[joseph69]

How is PS500e vs Hemp?

Unfortunately, I've never had the opportunity to hear the Hemp.

 

[Stevko]

How is PS500e vs Hemp?

Measurements says:
500 more bass,bassiest Grado?
Hemp less highs.less than other Grados?

 

[David222]

How is PS500e vs Hemp?

500e and Hemp share some similarities. I found the 500e to be somewhat more refined in overall presentation. However, the 500e (to my ear) slightly recessed in the upper mids - not dissimilar to the Senn 650/6XX (leans to cold vs. warm). Compared to the 500e, the Hemp is forward / but not forceful vs. other traditional Grados. I found the Hemps to be more dynamic in overall presentation with bit more "attitude." The 500e perhaps a fine after dinner liquor vs. the Hemps being a really good/Blanco tequila.

Keep in mind I listening to 90%+ Vocal / Jazz/ Instrumental / Acoustic, so my thoughts above are somewhat isolated from the bass presentation on both headphones.

 

[Menkau-ra]

500e and Hemp share some similarities. I found the 500e to be somewhat more refined in overall presentation. However, the 500e (to my ear) slightly recessed in the upper mids - not dissimilar to the Senn 650/6XX (leans to cold vs. warm). Compared to the 500e, the Hemp is forward / but not forceful vs. other traditional Grados. I found the Hemps to be more dynamic in overall presentation with bit more "attitude." The 500e perhaps a fine after dinner liquor vs. the Hemps being a really good/Blanco tequila.

Keep in mind I listening to 90%+ Vocal / Jazz/ Instrumental / Acoustic, so my thoughts above are somewhat isolated from the bass presentation on both headphones.

I’m very interested in the bass. Would PS500e be an upgrade in low end vs Hemp? Or it’s a side grade?

 

[Plautus001]

I've never owned a grado so no idea what sound signature it has... I went for the glory headphones etc... any thoughts on why people are drawn to this headphone?

Grado headphones have a certain immediacy that many lack.

They don't focus on world concouring bass, rather they sound alive and focused on attack and bite.

You can enjoy them with any equipment, but they scale very well.

Some models work well with tubes (although many say they are not supposed to).

Just my 2 cents, etc.

 

[elvergun]

Grado headphones have a certain immediacy that many lack.

They don't focus on world concouring bass, rather they sound alive and focused on attack and bite.

They sound live...as if you were there listening to the performance in person.

Other headphones, no matter how technically great they may be, sound artificial to varying degrees. At least that is what my ears tell me.

Some models work well with tubes (although many say they are not supposed to).

The GS3000e is one of them.

 

[ESL-1]

They sound live...as if you were there listening to the performance in person.

Other headphones, no matter how technically great they may be, sound artificial to varying degrees. At least that is what my ears tell me.






The GS3000e is one of them.

The PS2000e sounds very good running from the ALO hybrid PanAmp with dedicated power supply & rechargeable battery. The Melos SHA-1 preamp and the first Lyr hybrid also do well with most Grados.

“Sounds very good with a number of my solid state amps including the HeadAmp Gilmore Lite mk2 both solo and with the very worthwhile option of the Golden Reference Discreet Regulated Power Supply. Lots more on both sides and they don’t need to be expensive if you’re on a certain budget.”

 

[Adabisi]

OK, Gradophiles … the album is … [Chess: compilation May, 2019.] … the headphones are … … the result is …

I see your bid and raise the opening riff on Cradle Rock from Irish Tour 74 through a pair of Hemps.

 

[jonathan c]

I see your bid and raise the opening riff on Cradle Rock from Irish Tour 74 through a pair of Hemps.

Well done!

 

[jonathan c]

Grado headphones have a certain immediacy that many lack.

They don't focus on world concouring bass, rather they sound alive and focused on attack and bite.

You can enjoy them with any equipment, but they scale very well.

Some models work well with tubes (although many say they are not supposed to).***

Just my 2 cents, etc.

*** Grados, with a nominal impedance which averages 38 ohms, are an unbelievable match with well designed OTC tube headphone amplifiers: such as Icon Audio HP8, Woo Audio WA6 (Gen 1, Gen 2).
• With OTL tube headphone amplifiers with low output impedance, such as LTA MZ3 and Schiit Valhalla II, Grados are a ‘helluva’ match.
• With OTL tube headphone amplifiers with medium to high output impedance, such as Bottlehead Crack and Woo WA3, Grados may or may not work: the risk is that of bass ‘bloat’ with little definition - due to impedance mismatch.

 

[pk4425]

I've never owned a grado so no idea what sound signature it has... I went for the glory headphones etc... any thoughts on why people are drawn to this headphone?

There's an energy and immediacy to my Grado 325x that are hard to describe. These cans put you right in the front row of the hall, with the band playing for you, especially with rock.

One other plus to my Grado 325x is good stock tuning. I know some of the lower-end Grados in the Prestige series elicit complaints due to hot treble from those who don't like the "Grado sound," but I find the balance in the stock tuning of the 325x to be WAY better than I expected. They really don't need EQ at all for my ears, which is so rare these days for me with most headphones.

 

[Plautus001]

There's an energy and immediacy to my Grado 325x that are hard to describe. These cans put you right in the front row of the hall, with the band playing for you, especially with rock.

One other plus to my Grado 325x is good stock tuning. I know some of the lower-end Grados in the Prestige series elicit complaints due to hot treble from those who don't like the "Grado sound," but I find the balance in the stock tuning of the 325x to be WAY better than I expected. They really don't need EQ at all for my ears, which is so rare these days for me with most headphones.

Agree

 

[Plautus001]

*** Grados, with a nominal impedance which averages 38 ohms, are an unbelievable match with well designed OTC tube headphone amplifiers: such as Icon Audio HP8, Woo Audio WA6 (Gen 1, Gen 2).
• With OTL tube headphone amplifiers with low output impedance, such as LTA MZ3 and Schiit Valhalla II, Grados are a ‘helluva’ match.
• With OTL tube headphone amplifiers with medium to high output impedance, such as Bottlehead Crack and Woo WA3, Grados may or may not work: the risk is that of bass ‘bloat’ with little definition - due to impedance mismatch.

I like my Dark voice with upgraded tubes with the GS1000 a lot, fairly good with RS2x as well. Also great with HD6xx of course.

 

[Menkau-ra]

There's an energy and immediacy to my Grado 325x that are hard to describe. These cans put you right in the front row of the hall, with the band playing for you, especially with rock.

One other plus to my Grado 325x is good stock tuning. I know some of the lower-end Grados in the Prestige series elicit complaints due to hot treble from those who don't like the "Grado sound," but I find the balance in the stock tuning of the 325x to be WAY better than I expected. They really don't need EQ at all for my ears, which is so rare these days for me with most headphones.

Agreed. No EQ needed. But some good tubes turns 325x into god level of enjoyment headphone.

 

[YtseJamer]

*** Grados, with a nominal impedance which averages 38 ohms, are an unbelievable match with well designed OTC tube headphone amplifiers: such as Icon Audio HP8

+1, the sinergy between the Icon Audio HP8 Signature and my RS2x (with the F pads) is unbelievable!