If you like Grado...
Jun 10, 2003 at 2:08 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 70

30plus

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I can see the vein of which the Rs-1 and other Grados used as a sound paradigm. I think they concentrated first on delivering the emotion, and timbre of music over some kind of analysis tool. They made sure that detail was delivered in a complete, but non fatiguing manner.

I feel if you like grado, you are also apt to enjoy:

Sonus faber
JM Reynaud
Vandersteen
PSB
KEF
Chario
Aliante
Harbeth
Soliloquy
Spendor

What I listed were speakers that are foremost considered musical first, and do not sound "hi-fi-ish." They do not attempt to be ruler-flat. They are designed to stir that emotion, that soul and toe-tapping quality of music.
Other technologies aside for a moment, this is basically the type of sound that draws me in, and keeps me listening for hours.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 2:42 PM Post #2 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by 30plus
I can see the vein of which the Rs-1 and other Grados used as a sound paradigm. I think they concentrated first on delivering the emotion, and timbre of music over some kind of analysis tool. They made sure that detail was delivered in a complete, but non fatiguing manner.

I feel if you like grado, you are also apt to enjoy:

Sonus faber
JM Reynaud
Vandersteen
PSB
KEF
Chario
Aliante
Harbeth
Soliloquy
Spendor

What I listed were speakers that are foremost considered musical first, and do not sound "hi-fi-ish." They do not attempt to be ruler-flat. They are designed to stir that emotion, that soul and toe-tapping quality of music.
Other technologies aside for a moment, this is basically the type of sound that draws me in, and keeps me listening for hours.


Sonus faber-Have not heard
JM Reynaud-Have not heard
Vandersteen-Lifeless
PSB-Have not heard
KEF-Yes, please!
Chario-Have not heard
Aliante-Have not heard
Harbeth-Have not heard
Soliloquy-Have not heard
Spendor-Yes, please

I used to own Rogers Studio 1's, very similar to Spendor BC-1, SP1/2, etc. Their use of a single driver for bass/midrange ultimately limits their speed. When after 20 years I finally decided they had to go, I went to Yamaha NS-1000M, actually older speakers, but faster. These resemble my Stax electrostatic 'earspeakers' in their overall character. The sound is less romantic, but certainly less fatiguing. I, too, have a soft spot for romanticism, but I finally rejected it. I'm happier now, to be sure.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 2:54 PM Post #3 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Scarpitti
Vandersteen-Lifeless


I must admit, I am not a huge vandy fan. They tend to be over sweet and romantic, but musical to a fault. If I chose a vandy model, it would have to be the signature 2ce [with scan speak tweet] or the 5.

IMO, Vandy does best with stuff like mccormack, ayre, gamut..but not really a "tube" speaker.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:14 PM Post #4 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by 30plus
I must admit, I am not a huge vandy fan. They tend to be over sweet and romantic, but musical to a fault. If I chose a vandy model, it would have to be the signature 2ce [with scan speak tweet] or the 5.

IMO, Vandy does best with stuff like mccormack, ayre, gamut..but not really a "tube" speaker.


I auditioned the 'steens several times over the years, with the same result. Blah Blah Blah. I guess I just don't like them. The sound is too diffuse and indirect. I preferred the Rogers Studio 1's, by a wide margin, so I bought them (this was 1981). The Yamaha's (NS-1000M) smoke ALL of the speakers I have heard in the last 25 years, with the exception of some god-awful expensive Wilson system I heard about 10 years ago. If you say the Grado sound is typified by these speakers ('steens), I doubt I would like them.

What's interesting is that the Sony MDR-V6 has characteristic sound somewhat like the Rogers Studio 1's: slow, slightly bloated bass; clear and unpretentious midrange, and elevated highs (though the speakers are flatter in the midrange to treble area). The KEF sound (at least in the form of the 103) does not resemble the Rogers/Spendor that much, the former being a bit 'bigger'. I don't have much acquantance with other KEF models, as their distribution in the US was always kind of limited. I'd like to hear a Spendor BC3 sometime, as it had a separate midrange driver.

How would you characterise the NS-1000mM Yammies?
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:19 PM Post #5 of 70
Other speakers a Grado fan might like:

Classic Klipsch speakers
Thiel (without the metal tweeters)
Avalon
Spica
Eminent Technology
B&W
Snell

I never liked the Vandersteen's enough to buy them.
I have always been more of a planar/electrostat speaker person myself. I would love to have Sound Lab speakers, but alas I will need to wait for my kids to get a little older before doing that.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:22 PM Post #6 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by scottpaul_iu
Other speakers a Grado fan might like:

Classic Klipsch speakers
Thiel (without the metal tweeters)
Avalon
Spica
Eminent Technology
B&W
Snell

I never liked the Vandersteen's enough to buy them.
I have always been more of a planar/electrostat speaker person myself. I would love to have Sound Lab speakers, but alas I will need to wait for my kids to get a little older before doing that.


Are the Grado's at all like the classic JBL Century L100's?
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:24 PM Post #7 of 70
Never heard those JBLs. Once I got some Klipsch LaScalla's around 1982 and then some Spica TC-50's around 1986 I never really looked at stuff like that.

I have no impressions of JBL at all, except for what I remember when I was much younger (like the late 70s).

Mike,

Is that Yamaha speaker the ones that a lot of recording studios used to use?
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:29 PM Post #8 of 70
Vandy is the least like grado really, but it does have that one aspect.

Avalon eidolons are great for many types of music, just $$$

I have heard spicas and snell also. I have little time with B&W.

My main system will probably end up being the new VMPS elixer with FST/ Neo ribbons. They combine the best of both worlds, dynamics for bass, ribbons for tweets and mids. They are less than 1/2 what the watt/puppy 7 system is.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:30 PM Post #9 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by scottpaul_iu
Never heard those JBLs. Once I got some Klipsch LaScalla's around 1982 and then some Spica TC-50's around 1986 I never really looked at stuff like that.

I have no impressions of JBL at all, except for what I remember when I was much younger (like the late 70s).

Mike,

Is that Yamaha speaker the ones that a lot of recording studios used to use?


Yes. It was designed as a studio monitor. Here's a set:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=14993


What are they worth? I've seen 'em go as high as $1500 on e-bay, and I think they're worth more than that (in good condition), if you listen to what's out there now at that price. I had my pair modified to use XLR connectors, cause I hate binding posts. When the shop opened them up, they were stunned by the quality of the crossover, they said. I don't know much about the crossover, but the mid and high drivers are berylium domes. Faster than light. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:33 PM Post #11 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Scarpitti
How would you characterise the NS-1000mM Yammies?


Crap!

[size=xx-small]of course I haven't heard them though...[/size]
evil_smiley.gif


JBL=Just Bloody Loud

scottpaul_iu

I think the more common Yamaha speaker used in studios is/was the NS10M near field monitors. I never could understand the attraction with those though, they're far from a "flat" frequency response.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:33 PM Post #13 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by scottpaul_iu
I also like good ole IMF, and Fried's as well.
My point of reference for Avalon's is circa 1995. They had some affordable stuff out then.


I helped a co-worker buy a set of IMF-TLS 50's a couple of years ago. He's delighted with them.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:35 PM Post #14 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by elnero
Crap!

[size=xx-small]of course I haven't heard them though...[/size]
evil_smiley.gif


JBL=Just Bloody Loud

scottpaul_iu

I think the more common Yamaha speaker used in studios is/was the NS10M near field monitors. I never could understand the attraction with those though, they're far from a "flat" frequency response.


NOT the same. NOT AT ALL. The NS-1000M dates from the mid-70's. The current stuff is supposed to be crappy, from what I hear. No relationship at all to the NS-1000M.
 
Jun 10, 2003 at 3:35 PM Post #15 of 70
Quote:

Originally posted by elnero
Crap!

[size=xx-small]of course I haven't heard them though...[/size]
evil_smiley.gif


JBL=Just Bloody Loud

scottpaul_iu

I think the more common Yamaha speaker used in studios is/was the NS10M near field monitors. I never could understand the attraction with those though, they're far from a "flat" frequency response.


Elnero,

Thanks. I remember Mikey Fremer hammering away on the NS10M's in TAS in the late 80's and 90's with some record engineers/producers about how the top end of the 10M was unbelievably bright. I have never heard the 10Ms though.
 

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