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Perhaps I am thinking of SR-100 then.

Watch, because we questioned it, someone will post a picture of it just to spite us, lol.

They have to mail 'em to me for 1st hand, visual confirmation.
I don't trust kids these days with photoshop etc!

 

[obobskivich]

They have to mail 'em to me for 1st hand, visual confirmation.

And of course substantial listening...for uh, testing purposes.

 

[pcf]

There are two versions of SR100 (just like SR200)- one with HP1000 drivers; one with normal John Grado drivers.

 

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There are two versions of SR100 (just like SR200)- one with HP1000 drivers; one with normal John Grado drivers.

We were discussing the red lettered Grados.
Any chance you know:
1. Are all the red lettered SR100 with HP1000?  I've only seen red SR100 with HP1000 drivers.
2. Did Grado make any other models with red lettering e.g. SR200 or SR300? I've only seen red letters on SR100.
 
This is my understanding on the HP1000 drivers in SR100/200/300 (they show up in all three):
The SR100/200/300 were designed as less expensive consumer alternatives to the pro HP1/2/3.
I believe they were designed around a new driver that Grado could produce in house as opposed to buying HP1000s.
The legend is that whenever they ran out of the new drivers they would substitute lower quality HP1000 units.
I believe Joe already made an HP-3, which was an HP-2 using the lesser drivers from each batch so using the B-stock makes sense.
I guess they felt that the B stock HP1000 were also an equal substitute for their new in house Grado driver.
I have no idea why some SR100 were red.  Maybe to denote that they were made with HP1000 drivers as I've only seen HP1000 in red SR100s OR maybe the red SR100 are just the first SRs made and they can have either driver.
I am also really interested to know when Grado made the first Alessandro MS and what is different. I heard that they were trying to get closer to a pro style HP1000 sound but I don't know.

 

[obobskivich]

Alessandro and Grado got together at some point in the late 1990s is my understanding (post RS-1); if not later than that. The goal isn't (afaik) to replicate the HP-1000, but instead Grado is simply acting as an OEM for Alessandro's pro headphone expansion (much like their relationship with FreeSystems and the PS-1). Ostensibly the MS-Pro and RS-1 are fairly similar, with the MS-Pro being "flatter" - but I have never heard the MS-Pro, and have not seen measurements of them either. I did contact Alessandro some time ago and asked about the differences, and their reply was basically "different but similar" - I didn't follow up with Grado with the same inquiry. Basically I lost interest upon finding that the MS-Pro would likely be redundant next to the RS-1. (And that Alessandro's return policy royally sucks compared to J&R).

 

[parbaked]

Quote:

Alessandro and Grado got together at some point in the late 1990s is my understanding (post RS-1); if not later than that. The goal isn't (afaik) to replicate the HP-1000, but instead Grado is simply acting as an OEM for Alessandro's pro headphone expansion 

I didn't mean replicate the HP1000 but provide a pro style product that was less "consumer" than John's Grados and therefore more "studio" suitable.
I agree that they likely didn't sit around talking about how to replicate the HP1000, but rather just make a flatter Grado.

 

[sharps990]

I love my sr-225s so much. They are practically a new appendage.

 

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Alessandro and Grado got together at some point in the late 1990s is my understanding (post RS-1); if not later than that.

Yeah sometime after the RS (1996) but before the 2003 Goldies (early MS2 have small, straight cups).
I'm still curious what, if anything, is different. I really like my old style MS2 too.

 

[pcf]

Quote:

We were discussing the red lettered Grados.
Any chance you know:
1. Are all the red lettered SR100 with HP1000?  I've only seen red SR100 with HP1000 drivers.
2. Did Grado make any other models with red lettering e.g. SR200 or SR300? I've only seen red letters on SR100.
 
This is my understanding on the HP1000 drivers in SR100/200/300 (they show up in all three):
The SR100/200/300 were designed as less expensive consumer alternatives to the pro HP1/2/3.
I believe they were designed around a new driver that Grado could produce in house as opposed to buying HP1000s.
The legend is that whenever they ran out of the new drivers they would substitute lower quality HP1000 units.
I believe Joe already made an HP-3, which was an HP-2 using the lesser drivers from each batch so using the B-stock makes sense.
I guess they felt that the B stock HP1000 were also an equal substitute for their new in house Grado driver.
I have no idea why some SR100 were red.  Maybe to denote that they were made with HP1000 drivers as I've only seen HP1000 in red SR100s OR maybe the red SR100 are just the first SRs made and they can have either driver.
I am also really interested to know when Grado made the first Alessandro MS and what is different. I heard that they were trying to get closer to a pro style HP1000 sound but I don't know.

To answer your questions:
 
1) I have seen at least one pair of SR100 with HP1000 drivers but no red lettering.
2) I have not seen any other Grado models with red lettering other than SR100.
 
HP1000 drivers also show up in some early SR325, as well as SR100/200/300. The HP1000 drivers didn't get into SR series because Grado Labs ran out of never drivers. It happend BEFORE John had any other drivers other than the HP1000 ones.

 

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HP1000 drivers also show up in some early SR325, as well as SR100/200/300. The HP1000 drivers didn't get into SR series because Grado Labs ran out of never drivers. It happend BEFORE John had any other drivers other than the HP1000 ones.

I have seen HP1000 in early black SR325. I think that means Grado must have used HP1000 as replacements for his new drivers as John had the new drivers by the time the 325 came out, no? 

 

[pcf]

Quote:

I have seen HP1000 in early black SR325. I think that means Grado must have used HP1000 as replacements for his new drivers as John had the new drivers by the time the 325 came out, no? 

No 

,  the first patch of SR325 had HP1000 drivers, the ones with new drivers came later. 

 

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To answer your questions:
 
1) I have seen at least one pair of SR100 with HP1000 drivers but no red lettering.
2) I have not seen any other Grado models with red lettering other than SR100.
 
HP1000 drivers also show up in some early SR325, as well as SR100/200/300. The HP1000 drivers didn't get into SR series because Grado Labs ran out of never drivers. It happend BEFORE John had any other drivers other than the HP1000 ones.

BTW you have the nicest collection of Grados. Did you buy the vintage models back when new, if you don't mind me asking? It would be difficult to amass them now! 

 

[pcf]

Quote:

BTW you have the nicest collection of Grados. Did you buy the vintage models back when new, if you don't mind me asking? It would be difficult to amass them now! 

I bought most of my Grados used. Some of these older ones are hard to come by these days. Since I had my HP1000 upgraded by Joe, I hardly never use the other Grados except for the black 325 with the Magnum V4 drivers- technically not a Grado anymore.

 

[parbaked]

Enjoy, cheers!!

 

[Towwers]

Which one is better the grado PS500 or the RS2i??? I already have the sr325is and I really love it. However,  I want to upgrade. I usually listen to metal, classical, jazz, electronic and instrumental music. I use an ipod nano with a Fiio E6 and Fiio E7. 
 
Which one do you think is better for my needs??? thanks