Grado Fan Club!

[JCworld]

Welcome to the Grado thread!

Dream Theater is one of my favorite bands too, and I’ve owned pretty much all the Grado models over the years, so I might be able to help out. I haven’t owned the Susvara, but I did have the HE-6 a while back, so I know the Hifiman sound pretty well. Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of planars. I just prefer the more natural and lively sound you get from dynamic drivers, especially for rock and metal. That said, Grados definitely have a unique sound and they’re not for everyone, so before I suggest anything, it’d help to know what kind of sound you're really after.

Yeah I can see that Ytse Jam title in your ID!! I spend 70% of my time listening to DT music when I put on my headphones. But I have only experience with Planar headphones from Hifiman and Audeze.
I feel something is missing when I listen to DT music with my susvara, which is like I said, the dynamic and rumbling bass drum(Portnoy's and Mangini's drums), thundering full bass(john myung and LTE albums), proper distortion sound of electric guitar (Peturucci) and etc. Susvara really shines when I listen to big-scale orchestras, Jazz, and soundtracks, not the rock and metal genre, I think.
So it would be helpful if you could tell me which model was the best to listen to DT music based on your experience. (Hope it is easy to buy in the market)

 

[Redd House]

I second the recommendation on the Grado HP100 SE for Dream Theater, and rock in general. The low end clarity and reach blew my mind the first time I heard them.

 

[mks100]

Hi all. I‘m really new to Grado world. Currently I’m using Susvara but I feel some lack of dynamic, punchness, full bass from this headphone when I listen to Dream theater music. Could you recommend proper grado model which I can purchase for this type of music listening? (Seem like there are lots of old Grado models)

I would recommend you try the SR80x to get a taste of the Grado "house" sound. As you move up the line, you will get better refinement and bass extension. If you don't like the house sound, you can sell them on eBay or HeadFi and move on while not damaging your 401k. Even without subwoofer like bass, Grados have a certain excitement that I simply do not find in other headphones. I have a pair of OG SR125s that I keep around just to remind me of where I started in this hobby. I almost exclusively listen to the S950s at this point. I take my HD800s for a walk every now and then. Usually put them away after a few tracks and return to the S950. Have fun.

 

[YtseJamer]

Yeah I can see that Ytse Jam title in your ID!! I spend 70% of my time listening to DT music when I put on my headphones. But I have only experience with Planar headphones from Hifiman and Audeze.
I feel something is missing when I listen to DT music with my susvara, which is like I said, the dynamic and rumbling bass drum(Portnoy's and Mangini's drums), thundering full bass(john myung and LTE albums), proper distortion sound of electric guitar (Peturucci) and etc. Susvara really shines when I listen to big-scale orchestras, Jazz, and soundtracks, not the rock and metal genre, I think.
So it would be helpful if you could tell me which model was the best to listen to DT music based on your experience. (Hope it is easy to buy in the market)

Haha yeah, kinda hard to hide I’m a DT fan with a nickname like that. I probably spend half my listening time on DT and similar bands, and I was never quite able to get the sound I wanted from planars, so I eventually gave up and stuck with Grados for rock and metal. As much as I love Grado headphones, bass was never really their strong point… until the HP100 SE came out. Like others have said, I think the HP100 SE might be exactly what you're looking for. Only thing is, I’m not sure how well it would pair with your Flux amp. Best case would be if you can find a place to try them out first.

 

[JCworld]

Haha yeah, kinda hard to hide I’m a DT fan with a nickname like that. I probably spend half my listening time on DT and similar bands, and I was never quite able to get the sound I wanted from planars, so I eventually gave up and stuck with Grados for rock and metal. As much as I love Grado headphones, bass was never really their strong point… until the HP100 SE came out. Like others have said, I think the HP100 SE might be exactly what you're looking for. Only thing is, I’m not sure how well it would pair with your Flux amp. Best case would be if you can find a place to try them out first.

It seems like HP100 SE is the one that everyone recommends! Could you also recommend a head amp for the HP100 SE?
I was thinking about adding a Tube headphone amp like ZMF Aegis. Maybe the tube amp smooths out the treble peak zone of HP100 SE?

 

[Gradostax fan]

It seems like HP100 SE is the one that everyone recommends! Could you also recommend a head amp for the HP100 SE?
I was thinking about adding a Tube headphone amp like ZMF Aegis. Maybe the tube amp smooths out the treble peak zone of HP100 SE?

i suggest you try a demo set before committing. I for one dislike the hp100 ,feel it diverts greatly from the usual grado sound and I know a couple of folks who feel the same way.

 

[jonathan c]

It seems like HP100 SE is the one that everyone recommends! Could you also recommend a head amp for the HP100 SE?
I was thinking about adding a Tube headphone amp like ZMF Aegis. Maybe the tube amp smooths out the treble peak zone of HP100 SE?

.... a headphone amplifier, solid-state or vacuum-tube, will not itself smooth out a headphone treble peak. For that, one needs frequency response equalisation.

 

[fidgeraldo]

As much as I love Grado headphones, bass was never really their strong point

That really depends on what you are expecting.
I only have three Grado headphones, and when I got RS2x, I was excited not only about the sound in general but particularly about the bass, too!
I love to listen to Rock and Metal with them a lot!

Cheers!

 

[ChijiroKuro]

Greetings from Spain.

Here I've "recycled" a classic 12-wire Grado cable and adapted it for the recently released models with 4-pin mini XLR connectors (compatible with ZMF, Audeze, etc.).
I used multicolour para-cord, which looks very cool and soft. Great for me.
As for the sound, the modern/actual Grado cable is more neutral; this classic cable makes the sound "clearer" but with less bass weight. HP100 have a lot of body!!!

Cheers!!

 

[piglet]

i suggest you try a demo set before committing. I for one dislike the hp100 ,feel it diverts greatly from the usual grado sound and I know a couple of folks who feel the same way.

I think it is best, if possible, to buy from a retailer with a 30 day no-questions-asked returns policy. I try to do this with nearly every audio purchase.

I like to go for smaller online retailers actually but I had a major problem with one last year (which is now resolved) so now I buy from mid-sized retailers as they are, probably, less likely to be crooks.

Trying out audio equipment has become pretty difficult these days because the high street retailers are disappearing.

It all depends where you live. I live near London and so I visit audio retailers sometimes when I am there. However if you aren't near a major city now it can be difficult to try stuff out.

 

[YtseJamer]

It seems like HP100 SE is the one that everyone recommends! Could you also recommend a head amp for the HP100 SE?
I was thinking about adding a Tube headphone amp like ZMF Aegis. Maybe the tube amp smooths out the treble peak zone of HP100 SE?

Yeah, but the HP100s aren’t cheap and to be honest, their resale value isn’t great if you end up not liking them. That’s why I’d really suggest finding a place to try them out first if you can. Otherwise, there’s a brand-new pair listed in the classifieds for $2099, and the seller looks legit. If you’re set on trying the HP100, that could be a solid option. As for the amp, I’d hold off on going straight for something pricey like the Aegis. Try the HP100 with your current amp first, you might be surprised. And if it doesn’t click, maybe grab something simple like a Vali 3 to experiment before investing more.

 

[jonathan c]

... As much as I love Grado headphones, bass was never really their strong point ... until the HP100 SE came out.

... true, but when PS500e, RS1x, SR325x et al are driven by an Icon Audio HP8 Signature, bass is satisfying in amount, depth, and quality .

 

[YtseJamer]

... true, but when PS500e, RS1x, SR325x et al are driven by an Icon Audio HP8 Signature, bass is satisfying in amount, depth, and quality .

Yeah, totally agree, my PS500x sounds amazing with the Icon HP8. I usually use them at the office with the Vali 3, which does a solid job, but man, when I plug them into the HP8 at home, the mid-bass punch and impact are just next level.

 

[chesebert]

It seems like HP100 SE is the one that everyone recommends! Could you also recommend a head amp for the HP100 SE?
I was thinking about adding a Tube headphone amp like ZMF Aegis. Maybe the tube amp smooths out the treble peak zone of HP100 SE?

There is no treble peak if you use the flat pads. Your amp is probably fine, perhaps a bit current-starved - current doesn't double down to 32 ohms in single-channel mode; probably worse if both channels are driven. If you want to go the tube route, make sure you don't get those OTL or zOTL type of amps - those suck with HP100. Find a tube amp with a big transformer and SET (not a fan of push-pull configurations).

 

[YtseJamer]

There is no treble peak if you use the flat pads. Your amp is probably fine, perhaps a bit current-starved - current doesn't double down to 32 ohms in single-channel mode; probably worse if both channels are driven. If you want to go the tube route, make sure you don't get those OTL or zOTL type of amps - those suck with HP100. Find a tube amp with a big transformer and SET (not a fan of push-pull configurations).

I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but the HP100 with flat pads just doesn’t work for me, especially for prog-metal like the OP mentioned. I don’t have the TTVJ Deluxe pads like you do, but with the Grado F-pads, the HP100 sounds almost dull to my ears. You lose too much of that treble sparkle and upper mids, which really takes the edge off electric guitars. And don’t even get me started on the comfort, it’s pretty rough. I’ve tried it with different amps and DACs, but I always end up feeling the same way.