[joseph69]

  Yes the PS1000e sounds more spacious but it's an effect of the pads, not the ''hybrid'' cups, put the SR80e flat pads on the PS1000e and it's gone, put the big pads on the SR80e and ..... you got the point, listening to both of them without pads at all they sound identical.
Looking at the drivers they are also identical.
Reading in the Grado site how much different the published specs are between the SR80e and the PS1000e makes me redefine the word ''marketing''.

 
I was simply suggesting to you when replied to your first post by saying "Maybe you just prefer the 80e, no?" which is fine…you like what you like, but they are two totally different HP designs and the wood/aluminum does make the difference in their sound.
There is no need to question me sarcastically as you did buy saying "Really? Whats so different?" when apparently you didn't know what a "hybrid" design was (which is fine) and I was bringing out a fact…so slow yourself down and do what @paulchiu suggested if you don't like them. Also they need to burn-in for at least 40hrs until you'll hear them evolve and probably won't reach their full potential for a couple of hundred hours, so  again, I was trying to help you so theres no reason to take your disappointment out on anyone here (me). Just relax and listen to them exclusively for a good amount of time, then go back to your 80e and then make your decision. And don't expect the PS1Ke to sound 18x better because of their price...as with anything in audio.

 

[DBX1]

Oh no, my SR80e are plastic and my PS1000e are ''hybrid'' as you say, sounds catchy, still, the operation principle between the two remains the same no matter what unobdanium material used.
You think that slapping a driver from a 80$ pair of headphones in a shiny ''hybrid'' cup makes a 1800$ worth of headphones?
But yeah, they LOOK different, I don't know about you but I bought them to listen to music, I buy paintings to look at.

I can tell you that the SR325 sounds differnt from the RS1i, which sounds confined compared to the GS1000e, which all three sounds completley different compared to the PS1000e.

No way would I believe the SR80s sound like the PS1000e. I would have to hear it before I believe it.

 

[joseph69]

I can tell you that the SR325 sounds differnt from the RS1i, which sounds confined compared to the GS1000e, which all three sounds completley different compared to the PS1000e.

No way would I believe the SR80s sound like the PS1000e. I would have to hear it before I believe it.

I was just looking at your profile…what does PS-1000e "Signature Edition" mean?
Thanks. 

 

[krud484]

It's oddly funny that this past weekend, I messed around with the cushions on my SR 80 with the pink drivers. I tried the S-cush, L-cush, tape mod, and then G cush for fun. The S cushion had the smallest soundstage but the most forward bass presence. The L cushion stock has a little too much sharpness in the treble for my ears. The tape mod performed much better. The spacing in the mids is just right and not thin, it actually has impact. Bass is clean and tight. The G cushion does offer better separation, but the frequency response just doesn't allow the music to breath enough, there's little air. Bass takes a drastic hit. The music just sounds spread thin, no impact.

 

[514077]

 

   
This amp is good enough to drive both headphones, since both cans have the same impedance and sensitivity.
That said, if your music is classical, you should get much greater space and low end power with the PS1000e over the SR80e with your amp.  If not, something is wrong in the equation.
Could well be the PS1000e sample that you have is bad.  Since you recently bought it, a refund or exchange should not be an issue.

I mostly listen to classical, I'm a professional musician (cello).
Yes the PS1000e sounds more spacious but it's an effect of the pads, not the ''hybrid'' cups, put the SR80e flat pads on the PS1000e and it's gone, put the big pads on the SR80e and ..... you got the point, listening to both of them without pads at all they sound identical.
Looking at the drivers they are also identical.
Reading in the Grado site how much different the published specs are between the SR80e and the PS1000e makes me redefine the word ''marketing''.

Possible you need a little burn-in??  I loaned my son my 1KEs for a short time on condition he burned them in while not in use.  Got back a different set after his 325s were repaired.
Believe me; I've had the 325i, 80 and now the 1KE and they're all individual.  Give them a longer chance.

 

[shigzeo]

 
Possible you need a little burn-in??  I loaned my son my 1KEs for a short time on condition he burned them in while not in use.  Got back a different set after his 325s were repaired.
Believe me; I've had the 325i, 80 and now the 1KE and they're all individual.  Give them a longer chance.

Pads make a huge difference. Here's an old, and embarrassing, thread I made back in my one-handed typing days. In fact, it is probably one of the first I completed before or after wracking up 50 posts. It is about the DT880 with DT770 pads and vice versa. 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/220082/darth-r2-dt880-bass-monster

 

[JopharVorin]

   
I was simply suggesting to you when replied to your first post by saying "Maybe you just prefer the 80e, no?" which is fine…you like what you like, but they are two totally different HP designs and the wood/aluminum does make the difference in their sound.
There is no need to question me sarcastically as you did buy saying "Really? Whats so different?" when apparently you didn't know what a "hybrid" design was (which is fine) and I was bringing out a fact…so slow yourself down and do what @paulchiu suggested if you don't like them. Also they need to burn-in for at least 40hrs until you'll hear them evolve and probably won't reach their full potential for a couple of hundred hours, so  again, I was trying to help you so theres no reason to take your disappointment out on anyone here (me). Just relax and listen to them exclusively for a good amount of time, then go back to your 80e and then make your decision. And don't expect the PS1Ke to sound 18x better because of their price...as with anything in audio.

Please accept my apologies if you think that I sounded aggressive, that was not my intention.
Calling these ''hybrid'' is a bit of a stretch, you make them look like something ''special'', which in my point of view are not, it's a wood tube glued in a aluminum tube, what this has to do with true hybrid composite materials?
 

I can tell you that the SR325 sounds differnt from the RS1i, which sounds confined compared to the GS1000e, which all three sounds completley different compared to the PS1000e.

No way would I believe the SR80s sound like the PS1000e. I would have to hear it before I believe it.

Agree, they sound different, What I'm saying is that that difference in the perceived sound signature comes mostly from the different pads used between the various models and not from different/better/more expensive to build (and with some serious R&D behind them) drivers.
 

  It's oddly funny that this past weekend, I messed around with the cushions on my SR 80 with the pink drivers. I tried the S-cush, L-cush, tape mod, and then G cush for fun. The S cushion had the smallest soundstage but the most forward bass presence. The L cushion stock has a little too much sharpness in the treble for my ears. The tape mod performed much better. The spacing in the mids is just right and not thin, it actually has impact. Bass is clean and tight. The G cushion does offer better separation, but the frequency response just doesn't allow the music to breath enough, there's little air. Bass takes a drastic hit. The music just sounds spread thin, no impact.

 
Listen to all of them without pads at all, how ''different'' or ''alike'' they sound?
 

 
Possible you need a little burn-in??  I loaned my son my 1KEs for a short time on condition he burned them in while not in use.  Got back a different set after his 325s were repaired.
Believe me; I've had the 325i, 80 and now the 1KE and they're all individual.  Give them a longer chance.

 
I have maybe 40-50 hours on them, most of their ''transformation'' happened during the first 4-5 hours which was clearly apparent.
 
 

 
Pads make a huge difference. Here's an old, and embarrassing, thread I made back in my one-handed typing days. In fact, it is probably one of the first I completed before or after wracking up 50 posts. It is about the DT880 with DT770 pads and vice versa. 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/220082/darth-r2-dt880-bass-monster

 
Exactly my point.
The thing is, I believe these are way overpriced and it's a bit of a surprise to me that people buy these 1800$ headphones with the same drivers as in a 80$ pair of headphones and then praise about them.
You can't throw a Skoda engine in a RS8 chassis and call it a supercar.
On the other hand, why not, the ''demonstrated'' shiny pair of ''hybrid'' cups often followed by the statement of it's price tag is impressive as is a RS8 with a Skoda engine cruising 10 miles/hour because that's all it can do.
I guess It's the human nature to defend the choices made and money spend and make a laugh of anyone else which thinks otherwise, I honestly get it, the ''kings new clothes''.

 

[paulchiu]

 
The thing is, I believe these are way overpriced and it's a bit of a surprise to me that people buy these 1800$ headphones with the same drivers as in a 80$ pair of headphones and then praise about them.

 
The drivers in the SR80 are 44mm drivers and the PS1000e have 50mm drivers.
You can take off the cups and measure them to see this.

 

[MacedonianHero]

The drivers in the SR80 are 44mm drivers and the PS1000e have 50mm drivers.
You can take off the cups and measure them to see this.

And while the sr80s offer outstanding value, the ps1000s bring things to a whole new level. Do they both sound like Grados? Sure, but detail retrieval, imaging, bass ,mids, etc are on a different plain. But then again, using the same entry level amp/source etc for them (PS1000) is not ideal.

 

[paulchiu]

And while the sr80s offer outstanding value, the ps1000s bring things to a whole new level. Do they both sound like Grados? Sure, but detail retrieval, imaging, bass ,mids, etc are on a different plain. But then again, using the same entry level amp/source etc for them (PS1000) is not ideal.

 
Yes!  Something like the Headamp GSX-Mk2 will make the PS1000e sing.
The 50mm Grados scale beautifully with better source and amplification.
The other series are great with just an iPhone but may not reveal more with TOL gear.

 

[stacker45]

  Please accept my apologies if you think that I sounded aggressive, that was not my intention.
Calling these ''hybrid'' is a bit of a stretch, you make them look like something ''special'', which in my point of view are not, it's a wood tube glued in a aluminum tube, what this has to do with true hybrid composite materials?
 
Agree, they sound different, What I'm saying is that that difference in the perceived sound signature comes mostly from the different pads used between the various models and not from different/better/more expensive to build (and with some serious R&D behind them) drivers.
 
 
Listen to all of them without pads at all, how ''different'' or ''alike'' they sound?
 
 
I have maybe 40-50 hours on them, most of their ''transformation'' happened during the first 4-5 hours which was clearly apparent.
 
 
 
Exactly my point.
The thing is, I believe these are way overpriced and it's a bit of a surprise to me that people buy these 1800$ headphones with the same drivers as in a 80$ pair of headphones and then praise about them.
You can't throw a Skoda engine in a RS8 chassis and call it a supercar.
On the other hand, why not, the ''demonstrated'' shiny pair of ''hybrid'' cups often followed by the statement of it's price tag is impressive as is a RS8 with a Skoda engine cruising 10 miles/hour because that's all it can do.
I guess It's the human nature to defend the choices made and money spend and make a laugh of anyone else which thinks otherwise, I honestly get it, the ''kings new clothes''.

 
Wow!, it looks like you really got your hands full here Jophar! Don't worry, Im a helpfull person, so, let me see if I can throw some gaz on this nice little fire you got going.

 
I'm just kidding, seriously though, just to be clear, the reason why th PS1k are referred to as hybrid, is because it's earcups are made of both, wood, and metal alloy.
 
I agree that the different earpads can drastically change the sound of Grado hadphones. In my opinion, this is a great advantage, because it's quick, easy relatively inexpensive, and totally reversible.
 
That being said, I seriously doubt that the SR80e and the PS1k sound alike, when they're both wearing the same earpads.
 
I have to admit, you got me curious, because to be a professionnal musician, you have to have a very good ear, so I'm willing to give his a try.
 
I'll use the S-cush, then the G-cush, and finally, no earpads at all.
 
I'll report back tomorrow  

 

[joseph69]

   
Wow!, it looks like you really got your hands full here Jophar! Don't worry, Im a helpfull person, so, let me see if I can throw some gaz on this nice little fire you got going.

 
I'm just kidding, seriously though, just to be clear, the reason why th PS1k are referred to as hybrid, is because it's earcups are made of both, wood, and metal alloy.
 
I agree that the different earpads can drastically change the sound of Grado hadphones. In my opinion, this is a great advantage, because it's quick, easy relatively inexpensive, and totally reversible.
 
That being said, I seriously doubt that the SR80e and the PS1k sound alike, when they're both wearing the same earpads.
 
I have to admit, you got me curious, because to be a professionnal musician, you have to have a very good ear, so I'm willing to give his a try.
 
I'll use the S-cush, then the G-cush, and finally, no earpads at all.
 
I'll report back tomorrow  

I've done this with the PS1Ke already using (L) and TTVJ flats and the PS1Ke didn't take to them very well like the SR/RS models do.
Would still like to hear what your opinion is.

 

[joseph69]

  The drivers in the SR80 are 44mm drivers and the PS1000e have 50mm drivers.
You can take off the cups and measure them to see this.

Right, I totally forgot about the driver size because I had the PS1K prior to the (e)…another good point.

 

[up late]

@jopharvorin - i appreciate your candour. however, i've compared an rs1 with an hf2 - both had the same earpads but they sounded distinctly different. whether that's due to the same driver being tuned differently or the use of different drivers is debatable, but i don't think the earpads alone are affecting the sound - just sayin'.

 

[shigzeo]

And while the sr80s offer outstanding value, the ps1000s bring things to a whole new level. Do they both sound like Grados? Sure, but detail retrieval, imaging, bass ,mids, etc are on a different plain. But then again, using the same entry level amp/source etc for them (PS1000) is not ideal.

[H]ow can you say that an entry level amp/source won't fully drive the PS1000, or that what won't perfectly drive the SR80 won't perfectly drive the PS1000? This is utter bullocks. The PS1000 sounds great, and is driven wonderfully by loads and loads of gear from $ to $$$.

[Edit] removed tautologous 'I must say'.