PS-1 arrived!!!

[raif]

I just recieved my new ps-1 today via fedex.(overnight delivery!!)

I can't reiterate enough how much I love these phones. I plan to do a full review on the sound but that won't be until after next weekend.

Right now I am listening to them out of the headphone out of my d-25s through a ratshack gold adapter

I wasn't expecting these headphones today, so I left my benchmark at home.

First impressions:
The bass is a little too strong. I haven't heard a pair of burnt in ps-1s so I am hoping that the bass calms down a bit over time. Though powerful, the bass in no way overpowers the rest of the spectrum.

Their is a tad bit of harshness to the highs that I am also attributing to the complete lack of burn-in and crappy source.

I have never heard rock music done better than grado, and these phones take that presentation to a whole new level.

Vocals are unlike anything I have ever heard. I have owned/listened to the most of the top of the line headphones on the market(minus r10 and electrostats) and nothing comes close to the clarity and richness of the grado vocal presentation.

Grado tends to get a lot of flack for width of soundstage. I however, feel the lack of "3d" soundstage is right up my alley. Music sounds like music and not a collection of instruments, a trait that annoyed me with the cd3k and the AT line.

I can't wait to get home and listen out of my benchmark dac1. Benchmark DAC1->ps-1 was one of my favorite combos at the berkeley meet, and I am looking forward to recreating the synergy.

EDIT Don't hate me because my source cost less than a pair of flat pads.(which I am using by the way)

 

[utep10]

Congrats on the new cans.

It was great watching you at the Berkeley meet. You with the PS-1s
was like you had just found your new love.

Glad to hear your enjoying them. I enjoyed the PS-1's mids before the
burn-in so they should be really sweet later on.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts,

I'm jealous.

 

[bangraman]

I don't hate you, but the PS-1's must be really pissed off

 

[Nik]

Congrats !

Let your new can working for 70 hours before any comment...

The Grado PS-1 is a very good headpohnes... but was too much unconfortable for me and even to much heavy for my little head !!!

Very good bass, a bit aggressive headphones, amazing for aggressive music like heavy-rock ...

Best!
Nicola

 

[raif]

Utep10,
Was it that obvious? I thought we were keeping it on the down low.

Bangraman,
Yes they are mad. But my ears are very happy, so it works out.

Nik,
Thank-you. Lucky for me I have a gigantosaur melon so it fits great. For me, the worst are the ones that put pressure directly on the top ridge of my head, and these don't seem to do that thankfully.

 

[utep10]

Utep10,
Was it that obvious? I thought we were keeping it on the down low.


My bad, it must have been NeilPeart?

 

[raif]

HA!

I am glad not too many people perused that impressions thread, neilpert and I look like some creepy guys. A good way to get uninvited to any new meets.

 

[gpalmer]

Congratulations, the PS-1s are a wonderful headphone, glad to hear the gang of three (Bay Area PS-1 owners) is complete!

 

[haycheng]

How can they come so soon? I though you bought it only after the berkeley meeting?

I hope you enjoy your new phone. I may be temped if my head is bigger, the PS-1 just wont go well with my head. I have so happy that PS-1 does not fit me

 

[NeilPeart]

Congrats, Raif. I too have been bitten by the PS-1 bug, and I just had my dad sell all my speaker equipment and analog stuff to finance it (and a DAC1 and PS300). Wow, I hate you all!

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilPeart Congrats, Raif. I too have been bitten by the PS-1 bug, and I just had my dad sell all my speaker equipment and analog stuff to finance it (and a DAC1 and PS300). Wow, I hate you all!

OMG this must be one hell of a headphone. No way i could afford them any time soon, so hearing them won't be a danger for me

 

[raif]

I am now listening with the Benchmark DAC-1. Leeav you aren't going to be sorry. I have heard the amp section of the DAC-1 compared to the gilmore amps in terms of sound signature and quality(v2) which probably explains some of the great synergy.

The only problem I have with these headphones is that the bass right now is almost too powerful. Bassheads would cream their pants with these phones, as it has the visceral slam of a subwoofer to my ears. I hope though that the bass calms down a bit as they burn-in(only at about 8 hours right now) but otherwise I haven't been this impressed by a headphone since... well, ever. I found that if I turn down itunes output volume and crank the amplifier it takes the headphone under control and sounds excellent. Does anyone know if setting itunes to an ultra-low volume affects output detail or clipping in any way?

Of course I am a bit of a newbie to the ultra-high end gear so don't take my words as gospel. I just haven't had this much genuine enjoyment from my rig in a long time.

 

[Wodgy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by raif Does anyone know if setting itunes to an ultra-low volume affects output detail or clipping in any way?

Yes, if you're using a digital output decreasing the volume throws away dynamic range, akin to the kind of compression you hear with heavily compressed commercial music. You want to leave the volume at maximum so that you get the full 96dB (97.5dB for fanatics) dynamic range that's encoded on your CDs.

 

[raif]

dangit, I knew it.



Hey wodgy,

What if I keep itunes high but the amplifier really low. Are the headphones not getting enough current then? Do I have to blast my ears out just to properly drive my headphones? With itunes at full, I can't listen more than two or three clicks from zero on my amplifier.

 

[gpalmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer OMG this must be one hell of a headphone. No way i could afford them any time soon, so hearing them won't be a danger for me

I have to admit that I'm having a hard time not buying a second set I like the first so much!

So far I haven't been able to convince myself that I had a real need for them, but it still keeps entering my mind!