No love for magnums? - Page 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrislangley4253 

Quest, what wood do you have yours in? People should be aware the wood makes a big difference.

Mine are planted in Cabillas sappelle cups -- the same ones used on Kojaku's pair from Tyll's article on Innerfidelity (a reference for those who haven't followed the Grado threads). 

I don't doubt that the type of wood makes a difference -- but at the end of the day, doesn't that just come down to a preference in color?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcf 

I have both. Although the Magnum 325 don't really have the seductive mid of PS1, overall I feel  they compared well. I have always been a little bit bordered by the overblown bass of the PS1 (I heard different pairs). The Magnum with bowl pads gives me better bass and an overall balanced sound.

I know PS1 is special but for the money you have to pay for them these days, I'll go for the Magnum.

 

And the Magnum compared to the hp1/2 upgraded i model? Or even the standard hp 1/2?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chefguru 

And the Magnum compared to the hp1/2 upgraded i model? Or even the standard hp 1/2?

 

 

I prefer the HP1/2, upgraded or not. 

The Magnum sound is more like John's but better in most cases. I swapped out the Grado drivers in a pair of RS1i for MagnumV4 and  the phones sound better and more refined.

Personally I think that anything Grado currently has is largely inferior to the orthodynamic headphones.   Compared to say the 325i which I have heard for hours on end my HE-500s are better in every single way.  I've only heard the ps1000 and the RS1i for a brief time at Carolina can fest but I would say the same thing for them as well.  They just lack speed, resolution, bass output, detail etc.... compared to the Hi-FI mans or Audze.   

Not saying there bad, but there not just as good not even close really. I would put the PS1000 RS1i above my HD650s by a good bit, but much lower then my HE500s it terms of making music sound realistic.  

If you happen to prefer a less realistic sound then you might like the grados more in terms of personal opinion but it's immediately clear putting them on back to back next to a high end orthodynamic that they lack technical ability comparatively. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super MANSKITO 

Personally I think that anything Grado currently has is largely inferior to the orthodynamic headphones.   Compared to say the 325i which I have heard for hours on end my HE-500s are better in every single way.  I've only heard the ps1000 and the RS1i for a brief time at Carolina can fest but I would say the same thing for them as well.  They just lack speed, resolution, bass output, detail etc.... compared to the Hi-FI mans or Audze.   

 

Not saying there bad, but there not just as good not even close really. I would put the PS1000 RS1i above my HD650s by a good bit, but much lower then my HE500s it terms of making music sound realistic.  

 

If you happen to prefer a less realistic sound then you might like the grados more in terms of personal opinion but it's immediately clear putting them on back to back next to a high end orthodynamic that they lack technical ability comparatively. 

 

That sure hasn't been my experience with the HE500's.  I didn't like their "thick" bass and mids - too "hip hoppy" and not enough clarity for my tastes.

 I also found the HD800's and O2's "weren't all they were reported to be."  

But then... I suppose how any pair of phones sound depends a whole lot on what source and amp you mate them with - if they mate well, they sound completely different than if they don't.  I doubt I heard the HE500's, HD800's and O2's with their optimum set ups.  They each likely sound much better than what I heard.

Which is why I think broad statements, such as many of them on Headfi (especially by "newbes")... just don't portray the real sound of a lot of equipment - too many variables in each set up.  
 

For me... with the set ups I've tried... few phones can match the RS1's, or PS500's, or AD2000's... or even... the "new version" HD650's - when each are mated with the proper set ups.  

So... each person has to... more or less... experiment with various combos to find their "own sound."  Otherwise... they're in for some "real surprises," which will no doubt be very costly.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrislangley4253 

Good thing this thread isn't about Grados 

 

Magnums really are a completely different beast. 

 

I haven't compared them to the HE500's though, but I'd like to soon. I'm curious how they would compare. The magnums are ridiculously realistic and natural sounding.

 

Ya likely already have an intrinsic bias toward the Magnums' sound signature and dynamics, having listened to them for so long and being so accustomed to how they sound. Bear that in mind when doing comparisons if you get new non-Grado cans in the future.

Usually the fairest headphone impressions are from people who have a wide variety of brands of headphones all of which they listen to, since they are not psychoacoustically leaning toward any type of sound signature.

This thread really didn't strike me as being about anything...
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrislangley4253 

Good thing this thread isn't about Grados 

 

Magnums really are a completely different beast. 

 

I haven't compared them to the HE500's though, but I'd like to soon. I'm curious how they would compare. The magnums are ridiculously realistic and natural sounding.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by faverodefavero 

So, can anyone please tell me if the PS1000 is better than full aluminum Magnum V4, please? Because, I can't believe that the Magnums are better than just all Grados...
I have a Magnum V4, can I use it with Bagel cups and have better sound than PS1000? Because, I find that all pads are really unconfortable with Magnum/Grado except the Bagel/Jumbo one. I do use a wood cuped 325i or portable listening with Bowl pads, but for any long-term listening (1:30h +) I find that - again - all Grado pads (including the 414 Sennheiser quarter moded and flat pads) are really painfull to use for me.

I happen to have a v4 magnum and a PS1000 right here in the house with me. I’ve been listening to them (along with a PS500) the past couple weeks.

The PS1000 has big, speaker like bass whereas the Magnum (with bowls) has a thinner but still punchy bass. If you put flats on the magnum, the bass gets bigger. If you put the G cush bowls on it, it doesn’t sound anything like the PS1000 since it’s not designed for those things. the bass goes away almost entirely and it sound sibilant and tizzy. I don;t think this works at all.

The PS1000 has a sibilance with higher treble “sshhh” sounds that the magnum does not have. that can be annoying. But the PS1000 is much smoother in the mids and high mids and there’s no shout or glare in this area, whereas the magnum still has some. I seem to be pretty sensitive to this glare as I hear it easily with grados now.

Between the PS1000 and Magnum, I think the PS1000 is more immediately impressive with the large soundstage and kicking bass. But the treble can be a problem. 

The Magnum compares better with the RS1 or PS500 than the PS1000. With bowls, the magnum feels like a refined RS1 (less treble shrillness and midrange shout) with flats, the Magnum sounds more like the PS500, with a meaty midrange, reduced treble and thicker bass.  it can't sound like the PS1000 because it can’t have both a huge soundstage and heavy, hard hitting bass at the same time like the PS1000.

HOWEVER, I should note that I am selling my PS1000 but keeping my Magnums. And that’s because I think the Audeze LCD3 does everything the PS1000 does well, only it does it even better, with no treble sizzle and even more accurate bass, sound staging and imaging. So I’d rather keep the lightweight, on-ear magnum along with and the heavy LCD3.

hope this helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by faverodefavero 

So, can anyone please tell me if the PS1000 is better than full aluminum Magnum V4, please? Because, I can't believe that the Magnums are better than just all Grados...

I have a Magnum V4, can I use it with Bagel cups and have better sound than PS1000? Because, I find that all pads are really unconfortable with Magnum/Grado except the Bagel/Jumbo one. I do use a wood cuped 325i or portable listening with Bowl pads, but for any long-term listening (1:30h +) I find that - again - all Grado pads (including the 414 Sennheiser quarter moded and flat pads) are really painfull to use for me.

The reason has to do with the economics of manufacturing. Rhydon is only manufacturing a set of drivers and some aluminium parts and the business doesn't have to keep him alive. If he was living off the profit of his designs alone, he'd have to produce a whole range of headphones and charge a lot more.