The Grado HF-2 Review/Comparison Thread - Page 23

Having to wait until after the 150 hour mark for burn-in changes to take effect would make me nervous.

I'm going to be very curious to actually try these out. It sounds like they're from the same 'family' as the HF-1.

I don't really agree actually, they don't really sound like anything I've heard from John Grado before. Although I don't know the PS1 that well, this is just from memory.

I've seen them compared to PS-1's, but since I haven't heard PS-1's myself, it isn't very useful a comparison for me. I've heard they have less bass quantity, but beyond that, there haven't been too many specifics.

If they resolve as well as RS-1's, I think I'll be happy. It sounds as though they've got more soundstage than the standard production Grados. I'm curious about their midrange, more than anything else. The soundstage comments cause me to wonder about whether the midrange of the HF-2 is less forward.

I've heard encouraging comments about their imaging and the space between instruments, but like the soundstage/midrange relationship, it makes me wonder whether they accomplish these feats without losing the Grado house sound. Everyone says they retain the Grado magic, so there's more excitement than trepidation in my anticipation to hear them. It's actually kind of amazing to me that there isn't a really solid review out there yet (at least that I'm aware of).

I don't really expect them to have the famed PS-1 treble sparkle. Probably not the same weight to instruments, either.

you might be on to something there, about the midrange, it's funny, I was just thinking it may be a bit back farther in the mix. I wouldn't say recessed though. It's very clear. I would say that everything is back farther than other grados. They sound old to me, like some comfortable old shoe that you put on and it just fits. What you said about the PS1 is the same as my memory. These sounded more like that out of the box, but now they don't have that bass slam, and I wouldn't say they are sparkley, or have lots of weight to instruments. I would describe them as clean, crisp, laid back, and silky. Sounding crisp and also laid back is quite unique I must say...

exactly...to me they sound like the best of both worlds. tone of the RS1 while having that crisp sound of the 325i. i don't how he did it, but it's quite unique. they seem to do acoustic just as well as the 325i without sounding as bright. and they rock just as hard as either, just with a slightly darker tone. as far as refinement, it's almost up there with the RS1. the midrange sounds just as good if not better than the RS1 to me, but the soundstage hasn't open up for me yet though.

rhythmdevils, you've helped to clarify some things for me that I'd noticed in some reviews, but hadn't really consciously connected. Thanks for making the effort to help me to narrow in on some of their characteristics that I feel haven't been articulated very well in the reviews.

What you said about how everything sounds a little further back in the mix makes sense. I could see how this could bother some people who are hooked on the very forward presentation, but for me, it sounds like it might be perfect. I appreciated the RS-1 for having a little more soundstage than some of the other production Grados.

Then again, I felt like the HF-1 had a little more soundstage than what I was expecting, but that it might have been the result of the mids being a little recessed in comparison to what I was used to from Grado. I'm really hoping that the HF-2's mids aren't recessed, or if they are, that they're in balance with the rest of the sound, which seems to be what you're observing.

I'll have to give some more thought to what it is about the HF-1's mids that I'm thinking of, as I'm not sure whether 'recessed' is the right description.

The comments you made about how they're less sparkley and have less weight to the instruments, while having a clean/crisp but silky sound, seems to be their hallmark. I've heard a couple of others make a similar observation. It's a very intriguing description.

I kinda wish they had the weight that I've heard associated with the PS-1's, but without having personally heard either can, it's too abstract for me to really comment on.

You articulated what I've been trying to describe, but was failing to put into words.

It's going to bother me a bit if they lack the same level of refinement of the RS-1.

There's something about the liquidity of the MS-2i that I used to have that seems unique to the metal Grado's. There's a type of smooth coherence throughout the frequency range compared to the woodies. I think it might have to do with speed and lack of resonance. I hope that the HF-2 has that coherence without losing the timbre and organic quality that is characteristic of the woodies.

don't worry about the refinement. it's pretty much up there. do note that mines is not fully burnt in yet.

any more hf-2s received...at least....I think...124 out there now, correct....??

I think there are more than 124 out there since I have #125, but I don't know what the exact count is...

Mine are settling in nicely. I'm looking forward to see how they open up.

Got mine today, but haven't even opened the box yet, at least the pizza box. I unpacked them, but been busy, busy, busy today.

Got some flats with them, so I can try on the HF-2 and SR-225 to see what all the fuss is about.

I received these today at my house in Houston, Texas, but I am in New Jersey! Too bad...I will get to hear them for the first time in little under 3 weeks though. Its going to be a tough wait.

I received #167 today (ordered 5/19 PM).

That sucks! Hope the time passes quickly for you...