[snakenuts]

I miss my old Grados. But of course the biggest complaint was the headband. I've seen that GRado have improved headband comfort on the top models recently. I might have to reinvest in a pair

 

[Gippy]

Out of the box I thought [the RS1x] were so meh. I mean, really meh. Could be...perhaps the PS500e is just a much better headphone than the RS1x and the RS2x. The RS2x (around 50 hours of use, I was told) blew the RS1x out of the water. It might even be better than my RS2e.

The original PS500/HF2 was one of Grado's smoothest headphones. This reviewer stated he preferred the PS500 over the PS500e and GH1. Personally I never gravitated towards any of the metal models due to weight concerns. My first Grado was a SR225i over the SR325is.

You might be in the camp (like me) where you feel the x-series sound signature is a step back, but you thought the RS2x was great. I'll give the edge to the GH4 which I feel was Grado's peak small wooden model. The x-series models in general sound too Hemp-like (more muffled) so they're not for me.

 

[Ilomaenkimi]

Well, this why I'm confused. Are you saying that contemporary Grados (the X series) have less bass? The RS2x I heard had adequate bass, par for the course for any Grado from any series. The RS2x had as much bass as my RS2e and the PS500e I heard. The RS1x didn't have the punchy bass Grado is known for...and it did not have almost any sub bass (my RS2e, SR225i mod and GH2 are sub bass cannons compared to the RS1x I heard).

But yours was an open box, so perhaps they had a few hours of use when you got them...unless you don't believe in burn-in (I do).

I know how to appreciate an analytical headphone that does not emphasize the bass. I have owned the HD800 for years an I love that model. However, I'm not looking for the Grado version of an HD800 (and that is what I heard in the store today).

Perhaps I should just save my pennies and go for a GS1000x or the GS3000 (x or e).

My Hemps has more bass than RS2x. Goes lower and has more punch, not round or boomy upper bass though.

 

[544322]

The original PS500/HF2 was one of Grado's smoothest headphones. This reviewer stated he preferred the PS500 over the PS500e and GH1. Personally I never gravitated towards any of the metal models due to weight concerns. My first Grado was a SR225i over the SR325is.

You might be in the camp (like me) where you feel the x-series sound signature is a step back, but you thought the RS2x was great. I'll give the edge to the GH4 which I feel was Grado's peak small wooden model. The x-series models in general sound too Hemp-like (more muffled) so they're not for me.

The PS500e is not really heavy as it is wood inside the thin metal cups.

 

[ProjectGuy]

I miss my old Grados. But of course the biggest complaint was the headband. I've seen that GRado have improved headband comfort on the top models recently. I might have to reinvest in a pair

You could always go aftermarket for a better headband.

 

[analoggrotto]

Grado Hemp Edition owner here, I love the sound but that cable is jus too heavy and unruly, so I'm going to recable it at some point but I've recently gone back to speakers and such.

 

[elvergun]

You might be in the camp (like me) where you feel the x-series sound signature is a step back, but you thought the RS2x was great. I'll give the edge to the GH4 which I feel was Grado's peak small wooden model. The x-series models in general sound too Hemp-like (more muffled) so they're not for me.

I didn't listen to the RS2x enough to determine if it was better or worse than my other Grados...and I was focusing on the bass when I heard them (comparing it to the RS1x).

I do think they are in the same league as the GH2 and the RS2e.

 

[glpsace]

I love the Hemp but hate the cable. I much prefer the 325 gold one. So I'm gonna say screw to the warranty and have it recabled. It is gonna be my house "deluxe" portable headphone with my future portable gear (just for around the house).

Meanwhile the Gold will be my desktop Headphone.

Always looking for some opportunity for a PS500, PS1000 and maybe some other older model if a very good deal arises.

My future "end-goal" will be maybe the 1000X but most probably the 3000X.

Always very hard to make educated decisions, especially in the high price range, when one cannot test the cans before buying.

 

[ProjectGuy]

I love the Hemp but hate the cable. I much prefer the 325 gold one. So I'm gonna say screw to the warranty and have it recabled. It is gonna be my house "deluxe" portable headphone with my future portable gear (just for around the house).

Meanwhile the Gold will be my desktop Headphone.

Always looking for some opportunity for a PS500, PS1000 and maybe some other older model if a very good deal arises.

My future "end-goal" will be maybe the 1000X but most probably the 3000X.

Always very hard to make educated decisions, especially in the high price range, when one cannot test the cans before buying.

Just grabbed a pair of PS1000’s and so far am very happy with them.

 

[Kerouac]

Since taking that picture, I have added the PS2000e, the GS2000e, the Hemp, the GR8e (IEM), and the GH-2. I have not yet bought any of the -x series.

Well, I guess you're gonna need a bigger boat Grado headphones display table

The original PS500/HF2 was one of Grado's smoothest headphones. This reviewer stated he preferred the PS500 over the PS500e and GH1. Personally I never gravitated towards any of the metal models due to weight concerns. My first Grado was a SR225i over the SR325is.

Yeah, the original PS500 certainly has a smoother (with deeper subbass and quite a natural timbre) signature than the Grado models that I've heard so far. And like another member already mentioned it has wood inside, so not heavy at all. With the G pads on it also has an impressive wide soundstage, without losing too much on the lows. Anyway, I'm glad I never sold mine over the past years

 

[elvergun]

And like another member already mentioned it has wood inside, so not heavy at all. With the G pads on it also has an impressive wide soundstage, without losing too much on the lows. Anyway, I'm glad I never sold mine over the past years

I never gave them much thought because I thought they were heavy. I've seen so many in the classifieds over the years and I always ignored them. If only I knew then what I know now.

 

[jonathan c]

… saturday under way …

 

[You Kay]

… saturday under way …

What are your impression of these headphones with this amp?

 

[Shane D]

Despite all my hype, i have come to the following conclusion:

Hemps are just my thing, RS2x might be "too hi-fi" and even too precise for my taste. It has its merits, but Hemps gives much more of the music. The whole is what matters.
A month with RS2x and switching to Hemp was like coming home from a long, hard journey. If you know what I mean.

A bit the same situation as it was between my speakers: Tempo3i and Virgo3; Virgo 3 was undeniably "better" in hifi terms.
As a with music, Tempo is in a class of his own, Virgo has no knocking. So i own Tempos now.

For some reason I just don't like too much resolution, or maybe it's the way it's brought out, go figure.

In my books Hemps are better than RS2x. Hemps are end game headphones, for me.
That's not a bad achievement at all. For a 550euros headphone. Everything is just right.

Yours are much, much darker than mine.

 

[Kerouac]

So, about 1½ week ago I found/bought (thanks to the great advise of some of you) this 2nd hands (pic below from the seller) Grado GH2.

The seller told me that he hardly used it himself and bought it mainly for collecting purposes, so it was basically as good as new.

And yesterday it arrived. Now look at that wooden beauty!!!


And yes, of course with 'beauty' I meant the GH2 instead of the wooden statue that I bought in Suriname on one of my travels


I will do some serious A-B testing with the PS500 over the weekend. But so far I can already say that I think that the GH2 sounds wonderful
My 'masterplan' was to sell it in case I wouldn't like it and buy the Hemp after that. But the GH2 is definitely here to stay! So, I guess that Hemp has to wait...