I hear some sibilance. Shimmering highs come at a cost.

Grado is an anachronism in the increasingly sophisticated world of headphone audio. Criticism of its house sound, design, build quality etc. can descend into bloodsport. The irony of seeing this dowdy family owned company re-badging their headphones for uber fashion icon Dolce & Gabbana is...

The fit and finish of the TH900 is superb, as you would expect of a luxury headphone at this price but it's not without problems as some owners have found.  However, what you've been obsessing over isn't one of them.

Quote:   Don't both headphones serve a similar purpose - to reproduce sound? They just do it differently. Quote:   Your recollection of the PS1000's presentation contrasts with my own experience. It has a majestic presentation compared to the Prestige and Reference series Grados...

Quote:   No, I'm afraid I didn't make a note of the time... The OP noticed it on her pair as did other owners. It was established to their satisfaction that it was part of the design rather than a manufacturing defect, and now namaiki has confirmed it for you.

This has been discussed previously here. It's the way the headphone is designed and not a manufacturing flaw. All TH900s have it.

Quote:   The Canadian Grado site states that Australian jarrah wood is being used in the Statement and Reference series headphones, and the PS1000. Although it's unclear as to when exactly the change from mahogany to jarrah was made, it appears to have been introduced for the the "i"...

Quote:   Quote:   I can relate to the prominent bass and recessed midrange as depicted in the frequency response chart. I suppose you could describe the frequency response as relatively neutral compared to some phones and less so compared to others - for what it's worth.

The wood used for the GS1000i in the photo at the Canadian Grado website does look very much like Jarrah hardwood, which is a member of the Eucalyptus family found only in south Western Australia. It has a markedly different appearance from the mahogany wood that Grado used previously. I wonder...

That would be the work of the headphone stylist on the shoot giving it a fresh, dewy look.  

Quote: Congrats!

Quote: So it's official - Grado is chic. So inane.

Quote: x2. The HD800 is a great headphone but its treble peak has always bothered me. I don't experience that with Grados.

My bad. I was under the impression that you could only speak for yourself.

Quote: That's most unfortunate. It's under warranty so return it to the place you bought it and Fostex will repair or replace it. I hope xzobinx's and AnakChan's experiences are isolated incidents. It is cause for concern knowing that the D7000 suffered from a similar problem.

Quote: Fixed.

Quote: My impression is based on hearing the GS1000i. It had an even more spacious and crisper presentation than the PS1000. It sounded decidely v shaped, whereas the PS1000 sounded fuller - putting more meat on the bones. Both have accentuated treble but it's very smooth. I didn't notice...

Don't you find the GS1000i's mids recessed compared to the RS1? I think the PS1000 improves upon the GS1000i in that area; making it sound more complete.

Quote: The plastic rod-blocks are suitable for the lightweight earcups that are used in the Prestige and Reference series Grados. But the weight of the PS1000's earcups are simply too heavy for the rod-blocks to bear, so slippage is a regular occurrence. Grado really should have designed...

And with good reason. There are headphones with darker presentations - the LCD2 comes to mind, and then there are Grados, which are brighter. It's a description rather than a criticism.

Very nice and the slipping rod-blocks issue is no more. Are the custom parts heavier than the stock parts they replaced?

Quote:   Grados aren't bright?  I'm a fan of them too but let's not kid ourselves. They most definitely have a bright presentation and the frequency response measurements confirm it.

Well you've heard them for yourself and that's the important thing. The GS1000 and PS1000 are grand departures from the intimate, mid-forward RS1. I was really impressed with the HE-6, which struck me as a headphone that would appeal to Grado fans. But seeing as you hate your HE-500, you...

Didn't think that for a moment. Couldn't agree more with your description of the W3000ANV.

I think the T1 would sound "meh" coming from the RS1, but I wouldn't describe your suggestion as not being a good idea. Not quite sure how you can describe the RS1 as the top of the Grado line while regarding the GS1000 and PS1000 as better but not an upgrade, without sounding contradictory.