Is Grado evolving too slowly?

Quote:

Originally Posted by flargosa 

I get the feeling they are being left behind especially in the high end products category.  They have not had an answer to the top end products from Sennheiser, Audeze, and Beyerdynamic. 

I guess that's a relative viewpoint.

I for one don't want hifi to ever become a 6 month release cycle like apple would make it if they controlled that market.

I think Grado is fine. People who want a Grado get a Grado. I'd wager Grado has more market than Audeze does if you think about it. You don't need a super high end in the spot light that is new to keep a good market.

Very best,

I think they're evolving for the worst sound quality wise.  Quality went down and the headphones they have in production now aren't as nice sounding as when they produced them 15 years ago.  Why can't they bring back the the PS-1, or the SR/RS series with pink transition sounding drivers?  Those sounded really good and I wish I hadn't sold mine a while back.  I had high hopes when they first released the PS-1000 but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.  I think I'll pass on the newly released PS500.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flargosa 

I get the feeling they are being left behind especially in the high end products category.  They have not had an answer to the top end products from Sennheiser, Audeze, and Beyerdynamic. 

You are correct sir.

They're not evolving. They've only been getting worse and their best products aren't better than an AKG K701.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wind016 

They're not evolving. They've only been getting worse and their best products aren't better than an AKG K701.

I hope this isn't going to turn into yet another Grado hater thread but it sure does look like it.  

I have Q701 and I prefer to listen to 325is w/ G-Cush.  Just IMO.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbophead 

I hope this isn't going to turn into yet another Grado hater thread but it sure does look like it.  

 

I have Q701 and I prefer to listen to 325is w/ G-Cush.  Just IMO. 

 

It's not that it's a hater thread. One merely expresses an opinion.

I love my Grados and enjoyed them a lot. That said, they are of the vintage variety. The last good modern Grado I heard was the HF-1.

Left behind in fashion maybe and comfort but sound wise they should bring back the first grados ever made

Quote:

Originally Posted by flargosa 

I get the feeling they are being left behind especially in the high end products category.  They have not had an answer to the top end products from Sennheiser, Audeze, and Beyerdynamic. 

Don't get me wrong, I like the RS1s and I own HF2s (the HP1000s I have don't count.) But in terms of evolving slowly, that's giving them too much credit. I don't think they are evolving at all. The driver technology, the cups, and even the tuning of the FR (with two minor exceptions), have been more or less the same for some time now.

every grado thread on here aside forum the mod threads are a grado hate thread. here's a thought, don't like them? don't buy them.

Dunno about evolving too slowly since "retro" is apparently making a come back.   Who knows... Maybe hipsters will start wearing them because they are "vintage?" (Despite not being vintage...)  Personally I don't think there is a such thing as evolving too slowly in the audio world.  This field usually does need a effort to be put in order for a headphone to sound good.  Grado has a good thing going with a small, yet very vocal crowd behind them.  

Given the business success they and even just buzz and interest here for the PS500s, I think it is hard to make the case they are not evolving fast enough.  And you also have a new line of IEMs that is well regarded.  They are doing fine.

It would certainly be nice if they pushed the technology a bit more on their flagships, or introduced a new high-end headphone that was more advanced, but I wouldn't touch their current line-up too much - it's just nice as it is. I'd be a bit gutted if they changed the RS1 so it sounded significantly different to how it is now, simply for the sake of progress. It's not perfect by any measure, but it is certainly charming - something my other headphones lack. However, if they could improve the comfort without touching the sound, I wouldn't complain!

Exactly ~ they offer one of the most unique, polarized listening experiences on the market.

As a consequence they have a fierce loyal crowd and a nice mob of haters and detractors who

cannot deal with the less than savvy attempts at modern packaging and finish quality.

If it is not broken then don't fix it.

Another point of view rarely offered on here is that the cartridge division is also probably

still responsible for subsidizing the headphone side of things. Business was poor back

in the early 1990's but the revival of vinyl has probably ensured that they can continue

to make both products for the community. 

Grados are nice, particularly as an entry into Head-fi, but I wouldn't recommend spending more than a couple hundred of bucks on a Grado headphone.  I like the GS1000i, but for the price, a used HD800 is much better.

Not going to comment on the LCD-2