I hear what I think is everything on the recording and I'm really really enjoying the music."

What is even better is something like this: "When I had headphone Z I thought it was everything I had always wanted, but I have a hard time listening to it now that I have headphone X. It seems to offer something more, hard to articulate what, but it sounds more musical, more true to life."

Like most big headphones, listening to them while lying down takes effort. I try to listen to my headphones in the position that Dr. Meier describes on his site. This helps when lying down because the pads are already pushed foward; however, they are big and like the R10's, or L3000's or other larger headphones, laying down and having a listen be tricky to get the positioning right.

With my last girlfriend, I didn't listen to music at night. Period. I guess I was still at a point where I felt like I was shutting her out by listening to music while sleeping next to her. So, I never even attempted to go there. I'd imagine being married it's a bit different because it's a long term thing and you tend to settle in a bit more.

But, yes, I am single and don't have to worry about stuff like that at the moment. I'm sure this privilege will go away before too long, so maybe I shouldn't pick a phone based on this.

Depending how things work out, I may still get a UE11 to cover all my needs with isolation and kicking back and decide on a single headphones K-1000 most likely unless the PS-1000 or HD800 can be the be all, end all for me. That is the ideal anyway.

Apart from Sanderman who else received their PS1000? Pray tell.

Say what?

People have begging in that thread for impressions, favorable and otherwise. So now you are you saying that "everyone that heard them" had negative impressions, but all of these people are afraid to post about it? So all of these same people posted false positive impressions instead, and then they sent the truth by PM only to you?

Thanks Zanth and Joe! I asked for possible negatives, you gave them, and now I'm actually getting more interested in these. I have always liked the bass on the GS-1000s.

To me the RS-1 and GS-1000 is more colored than the PS-1. I really like the PS-1 - I think it sounds colored because I am now used to the HP-1000. I am very glad to hear that the sound is not as liquid as the PS-1 but not as dry as the GS-1000, can I get an amen on that? That is exactly where I'd like it to be.

Anyway, great descriptions of the sound and comparisons. It seems like the PS-1000 might really be something special.

iamoneagain, you better hold on to your wallet or L3000 tightly I think this is pretty much what you were hoping for when you originally got the GS-1000s

I dont think the requirement of a five thousand dollar amp [+shipping] is much help to the argument of the SR007mk2 .

Absolutely not (I'm agreeing with you), but I am buying a Woo Audio 6 tonight.

edited to add: As for source, I might upgrade that in the next year.

I've corrected my post. It was misleading. I should read my posts before just leaving them out there like that. I apologize. I didn't mean to downplay the HD800.

I had 1 person contact me saying he was afraid to post a negative comment in fear of some backlash (which has happened before with other headphones as well) and 2 others willing to share the potential cons of the HD800. That's all. They weren't negative overall impressions, just possible negatives along with positive aspects.

I will keep their info confidential because I am also in fear of backlash and would like to be trusted in the future for keeping these things private. There is nothing major or groundbreaking. I had a pre-order on the HD800s and probed for some info other than the "these are perfect and can do no wrong" stuff which was not off base, it just didn't tell the whole story, but that's always the case up front. It's always down the road that you find out the little flaws as you listen more and those can usually be picked out even on a short listen usually as possible issues that might be a problem long term.

From all the impressions of the HD800 and PS-1000 and PMs, I can say they are both very amazing phones... but not absolutely perfect (which should not be a suprise to anyone at this point)... that is all

Good point. But who knows what will be available five years from now?

edited to add: Especially if the ring driver becomes a new standard.

edit 2: And, correct me if I'm wrong, the RS-1 is generally considered in the league of the HD650, which is about half the price of the RS-1. Not that that means that (that that that, heh) there aren't people who consider the RS-1 to be worth twice the HD650, but still...