Grado Fan Club!
Dec 29, 2014 at 5:20 PM Post #21,346 of 64,913
You guys talk as if nine-hundred bones for a headphone is a steal.

I guess some people here have deeper pockets than others.
gs1000.gif

 
My most expensive headphones are my Stax headphones - I paid 325 euro for them, but their retail value is about 1,000 euro, and they were unused in the original packaging, so that IS a steal. Sound quality is superb, but they're not as allround as my Grado or my homemade ZennJazzGrados.
 
Dec 29, 2014 at 5:59 PM Post #21,347 of 64,913
I guess some people here have deeper pockets than others. :gs1000smile:

My most expensive headphones are my Stax headphones - I paid 325 euro for them, but their retail value is about 1,000 euro, and they were unused in the original packaging, so that IS a steal. Sound quality is superb, but they're not as allround as my Grado or my homemade ZennJazzGrados.
Maybe it's not the depth of ones pockets that matters, but more the breadth of ones experience when listening. PM me assassin so you can tell me where to get some Stax hp's for €325.
 
Dec 29, 2014 at 9:00 PM Post #21,348 of 64,913
 
I reported earlier in this thread that for many recordings, I could not distinguish among my HPA-1, RA-1, and (in my case JDS Bass Boost) C-MOY using my top-end Grados (didn't have the PS1000 at that time yet). 
 
I was using iPod AAC music, as that music was the most familiar to me.
 
When I shifted to lossless (played by FiiO X3), I heard a difference more reliably.  This is one case where I could actually distinguish from iPod quality and higher quality, and not in a side-by-side comparison, but in the ability to distinguish between two amps downstream (C-Moy vs. Grado).  More info here:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/530965/grado-fan-club/20925#post_11123464

 
AAC is Chinese to me,  I'm old school, my sources are mainly CD/SACD, turntable, and reel to reel, same destination, same conclusion, just a different route.
 
Yesterday I fired up the HPA-2, (battery circuit),, and my Technics SL-1200 MK2 wich has an Ortofon 2M Black, and listen to Eric Clapton's very well recorded vinyl, Unplugged.
 
I listen to one side with my HP1000, and switched to the PS1000 for the flip side. The difference was anything but subtle, The PS1000 have better bass, and treble extension, and a bigger soundstage. I have the TTVJ flats on the HP1000, wich I find, gives them deeper bass, a the expense of treble extension and a slight loss in soundstage width.
 
From what I have read in the PS1000 thread, you and I seem to have the same opinion of the PS1000 and HP1000.
 
At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, I"d even go so far as to say that the HP1000 are a bit overrated.
 
Dec 29, 2014 at 11:43 PM Post #21,351 of 64,913
   
AAC is Chinese to me,  I'm old school, my sources are mainly CD/SACD, turntable, and reel to reel, same destination, same conclusion, just a different route.
 
Yesterday I fired up the HPA-2, (battery circuit),, and my Technics SL-1200 MK2 wich has an Ortofon 2M Black, and listen to Eric Clapton's very well recorded vinyl, Unplugged.
 
I listen to one side with my HP1000, and switched to the PS1000 for the flip side. The difference was anything but subtle, The PS1000 have better bass, and treble extension, and a bigger soundstage. I have the TTVJ flats on the HP1000, wich I find, gives them deeper bass, a the expense of treble extension and a slight loss in soundstage width.
 
From what I have read in the PS1000 thread, you and I seem to have the same opinion of the PS1000 and HP1000.
 
At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, I"d even go so far as to say that the HP1000 are a bit overrated.


stacker45, thanks for identifying a specific comparison test... I had a great time comparing my HP1000 and PS1000.
 
I used just one song from Eric Clapton's Unplugged , which was "Before You Accuse Me," which I also understand is used by Grado as one of three songs they test their headphones with.  My recording is a lossless CD, as I don't have the record in vinyl or reel-to-reel tape (though I do have both types of players).  It was played at 44,100 16-bit samples/sec (standard CD, but sold by HDTracks as part of their catalog which includes a lot of high resolution recordings, up to 192,000 24-bit samples/sec!  This, however, was the best they had of this song). 
 
By the way, AAC is "Advanced Audio Coding," which uses a variable bit rate of 256,000 bits/sec.  It is what standard iTunes uses.  Hence, we can compare the coding method bit rates as:
 
  1. Apple iTunes AAC - 256kb/sec - requires removal of bits of information from an original CD copy to get to this low bit rate
  2. Lossless CD - 1,411 kb/sec, or 5.5 times higher bit rate than AAC
  3. High Definition - 9,216 kb/sec, or 36 times higher bit rate than AAC
  4. Analog (what you have) - true analog has an infinite number of levels and would really require an infinite number of kb/sec to describe
 
Somewhere along the line, human perception becomes unable to distinguish among various bit rates, so going higher makes no difference.
 
So I have listened back and forth between both headphones, both driven by my Joseph Grado HPA-1 amp which is driven by my FiiO X3 running that song from Eric Clapton Unplugged at full CD resolution, for the past hour or so.
 
What I found:
 
  1. There is clearly a difference between the HP1000 HP1 and the PS1000;
  2. In the bass, the HP1000 HP1 is clear and precise, as it is through all frequencies.  The PS1000 is boomier in the bass, which to me makes it a bit harder to determine the pitch of a bass line (sort of like an echo in a barrel... I by no means intend this as a negative, but it does seem to make adjacent low notes sound more similar in pitch). As a result, the PS1000 sounds more bassy;
  3. In the treble, the HP1000 is very slightly muted or veiled, as if playing through speakers with the cloth in front of them.  The PS1000 is more transparent, as if the speaker cloth was removed.  Hence, the PS1000 gives you more of the feeling that you are in the room with the musicians;
  4. In the mids, for example for the singing, the two to me sound the same;
  5. As regard to sound stage, the PS1000s sound as if they have just a bit more... music comes from a wider angle around you.
 
I, like you, have the TTVJ flats on my HP1000, and I have the standard Grado G-CUSH over-ear bowls on my PS1000, just as they are sold.
 
I think we are finding the same thing, if what you mean as "treble extension" is the same as what I call "transparency" or "lack of a cloth veil."  It's my own ignorance that I do not really know what "treble extension" means nor what to listen for to determine it.  I did NOT really read your comparison of the two before making my own comparison... once I saw that we both had essentially the same amp and source material, I immediately started to compare.  To now find that we are hearing the same differences is encouraging!
 
I would add that the comfort factor of the over-ear pads of the PS1000 is significantly greater than the on-ear HP1000.  I am not one to change pads from what was designed by Grado, so I would no more put G-CUSH pad on the HP1000, even to gain comfort, as I would put the TTVJ flats on the PS1000s.
 
While I enjoy listening with the PS1000 more than with the HP1000, I don't really think the HP1000 is overrated.  In its day (1990), it was a $595 headphone (that is for the HP1 that I have, with the polarity switches... the HP2 was $495).  With inflation from 1990, that makes it about a $990 headphone today, less than today's $1,695 price on the PS1000 (of course, because of the age, classic nature, and status as the start of the Grado line, you will pay 2 to 4 times that $1,000 now to get one!!! That's OK!)
 
I think that the HP1000 is the brutally honest friend that tells me I am too fat (so I believe when that friend says I am intelligent).  The PS1000 is the much more pleasant friend that dotes on everything I do and praises my manly physique!!  Again, I prefer the PS1000 (dessert), but I appreciate and need the HP1000 (vegetables!).
 
Or, graphically....

 
Dec 30, 2014 at 1:06 AM Post #21,352 of 64,913

Nice read for me between the HP-1/PS1K, thanks for your comparison between them.
Although I've never heard  the HP-1 (and probably never will) from your description of it's sound signature, It sounds like my impressions of the Alessandro MS2i (which I owned) and would describe their sound signature very much, if not the same exact way you describe the HP-1. As you know, I've been trying different HP's recently comparing them to my PS's…I guess I'm trying to find something that may suite my tastes better, why, I don't know…because every time I try a different HP, the PS's suite me much better. I'm listening to them as I write this, and have been for the past 3hrs, and I feel I'm wasting my time, like a dog chasing his tail looking for something that better to suite my tastes, but I think tonight I'm finally realizing this may be the end game HP for me. I have one more HP (well maybe 2) that I would like to compare to the PS's, which are the LCD-2 and the X. I waiting for delivery of the LCD-2 Rev.2 right now, so I'll hear/compare how they are for me. As for my RS1i/WA6…they are my other flavor combo, which I have, and never will have any desire to compare with anything!
Glad too hear your enjoying both, you new PS1K's and the HP-1's, enjoy! 
 
Dec 30, 2014 at 3:38 AM Post #21,353 of 64,913
Maybe it's not the depth of ones pockets that matters, but more the breadth of ones experience when listening. PM me assassin so you can tell me where to get some Stax hp's for €325.


No, I'm pretty sure it's the depth of one's pockets. To someone who makes 3,000$ per month, 5$ is a cappuccino. For someone living on foodstamps, 5$ is two days worth of groceries.
 
To some people, putting down a grand for a pair of headphones can be justified, because they can afford it. And I don't begrudge them their fortune. I live comfortably and without debt, but I do have to justify my spending, if only to myself. I can afford putting down 325€ for a headphone worth three times as much, but I wouldn't be able to just spend a grand on a Stax.
 
By the way, you have a PM. Don't think it will be much use to you, but...
 
Dec 30, 2014 at 3:42 AM Post #21,354 of 64,913
I guess some people here have deeper pockets than others. :gs1000smile:

My most expensive headphones are my Stax headphones - I paid 325 euro for them, but their retail value is about 1,000 euro, and they were unused in the original packaging, so that IS a steal. Sound quality is superb, but they're not as allround as my Grado or my homemade ZennJazzGrados.


I hope you didn't get the 1000euro phone for 335euro assassinating or something? :D

Where and how did you do that? Even with 100euto shipping that's a what a deal!
 
Dec 30, 2014 at 3:52 AM Post #21,355 of 64,913
I hope you didn't get the 1000euro phone for 335euro assassinating or something?
biggrin.gif


Where and how did you do that? Even with 100euto shipping that's a what a deal!

 
Not assassinating, no. I don't work that cheap. :)
 
By the way, it was 325 euro, shipping included, not 335 plus shipping.
 
I don't want to go off-topic too much, so you better check this link.
 
Dec 30, 2014 at 4:59 AM Post #21,356 of 64,913
Dec 30, 2014 at 6:32 AM Post #21,357 of 64,913
Even better!

What are those novels, you authored them?


Yes, I write suspense fiction. I have three novels out and three short stories. I intend to publish my fourth short story tomorrow and I'm working on a fourth novel in the Amsterdam Assassin Series to come out before the summer. You can find my blog in my sig, it also has links to where my books are available.

As to Grado, I recently bought an SR125e from a forum member. A friend will bring it to me in January. I'm thinking of buying cherry wooden cups similar to the ones I used for my ZennJazzGrado to woodify the SR125e. Wooden headphones are addictive...
 
Dec 30, 2014 at 6:38 AM Post #21,358 of 64,913
Yes, I write suspense fiction. I have three novels out and three short stories. I intend to publish my fourth short story tomorrow and I'm working on a fourth novel in the Amsterdam Assassin Series to come out before the summer. You can find my blog in my sig, it also has links to where my books are available.

As to Grado, I recently bought an SR125e from a forum member. A friend will bring it to me in January. I'm thinking of buying cherry wooden cups similar to the ones I used for my ZennJazzGrado to woodify the SR125e. Wooden headphones are addictive...


"wooden headphones give me wood"
 
hahahaha.
 
Dec 30, 2014 at 6:53 AM Post #21,359 of 64,913
"wooden headphones give me wood"

hahahaha.


They do make you stand out from the 'Beats by Dr. Dre' crowd.

As portables, my ZennJazzGrados are a lot lighter than that PS1000 from your signature. Do you really carry that around?
 
Dec 30, 2014 at 7:02 AM Post #21,360 of 64,913
They do make you stand out from the 'Beats by Dr. Dre' crowd.

As portables, my ZennJazzGrados are a lot lighter than that PS1000 from your signature. Do you really carry that around?

 
when i can be sure the weather will allow it (no freezing, no heavy rain) i do.
i used to take my RS-2 with me before this, but i sold that.
 
currently i'm using my portapro, and Grado in ears.
 

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