blownaway
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2007
- Posts
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I’m torn between the Hifiman HE560 or the Grado GS1000e (a know it's rough). Here is my comparison between the two (helps me organize my thoughts). Feel free to chime if you have anything to add or feel the same as I do. I’m going to decide on which one over the weekend. I just downloaded the “ultimate headphone demonstration disc” from HDTracks. It should be fun to compare the two.
HE-560
Positives:
A more “fun” sound signature. A headphone that aims to please the masses.
Very musically engaging headphone
Better for metal, classic rock because of the bass quantity & extension and the slightly forward of neutral mid-range.
Negatives:
After awhile music seems to all mix together, less separation and isolation of pure musical tones
Bass can at times sound less “special” because it’s everywhere (in just about every song)
Bass can have a wooliness quality to the sound and less textured
Treble can sound a little thin at times
Sound stage is good, not great. Missing height and some width
Seriously dorky looking
GS-1000e
Positives:
Vocals, piano, brass instruments sound more true to life. Superior timbre in all but lowest bass and bass drum
Acoustic instruments sound full of life. Soft passages instruments remain in focus and don’t get lost in the scuffle.
Greater dynamics (no so with rock).
The less of neutral (or neutral, hard to say) mid-range brings out a airiness-lightness of sound and sweetness in the treble. I think it’s a little less than neutral but who knows.
Superlative sound stage
Negatives:
On some recorded bass music drums & electric bass don’t quite have the “umph” factor (but very close)
Kicks-xss with rock but not totally
Takes a little more listening “effort” to fully appreciate
Well after going back and forth between the HE-560 and the GS1000e, the clear winner for me & my amp/dac & ears is the GS1000e. Although the GS don’t do everything perfectly (not sure any headphone does) it comes awfully close. The highs are airy, smooth & extended. The all important mids are “just right” for me. Not too forward, not too laid back, very enjoyable. Vocals, strings, horns, snare drum, tom-toms, guitar sound “right”. Instrument timbre is as close to perfect as I’ve heard. As Swspiers pointed out in his review of the new e GS, listening at moderate listing levels offers a nearly perfect level of detail and perspective into the music. Bass is ripe, taught & extended. The GS will not go down to sub-woofer levels but is very satisfying and punchy and in no way light with my Vortuge Pure II. Sound stage is more expansive & immersive than any headphone I’ve heard to date (including the PS-1000e). The ultimate headphone demonstration disc completely illustrates this. To hear the level of detail and clarity on other headphones I compared I need to boast the volume by 30% or so.
I’m returning the HE-560 but would like to hear the PS-1000i as a comparison. I could possibly justify both if I like the PS on at least 30% of my recording and for the right price.