CUrrently enjoying the lack of soundstage of Alessandro MS2

[dj_mocok]

Just noticed when i was listening to MS2, on this particular track ( Mario Piu - Communication - Single CD; can't remember which remix), the sound is pretty much as if its around your eyes, not even in your head.
So yeah, talking about headphones giving you the impression of "in your head" feeling, this one is "in your eyes" feeling...

And on different CD (I think its Royal Gigolos - California Dreaming single), i could feel the vocal as if its coming from the bottom part of the back of my skull)

This is how forward sounding (frontal imaging?) the MS2 can be. Very fun experience. Definitely different experience unlike wider-soundstage (or more laid back?) headphones.

So, the point is, the lack of wide-soundstage of MS2 can provide you with fun experience in its unique own way too. So dont be discouraged by soundstage issue when youre thinking about grados/alessandro phones. (unless youre specifically after wide soundstage)

 

[Annihilator]

yeah i agree, sometimes I like the feeling of being 'in your head', its not necessarily a bad thing

 

[Kirosia]

I love grados and all, but soundstage rules. The in-your-head thing, nomatter how "fun" does get tiring for *some* people. (of course grado soundstage gets beter with higher-grade equip.) Man, I miss my dt880s. Not as fun, but damn if it didn't sound full and round, even on a cheap setup. Once you hear decent soundstage, it's hard to go back. I need to go join team sennheiser. Grados will have to play second banana for me.

 

[dj_mocok]

kirosia, you're explaining the fun of wide soundstage, but i was mentioning the different kind of fun with less soundstage, which is like a different flavour.

of course i love wide soundstage, but small soundstage sometimes has its own share of fun too.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirosia Once you hear decent soundstage, it's hard to go back. I need to go join team sennheiser. Grados will have to play second banana for me.

And once you hear insano K1000/R10 soundstage, well nothing quite sounds the same again. Of course it all pales compared to good speakers, but oh well. The only time I've heard Grados exhibit much of a soundstage was listening to gpalmer's Meridian->Balanced Gilmore->balanced PS-1 setup. Of course it also had bass to make drums sound like explosions

 

[lindrone]

It was fun the first few times around.. then got really irritating over time. I can't stand any of the Grados anymore due to their soundstage... heck, if I can get canalphones with better soundstage, that's saying something.

 

[HiWire]

Don't the Grados and Alessandros sound like good candidates for some kind of crossfeed filter, then?

 

[Kirosia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiWire Don't the Grados and Alessandros sound like good candidates for some kind of crossfeed filter, then?

Crossfeed is evil.

It's not really a matter of the 3 blob thing, but more of width and depth. Grados still rule though for rock and groovin'.

 

[lindrone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiWire Don't the Grados and Alessandros sound like good candidates for some kind of crossfeed filter, then?

The problem is that the soundstage isn't projected more than a few millimeters away from your head... so even if you have a good crossfeed, the soundstage is still right in your face.

 

[chumley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer And once you hear insano K1000/R10 soundstage, well nothing quite sounds the same again. Of course it all pales compared to good speakers, but oh well. The only time I've heard Grados exhibit much of a soundstage was listening to gpalmer's Meridian->Balanced Gilmore->balanced PS-1 setup. Of course it also had bass to make drums sound like explosions

I own the K1000's and have owned the R10s; neither are the be-all and end-all headphones, with regard to Senns or anything else. Yeah, soundstage is nice, but both those 'phones prove that you can't get by, at least IMO, on soundstage alone. The Meridian G08> Blockhead w/SA's> HD650s w/Cardas balanced cables equals the kind of listening that allows one to forget R10s and K1000s were ever manufactured... hell, even a 4G iPod Line Out running Lossless encoding>Emmeline SR-71>HD650s and Cardas std. cabling (which is presently my office rig; Ety ER4s instead of HD650s is my walking around rig), equals darn near everything the K1000 and R10 have, even though soundstage is 'larger' on the latter two, technically, the sonic shortcomings/imbalances in other areas of the K1000/R10 audio signatures erode, at least for me, whatever my particular enjoyment of a 'horizon to horizon' soundstage down to a simple choice preference/priority, often according to what I'm in the mood for... I like my K1000s just fine, but my HD650s, DT880s, Etys, Grado 225s and MS-2s, etc., all represent, in some combination, the antidote to one anothers' audio signatures. THAT, I like: I am one moody SOB when it comes to what music I want to hear and how I want to listen to it.

 

[Judge Crandall]

I think that the type of music you're listening to is a big factor. Some music demands a large soundstage, while others don't need any. While I think every genre sounds good on my MS2's, I'd say that rock (or anything featuring guitars) and rap/hip-hop sound absolutely incredible. I'd say classical tends to sound a bit congested, though there is still great detail and separation.

 

[lindrone]

Hehee.. I want soundstage from all my music. After all, even the crappiest speaker setup will give you some sort of a soundstage, and you can't go listen to live music without a soundstage.

Grado is special in that way to some people, and people who fell in love with it will never find another headphone line-up with as little of soundstage as Grados. I personally just don't like that regardless of the genre of music I'm listening to.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumley I own the K1000's and have owned the R10s; neither are the be-all and end-all headphones, with regard to Senns or anything else. Yeah, soundstage is nice, but both those 'phones prove that you can't get by, at least IMO, on soundstage alone. The Meridian G08> Blockhead w/SA's> HD650s w/Cardas balanced cables equals the kind of listening that allows one to forget R10s and K1000s were ever manufactured... hell, even a 4G iPod Line Out running Lossless encoding>Emmeline SR-71>HD650s and Cardas std. cabling (which is presently my office rig; Ety ER4s instead of HD650s is my walking around rig), equals darn near everything the K1000 and R10 have, even though soundstage is 'larger' on the latter two, technically, the sonic shortcomings/imbalances in other areas of the K1000/R10 audio signatures erode, at least for me, whatever my particular enjoyment of a 'horizon to horizon' soundstage is down to a simple choice preference/priority, often according to what I'm in the mood for... I like my K1000s just fine, but my HD650s, DT880s, Etys, Grado 225s and MS-2s, etc., all represent, in some combination, the antidote to one anothers' audio signatures. THAT, I like: I am one moody SOB when it comes to what music I want to hear and how I want to listen to it.

You REALLY make me want that balanced amp for my HD650

 

[MagusG]

Soundstage is for SPEAKERS. Grado rocks, end of story.
-Mag

 

[tyrion]

I've gone back and forth between my HD-650's and MS-2's listening to mostly jazz and some rock. There doesn't appear to be much, if any, difference in soundstage. It may be a function of the amp I am using at the moment (Sunfire Symphonic Reference Preamp). They sound as different as night and day but in terms of soundstage, almost identical.