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Oh no! My Grado HF-2s falling apart

post #1 of 67
10/23/09 at 5:55pm
Thread Starter 
Just a something to be careful about... As HF-2 owners know, the lip that holds the ear pads extends a bit further from the wooden body compared to the RS/GS series of headphones. This may cause some complications.

I just found this out when I pulled off the ear pads. The pieces were evidently trapped in place for a while. I'm very sure I didn't cause this, as breakage is in the direction opposite of which I pulled the pad.

This appears to be some sort of wood fatigue. If you look toward the right of the picture you can so another chunk of wood that looks to be crumbling apart. It looks like hair or dust on the lens; but it isn't, it's a sort of a stress fracture.



I'm don't know if I should get some wood glue and put it back together myself or send it back to Grado. These have been my primary headphones every day since I got them and I really don't want to be without them, even for a few weeks. I doubt Grado would be able to repair and turn these around quickly since the wood housing and aluminum cap are so non-standard compared to the rest of their line. I did just get my GS-1000s in today though!
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post #2 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:02pm
I heard a rumor that some guy in brooklyn makes grados in his basement.
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post #3 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:02pm
:O I really need to take care of mine then.
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post #4 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:04pm
Send them back to Grado, I wouldn't try to repair them yourself because they may refuse warranty with a DIY repair.
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post #5 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:08pm
that sucks.
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post #6 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by thechungster View Post
:O I really need to take care of mine then.
Yup, yup, yup. Now that I think of it, I may have inadvertently caused the fatigue when falling asleep with them on (between my head and pillow). I had no problems ever with my RS-2s, but the design with the rather thin lip that extends about a 1/4" of an inch out is more fragile.

If anything, it's bad design and engineering.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericj View Post
I heard a rumor that some guy in brooklyn makes grados in his basement.
LOL. I've visited the website too. This is well known. Some !@#itty design elements in their products, but I love the sound!
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post #7 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:16pm
Holy crap.
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post #8 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by purrin View Post
Yup, yup, yup. Now that I think of it, I may have inadvertently caused the fatigue when falling asleep with them on (between my head and pillow). I had no problems ever with my RS-2s, but the design with the rather thin lip that extends about a 1/4" of an inch out is more fragile.

If anything, it's bad design and engineering.



LOL. I've visited the website too. This is well known. Some !@#itty design elements in their products, but I love the sound!
You don't sound like you are very bothered by the damage.
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post #9 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcf View Post
You don't sound like you are very bothered by the damage.
Na... Upon closer inspection, it's actually a pretty easy repair (i've done similar repair work in other furniture related projects), as long as the rest of the wood doesn't crumble off. Just trying to decide if I am going to send them back as I will miss them for a few weeks. Probably not because the warranty period is one year anyways.

I was worried for a while as the HF-2s are the only Grados which I have been 100% completely satisfied in terms of sound balance (nice bass and head doesn't hurt even the slightest after long listening sessions).
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post #10 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by purrin View Post
Yup, yup, yup. Now that I think of it, I may have inadvertently caused the fatigue when falling asleep with them on (between my head and pillow). I had no problems ever with my RS-2s, but the design with the rather thin lip that extends about a 1/4" of an inch out is more fragile.

If anything, it's bad design and engineering.



LOL. I've visited the website too. This is well known. Some !@#itty design elements in their products, but I love the sound!
I guess that was the problem. I just checked mine and the wood seems fine. Bare in mind that I've only owned these for a week and 3 days

Edit: Has the glue cracked off there as well?
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post #11 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:39pm
Send them in if there under warranty. no headphone should crumble.
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post #12 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by purrin View Post
Na... Upon closer inspection, it's actually a pretty easy repair (i've done similar repair work in other furniture related projects), as long as the rest of the wood doesn't crumble off. Just trying to decide if I am going to send them back as I will miss them for a few weeks. Probably not because the warranty period is one year anyways.

I was worried for a while as the HF-2s are the only Grados which I have been 100% completely satisfied in terms of sound balance (nice bass and head doesn't hurt even the slightest after long listening sessions).
You are definitely a better man than me! I would have been pissed off and got on the phone to Grado on the spot.
You should call them anyway.
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post #13 of 67
10/23/09 at 6:55pm
You should send them back. Looks like a bad piece of wood to me, and if it's cracking elsewhere, you could wind up with the whole thing falling off. Also, cracks and glue and a loose fitting driver, or air space in there, or air getting out of the chamber will all have an affect on the sound. It needs to be a solid piece of wood..
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post #14 of 67
10/23/09 at 7:04pm
aren't you worried about the sound...with the mahogany cracked or compromised the whole phone is trash as far as I'd be concerned. Also that does not look like mahogany...looks more like a composite...hmm.
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post #15 of 67
10/23/09 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhythmdevils View Post
You should send them back. Looks like a bad piece of wood to me, and if it's cracking elsewhere, you could wind up with the whole thing falling off. Also, cracks and glue and a loose fitting driver, or air space in there, or air getting out of the chamber will all have an affect on the sound. It needs to be a solid piece of wood..
Good points and thank you! I've collected the parts and will send an e-mail to Grado to see if they will repair it. Based on the design of the lip on the wooden housing, I have a feeling I will not be the only one calling.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drumonron View Post
Also that does not look like mahogany...looks more like a composite...hmm.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that comment. After spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars on Grado products, I have developed the reasonable expectation of sonic bliss with a 75% chance of a something falling apart, fitting loose, etc.
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