HP-2 & HP-3 Owners Poll

[surfboardz26]

First I started off the with grado sr-60's than I had to keep going up the ladder so i got grado rs-2's, and now I am going to stop at the hp-2's.(hopefully) They should be in the mail this week. right now I only have a sr-71 amp for them but will get a melos SHA-1 soon.

 

[Jahn]

Let us know what kind they are! My pair are shiny and domed.

 

[intlplby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn *Raises hand as one of those guys*

*also raises hands*

i was the one who picked up JMT's pair of HP-1s last year... great condition..... i probably won't ever get rid of them... i don't see myself ever needing the money that bad....

 

[Jahn]

Yep! I find it funny that no one fesses up to owning a HP3 on the poll - not even owning an HP3 box! I told Larry to keep the HP2 box for his other HP2 cans, I trust his word that this baby is an HP2 straight up. But an HP1 like yours I guess there's no doubt it is what it is of course!

 

[recstar24]

This is just a theory, but if the biggest difference between HP-2 and HP-3 is the tolerance of the driver matching, then its feasible that one can clearly detect whether its a HP-3 or HP-2 based purely on listening for the width of the stage, and the preciseness of the imaging and placement within the soundscape.

We all know that HP-2's have a very wide headstage, with images that span along a very wide x axis - i would imagine the HP-3's would sound much narrower in this respect, that not only would the headstage be narrower, but the soundstage abilities would suffer as well.

We also know that the HP-2's are deadly accurate in being able to assess precisely how the recording engineer has the musicians mic'd in the studio or in the live performance - this i believe is one of the key attributes that lends itself to the HP-2's amazing transparency. I would also imagine that on the HP-3, it would not be so clear and the actual placement of images within the soundscape would not be clearly as articulated or as pinpoint accurate as it would be on the HP-2's due to lower driver matching.

I dont know, what do you think, just some thoughts to throw out on the table...

 

[Jahn]

For even the most seasoned listener i bet it would be hard. I read an old post by Bozebuttons that said that his HP-1 and his HP-3 sounded pretty darn close. I don't have "magic ears" so I probably wouldn't even hear that minute difference. I mean, Larry probably opened up all of his HP1000 babies and found nothing screaming "hello, I'm a HP3 in here!" so that's something to consider too. Sometimes I wonder how much Joe really matched these drivers...he may have just dug in a box and picked 2 out for all I know.

 

[recstar24]

well if anyone out there would admit that they had hp-3's in the 1st place, i would at least give it a shot and try my best to compare the two lol.

 

[Jahn]

Or you could send a pair of your HP2s to Bozebuttons and let him dive into a proper HP1/HP2/HP3 comparo for the ages. I'd do it, but I'd be giving away a bit of my soul to let go of these cans right now, even for a loan!

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 I think you are just pissed because you don't want to pay the piper to see what's all the fuss about. I am not bothered if they lose their value or claim as they represent better value for money than any tier 1 headphone and they still are the most transparent that I have owned or heard. Fanboyism? Probably, but unless the qualia's, r-10's, he90's sell for $700ish and have the build quality of nuclear bunker your comments are at best lovespuds talk... Don't worry about us HP-owners. I am sure we will get through this most difficult period while listening to the hp-phones... This is for Jap and Rhydon. And in case you take offence the above post is just a windup. You will get your chance like most headfiers will. Or if us hp-fanboys have our way, you won't!!!! Later Meatsticks

[size=small]A vicious and totally unprovoked attack---I LIKE IT!!!

No, I'm not afraid to pay the piper. I honestly thought the HP1000 pricing would take a tumble when the PS-1's started selling. The HP pricing may have taken a momentary dip, but it's back up and kicking again.

I am half expecting to move within a few months (very strong possibility I will be taking a job in a new state), and I'm still awaiting my amplifier. In fact, I going to have extra custom work done on the amp before it ships to me. When the amp comes and after the move, I expect to add a few phones---AKG K501, an HP2 from somewhere!, maybe another I haven't quite decided on as yet. (I'm almost tempted to add the K501 right now!, but it needs the amp to sound decent.)

I'll get my Grado HP2's in due time. I just need to have some of the tormoil in my life die down a tad.

[/size]

 

[GoRedwings19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jap [size=small]A vicious and totally unprovoked attack---I LIKE IT!!! [/size]

[size=small]

Don't go chasing pucks into the endboards and not expecting a check...

Quote:

No, I'm not afraid to pay the piper. I honestly thought the HP1000 pricing would take a tumble when the PS-1's started selling. The HP pricing may have taken a momentary dip, but it's back up and kicking again.

I agree, when Grado made the PS-1 there would of been a few headfiers who would of sold their hp-2's or whatever phones they had to finance the purchase. So why hasn't the price dropped more significantly? The reasons I only think of is the limited availability. Not to mention the high price is difficult to justify. The opinion of the Ps-1's with the jury are still out. While many feel it is the best Grado ever made, there's a counter opinion which says the Ps-1's are merely a expensive sidestep to the Rs-1's. I.e for people who don't like the Rs-1's colouration etc.

In this respect the hp-2's offer better value for money. Also you think they would eclipse the nuclear bunker build of the hp-series. But the caveat is maintenance of the drivers if anything should happen.

Quote:

I am half expecting to move within a few months (very strong possibility I will be taking a job in a new state), and I'm still awaiting my amplifier. In fact, I going to have extra custom work done on the amp before it ships to me. When the amp comes and after the move, I expect to add a few phones---AKG K501, an HP2 from somewhere!, maybe another I haven't quite decided on as yet. (I'm almost tempted to add the K501 right now!, but it needs the amp to sound decent.)

The amp being built for your Hp-2's sound exciting. Please keep me updated and I will be awaiting your impressions of the amp and Hp-2's.

Quote:

I'll get my Grado HP2's in due time. I just need to have some of the tormoil in my life die down a tad.

[/size]I hope things look up for you. Then you can keep the Hp-legend alive.

Kind Regards

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 Don't go chasing pucks into the endboards and not expecting a check...

[size=small]Believe me! I know I can always count on a check from you.

[/size]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 The amp being built for your Hp-2's sound exciting. Please keep me updated and I will be awaiting your impressions of the amp and Hp-2's.

[size=small]
The amp in question is a portable amp, the Pocket Reference Version 2, designed by Head-fier, PPL (Phil LaRocco) and is currently being built by Binary_Digit (Larry Milligan). This is a powerhouse portable which is reputedly able to drive virtually all dynamic phones with gusto. One member here, Sugano-San, reported that the first version of this amp was able to drive his AKG K1000, albeit at a lower volume but still loud enough for his tastes.

The new version will be allegedly at least as good (and as powerful) as the old version in some aspects and even better in others. Larry is employing surface mount technology (SMT) to shrink the model as small as conveniently possible. I am hoping that Phil garners enough interest from other buyers to go ahead and design a dedicated power supply for the unit. I needed a powerful portable amp for some of the phones I'm interested in (e.g., AKG K501, Joe Grado HP1/2, Sony SA5K). A high end portable amp such as this one will also set the baseline standards for any home amp I will purchase later. I mean, a home amp is supposed to be better than any portable.

[/size]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 I hope things look up for you. Then you can keep the Hp-legend alive. Kind Regards

[size=small]Things are looking good. There's just a few snotty details that need to be ironed out, but I believe these will be worked out.[/size]

 

[Jahn]

I want to wait until next week when my Cpads come, but I just have to say, the substitute i worked out till then is really impressive - the Return of the Reverse Bowls. no joke. "Lightning Crashes" - he sounds like he's the angel/devil on my shoulder. Amazing. OK enough hype from me, it's been done to death, right?

 

[S_Dedalus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn I want to wait until next week when my Cpads come, but I just have to say, the substitute i worked out till then is really impressive - the Return of the Reverse Bowls. no joke. "Lightning Crashes" - he sounds like he's the angel/devil on my shoulder. Amazing. OK enough hype from me, it's been done to death, right?

Okay, Jahn, hold still while I whack you over the head with your darth beyers and sneak off with your HP-1000's.

 

[Xanadu777]

As I was fiddling around with a couple of pairs of HP's last night, I may have made a discovery to end the HP2/3 mystery. A pair I was suspicious of being HP-3's showed something very interesting when I took the drivers out. My first clue was the "Standard" cable rather than the Ultra-Wide and no box. The pic below shows what I found, and the first time I've seen this...

Notice the funky cover on the top of the driver on right (suspected HP-3). It's like leather, only it's not and seems to be affixed with some super strong substance that I couldn't conquer. Seeing this, I think it's the "mark" of the HP-3 beast. It also further makes me wonder if this "damping" of the driver back is what is really making these "85% the sound of HP1/2" according to Joe Grado litarature. That would further my theory of matching or lack of. I can't think of any other logical explanation for this cover, since there was no evidence these had been opened before. HP-3 mystery solved? Maybe...

 

[recstar24]

just to clarify larry, the top right driver and bottom right driver are hp3's? and the two drivers that are top left and bottom left are hp2's?