[up late]

i gave the the gs2000e a brief listen after auditioning the stax sr-l700 and sr-009, and then comparing them to the th900. i felt that the gs2000e lacked body. i preferred the th900 to them all and posted about it much earlier in this thread. as strange as it may sound, i wouldn't be surprised if folks who dig the th900 might also like the ps1000, which has a fuller presentation than the grado gs series to my ears.

 

[Slim1970]

i gave the the gs2000e a brief listen after auditioning the stax sr-l700 and sr-009, and then comparing them to the th900. i felt that the gs2000e lacked body. i preferred the th900 to them all and posted about it much earlier in this thread. as strange as it may sound, i wouldn't be surprised if folks who dig the th900 might also like the ps1000, which has a fuller presentation than the grado gs series to my ears.

Grado's are the one headphone I want to get a listen too. I'm not sure what would be a good one to demo as I'm totally unfamiliar with their sound. I've read good things about the GH2's and thought about doing a blind purchase of them but I'm not sure. I do love a full sounding, dynamic headphone and my TH900 MKII's are the best I've heard so far. I have the Focal Utopia's in my sight but that's a future purchase.

 

[jmills8]

Grado's are the one headphone I want to get a listen too. I'm not sure what would be a good one to demo as I'm totally unfamiliar with their sound. I've read good things about the GH2's and thought about doing a blind purchase of them but I'm not sure. I do love a full sounding, dynamic headphone and my TH900 MKII's are the best I've heard so far. I have the Focal Utopia's in my sight but that's a future purchase.

I woud only pay $900 for the Utopia.

 

[up late]

that would be an absolute bargain

 

[Slim1970]

I woud only pay $900 for the Utopia.

Lol, are they that bad or are they not that much better than the TH900's?

 

[up late]

the utopia is an outstanding dynamic headphone imo

 

[jmills8]

Lol, are they that bad or are they not that much better than the TH900's?

Its not bad bit for my styles of music its not great. Im not a Celine Dion kind of guy. Its built like a tank but that also means its as heavy as a Tiger model. Also I use my hp on the go so cant use the utopia. Utopia doesnt have better bass, sound stage.

 

[up late]

"i'm not a celine dion kind of guy" either, but the utopia does have a more balanced fr than the th900, exceptional resolution, imaging, dynamics, speed and build quality imo

 

[Slim1970]

"i'm not a celine dion kind of guy" either, but the utopia does have a more balanced fr than the th900, exceptional resolution, imaging, dynamics, speed and build quality imo

Those are all sound qualities I like. It almost sounds like it can compete with electrostats. Those are some of the adjectives I see tossed around in electrostat reviews. I love my TH900's. They sound better than every dynamic headphone I've tried so far. This is the main reason I really need to hear the Utopia's.

 

[up late]

the utopia is more dynamic and engaging than any estat that i've heard. and as for the th900, well i'm a fan of it too.

 

[Allanmarcus]

Lol, are they that bad or are they not that much better than the TH900's?

I have both, and also the T1 and HD800. The T1 and HD800 are sold, which should tell you my thought on them relative to the TH900 and Utopia. The TH900 is still around, but I rarely listen to it. The Utopia is easily better than all of them. I also have a PMx2, and that is the almost as good as the Utopia. The TH900 has a very engaging, fun, sound that I still like. I do use MrSpeaker Doggie Treats (no longer available) to ameliorate the spikes in the mid-high and highs with the TH900, and I use a tube amp with smooth sounding tubes, and a smoother DAC for both headphones. Is the Utopia 3 times better? no. Is it better? yes. The law of diminishing returns comes to play here.

The TH900 is probably worth $800 used. The Utopia is probably worth $2500 used. I have not purchased any of my equipment retail, but I have had to deal with issues when purchasing used. New, the TH900 is worth $1000 and the Utopia maybe $3000. This is based on other headphones and their incremental improvements in between these two. The LCD-3, the PMx2, the LCD-4, the ZR1. Ethers. Various Stats.

Obviously, YMMV, and headphones are only worth what you will pay for them. If I didn't have the money, The TH900 or TH610 or even a beyer T1 with a good, smooth, tube amp would be my choice.

 

[Slim1970]

I have both, and also the T1 and HD800. The T1 and HD800 are sold, which should tell you my thought on them relative to the TH900 and Utopia. The TH900 is still around, but I rarely listen to it. The Utopia is easily better than all of them. I also have a PMx2, and that is the almost as good as the Utopia. The TH900 has a very engaging, fun, sound that I still like. I do use MrSpeaker Doggie Treats (no longer available) to ameliorate the spikes in the mid-high and highs with the TH900, and I use a tube amp with smooth sounding tubes, and a smoother DAC for both headphones. Is the Utopia 3 times better? no. Is it better? yes. The law of diminishing returns comes to play here.

The TH900 is probably worth $800 used. The Utopia is probably worth $2500 used. I have not purchased any of my equipment retail, but I have had to deal with issues when purchasing used. New, the TH900 is worth $1000 and the Utopia maybe $3000. This is based on other headphones and their incremental improvements in between these two. The LCD-3, the PMx2, the LCD-4, the ZR1. Ethers. Various Stats.

Obviously, YMMV, and headphones are only worth what you will pay for them. If I didn't have the money, The TH900 or TH610 or even a beyer T1 with a good, smooth, tube amp would be my choice.

Good info. In any case it sounds like the Utopia is definitely worth a listen. I wish we had a local shop around me that sold them. But the going price for them used is starting to come down and I might just sell off a few of my other headphones to fund the purchase. Like you said the TH900's are flat out fun to listen. I really can't see myself parting with them.

 

[Allanmarcus]

Good info. In any case it sounds like the Utopia is definitely worth a listen. I wish we had a local shop around me that sold them. But the going price for them used is starting to come down and I might just sell off a few of my other headphones to fund the purchase. Like you said the TH900's are flat out fun to listen. I really can't see myself parting with them.

If you do get a used utopia, make sure you work with the seller such that he will help you if you need warranty work not he Utopia. The warranty is not transferable, and is especially hard if you are not the original buyer.

 

[Slim1970]

If you do get a used utopia, make sure you work with the seller such that he will help you if you need warranty work not he Utopia. The warranty is not transferable, and is especially hard if you are not the original buyer.

Good point. I will keep that in mind

 

[jmills8]

Go to Hong Kong, there are over 8 Audio shops you can demo every HP, HP amp, Dacs. You can sit all day.