HP-2 & HP-3 Owners Poll

[Xanadu777]

There are a fair number of unboxed HP-1000's out there it seems. Either that or they don't have the model designation on the box anymore.

Through research I'm fairly confident which is which of these two (HP-2 and HP-3), but I'd like to get some more owners to solidify this. There's also a chance that this method wasn't totally uniform, which I'd like to find out.

As shown with the wood, the left housing has the center JG button extruding above the housing edge. The right housing below the edge.

You can vote for more than one if it applies to you...

 

[Rob N]

I was going to vote for option one and two but pressed the vote button too soon.

I have two pairs of HP2's with boxes,one of each type.Also on the pair with the slight dome on the grill the width of the part with the red letters on is slightly narrower.You can also see this 'doming' with HP-1's

 

[gpalmer]

Good luck with this one, there have been so many pairs of HP-3's sold as HP-2's over the years that I think your responses will be quite a mess...

 

[Rob N]

HP-1's with 'dome' and without

 

[Xanadu777]

Those two HP-1 pics are quite interesting. I figured there may have been some use of domed and flat on the same models, but wasn't sure. Course there's no way to know on HP-2 and HP-3 since they look the same (no switches of course), AFAIK.

Sure everyone thinks their HP-2's are just that. I am curious to see how those that have actual model labeled boxes match up to the pics to see if there is any trend at all. That would at least give those with no box an idea or odds of what their unboxed pair may be.

 

[Jap]

[size=small]As a sidenote, I think it's a crying shame that no other manufacturer has ever really attempted to release a more modern headphone that approaches the transparency characteristics of the HP1/HP2 twins. (Sorry for this little hijack off your thread, Larry.

)[/size]

 

[Xanadu777]

Electrostatics are the current answer that come the closest or surpass in ways to me. Maybe the Qualia and/or SA5000 too, I've not heard those. There will no doubt be other contenders to come...

Sidenote from me... I'm lusting your HP-1's Rob

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanadu777 Electrostatics are the current answer that come the closest or surpass in ways to me. Maybe the Qualia and/or SA5000 too, I've not heard those. There will no doubt be other contenders to come...

[size=small]GoRedWings seems to think the SA5K/Qualia 010 twins do not have the transparency of the HP1/HP2's, although they trounced the Grado's (and almost everything else) with respect to sheer detail. (Of course, I haven't heard the SA5K/010's myself, and who knows if Red has the slightest clue what he's talking about.

)

I regard transparency as the ability of a phone to "disappear" or pass the signal along with little coloration, allowing the user to hear the rest of the system clearly in all their distorted glory. I have not heard any of the upper tier elctrostatics as yet.

I personally do not like the idea of having to hunt down a phone which is out of production (HP1 or HP2) and is selling for exorbitant prices, especially since I would definitely have them modded with a 99.99% silver cable afterwards.[/size]

 

[GoRedwings19]

Jap>It's just an opinion. I am sure there are headfiers who would totally disagree.

The Qualia's 010 and SA5K beat the Hp-1's and 2's in most headfiers requirements from a phone.

The Qualia has the most detail I have heard. It's fast. You hear everything whether you like that attention to detail or not.

But even though the Hp-series are not hyper detail monsters, I still feel they are still for me at least, still the most balanced phone. They offer the right amount of everything. If I partner it to a fast and slightly bright headphone amp the hp-1's or 2's sound like it. If I partner it to a slush amp then sound slow and bleurgh. They are just takinging on source and amp sonic charateristics.

All other cans I have get compared to them.

Sure they are nowhere as quick as an R-10, he60, Qualia's, Sa5k or phones of that pace.

But then again they don't have the lack of pace compared to AT's or senn hd600's

Wanna disagree? Fine, we'll just have to agree to disagree. But there is no doubt for me they are still the most transparent phone. These phones are old. The fact they still remain sonically competitive in todays headphone market is a testament to their abilities.

 

[Beagle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 The Qualia has the most detail I have heard. It's fast. You hear everything whether you like that attention to detail or not. But even though the Hp-series are not hyper detail monsters, I still feel they are still for me at least, still the most balanced phone

A headphone that is balanced across the frequency spectrum is the most detail I really require. The 325i has "detail and speed" galore, but the SR200 sounds more musically balanced and right, if a tad laid back in the lower treble.

I think we often crave excess detail and soundstaging, the same way we sometimes crave chocolate cake or Krispy Kreme donuts. But gorging on it can be unhealthy.

 

[GoRedwings19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagle A headphone that is balanced across the frequency spectrum is the most detail I really require. The 325i has "detail and speed" galore, but the SR200 sounds more musically balanced and right, if a tad laid back in the lower treble. I think we often crave excess detail and soundstaging, the same way we sometimes crave chocolate cake or Krispy Kreme donuts. But gorging on it can be unhealthy.

Yeah but the 325i has a metallic sheen it adds to the notes which is very similar to the he60, sa5k. Sure it makes some guitar sound fantastic and at first I really liked it (I usually like warmth). But then I get, not fatigued but bored by this sound so I usally switch back to my regular setup.

I gotta admit I like headphones which are not balanced across the range. I find these colourations or flaws, whatever you want to call it more enticing. I prefer the Rs-1's over most phones I have. I would never call that balanced in any way whatsoever. There's only two headphones which at the moment come close for me for pure enjoyment (not musically accurate) one's a Grado and the other an electrostat, Yet I still have to sit down and listen to some stuff I haven't had time for. You have heard more of my stuff than I have.

 

[tkam]

Haha coming from the man with more hp1000 drivers than anyone I know

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanadu777 Sidenote from me... I'm lusting your HP-1's Rob

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jap GoRedWings seems to think the SA5K/Qualia 010 twins do not have the transparency of the HP1/HP2's, although they trounced the Grado's (and almost everything else) with respect to sheer detail. (Of course, I haven't heard the SA5K/010's myself, and who knows if Red has the slightest clue what he's talking about. )

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 Jap>It's just an opinion. I am sure there are headfiers who would totally disagree.

[size=small]
I would have thought that by now, after all we've been through, you would realize that I tend to tease you virtually every chance I get. After all, you do the same to me, don't you?

Of course I respect your opinion. Why do you think I invade every HP1000 thread where you show up or potentially might show up?

As I told you before, the HP2's are the most transparent phone I have ever heard to this point. The problem is: I haven't heard some of the other high end phones yet. I haven't heard the Qualia 010/SA5K twins or any of the top echelon electrostatics as yet. Perhaps, as Larry suggested, the HP2's may be bested transparency-wise by the high end electrostats.

Some of my favorite music involves extremely fast and accurately crisp playing (e.g., Weather Report, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Return to Forever, etc.). This calls for fast, tight, powerful & (preferably) neutral amps and phones. Some like their amps and phones colored, but I would prefer to introduce sonic flavoring via DACs or equalizers.
[/size]

 

[Jahn]

can I be on record for just being happy that a pair of HP2s from Larry are on their way permanently to moi? Polished/brushed housing with domed/undomed grill...heck i dunno even which headphile recable it has on it, but at least i won't have to get into the whole "which stock joe grado cable is better" arguments lol!

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn can I be on record for just being happy that a pair of HP2s from Larry are on their way permanently to moi?

[size=small]
No!!! You're not allowed to be happy 'cause they are going to you and not me!

Congrats on the deal! I have been looking for HP1000's (HP2's preferably) off and on over some 2-3 years now. If I can't find a modern equivalent (or superior) I may have to resign myself to paying exorbitant green for phone I will undoubtedly mod ... [size=xx-small]or I can just kill myself.[/size]
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