[sling5s]

Thanks Purrin. May keep both.  I do love the lower treble that gives the music more aggressive bite to the music (especially guitar for rock).  But yes, not all the time, it gets fatiguing.  Which is why the JH13pro with JH-3A for reference, neutral sound.
 
thanks again

 

[fhuang]

has anyone tried a balanced ps1000?
 
Quote:

I think it is a very realistic approach to discover what a headphone is lacking, regardless if you're talking about the ps1000 or any other hi-end headphone. This is the only way to compensate with other components.
 
Like you suggested, purrin. Since day 1 with my headphones I have been in awe with the versatility of these cans. They sound stellar with laid back vocal music, but I decided to play some megadeth that I came across in my music library. I am no fan of metal, but these headphones literally rocked.
 
One thing I have found very useful is my woo wa22 headphone amplifier. It allows me to roll tubes to fit the exact signature of my headphones. Has anyone tried the ps1000 with balanced termination?

 

[dmac03]

That is a great question. Even though my amp is capable of balanced output, my ps1000's are just SE.
 
A new dac is my priority right now, but I am considering having mine re-cabled/terminated next year some time.

 

[sling5s]

I just got my ps1000. Comparing it to my rs1i.
I'm some what disappinted. It just sounds like a refined rs1 with jumbo pads. More balance, soundstage, bass and a little less lower level treble shrill.
But honestly, at this point it does not seem worth $1000 over the rs1i.

At this point how much will burn in improve the sound?
All my grados were purchased used so i don't know how much improvement to expect.

 

[purrin]

 
Quote:

I just got my ps1000. Comparing it to my rs1i.
I'm some what disappinted. It just sounds like a refined rs1 with jumbo pads. More balance, soundstage, bass and a little less lower level treble shrill.

 
It's called the law of diminishing returns. 

 The PS1000 can be more source dependent than amp dependent. Is your source up to snuff in being able to present sufficient detail that the PS1000 (but not the RS1) can resolve ?

But honestly, at this point it does not seem worth $1000 over the rs1i.

 

LOL. I myself certainly don't think PS1000s are worth more then $1000 over RS1! I bought my pair used. In fact, I wouldn't buy any Grado above RS2 new because they are just not worth it IMO, especially now with so many other great headphones available in the market. The PS1000 is really a niche product. Where else are you going to get, as in your words, "an RS1 with jumbo pads (with) more balance, soundstage, bass and a little less lower level treble shrill." John Grado knows this niche and has priced it accordingly.
 
Quote:

At this point how much will burn in improve the sound?
All my grados were purchased used so i don't know how much improvement to expect.

 
If your PS1000s are new, burn-in (which takes longer with PS/GS1000) will clear up the bass and bring out the articulation, details, and some speed. If you can track down all the PS1000 impressions on the boards, you'll realize that practically all owners of the PS1000 did not like them when they first got them. The PS1000s will improve noticeably. Do not doubt this!

 

[purrin]

Quote:

That is a great question. Even though my amp is capable of balanced output, my ps1000's are just SE.
 
A new dac is my priority right now, but I am considering having mine re-cabled/terminated next year some time.

 
I've never heard balanced PS1000, but have heard balanced RS2 and GS1000. Grado drivers don't seem to respond that much to going balanced. But if you decide you want to keep the PS1000 long term, and have found an amp that works with your set-up, why not eek out a final 3% out of your cans? Keep in mind balanced source required too!
 

 

[priest]

Quote:

 
Quote:

At this point how much will burn in improve the sound?
All my grados were purchased used so i don't know how much improvement to expect.

 
If your PS1000s are new, burn-in (which takes longer with PS/GS1000) will clear up the bass and bring out the articulation, details, and some speed. If you can track down all the PS1000 impressions on the boards, you'll realize that practically all owners of the PS1000 did not like them when they first got them. The PS1000s will improve noticeably. Do not doubt this!

Yes, I would suggest giving them some time before you come to any conclusions. But I agree that the PS1000 are ridiculously expensive (as are all Grados over the Prestige).

 

[sling5s]

Thanks for the advice.  I guess I'm so used to the forward midrange, that I prefer the RS1i presentation over the PS1000.  
The rs1i is definitely more fun but more fatiguing and the ps1000 definitely more balanced and less fatiguing.
If I didn't have the jh13pro and jh-3a on order, I'd definitely go with ps1000.  It's just a better balanced headphone. But as an addition to the jh13pro/jh-3a, i'm wondering if the ps1000 is not redundant. 
 

 

[dmac03]

Quote:

I just got my ps1000. Comparing it to my rs1i.
I'm some what disappinted. It just sounds like a refined rs1 with jumbo pads. More balance, soundstage, bass and a little less lower level treble shrill.
But honestly, at this point it does not seem worth $1000 over the rs1i.

At this point how much will burn in improve the sound?
All my grados were purchased used so i don't know how much improvement to expect.

I was a bit disappointed when I first received mine too. I thought to myself that it sucks I just spend $1700 on these. However, burn-in has helped a ton. At this point it is hard for me to listen to other headphones.

 

[sling5s]

My conclusion is: If I had to have one balanced/reference headphone to do it all, it would be the PS1000.
But as a complement (as in my case, to the JH13pro/JH-3A) the Grado RS1i is more suitable (especially for rock and acoustic).
 
It's up for sale. 

 

[Bilavideo]

Quote:

 
Quote:

I just got my ps1000. Comparing it to my rs1i.
I'm some what disappinted. It just sounds like a refined rs1 with jumbo pads. More balance, soundstage, bass and a little less lower level treble shrill.

 
It's called the law of diminishing returns. 

 The PS1000 can be more source dependent than amp dependent. Is your source up to snuff in being able to present sufficient detail that the PS1000 (but not the RS1) can resolve ?

But honestly, at this point it does not seem worth $1000 over the rs1i.

 

LOL. I myself certainly don't think PS1000s are worth more then $1000 over RS1! I bought my pair used. In fact, I wouldn't buy any Grado above RS2 new because they are just not worth it IMO, especially now with so many other great headphones available in the market. The PS1000 is really a niche product. Where else are you going to get, as in your words, "an RS1 with jumbo pads (with) more balance, soundstage, bass and a little less lower level treble shrill." John Grado knows this niche and has priced it accordingly.
 
Quote:

At this point how much will burn in improve the sound?
All my grados were purchased used so i don't know how much improvement to expect.

 
If your PS1000s are new, burn-in (which takes longer with PS/GS1000) will clear up the bass and bring out the articulation, details, and some speed. If you can track down all the PS1000 impressions on the boards, you'll realize that practically all owners of the PS1000 did not like them when they first got them. The PS1000s will improve noticeably. Do not doubt this!

I agree with this.  The PS1000 definitely sounded better after a healthy burn-in.  I also felt that a decent amp makes a solid difference.  They're fun unamped but they definitely play better when amped properly.

 

[purrin]

Bila..., you didn't sell your PS1000s did you? I saw you had them on the FS boards...

 

[purrin]

     Quote:

Thanks for the advice.  I guess I'm so used to the forward midrange, that I prefer the RS1i presentation over the PS1000.  
The rs1i is definitely more fun but more fatiguing and the ps1000 definitely more balanced and less fatiguing.
If I didn't have the jh13pro and jh-3a on order, I'd definitely go with ps1000.  It's just a better balanced headphone. But as an addition to the jh13pro/jh-3a, i'm wondering if the ps1000 is not redundant. 
 

As you said, with the JH13s you already have something redundant if you are looking for something balanced. You wouldn't be the only one staying with the RS1 with a more balanced can (JH13 in your case) in favor of PS1000. But I am wondering you are getting the best you can from the PS1000. It does some amazing things with the right source. And definitely try it with a decent amp as bilavideo said. Try tubes or something with a MOSFET output (WA6, AMB M3, Asgard, etc.)
 
I totally understand where you are coming from. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was selling mine a while back in favor of getting something more neutral like HD800, that is until I found a combination of parts that worked magic with the PS1000.

 

[saisunil]

Thanks for this thread ... I am going to pull our my PS1000 and burn then in more ... I need to find them the right amp to drive ... currently I have Head-Direct EF-5 with bunch of Old Stock tubes ...
 
My problem with them has been muddy / under-danped bass ...
 
Good / positive - no fanboy - realistic thread ...
Cheers
Sunil.

 

[priest]

Quote:

My problem with them has been muddy / under-danped bass ...
 

I can definitely attest that the bass tightens up at around the 100-150 hour mark, so don't let that dissuade you.