Grado GS1000--first impressions not so good

[earwicker7]

Well, I've had them for a day and a half, and so far, I'm honestly a bit let down. I'm hoping hoping hoping that this is only the fact that they aren't broken in yet and I'm just jumping the gun. They've probably only had 15 hours of break-in.

So far, they just sound hollow and overly bright. The bass seems ok, but it is overpowered by the treble. I do kind of like the effect it has on some stringed instruments (you can hear the bowing much better), but on others it sounds fairly weak.

I'm comparing them to my balanced HD650s. I've always thought that they had just a tiny bit too little on the high end, so I thought I'd try the Grados since they had a reputation as being brighter.

I'm interested in knowing whether others have had the same impression only to have it go away with break-in.

 

[robm321]

Yes - I've had the exact same impressions pre-breakin. BUT that brightness sticks around unless you get and amp and source that are very resolving.

Can you explain the system that you are using them in?

I felt the same about the Senn HD650. They are terrific headphones but long term lose my interest because of the treble roll off.

Another option if you aren't going to tweak your system for the GS-1000s is the Ultrasone Edition 9s. They have much better treble extension than the HD650s and sound smooth without the need to tailor your system.

Either way, 400 hours of burn in is almost necessary before making any critical judgement (btw, the same goes for the Ed.9s.)

 

[vcoheda]

i have read many posts where people complain that the GS1000 is too bright, but i never know how much burn in the headphones had or if the supposed brightness went away.

also, what do you mean by an amp and source that are "resolving"?

 

[earwicker7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robm321 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes - I've had the exact same impressions pre-breakin. BUT that brightness sticks around unless you get and amp and source that are very resolving.

That they would be

. I've got a modded Opus 21 CD player and a Ray Samuels B-52 amp. I've also got vinyl, but the system is being upgraded so I haven't had a chance to listen to lps with these cans.

 

[earwicker7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif also, what do you mean by an amp and source that are "resolving"?

I took that as meaning high resolution, ie "detailed". Don't know if I'm right, though.

 

[vcoheda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by earwicker7 /img/forum/go_quote.gif So far, they just sound hollow and overly bright. The bass seems ok, but it is overpowered by the treble.

please let us know how they sound after a few hundred hours of burn in. i want to know if people who found them to be very bright initially changed their mind.

 

[earwicker7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif i want to know if people who found them to be very bright initially changed their mind.

That's what I'm hoping. Otherwise I'll be taking advantage of Music Direct's 30 day return policy.

 

[Mindless]

Initially, they were indeed very bright. Sometimes even painfully so, especially with female vocals. 's' sounds were particularly bright in the beginning for me. However, after a couple of days, they loosened up significantly and the brightness vanished. I'm probably closing in on 300 hours now with my pair and I have yet to find a song that I don't like them with.

The source and amplifier you have definately holds a high level of quality so that's not where the problem is. I'd definately let them burn in a few hundred hours before returning them.

If you do return them, you could try getting them recabled from Moon Audio with a Black Dragon cable. Me along with a few other fellow Head-Fiers are very pleased with the combination.

 

[robm321]

Quote:

Originally Posted by earwicker7 /img/forum/go_quote.gif That they would be . I've got a modded Opus 21 CD player and a Ray Samuels B-52 amp. I've also got vinyl, but the system is being upgraded so I haven't had a chance to listen to lps with these cans.

Considering your system, I think you might do well picking up a Senn HD600/recabled. Still not as exciting as the GS-1000 IMO, but a brighter treble than the HD650 by a small margin and the B-52 brings the HD600s up to an excellent level. I heard that pairing this past weekend.

I also heard the GS-1000 this past weekend with the B52 which I've read here was a great match and quickly noticed that it sounded too bright and hot to be enjoyeabl as well. These were my broken in GS-1000s too. I think the amp was designed with the HD600s in mind which could use a bit of a bump in the highs.

If you are set on the GS-1000s, I think a tube amp that softens the treble and brings out the midrange would be a better match.

Either way, you won't get the musical excitement that the GS-1000s give you with any other headphone. It makes it a tough call. But the highs will definitely soften with break in - just don't expect them to go away completely and become Senns

Vinyl sounds fantastic with the GS-1000s and Senn HD600s as well btw. I honestly think the B52 with the Gs-1000s is the problem.

*by resolving I meant lack of harshness. Resolving players smooth out details with less grain IMO - and the Opus 21 is clearly a resolving player.

 

[Fafner]

My GS1000 sound awesome with my B52...maybe the source has its role in the game too...

 

[wakeride74]

I'd suggest rolling some tubes too, the GS1000's are picky but can sound pretty awesome when you find that synergy sweet spot.

 

[earwicker7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeride74 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'd suggest rolling some tubes too, the GS1000's are picky but can sound pretty awesome when you find that synergy sweet spot.

I'm going down that route. I got a pair of 1950s Telefunken 12AU7s for the input, and they sounded awesome, but they broke down and started distorting after the first few days. I returned them and should have their replacements in a few days. Also, there is a set of four 1960s RCA bronzeplate 5687s waiting for me at the post office (I wasn't home when they delivered yesterday

).

 

[wakeride74]

Quote:

Originally Posted by earwicker7 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm going down that route. I got a pair of 1950s Telefunken 12AU7s for the input, and they sounded awesome, but they broke down and started distorting after the first few days. I returned them and should have their replacements in a few days. Also, there is a set of four 1960s RCA bronzeplate 5687s waiting for me at the post office (I wasn't home when they delivered yesterday ).

You may also want to try some Tung Sol's and/or some Sylvania Gold tips to mate with the Telefunkens.

 

[b0dhi]

I was somewhat dissapointed initially. At first, mine had a strong peak around 6Khz, lacked microdetail, and sounded kinda harsh. Now the peak is gone, microdetail has really come out, bass has fleshed out, and the treble is smooth yet detailed. There are a small number of headphones that really do transform during burn-in, and the GS are one such headphone. I suggest you give them 400 hours.

 

[Bostonears]

When I got my GS-1000, I hooked them up to a spare receiver in the basement tuned to a local bass-heavy urban/funk station, then let them burn in for a full week before I listened to them.

While I can't give a before and after comparison of break in, they did not sound bright at all with my set up (see signature) even before I had the cable upgraded to a Black Dragon, which futher extended the bass response. When I think of adjectives to describe the sound, "bright" doesn't make it anywhere near the list.

I suspect that source and amp factors are coming into play when people describe broken-in GS-1000 sound as bright.