[JerseyD]

My take from CanJam Dallas:
Grados's new HP-100-SE ($2,495) - heard these at the Schiitt table on three different stacks (small-medium and large, if you will); Midgard/Modius vs. Lyrr3/Bifrost vs. Mjolnir3/Gungnir2. Super-spacious and detailed sound; great bass for a Grado (very good but not great bass in the wider world); They did scale well as I went up the line of Schiitt. My issue...SUPER BRIGHT (even for a Grado)! I compared head to head with the GS-3000x and found that one to have a much warmer tonal balance in comparison.

These will appeal to people who want every detail and favor a bright presentation. For the record, the Lyrr3/Bifrost stack had a Lokius EQ unit, so I played with that and dialed down the treble to try and suit my own preference for a warmer sound. It helped, but even with that, the HP100SE was still too bright for me personally.

 

[Luckyleo]

My take from CanJam Dallas:
Grados's new HP-100-SE ($2,495) - heard these at the Schiitt table on three different stacks (small-medium and large, if you will); Midgard/Modius vs. Lyrr3/Bifrost vs. Mjolnir3/Gungnir2. Super-spacious and detailed sound; great bass for a Grado (very good but not great bass in the wider world); They did scale well as I went up the line of Schiitt. My issue...SUPER BRIGHT (even for a Grado)! I compared head to head with the GS-3000x and found that one to have a much warmer tonal balance in comparison.

These will appeal to people who want every detail and favor a bright presentation. For the record, the Lyrr3/Bifrost stack had a Lokius EQ unit, so I played with that and dialed down the treble to try and suit my own preference for a warmer sound. It helped, but even with that, the HP100SE was still too bright for me personally.

Jason showed a pic of the HP100 he received for the show. Given how much burn in some of the Grados require (RS1x, GS3000x, etc), I'm guessing a well used unit will have slightly (Significant?) different characteristics. Time will tell

 

[JerseyD]

Jason showed a pic of the HP100 he received for the show. Given how much burn in some of the Grados require (RS1x, GS3000x, etc), I'm guessing a well used unit will have slightly (Significant?) different characteristics. Time will tell

That’s a great point. My guess is that this unit was brand new.

 

[plakat]

My take from CanJam Dallas:
Grados's new HP-100-SE ($2,495) - heard these at the Schiitt table on three different stacks (small-medium and large, if you will); Midgard/Modius vs. Lyrr3/Bifrost vs. Mjolnir3/Gungnir2. Super-spacious and detailed sound; great bass for a Grado (very good but not great bass in the wider world); They did scale well as I went up the line of Schiitt. My issue...SUPER BRIGHT (even for a Grado)! I compared head to head with the GS-3000x and found that one to have a much warmer tonal balance in comparison.

These will appeal to people who want every detail and favor a bright presentation. For the record, the Lyrr3/Bifrost stack had a Lokius EQ unit, so I played with that and dialed down the treble to try and suit my own preference for a warmer sound. It helped, but even with that, the HP100SE was still too bright for me personally.

Hm, giving me second thoughts… I know that show conditions are not optimal, especially for open headphones. But the direct comparison to a GS3000x still holds I guess.

Maybe I’m going to save some money after all…

 

[JerseyD]

Hm, giving me second thoughts… I know that show conditions are not optimal, especially for open headphones. But the direct comparison to a GS3000x still holds I guess.

Maybe I’m going to save some money after all…

As Leo pointed out above, this pair was most likely not used much prior to my audition. High end Grados do change quite a bit with burn in, so they will probably mellow out a bit with time. Have to say, the treble detail was impressive, with no “hash” whatsoever, unlike most of Grado’s other models (to my ears).

 

[M3NTAL]

@RichGrado - are you able to fill in the gaps with weight (with / without cable) and shipping dates?

@JerseyD - I've read similar rumblings about the tuning being on the bright side. Were they on the Mjolnir 3 stack? The MJ3 in my personal system does not lean bright in anyways - I'd be extra cautious of brightness if yes.

 

[JerseyD]

@JerseyD - I've read similar rumblings about the tuning being on the bright side. Were they on the Mjolnir 3 stack? The MJ3 in my personal system does not lean bright in anyways - I'd be extra cautious of brightness if yes.

Even on the Mjolnir, they were still bright to me, but again, not burned in yet. There was no EQ option on that stack, so it was straight up sound.

 

[sling5s]

My take from CanJam Dallas:
Grados's new HP-100-SE ($2,495) - heard these at the Schiitt table on three different stacks (small-medium and large, if you will); Midgard/Modius vs. Lyrr3/Bifrost vs. Mjolnir3/Gungnir2. Super-spacious and detailed sound; great bass for a Grado (very good but not great bass in the wider world); They did scale well as I went up the line of Schiitt. My issue...SUPER BRIGHT (even for a Grado)! I compared head to head with the GS-3000x and found that one to have a much warmer tonal balance in comparison.

These will appeal to people who want every detail and favor a bright presentation. For the record, the Lyrr3/Bifrost stack had a Lokius EQ unit, so I played with that and dialed down the treble to try and suit my own preference for a warmer sound. It helped, but even with that, the HP100SE was still too bright for me personally.

Thank you for your impressions: That seems about right and why Drew at Moon Audio's recommends the warmer cable. After all, it's also a metal cup.

Question: As for the Bass...was there some mid bass and upper bass to give some warmth for the mids to balance out the bright treble?
Or is it the lack of mid and upper bass that accentuates the brightness of the treble?

 

[JerseyD]

Thank you for your impressions: That seems about right and why Drew at Moon Audio's recommends the warmer cable. After all, it's also a metal cup.

Question: As for the Bass...was there some mid bass and upper bass to give some warmth for the mids to balance out the bright treble?
Or is it the lack of mid and upper bass that accentuates the brightness of the treble?

There was a good amount of mid-bass, so there was some balance there, but the quantity of midrange was less than the treble (upper bass I did not parse).

 

[Raidersfan8118]

My take from CanJam Dallas:
Grados's new HP-100-SE ($2,495) - heard these at the Schiitt table on three different stacks (small-medium and large, if you will); Midgard/Modius vs. Lyrr3/Bifrost vs. Mjolnir3/Gungnir2. Super-spacious and detailed sound; great bass for a Grado (very good but not great bass in the wider world); They did scale well as I went up the line of Schiitt. My issue...SUPER BRIGHT (even for a Grado)! I compared head to head with the GS-3000x and found that one to have a much warmer tonal balance in comparison.

These will appeal to people who want every detail and favor a bright presentation. For the record, the Lyrr3/Bifrost stack had a Lokius EQ unit, so I played with that and dialed down the treble to try and suit my own preference for a warmer sound. It helped, but even with that, the HP100SE was still too bright for me personally.

I was looking to purchase these but the few people who have heard them have said they are too bright. I was curious if you’ve heard other bright headphones and could tell me if they are brighter than those. I currently own an he1000 stealth and I was wondering if you may have heard them and think the ps100se is brighter?

 

[JerseyD]

I was looking to purchase these but the few people who have heard them have said they are too bright. I was curious if you’ve heard other bright headphones and could tell me if they are brighter than those. I currently own an he1000 stealth and I was wondering if you may have heard them and think the ps100se is brighter?

Sorry, have never heard the he1000 stealth (or very many other HifiMan models). As to my own sense of brightness, I have the Grado PS500e and enjoy it, finding it just a little bright. Most Grados I find are too bright for me.

 

[jleewachter]

...over here still enjoying my sr325x wayyy too much. Still, something new to strive for.

 

[Astral Abyss]

Grado Labs out of Brooklyn New York has released a new special edition headphone that harkens to the days of Joseph Grado and the HP1/HP2/HP3 series of headphones.

New chassis, new drivers, new cable system and a promise that Grado will keep innovating within their system.

HP100 SE

• Frequency Response: 3.5 Hz – 51.5 kHz
• THD: <0.1% @ 100db
• SPL 1mW: 117dB
• Nominal Impedance: 38ohms
• Driver Size: 52mm
• Driver Matched dB: .04 dB
• Weight ???

I myself am very happy about this change from Grado. I've been asking for a modern HP1000 for quite some time and I've already forked over my money in hopes that these are my "final" Grado for a while.

Sweet, there will finally be someone besides me at the meet ups with Grados, lol. Grats man!

 

[jonathan c]

...over here still enjoying my sr325x wayyy too much. Still, something new to strive for.

SR325x is a great place to be .

 

[sling5s]

There was a good amount of mid-bass, so there was some balance there, but the quantity of midrange was less than the treble (upper bass I did not parse).

Thank you!