[Gwarmi]

 
 
 Ok fellas, prepare for personal ridicule, and taking one look at this set-up would suggest it's entirely deserved, given the silliness at hand.
 
 That said, this is just a man trying to get the very best out of any 325+ Prestige Grado at hand - remember the real disconnect did
 occur after the advent of MP3 - something has been lost - that analogous connection with the music - this man is really just pioneering
 a solution that is available to almost all of us. This is not the final solution in the rapid, constantly evolving age of digital evolution,
 but this is regardless a picture of a man at work.
 
 (Disclaimer:- Always remember that your CD player, regardless of value is just a reader connected to a DAC section)
 
 
 
 
 

 

[our martin]

 
Quote:

 
 
 Ok fellas, prepare for personal ridicule, and taking one look at this set-up would suggest it's entirely deserved, given the silliness at hand.
 
 That said, this is just a man trying to get the very best out of any 325+ Prestige Grado at hand - remember the real disconnect did
 occur after the advent of MP3 - something has been lost - that analogous connection with the music - this man is really just pioneering
 a solution that is available to almost all of us. This is not the final solution in the rapid, constantly evolving age of digital evolution,
 but this is regardless a picture of a man at work.
 
 (Disclaimer:- Always remember that your CD player, regardless of value is just a reader connected to a DAC section)
 
 
 
 
 

Looks like he's having a go at making one of these himself..
 

 

[our martin]

I thought i would put a good song on that reminds me of when i'm in newyork..I am english so it's a fitting song since head-fi is newyork based after all i@m a dj and that's what we do ..

 

[Gwarmi]

 
@Our Martin - Good ol' Stingie is still my reference for the PS1000's - most notably his latest compilation
 (there are so many!) is a cracker :-
 
 
 
 There lies Grado gold on this album - Englishman In New York, It's Probably Me (tough to top Clapton's electric
 wailing on this track) and finally - a live rendition of Roxanne that I come back to again and again on the PS1000.
 
 Give me a new piece of hardware or kit and I find myself going back to that live Roxanne recording to see what
 else I can hear! A great demo for showing what the PS1000 can really do ..

 

[our martin]

 
Quote:

 
@Our Martin - Good ol' Stingie is still my reference for the PS1000's - most notably his latest compilation
 (there are so many!) is a cracker :-
 
 
 
 There lies Grado gold on this album - Englishman In New York, It's Probably Me (tough to top Clapton's electric
 wailing on this track) and finally - a live rendition of Roxanne that I come back to again and again on the PS1000.
 
 Give me a new piece of hardware or kit and I find myself going back to that live Roxanne recording to see what
 else I can hear! A great demo for showing what the PS1000 can really do ..

Feels of gold is another good one and his daughters a good singer aswell...

 

 

[kfscoll]

Sound familiar there, kfscoll?  

 
By the way, I'm sure you're right that EE is an authorized Grado reseller, but where did you confirm this exactly? EE is based in New Jersey, yet when you consult the authorized dealer locator on the Grado Labs home page, EE is not listed.
 
 
 

Big difference. I didn't blame Amazon for sending me an open-box item, I blamed the third-party vendor -- EE. I didn't do my research and I ignored those who told me that EE was prone to selling open-box items as new...and the price I paid was a big clue. Also, I was inaccurate in one of the statements I made. It turns out that the third-party does handle the merchandise at a certain point...they have to ship it to Amazon. It's very likely that EE shipped Amazon an open-box item. Amazon would've never known that it had been used previously without opening the box and inspecting it.

I will admit that I didn't know that your Grados were "Fulfilled by Amazon." You're right, no amount of research would've prevented you getting a defective item, but you still would've been able to tell that the third-party you actually purchased from wasn't an authorized dealer.

As for EE being an authorized dealer, I emailed Grado directly, explained that I was purchasing from EE through Amazon, and Grado replied that their factory warranty was still valid.

Nice work digging up my old posts BTW!

 

[Riggaberto]

 
Quote:

 
 
 Ok fellas, prepare for personal ridicule, and taking one look at this set-up would suggest it's entirely deserved, given the silliness at hand.
 
 That said, this is just a man trying to get the very best out of any 325+ Prestige Grado at hand - remember the real disconnect did
 occur after the advent of MP3 - something has been lost - that analogous connection with the music - this man is really just pioneering
 a solution that is available to almost all of us. This is not the final solution in the rapid, constantly evolving age of digital evolution,
 but this is regardless a picture of a man at work.
 
 (Disclaimer:- Always remember that your CD player, regardless of value is just a reader connected to a DAC section)
 
 
 
 
 

 
Would you mind, for those of us who have no idea what you're talking about?

 

[Focker]

 
Quote:

Big difference. I didn't blame Amazon for sending me an open-box item, I blamed the third-party vendor -- EE. I didn't do my research and I ignored those who told me that EE was prone to selling open-box items as new...and the price I paid was a big clue. Also, I was inaccurate in one of the statements I made. It turns out that the third-party does handle the merchandise at a certain point...they have to ship it to Amazon. It's very likely that EE shipped Amazon an open-box item. Amazon would've never known that it had been used previously without opening the box and inspecting it.
I will admit that I didn't know that your Grados were "Fulfilled by Amazon." You're right, no amount of research would've prevented you getting a defective item, but you still would've been able to tell that the third-party you actually purchased from wasn't an authorized dealer.
As for EE being an authorized dealer, I emailed Grado directly, explained that I was purchasing from EE through Amazon, and Grado replied that their factory warranty was still valid.
Nice work digging up my old posts BTW!

 
Actually there's no difference at all. I blamed Amazon because Amazon was responsible. When items are fulfilled by them, they take FULL responsiblity for the quality and condition of it from the time you order until the time you receive it. You know how I know this? Because Amazon told me exactly that. So guess what...if I receive something that is clearly not in new condition, then I not only blame Amazon, but they blame themselves. That's why I buy so much from them, because I know they have my back.
 
 

 

[kfscoll]

 
Quote:

Big difference. I didn't blame Amazon for sending me an open-box item, I blamed the third-party vendor -- EE. I didn't do my research and I ignored those who told me that EE was prone to selling open-box items as new...and the price I paid was a big clue. Also, I was inaccurate in one of the statements I made. It turns out that the third-party does handle the merchandise at a certain point...they have to ship it to Amazon. It's very likely that EE shipped Amazon an open-box item. Amazon would've never known that it had been used previously without opening the box and inspecting it.
I will admit that I didn't know that your Grados were "Fulfilled by Amazon." You're right, no amount of research would've prevented you getting a defective item, but you still would've been able to tell that the third-party you actually purchased from wasn't an authorized dealer.
As for EE being an authorized dealer, I emailed Grado directly, explained that I was purchasing from EE through Amazon, and Grado replied that their factory warranty was still valid.
Nice work digging up my old posts BTW!

 
Actually there's no difference at all. I blamed Amazon because Amazon was responsible. When items are fulfilled by them, they take FULL responsiblity for the quality and condition of it from the time you order until the time you receive it. You know how I know this? Because Amazon told me exactly that. So guess what...if I receive something that is clearly not in new condition, then I not only blame Amazon, but they blame themselves. That's why I buy so much from them, because I know they have my back.
 
 

Fair enough. Amazon is indeed great to work with.

To my other beef (and I think you and I are on the same page with this one, Focker) I'd much, MUCH rather go through the minor hassle of having to return the occasional problem package than not have the option of returns at all. I still can't understand the logic of the poster who recommends only buying from shops with no return policy. Such a policy might be good for the store, but I see no circumstance where it's good for the consumer.

 

[shimmer n roar]

 
Quote:

 
 
 
 Unfortunately it only takes a handful of guys like this to sink a 'Mom and Pop' store - 4 or 5 in fact would put a local audio store over the brink.
 
 Sorry mate - I know at least 4 or 5 guys like this just in Melbourne, it's not speculation and you're right overall - the majority suffer for it.

 
"mom and pop" specialist hi-fi stores have been around for many years and more power to them, but specialist headphone stores are recent additions to the streetscape. they began to spring up within the last couple of years in response to the burgeoning market for earphones and headphones triggered by the ipod, which was already being catered to by e-stores. but i get where you're coming from. 

 how long has your local bricks and mortar headphone dealer been in business? 

 

[Gwarmi]

 
Quote:

 
 
"mom and pop" specialist hi-fi stores have been around for many years and more power to them, but specialist headphone stores are recent additions to the streetscape. they began to spring up within the last couple of years in response to the burgeoning market for earphones and headphones triggered by the ipod, which was already being catered to by e-stores. but i get where you're coming from. 

 how long has your local bricks and mortar headphone dealer been in business? 

 
 
 About 4 years and going strong - the range grows by the month, and demos are made available when an item is deemed in demand and supply is stable.
 
 The little stores cannot demo an item that is in short supply and yet in high demand - a great example of this would be Ray Samuels Dark Star 
 
 Exclusive, expensive and every Tom and Jerry wants to setup a tent and fire to audition it for 8 hours at a time - problem comes about when an actual
 'serious buyer' comes along and says 'Well mate, it has been out about 2 months - I want $500 off the RRP'
 
 It cannot be done - Mr Samuels is a craftsman who cannot afford to discount his goodness to common buyers (via re-sellers)
 who want to pretend that his great gear is just another mass production item - Loser in this dilemma? You guessed it - Mom and Pop.

 

[Focker]

 
Quote:

Fair enough. Amazon is indeed great to work with.
To my other beef (and I think you and I are on the same page with this one, Focker) I'd much, MUCH rather go through the minor hassle of having to return the occasional problem package than not have the option of returns at all. I still can't understand the logic of the poster who recommends only buying from shops with no return policy. Such a policy might be good for the store, but I see no circumstance where it's good for the consumer.

 
I definitely wouldn't want to go that route on a blind purchase, but I have to give my local guy credit. He doesn't have the Ps500s, 1000s, or GS1000s in stock, but he said he'd be happy to order any or all of the three in order for FrankATL and myself to audition them.  Sometimes with regular speakers it can really suck cause something may sound great at the stereo shop, but since the listening room is typically nothing at all like the room you'd be using at home, somtimes speakers can sound entirely different once you get them fired up. With headphones that's obviously not a factor, so I can see it both way: If they are willing to let me demo before purchase, I woulnd't mind a no-return policy. If not, however, then yeah, I'd buy from Amazon every time. I know that the small shop struggles these days, and that's a bummer. I remember the first time I set foot in a REAL audio shop and how blown away I was by how a legit audio rig sounded. My favorite shop here in ATL closed down a year ago, and I'm still not over that. They were my Magnepan guys and I loved going there. I dunno, I want what's best for the consumer, but I wish the litte guys had a more effective way to compete with the big boys. I wish I knew the answer.

 

[Gwarmi]

 
There is no answer - and unfortunately in the long run we will all be worse off. C'est La Vie.

 

[shimmer n roar]

 
Quote:

 
 
 
 About 4 years and going strong - the range grows by the month, and demos are made available when an item is deemed in demand and supply is stable.
 
 The little stores cannot demo an item that is in short supply and yet in high demand - a great example of this would be Ray Samuels Dark Star 
 
 Exclusive, expensive and every Tom and Jerry wants to setup a tent and fire to audition it for 8 hours at a time - problem comes about when an actual
 'serious buyer' comes along and says 'Well mate, it has been out about 2 months - I want $500 off the RRP'
 
 It cannot be done - Mr Samuels is a craftsman who cannot afford to discount his goodness to common buyers (via re-sellers)
 who want to pretend that his great gear is just another mass production item - Loser in this dilemma? You guessed it - Mom and Pop.

 

that sounds about right - four years isn't a long time. does your headphone store rely entirely on over the counter sales or is it selling on the internet as well?

 

[Gwarmi]

 
Quote:

 
 

that sounds about right - four years isn't a long time. does your headphone store rely entirely on over the counter sales or is it selling on the internet as well?

 
 Both mate - online buy button but most Melbourne Head-Fiers would be nuts not to come in and demo all the gear before purchase - there have been
 a few blokes from the top of Australia up in Queensland just bite the bullet to come down to Melbourne for the day - usually because of a major flagship
 rig purchase - once you find yourself flying down over 4+ hours to visit a headphone store then you know it's a serious affliction!