Grado PS-1000 initial impressions

[563]

Zanth, I'm eager to see you do a GS1000/GS1000i A/B one day

 

[Blackmore]

Any chance that AKG K1000 will be there as well? Very interesting in your PS1000 vs K1000 impressions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanth /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have never heard the GS1000i so I can't comment there. The PS-1000s get the most listening time in my main rig but the headphones I use most often these days are the PS-1s while I am at work. Or the ES3xs while I'm on the go. What do I listen to? I listen to rock in the morning, after lunch it is classical, predominantly concertos or chamber works and then evening on the say home I listen to jazz up to around 9 or 10 when I switch to ambient. When I am listening to the PS-1000's I don't lock myself into my routine music preferences but I do tend to go with jazz or indie rock. I did get to listen to the HD800s but not for a very long time. I'm going to get another chance this Sunday actually so I'll reserve impressions for after that session. As for the HFQ issue 1, it is coming along. Hoping to get it out by the end of the month.

 

[Zanth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackmore /img/forum/go_quote.gif Any chance that AKG K1000 will be there as well? Very interesting in your PS1000 vs K1000 impressions.

I''ve never even seen a K1000 let alone heard one

I hope to track one down some day.

 

[stacker45]

My dealer lended me a brand new pair of PS-1000 for a few days,so here's what my impressions are so far.

These are very heavy headphones,especially compared to my GS-1000,also, the cable is thicker than my non (i) GS-1000 and also about a foot shorter on the PS-1000,wich is a problem for me,so i had to use the extension cable,wich oddly enough,is the smaller gauge cable that i had recieved with my GS-1000.

I first listened to studio recorded jazz and blues with vocals and i have to admit,i was impressed with the strong bass and the warm mids,the soundstage isn't as wide as my GS-1000,but you i guess you can't have everything,so far advantage PS-1000.

I then watched Lindsay Buckignham's concert on DVD,and i have to say that the GS-1000 wider soundstage made for a much more realistic listening experience,i felt that Buckingham's voice sounded a bit muddy through the PS-1000,not so with the GS-1000.Second round goes to the GS-1000.

So far,i suspect that,when listening to studio or small venue recordings the PS-1000 would probably have the advantage over the GS-1000.However when litening to live or large venues recordings the GS-1000 have the edge over the PS-1000 due to they're bigger soundstage.

I think that the PS-1000 sound more like my HP-2,(wich i use for jazz and blues studio recordings) than the GS-1000,altough the bass reaches deeper,and the soundstage is a little wider than the HP-1000.

I know that the PS-1000 aren't broken in yet,so they'll probably improve over time,unfortunetely,i have to return them soon,but i'm glad i've had the chance to listen to them,i guess i'll be keeping my GS/HP 1000 combo...for now at least.

 

[plonter]

so, are the ps1000 consider more neutral than the RS1?
i am looking to get the ps1000 in order to take that beautiful RS1 sound and improve it by adding more bass and polishing the highs and the mids a little bit, but I like that coloured grado sound. the comment about the ps1000 being more neutral is not good news for me.

 

[subtle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plonter /img/forum/go_quote.gif i am looking to take that beautiful RS1 sound and improve it by adding more bass and polishing the highs and the mids a little bit, but I like that coloured grado sound.

If this is what you're looking for, I highly suggest you seek out an original PS1. Shock and awe is what you should expect.

 

[jlingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff /img/forum/go_quote.gif Got my PS1000 from TTVJ, and they appear to have been shipped straight from Grado. No black dots, and no scratches. The cups were covered in foam, so perhaps that saved them from scratches in the last steps of the shipping/manufacturing process. Out of the box, the highs reach far! The bass sounds good and full, though with a slight lack of impact. Instruments are sounding better than vocals so far. The soundstage is huge, and yet everything is defined and has a position!

Hi Jeff,
Xciter Amp should provide you with the bass impact you need.

 

[jlingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ical /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm using Harbeth SHL5 drive by Quad pre QC-24 & mono amps II-Forty with nos Tungsol smooth gray plate 6550.

That's correct.

and Grado sounds more like Dynaudio

 

[jlingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf18t /img/forum/go_quote.gif Difficult to say, maybe it's time to start a new registry thread. I total, I don't think there's 500 PS1K in the wild yet. My SN are 23x and I don't recall seen one in the 3xx.

Mine #368 didn't notice any black dots.

 

[jlingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamahome77 /img/forum/go_quote.gif After many many months of waiting and unable to cancel my pre-order, I've finally received the PS1000. Mine also came with the brown rubber band around the cup and it's in matte finish. I find the finish a bit odd. I see there's tiny marks and dings all over the metal cup. I was expecting the finish to be smooth and the finish looks nothing like the one cwilson owns. Take a look.

This is an awful looking Grado finishing I must say, I would return the PS1000 for a definite replacement.

 

[jlingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fafner /img/forum/go_quote.gif Look should be the last thing to look at for an headphone, but there's no doubt I wouldn't be happy at all to get such a visually "un-refined" product considering how much it costs (we're speaking about 1700$, no other dynamic phones currently in production do reach such prices). One can argue that sound is what Grado focused on, but frankly with such prices I doubt there really wasn't any room for some improvements in the look department. I seem to remember Headroom is not accepting returns due to cosmetical issues (I guess following Grado's requests) because this finish actually makes every model "unique". I'm sorry, but this is not acceptable for me for a product in this price class. One not knowing the issue would conclude your photos are of a 10years-heavily-used headphone, not of a new product. Your listening comments don't make me eager to get them either (forgetting for a minute Grado's silly price policy out of USA)...I'm very picky about sibilance, harshness and aggressiveness, my GS1000 is really bad on this when the orchestra grow in size (on chamber or solo music I've to admit the GS1000 is great, or it would be great if mine would still work correctly); looking at your comments it doesn't seem the PS1000 is taking care of this much better than the GS1000...hope for you that some burn-in will help.

That's strange, I don't hear any sibillance at all with my PS1000, unlike my GS1000.

 

[uberburger101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by subtle /img/forum/go_quote.gif If this is what you're looking for, I highly suggest you seek out an original PS1. Shock and awe is what you should expect.

Totally agreed.

 

[03029174]

Quote:

Originally Posted by subtle /img/forum/go_quote.gif If this is what you're looking for, I highly suggest you seek out an original PS1. Shock and awe is what you should expect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberburger101 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Totally agreed.

Exactly correct, i had the RS-1s before i upgraded to my PS-1s

 

[Pincher]

Just got my Demo PS1000s from the courier. I'm at work so I can't take a pic, but they look good upon a quick look.

 

[DC5Zilla]

Does PS-1000 have somewhat recessed mids like GS-1000?