I have very limited experience compared to many of you. But that also makes me not having a Grado history and since I'm constantly looking for cans to complement each other, I read a lot around here without taking anyone sides or being biased for whatever reason.
Personally, I have 2 complaints and a regret. The cable, the comfort (still very tolerable) and being an American brand without any repairing support (that I know) in Europe.
Recently, I just wanted something as a recabling to my Hemp so that I could use it with other cables but it turns out that I couldn't find nobody that does it in the European Union. I was refused by 2 very well known cable companies here in Europe - One even answered me that with Grado it is not even worth the hassle. Contacted an Italian authorized dealer who supposedly also repairs them (don't quote me on this) but didn't even got an answer. And after asking also on the FB group and researching, I tried to contact a German fellow who supposedly does some repairing under warranty for the brand (don't quote me on this either) but once again no answer back, at least until now.
This changed drastically my point of view regarding my current line-up and with future possible purchases. I just recently got hold of the RS1 Buttoned but unfortunately I won't be keeping it. God forbids if suddenly I have some technical issue with it! I'm not worried with my Gold 325 because, considering its current price, not much of a monetary risk/loss if anything happens and my Hemp is still under warranty. One thing is for sure, no matter what the future reserves me I will always have by my side 1 or 2 Grados. Just not expensive ones. I haven't tried many HP but the 660S and Stellia that I did, on short impressions where a letdown in terms of sound engagement. I couldn't care less about technicalities and discussing the sex´s Angels like people do in some boring endless threads. I only care about the way music talks to me, and this is done threw Headphones. That is why I have such an hard time to decide on a can, without having the chance to test it, because people are interested in talking about everything except of what really matters!
Anyway, rant apart, the 2 complaints I have are also the major ones that drives most people away. 50% of any HP thread is about cable discussion, so that can give one perspective of how important this matter is nowadays. When transportable, but especially portable devices and market, are gaining ground it is understandable that cable becomes an important part of the equation.
I also witness, as a deciding factor in a competitive market, the comfort. No need to say that most Grado are not the most comfortable HP, especially if using the pads that they were intended to be used in the first place with.
Then I also witness some other factors (that I don't agree with), minors surely, but that won't play in the brands favor. The fact that over the years there hasn't been no major aesthetically changes and that you can find almost the same materials used in a 350/400€ unit and a 2300€ one, wood aside.
I usually don't see many people complaining about sound, at least the informed ones. Most do it out of ignorance, and wrongly, associating the brand automatically to the "older" stereotyped signature.
I do not agree with the idea that Grado is becoming fashion again, at least for its looks. People who really are into that, will sooner go to something like a Spirit Torino than to a Grado. I believe that the ones that really turns, nowadays to Grado, is because are tired of all this Hyped nonsense that is transversal to any dedicated thread and after many disappointments one tends to find refuge to something that was always there, simple, unchanged, truth to itself and still has a lot of followers (it is impossible to any member of this forum to miss this particular dedicated thread with almost 4000 pages, all have come across it sooner or later despite of Grado interest). Everything else put aside, only sound can bind these people together, certainly not futuristic technology, cables or any other bang and whistles found in so many other brands. That is when people get curious about Grado (and rightfully so) and turn to the brand.
In the end, the purpose of being part of a forum like this was, and always will be, SQ.
Anyway, just my 2 cents. Cheers.
