devouringone3
Headphoneus Supremus
I'm really excited as a big Grado enthusiast; I've been wondering about many of those dates and years since I joined Head-Fi. In a way they are a reflection of the (specifics of the) sound you're going to get if you buy a discontinued John Grado headphones, whether it is that you're interested in the more obscure vintages (SR1-2-300 and their pink drivers), the black anodized metal cups SR325, the buttoned RS-1, any pre-"i" SR1-2-325 and their more obscure models and products.
I think oldest and older Grados are like a bunch of experiments in the science of headphones making/"crafting", and that some of them were very successful, some less, and a few were failed too. Vintage doesn't automatically mean it's going to be good sounding, I'm talking from experience, because yes, I paid quite a lot for some of them and they never lived up to my high expectations. They all have their quirks and charms, but they're still grainy and ultimately not worth it unless you're an hardened collector.
Other than for the exceptional Joseph Grado HP 1000 driven Grado headphones, it's safe to say that, even though the golden years of Grado on Head-Fi (think HF-1, HF-2, PS-1, Sennheiser vs. Grado fans war) are beyond us, the company have continually striven to improve their headphones and refine their sound; something I can confidently say they have achieved.
Without further ado, I am proud to bring to Head-Fi the official Grado milestones, from their latest Facebook update:
1953: Grado Labs is founded
|--: John Grado is born
|-- September: Joe Grado sells the first Grado cartridge to Leonard Radio, New-York, NY
October 1955: Grado Labs moves to its present location in Brooklyn, NY
1959: Joe Grado is awarded patents for the first Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge
1961: Grado introduces in Dustat Record Cleaner
|--: Grado introduces its Labs Series of Phono cartridges
|--: Grado introduces its Lab Series of Speakers
|--: Grado introduces its wooden Labs Series Tonearm
|--: Grado introduces its Lab Series Turntable
"Grado Lab 'JR' Loudspeaker System" (which model was sold on eBay relatively lately [http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180958194002]
And the plainly called "Grado speakers" (reviewed there: http://www.head-fi.org/t/248802/joseph-grado-speakers-review)
1964: Grado ceases all advertising
|--: Grado ceases production of all products except for phono cartridges
1965: Grado introduces their “B” Series of Phono Cartridges
|-- July 3rd: John Grado’s first day of work at Grado Labs
1966: John Grado’s photography education begins with Uncle Joe
1971: Grado introduces their “F” series of phono cartridges
|--: John Grado’s speaker design education begins with Uncle Joe
1975: John Grado finishes school and becomes a full time employee of Grado Labs
1977: John Grado is handed responsibility of all Grado production and expands production to 10,000 cartridges per week
1978: Grado introduces their “G” series of phono cartridges
1982: Joseph Grado introduces his Signature tonearm
1983: Grado introduces their “M” series of phono cartridges
1985: John Grado is handed full responsibilities for all the daily operations of Grado Labs
1988: John Grado’s headphone design education begins with Uncle Joe
|--: Grado introduces their “X” series of phono cartridge
1989: Joe Grado introduces his Signature headphone(s) (“HP 1000”; one thousand of them were made)
September 19th, 1990: John Grado becomes President and owner of Grado Laboratories Inc.
1991: Grado Labs introduce the SR100, SR200 and SR300 model headphones
April 1991: Jonathan Grado, son of John and Loretta, is born
1993: Grado introduce the SR125, SR225 and SR325 headphones
(This stock photo is “glitched”; shown in actuality are SR325 black anodized aluminum cups with a SR225 button and headband)
March 1994: Grado introduces their SR80 headphone
October 1994: Grado introduces their SR60 headphone
August 1995: Matthew Grado, son of John and Loretta, is born
1996: Grado introduces their Prestige Series of Phono cartridges
March 1996: Grado introduces their wooden RS1 headphone
February 1997: Grado introduces their RS2 headphone
1998: Grado introduces their wooden Reference Series of phono cartridges
1998: Grado introduces the RA1 series of headphone amps
April 1999: Grado introduces their PH1 phono amplifier
August 1999: Grado introduces their SR40 headphone
2000: Grado introduces their wooden Statement Series of phono cartridges
2003: Grado introduces their Gold SR325i in honor of their 50th anniversary
2006: Grado introduces their GS1000 headphone
January 2009: Grado upgrades all their headphone models to the “i” series
(SR225i, shown here as an example of how the Prestige Series evolved)
March 2009: Grado introduces their new Flagship headphone the PS1000
September 2009: Grado introduces the first in ear monitors, the iGi and GR8
(iGi)
(GR8)
2010: Grado introduces their GR10 in ear monitors
September 2011: Grado introduces their PS500 headphone
January 2013: Grado Labs Turns 60 Years Old
June 10th, 2014: Grado upgrades all their headphone models to the “e” series. (http://www.gradolabs.com/)
(RS1e)
...
Grado Labs is one of (or perhaps) the oldest family owned company in the audio industry.
(Joseph, John and Jonathan Grado)
I think oldest and older Grados are like a bunch of experiments in the science of headphones making/"crafting", and that some of them were very successful, some less, and a few were failed too. Vintage doesn't automatically mean it's going to be good sounding, I'm talking from experience, because yes, I paid quite a lot for some of them and they never lived up to my high expectations. They all have their quirks and charms, but they're still grainy and ultimately not worth it unless you're an hardened collector.
Other than for the exceptional Joseph Grado HP 1000 driven Grado headphones, it's safe to say that, even though the golden years of Grado on Head-Fi (think HF-1, HF-2, PS-1, Sennheiser vs. Grado fans war) are beyond us, the company have continually striven to improve their headphones and refine their sound; something I can confidently say they have achieved.
Without further ado, I am proud to bring to Head-Fi the official Grado milestones, from their latest Facebook update:
1953: Grado Labs is founded
|--: John Grado is born
|-- September: Joe Grado sells the first Grado cartridge to Leonard Radio, New-York, NY
October 1955: Grado Labs moves to its present location in Brooklyn, NY
1959: Joe Grado is awarded patents for the first Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge
1961: Grado introduces in Dustat Record Cleaner
|--: Grado introduces its Labs Series of Phono cartridges
|--: Grado introduces its Lab Series of Speakers
|--: Grado introduces its wooden Labs Series Tonearm
|--: Grado introduces its Lab Series Turntable
"Grado Lab 'JR' Loudspeaker System" (which model was sold on eBay relatively lately [http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180958194002]
And the plainly called "Grado speakers" (reviewed there: http://www.head-fi.org/t/248802/joseph-grado-speakers-review)
1964: Grado ceases all advertising
|--: Grado ceases production of all products except for phono cartridges
1965: Grado introduces their “B” Series of Phono Cartridges
|-- July 3rd: John Grado’s first day of work at Grado Labs
1966: John Grado’s photography education begins with Uncle Joe
1971: Grado introduces their “F” series of phono cartridges
|--: John Grado’s speaker design education begins with Uncle Joe
1975: John Grado finishes school and becomes a full time employee of Grado Labs
1977: John Grado is handed responsibility of all Grado production and expands production to 10,000 cartridges per week
1978: Grado introduces their “G” series of phono cartridges
1982: Joseph Grado introduces his Signature tonearm
1983: Grado introduces their “M” series of phono cartridges
1985: John Grado is handed full responsibilities for all the daily operations of Grado Labs
1988: John Grado’s headphone design education begins with Uncle Joe
|--: Grado introduces their “X” series of phono cartridge
1989: Joe Grado introduces his Signature headphone(s) (“HP 1000”; one thousand of them were made)
September 19th, 1990: John Grado becomes President and owner of Grado Laboratories Inc.
1991: Grado Labs introduce the SR100, SR200 and SR300 model headphones
April 1991: Jonathan Grado, son of John and Loretta, is born
1993: Grado introduce the SR125, SR225 and SR325 headphones
(This stock photo is “glitched”; shown in actuality are SR325 black anodized aluminum cups with a SR225 button and headband)
March 1994: Grado introduces their SR80 headphone
October 1994: Grado introduces their SR60 headphone
August 1995: Matthew Grado, son of John and Loretta, is born
1996: Grado introduces their Prestige Series of Phono cartridges
March 1996: Grado introduces their wooden RS1 headphone
February 1997: Grado introduces their RS2 headphone
1998: Grado introduces their wooden Reference Series of phono cartridges
1998: Grado introduces the RA1 series of headphone amps
April 1999: Grado introduces their PH1 phono amplifier
August 1999: Grado introduces their SR40 headphone
2000: Grado introduces their wooden Statement Series of phono cartridges
2003: Grado introduces their Gold SR325i in honor of their 50th anniversary
2006: Grado introduces their GS1000 headphone
January 2009: Grado upgrades all their headphone models to the “i” series
(SR225i, shown here as an example of how the Prestige Series evolved)
March 2009: Grado introduces their new Flagship headphone the PS1000
September 2009: Grado introduces the first in ear monitors, the iGi and GR8
(iGi)
(GR8)
2010: Grado introduces their GR10 in ear monitors
September 2011: Grado introduces their PS500 headphone
January 2013: Grado Labs Turns 60 Years Old
June 10th, 2014: Grado upgrades all their headphone models to the “e” series. (http://www.gradolabs.com/)
(RS1e)
...
Grado Labs is one of (or perhaps) the oldest family owned company in the audio industry.
(Joseph, John and Jonathan Grado)
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