I went from Senn. (HD650) to Denon (AH-D7000), back to HD800 (same journey with IEM: universals to customs).
And all the while, I kept trying the Grado's because of all the fuss on head fi but it just never sounded right to my ears. I never got it.
So recently, I took another shot and got the Grado RS1. I traded my UE11pro for someone's Grado RS1 (since I already had another custom: The JH13pro).
And I finally got what all the fuss was about. Got what the "on stage" experience was about. Got how a headphone can engage and involve the listener in a musical way that is so different than other cans.
Now I'm also realizing how incredibly versatile these cans can be. It's like having three different headphones in one, just with the changing of pads.
They become suited to whatever genre or mood you're in.
1. Stock bowls: great for rock and most everything else. It's in your face music that will get your head bopping. It's immediate and intense.
2. Flats: It quickly becomes a warm and bassy headphone. The midrange is very thick and warm. For music and times you just want more bass.
3. Jumbo GS1000/Bagle bowls: these are the times when you just don't want to be on stage and get sucked into the music but want more distance, no longer on stage but back further back. Like when you're reading or doing something that requires your attention. The midrange and bass is more distant because of increased distance from the driver but the treble becomes more airy and detailed. Because the soundstage/headstage increase dramatically, the details become more layered with more space between the instruments.
4. Then you got all the mods that tweak it this way or that way.
The tape mod for instance that adds bass to the bowls.
If you had to get one pair of headphone that can become so many other headphones, Grado's really are amazing.
I have other headphones, but if I had to keep one, I would keep the
Grado RS 1 with all the pads for diversity and versatility.
And all the while, I kept trying the Grado's because of all the fuss on head fi but it just never sounded right to my ears. I never got it.
So recently, I took another shot and got the Grado RS1. I traded my UE11pro for someone's Grado RS1 (since I already had another custom: The JH13pro).
And I finally got what all the fuss was about. Got what the "on stage" experience was about. Got how a headphone can engage and involve the listener in a musical way that is so different than other cans.
Now I'm also realizing how incredibly versatile these cans can be. It's like having three different headphones in one, just with the changing of pads.
They become suited to whatever genre or mood you're in.
1. Stock bowls: great for rock and most everything else. It's in your face music that will get your head bopping. It's immediate and intense.
2. Flats: It quickly becomes a warm and bassy headphone. The midrange is very thick and warm. For music and times you just want more bass.
3. Jumbo GS1000/Bagle bowls: these are the times when you just don't want to be on stage and get sucked into the music but want more distance, no longer on stage but back further back. Like when you're reading or doing something that requires your attention. The midrange and bass is more distant because of increased distance from the driver but the treble becomes more airy and detailed. Because the soundstage/headstage increase dramatically, the details become more layered with more space between the instruments.
4. Then you got all the mods that tweak it this way or that way.
The tape mod for instance that adds bass to the bowls.
If you had to get one pair of headphone that can become so many other headphones, Grado's really are amazing.
I have other headphones, but if I had to keep one, I would keep the
Grado RS 1 with all the pads for diversity and versatility.
