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No love for magnums? - Page 5

post #61 of 78
6/24/12 at 7:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Currawong View Post

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.

So, you're saying that the V4 full aluminum Magnums are better than PS1000 (and better than ANY Grado). Got that right?

If so: do you think that the best full-sized, around ear, headphone with a Magnum/Grado signature sound is the PS1000? Or would that be some other headphone (maybe V4s with Bagels, maybe even some other brand headphone...)?

Thanks!
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post #62 of 78
6/24/12 at 7:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by faverodefavero View Post


So, you're saying that the V4 full aluminum Magnums are better than PS1000 (and better than ANY Grado). Got that right?
If so: do you think that the best full-sized, around ear, headphone with a Magnum/Grado signature sound is the PS1000? Or would that be some other headphone (maybe V4s with Bagels, maybe even some other brand headphone...)?
Thanks!

 

My opinion is that the v4 are better than any Grado that is available in retail stores or online today although I haven't heard the most recent one in the PS500 so that can be excluded from my opinion. 

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post #63 of 78
6/24/12 at 7:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LCfiner View Post

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.

So, to you, the PS1000 is BETTER than the V4 full aluminum Magnum?

Must say though, that I do not believe that the Audez' LCD2/3 (or any planar-magnetic, for the mater) has the same - or even similar - soundsignature as Grados.
Also, from what I know and read around here and other forums, planar-magnetic headphones always have small soundstage -- and from what I hear on either HE5LE and HE500, it's just like that: the planar headphone technology can pinpoint the instrument location very well, but they CAN NOT reproduce the feeling of DISTANCE well at all (unlike, for example, the 'AKG K1000, K702; Sennheiser HD800' great soundstages for distance, specially, and location).

So, my point: if I want a Grado/Symphonies sound signature headphone that has lots of micro-detail and known "crispness" at higher frequencies, the PS1000 is the best option (?).

And thank you for the help pal.
Edited by faverodefavero - 6/24/12 at 7:31pm
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post #64 of 78
6/24/12 at 7:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rawrster View Post

My opinion is that the v4 are better than any Grado that is available in retail stores or online today although I haven't heard the most recent one in the PS500 so that can be excluded from my opinion. 

But if I want Grado/Magnums sound signature in an around-the-ear full sized headphone? Am I stuck with PS1000 (since GS1000 does not seem to cut it against the "Pro" versions) or should I look somewhere else?
Some say that the Beyerdynamic headphones share some of the Grado signature, is that right in your opinion? If so, should I take the T1 as "the ultimate, around-the-ear, Grado-like headphone" ( a "rocking, crisp" guitar-friendly, punchy, distortion-lover headphone, I mean)?

Sorry for the great deal of questions and thanks so much for your input!
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post #65 of 78
6/24/12 at 7:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by faverodefavero View Post


So, to you, the PS1000 is BETTER than the V4 full aluminum Magnums?
Must say though, that I do not believe that the Audez' LCD2/3 (or any planar-magnetic, for the mater) has the same - or even similar - soundsignature as Grados.
Also, from what I know and read around here and other forums, planar-magnetic headphones always have small soundstage -- and from what I hear on either HE5LE and HE500, it's just like that: the planar headphone technology can pinpoint the instrument location very well, but they CAN NOT reproduce the feeling of DISTANCE well at all (think: AKG K1000, K702; Sennheiser HD800).
So, my point: if I want a Grado/Symphonies sound signature headphone that has lots of micro-detail and known "crispness" at higher frequencies, the PS1000 is the best option (?).

 

The PS1000 is really crisp at the high frequencies. so crisp, that is sounds sibilant and a little harsh compared to the Magnum. I’m not sure if that’s what you want. But I have not heard any “over ear” circumaural headphone that sound like the PS1000 or GS1000 do. They are unique. I wasn’t trying to say that the LCD3 sounds like the PS1000. it doesn’t. it doesn’t have the same treble response as the PS1000. it sounds much darker.

 

The PS1000 and GS1000 both have a very exaggerated and prominent treble that is very clearly Grado. I find the PS1000 is better than the GS1000 as the treble is less exaggerated compared to the GS1000 and the midrange is more prominent. But the GS1000 sounds lighter and has a wider, farther sounding soundstage which is nice for some classical or live, large band recordings.

 

The PS1000 detail retrieval is excellent and there is no grain that I can hear. if you really must have that classic grado sound with an over-ear headphone then the PS1000 probably is your best choice. I can’t think of anything else I’ve used that sounds quite like it.

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post #66 of 78
6/24/12 at 11:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LCfiner View Post

 

The PS1000 is really crisp at the high frequencies. so crisp, that is sounds sibilant and a little harsh compared to the Magnum. I’m not sure if that’s what you want. But I have not heard any “over ear” circumaural headphone that sound like the PS1000 or GS1000 do. They are unique. I wasn’t trying to say that the LCD3 sounds like the PS1000. it doesn’t. it doesn’t have the same treble response as the PS1000. it sounds much darker.

 

The PS1000 and GS1000 both have a very exaggerated and prominent treble that is very clearly Grado. I find the PS1000 is better than the GS1000 as the treble is less exaggerated compared to the GS1000 and the midrange is more prominent. But the GS1000 sounds lighter and has a wider, farther sounding soundstage which is nice for some classical or live, large band recordings.

 

The PS1000 detail retrieval is excellent and there is no grain that I can hear. if you really must have that classic grado sound with an over-ear headphone then the PS1000 probably is your best choice. I can’t think of anything else I’ve used that sounds quite like it.

By "crispness" I mean the way that the Magnum V4 (full aluminum) makes distorted guitars go "crrrunnnsh" like no other headphone having lot's of punchy bass attached to it.

 

I use the HD800 for everything, you see, from classic to jazz and lots of classic rock (specially The Beatles, the HD800 is the BEST headphone for Beatles to me), BUT it is some times quite fatiguing depending on the song and it does lacks "punch" for some faster, consecutive bass, impact (fast metal, modern rock, even some glam rock songs and, of course, faster electronic genres). For those tracks, specially bad records withs lots of distortion (think Iggy Pop, Stooges, and some - not all, since most fare great with the HD800 - Velvet Underground songs, as well as Justice and early Metallica albuns) I use my full aluminum V4 Magnums mostly (sometimes I still hit the HE500 for some electronic styles and more "relaxed" and/or "bed-time" listenings).

 

What I want is a headphone that rocks as much as the V4s but is around the ear. I've talked to some people already and most of them say that this headphone would either be the PS1000 or the T1. I've got the 325i Mahogany cupped (Orenholz) and the DT990 600Ohms, usually prefer the 325i due to the typical (with most tracks, at least) DT990 "grainy", and just a bit impactless to me, sound but I do hear allot more of detail with the DT990. How much does either the PS1000 and the T1 improve over the 325i and the DT990 respectively? Is it safe to say that they share, again respectively (of course), the same sound signature?

 

So now I find myself deciding on either the PS1000 or the T1 for my "second home-listening headphone" (the main one is the HD800, and I don't see nothing but a Stax009 with a USD$1800.00+ electrostatic amplifier changing that -- Not within the current market, at least). And since the HD800 is a great "maestro", I now want a "rocker" (and by that I also mean I don't want anything "laid-back" or "recessed", like for example Audez's or HD650s, for that - relaxed, passive listening - I have my good old HE500).

 

Thanks, again!


Edited by faverodefavero - 6/25/12 at 12:00am
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post #67 of 78
6/25/12 at 4:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by faverodefavero View Post

So, you're saying that the V4 full aluminum Magnums are better than PS1000 (and better than ANY Grado). Got that right?

 

I probably should have said I haven't heard the PS1000 and what I was talking about is why the Magnums are much cheaper. 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by faverodefavero View Post

Must say though, that I do not believe that the Audez' LCD2/3 (or any planar-magnetic, for the mater) has the same - or even similar - soundsignature as Grados.
Also, from what I know and read around here and other forums, planar-magnetic headphones always have small soundstage -- and from what I hear on either HE5LE and HE500, it's just like that: the planar headphone technology can pinpoint the instrument location very well, but they CAN NOT reproduce the feeling of DISTANCE well at all (unlike, for example, the 'AKG K1000, K702; Sennheiser HD800' great soundstages for distance, specially, and location).

 

Much of what we perceive when it comes to soundstage in headphones has to do with the frequency response. Drop the mids a bit and it seems wider. I still have my pair of V2 Magnums which are this way. The V1 had the widest perceived soundstage of all, as the bass wasn't as strong. Adding to that, they had a strong treble and mids that forward, but not TOO forward and the effect was as you describe.

 

What I suggest trying is what I did: I bought the black-dyed 414 pads from that guy on eBay and used double-sided tape to stick bowls to them. The treble ends up a bit strong (this can probably be tuned, but I've yet to experiment) but it is much more comfortable.

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post #68 of 78
6/25/12 at 7:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by faverodefavero View Post


But if I want Grado/Magnums sound signature in an around-the-ear full sized headphone? Am I stuck with PS1000 (since GS1000 does not seem to cut it against the "Pro" versions) or should I look somewhere else?
Some say that the Beyerdynamic headphones share some of the Grado signature, is that right in your opinion? If so, should I take the T1 as "the ultimate, around-the-ear, Grado-like headphone" ( a "rocking, crisp" guitar-friendly, punchy, distortion-lover headphone, I mean)?
Sorry for the great deal of questions and thanks so much for your input!

 

I'm actually not sure if there is a equivalent to that signature in a full sized however the Grado signature is different than the Magnum or at least the Magnum is what I wanted the Grado to sound like. I am talking about the ones currently in production and not older ones that are no longer produced.

 

The only Beyerdynamic I've owned is the DT880 and it does not sound like any Grado or Magnum I've heard.

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post #69 of 78
6/25/12 at 9:21am
Originally Posted by Currawong View Post:

"What I suggest trying is what I did: I bought the black-dyed 414 pads from that guy on eBay and used double-sided tape to stick bowls to them. The treble ends up a bit strong (this can probably be tuned, but I've yet to experiment) but it is much more comfortable."

 

 

Will try that! Think I can glue them up with superglue or something? 

 

Last question: Which is the best rocker: T1 or PS1000 (specially for guitar-heavy, distorted rock)?


Edited by faverodefavero - 6/25/12 at 9:23am
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post #70 of 78
6/25/12 at 12:09pm
Thread Starter 
Sounds like you want the ps1000 to me.
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post #71 of 78
6/25/12 at 1:38pm

buy it. buy everything

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post #72 of 78
6/25/12 at 2:23pm

LOL(?)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Melvins View Post

buy it. buy everything

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post #73 of 78
6/26/12 at 9:33am

you know you want to

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post #74 of 78
6/26/12 at 11:09am

Perhaps (if I could), but so as everybody else around here (if they could, and some can and practically do so). That's why I'm asking for advice here, so that I can choose the best way to expend my cash into something (in this case, a headphone) I can appreciate more. And a man has got to hold his excessive hobby expenses sometimes...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Melvins View Post

you know you want to

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post #75 of 78
6/26/12 at 11:11am
Thread Starter 

It seems you have the dough to spare, just buy them and try them out for a while. 

My apologies if I am wrong.

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