Greetings from Down Under.
Although I wasn't part of your loaner program I've had three new GS2000e headphones in my possession (single-ended versions). Yes, three fresh GS2000e specimens! Including one I inherited nearly brand new from a friend. Over a 12-month period I've compared them to other similarly priced brands, and various Grado siblings (GS1000, GS1000i, GS1000e, RS2e and SR325e).
Break-in x 3
So I've heard three GS2000e cans settle in, mainly through my Graham Slee ULDE amp. Out of the box they sounded subtly different from one another (as most identical models do), but they shared a very similar progression sound-wise. They were fed music only, from a wide variety of genres. Plenty of orchestral music with bracing brass, drum 'n' bass tracks etc. The break-in effects occurred at different intervals across the three headphones, and most changes were subtle. Certainly, I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with a GS2000e out of the box.
Depending on the headphone I was greeted with slightly constricted mids, slightly coarse highs and, in one case, not much bass to speak of. In another, untamed upper mids made busier tracks harder to follow. In general the midrange and corresponding soundstage opened up quickly and lower mids became a little fuller after a day or so. Upper mids and treble became gradually smoother and more integrated over time.
And the bass? Upper bass was there out of the box and had an extra dollop of warmth—although it is far closer to neutral than other Grados. Mid bass needed time to develop depending on the GS2000e. In one it was there from the beginning; in another it took 20 hours to make its presence felt; and in the third example it took 50–100 hours to fully satisfy. And satisfy it does. It is plentiful yet balanced and doesn't bleed into the midrange. At the very bottom, deep bass is less pronounced / more refined than many other full-sized cans, as others have pointed out.
In general, I'd say that bass from a GS2000e is natural and part of the 'landscape' rather than sculptured to studio proportions. It is particularly suitable for large-scale classical music but also excels with small-group jazz when reproducing the woodiness of a plucked double-bass. Play some EDM and it's deep and resonant enough—for me, but people used to more bass weight and dynamism might be disappointed. Compared to prior Grado woodies including the GS1000 range, bass is more balanced, defined and present in a GS2000e.
Soundstage
A lovely spacious quality with good layering and plenty of air between instruments. It is wide and deep enough, putting the listener eight rows back in the auditorium. Spatial cues are natural and in proportion, as distinct from the 'busier' Focal Clear and '
stretched' Sennheiser HD800
—the latter worrying my aural senses.
Tonality
Gorgeous, with realistic timbres and pleasing harmonic textures. None of this is overbearing and there's nimbleness and dexterity when required. A touch of extra sparkle up top gives the GS2000e character, one that blends nicely with the fuller harmonics in the lower mids. Perhaps the only criticism is with solo piano, where
fortes in the upper treble can sound a little spiky depending on the recording. But for classical and jazz aficionados this is the headphone to own. Opera and symphony lovers rejoice!
General thoughts
For acoustic music this is my favourite headphone, even next to the Stax range where the lightweight GS2000e wins on comfort. It's also good for well-produced electronic music (Air's
Pocket Symphony or the self-titled SBTRKT) and rock (Rod Stewart's
Every Picture... or Radiohead's
OK Computer). Everyday pop/rock, R&B and rap is okay—although my SR325e is generally better for studio EQ'd / thrashier music.
Caveats
Slightly warm upper bass may not suit upstream components tending towards lushness in this area. And jittery or forensic digital sources will be outed when playing close-miked piano recordings.
Final word
I prefer the GS2000e to other flagship models because it has a
character that suits the acoustic genres I mainly listen to. It sounds more neutral than other Grados, including the newer GS3000e, and the midrange is particularly good. The 'life-like' tonality is second to none.
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Right, time to box these up and send them to the next listener... Oh, wait, I own these beauties! Thought I was in Long Island for a moment...
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Sources
L.K.S Audio MH-DA004 DAC / Audiolab 6000CDT transport
Marantz SA-11S2 SACD player
Audio-gd NFB-1 DAC / Windows 10 Audirvana
Amps
Graham Slee Solo Ultra-Linear Diamond Edition
McChanson SET 6EM7
Schiit Lyr
Chord Hugo (previously)
Reference music
Mozart – Symphonies 29, 31, 32, 35 & 36 – Mackerras, Scottish Chamber (Linn)
Rachmaninov – 24 Preludes – Steven Osborne (Hyperion)
Beethoven – Symphonies 3 & 1 – Leibowitz, Royal Philharmonic (Chesky)
Donald Byrd – The Cat Walk (Audio Wave)
Free – Free (Island Masters)
The Presets – Pacifica
Rage Against The Machine – Evil Empire