Grado GS1000e (1ke) vs GS3000e (3ke) comparison review
Preface:
I am a Grado fan. I have had many headphones over the past 25 years, including many of the high-end cans from companies like Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Sony, Audeze, and Fostex (although 20 years ago high end had a different meaning and price!). I like treble-forward headphones and hate boomy/muddy bass. Everyone hears differently and has different preference for audio reproduction. I am also a classical brass musician. I like brass to sound, well, brassy with all their glorious harmonics. I also like to hear music that sounds like I am on stage with the musicians. I think most people would be surprised at how much a violin emits in the treble up close and personal as you hear the bow move against the strings. For me, no headphone company can reproduce this feeling like Grado in terms of openness and presence. The best advice I've heard over the years is to find people/reviewers who share your preferred sound signature and ignore anyone else. So, take it or leave it, here are my thoughts on the GS1000e vs GS3000e.
I have moved up the Grado line for longer than I can remember. For a very long time, I used the 225's, modifying them at points along the way. I never loved the L cushions (although I tolerated them forever) so ended up with some larger aftermarket G cushions on the 225. At some point the upgrade bug bit me (along with a larger paycheck), and I bought a used GS1000e. These are wonderful headphones and I was very content with them. Then I took another jump and bought the GS3000e when I found a great deal on a mint pair.
Summary:
Both headphones are great, but there are differences. The tl;dr: The 3ke has more bass extension, more defined bass, and less treble which make for an excellent listen. Orchestral strings are good on both but superb on the 3ke. Good orchestral recordings sound like I am on the conductors podium, and not 10 rows back in the house. On my copies, the channel balance is also better on the 3ke than the 1ke in the treble but this may be pair dependent. I can hear this easily when doing frequency sweeps but I am not sure it makes a real difference listening to real music. Most of all, the 3ke is more restrained but retains the openness, forwardness, and realism that I associate with the Grado sound. As both have increased treble, tape hiss from older recordings is more noticeable. Those of us over a certain age are quite adept at looking past this to hear the music but it is something to consider. The 1ke puts more color on the hiss due to its resonances which can make the hiss more noticeable. I will end by saying that both are TOTL headphones that are extremely light and comfortable on the head. Many high-end headphones are much heavier (looking at you planars) and I have trouble wearing them for long listening sessions. The Grados with the G cushions are comparably light as a feather and I can wear them all day without even noticing that are there.
Equipment:
Amazon Music HD on MacBook Pro -> Topping E30 -> Topping L30
Bass:
The 3ke has more bass which is quite noticeable in both tests and listening to music. It's not a huge effect but a little but goes a long way. It is not, however, boomy at all. For bass instruments (upright bass, electric bass, kick drum) the sound is rounder and fuller than with the 1ke. However, both models produce similar "slam" as the 1ke puts more energy into ~125Hz, but the 3ke sounds ever slightly more realistic. Compared to headphones with much larger bass extension, the only time I really notice a serious difference is with electronic music with frequencies in the sub-bass range. But as I don't listen to this kind of music or games/movies with my headphones this does not bother me.
Mids:
Both are excellent for me. Detailed and not recessed.
Treble:
Treble on the 1ke is harsher, with a more treble forward presentation. The 3ke has fewer and smaller resonant peaks in the treble when tested with frequency sweeps. This can be heard with some female vocals where the 3ke has less harsh syllables and sibilance. The same concept applies to sounds from the violin which are smoother but still present with the 3ke. Any changes in treble affect the timber and sound of cymbals and the 1ke and 3ke are different but I am not sure I prefer one over the other here. Lastly, distorted electric guitar sounds better to me on 1ke, they just have more grunge to them. My theory is that this is due to the small peaks in the treble.
Listening notes:
- Good Times, Chic: bass notes are very round and defined without being boomy or muddy.
- Beethoven Symphonies No 5, Carlos Kleiber and Winer Philharminoker: both are excellent. 3ke seems better defined for moving bass passages and better for high brass sections. Oboe and flute also very realistic in sound and localization.
- Holy Wars...The Punishment Due, Megadeath: 3ke wins on drum reproduction (kick and cymbals), 1ke wins on guitar sound.
- Stepping (Isise), Babatude Olatunji: Both excellent, but 3ke wins on definition and sound. More defined nuances (sounds of hands/sticks on drums, ring down of drum oscillation, room acoustics)
- Daydreamer, Adele: Bass more defined on 3ke. Adele's voice is one where one the resonances on my copy of 1ke make her sound harsh. The 3ke didn't have this.
- Run-Around, Blues Traveler: Great on both. Dropping bass note at beginning fuller on 3ke. Popper's harmonica less harsh on 3ke and voice also perhaps more realistic.
- Over the Rainbow, Jane Monheit AND I can See Clearly Now, Holly Cole Trio: Much prefer 3ke as it has a more restrained vocal while still sounding "alive". Both cans do well on the bass here.
- Beethoven String Quartet No. 6 in B-Flat Major, I: Allegreo con brio, Belcea Quartet. Violins less harsh and more even sounding on 3ke. Cello is wonderfully rich on 3ke. Both have great imaging.
- And So It Goes, The King's Singers: For male vocal ensembles both cans are very similar as you have less of the extremes in frequency.
- My One and Only Love, Houston Person: Ron Carter's bass is far superior on 3ke. It digs deep without any boom but the connection to the upper harmonics, string motion/ringing, finger sounds is great. Peterson's sax sound is also mellower on the 3ke in a very realistic way.
- Stella by Starlight, Joe Pass: 1ke is more treble forward, but not necessarily a bad thing for the acoustic guitar sound. I still prefer the 3ke, but 1ke is very strong here, just different.
- Chopin Waltzes, Op. 64: No 2 in C-Sharp Minor, Edward Auer: Both sound excellent on this piano recording and I hear very little difference.
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