The Grado HF-2 Review/Comparison Thread

[Bullseye]

Hi Head-F1ers

After a long time since this were made public, a lot of people have given some impressions. I have updated this thread with a lot of comments, impressions and comparisons. I think people already have enough information on how this sound.

Reading everyone's impressions take a lot of time, and the new ones keep saying what has already been said.

Therefore I think it is time for me to leave this thread with all the posts from below. I think enough information has been gathered here for any upcoming member to know what this limited edition headphone sounds like.

I might add some reviews if I think they are worthy of being added to this thread. I might order some day the posts, but there is not much necessity for it as people can choose what to read already.

The last post I have put has been #700 of this thread. From then you can read by yourself to find any more impressions/opinions.

I hope this has been helpful and hope you guys enjoy your HF-2 as I am doing myself.

Happy listening!

Note 1: I will update this post giving links to the comparisons/reviews in order of appearance
Note 2: In order to make things easier for people who follow this thread I will state which reviews are NEW! since my last edit. Also the new reviews/comparisons will be added down in the list, unless they come from a member who has already commented it before.
Note 3: Once real reviews/comparisons start appearing, I will organize the list I already have below. [size=small]Work in progress.[/size]
Note 4: Due to the conversations people are having in other threads where they just give an opinion about this headphones in one line, I have decided to put in this list only the ones who add some substantial information. I will be deciding what I think is substantial (compared to what we already have here) and what is not.

*Courtesy of rythmdevils*

[size=small]Quick Impression from Can Jam, by brokensound: [/size]http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724092-post969.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724119-post7.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724174-post14.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724266-post18.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724665-post45.html

[size=small]Impressions by myk7000:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724472-post32.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724465-post994.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5726987-post241.html
[size=small]Impressions by moonboy403:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724547-post36.html
[size=small]Impressions by achristilaw:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724553-post37.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724633-post40.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724645-post42.html

[size=small]Quick Comparison between RS1 and HF2, by blessingx:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724492-post995.html
[size=small]Quick Comparison between RS2, HF1, SR325i and HF2, by HeadphoneAddict:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5725204-post1029.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5725236-post1033.html

[size=small]Impressions by Santacore:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724716-post110.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5725973-post66.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727479-post278.html

[size=small]PS1000 vs HF2 impressions by Dallan:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724607-post96.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5724723-post112.html

[size=small]Impression by vpivinylspinner:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5725663-post190.html

[size=small]Quick Impression from Can Jam, by Rinshin: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5726109-post1077.html

[size=small]Impressions from Can Jam, by augustwest: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5726148-post214.html

[size=small]Impressions by 1UP: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5726758-post1101.html
[size=small]Impressions by Zentactics: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727359-post1118.html

[size=small]Impressions by Shellylh: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727050-post249.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727130-post254.html
[size=small]Impressions by Jon L: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727272-post260.html
[size=small]Quick impressions by zippy2001: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727522-post280.html
[size=small]PS1000 and GS1000 vs HF2, by IPodPJ[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727875-post298.html
[size=small]First impressions, by bhd812[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727930-post299.html

[size=small]PS1000 and hd800 vs HF2, by sachu[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5728340-post2.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5728358-post4.html

[size=small]Quick impressions by abellaw: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5728806-post318.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5731338-post103.html
[size=small]Impressions from Can Jam, by foo_me: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5729313-post82.html

[size=small]Early Review by HeadphoneAddict[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5729582-post1165.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5729655-post83.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5729681-post1168.html
[size=small]Quick impressions by LFF: [/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5729645-post333.html

[size=small]RS1 and RS2 vs HF-2, by HeadphoneAddict:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5730105-post87.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5730426-post90.html
[size=small]Denon D2000 vs HF-2, by HeadphoneAddict:[/size]http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5730519-post92.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5730616-post96.html
[size=small]Impressions by Iron_Dreamer:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5729817-post342.html
[size=small]Stock RS1 vs stock HF2, by HeadphoneAddict[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5730608-post1185.html
[size=small]Impressions by SiBurning:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5730022-post349.html
[size=small]Impressions by morphsci:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5730653-post369.html

[size=small]Comparison between RS1 and HF2, by myk7000:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5730635-post1186.html

[size=small]Impressions by vpivinylspinner:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5731273-post102.html
[size=small]Grado Pads on HF-2, by HeadphoneAddict:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5735723-post1301.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5736093-post1307.html

[size=small]Impressions by grawk:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5739717-post1347.html
[size=small]Comparison between DIY-modded HF-1 and HF-2, by en480c4:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5739738-post1352.html

[size=small]Impressions by Chris19:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727507-post104.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5727507-post104.html
[size=small]Comparison between HP-2, SR60 and HF-2, by vpivinylspinner:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5745600-post118.html

[size=small]Quick review, by Boomana:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5755258-post1560.html

[size=small]Comparison between different Grado HPs and HF-2, by HeadphoneAddict:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5769232-post135.html

[size=small]Review and comparison to PS-1, by recstar24:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5826517-post26.html
[size=small]Comparison to HP-2 (HP-1000), by recstar24:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5826653-post47.html

[size=small]Impressions by strid3r:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5827877-post180.html
[size=small]Review by The Monkey:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5829361-post189.html

[size=small]Impressions by subtle:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5830968-post198.html

[size=small]Impressions by Beagle:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5847564-post226.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5847955-post234.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5918010-post598.html
[size=small]Impressions by rhythmdevils:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5847796-post228.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5862524-post334.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5918325-post604.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5919399-post614.html
[size=small]Impressions by HeadFanatic:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5849995-post260.html

[size=small]HF-2 with GS1000 pads, by Beagle:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5853677-post299.html
[size=small]GS1000i vs HF-2 vs HF-2 with Jumbo Pads, by indydieselnut:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5854668-post300.html

[size=small]Impressions by SemiAudiophile:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5862553-post335.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5913171-post588.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5920745-post619.html

[size=small]Review by sbulack:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5868104-post354.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5868978-post363.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5873073-post376.html

[size=small]Comparison to HF-1 and RS1i, by Mr.Sneis:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5871453-post372.html

[size=small]Impressions by astroid:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5873785-post1.html

[size=small]Mid range impressions, by recstar24:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5886578-post395.html
[size=small]Mid range impressions, by rhythmdevils:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5886631-post397.html
[size=small]Mid range impressions, by SemiAudiophile:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5886818-post400.html
[size=small]Initial impressions, by Rav:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5887752-post632.html

[size=small]Initial impressions, HF-2 with flats and small comparison against HP1000, by immtbiker:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5888505-post404.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5890924-post451.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5896005-post475.html
[size=small]Impressions by jingles_97:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5890609-post433.html
[size=small]HF-2 review, by roadtonowhere08:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5891007-post454.html

[size=small]RS-2 and MS-Pro vs HF-2, by kontai69:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5899422-post490.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5899645-post504.html

[size=small]Review by Zanth:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5901437-post513.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5906968-post534.html

[size=small]Comparison to ATH-W5000, by 33Leon:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5901873-post517.html

[size=small]Review by That Dude:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5909251-post568.html

[size=small]Bass comparison between Denon D7000 and HF-2, by DoYouRight:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5912704-post611.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5914160-post596.html

[size=small]Comparison between RS-1, black SR325 and HF-2, by jrosenth:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5918127-post603.html
[size=small]Comparison between RS-2 and HF-2, by jrosenth:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5918587-post607.html
[size=small]HF-2 with Salad Bowls and pictures, by SemiAudiophile:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5921978-post621.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5922891-post627.html, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5927079-post644.html

[size=small]HF-2 with Salad Bowls, by sbulack:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5933396-post662.html

[size=small]Initial impressions, by les_garten:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5939631-post763.html
[size=small]Impressions, by brokensound:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5943563-post672.html

[size=small]Comparison between HF-1 and HF-2, by dan1son:[/size] http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5947697-post700.html NEW!

 

[some1x]

I expected the first post in a thread titled "The Grado HF-2 Review/Comparison Thread" to have .... a review/comparison of the Grado HF-2

 

[elnero]

Why does there need to be another thread, couldn't people just post in the existing thread?

 

[Bullseye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnero /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why does there need to be another thread, couldn't people just post in the existing thread?

Well, if people start posting reviews in the thread that already has so many pages it will be very difficult for people to locate any given comparison. If we maintain this thread clean till comparisons start coming it will later be easier to read. Plus I will update the first post giving links to the comparisons/reviews in order of appereance

EDIT: Bare in mind all of this comes from the hype of the new headphones. There will also be a lot of units and people having different headphones and rigs to try them in. I believe a lot of written work will be added to the forums and it is better if it is all in one thread. It will be easier for people to locate.

 

[elnero]

Inevitably there is going to be discussions and thread derailments, IMO starting yet another thread just makes it that much more confusing for people trying to find info.

 

[thechungster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by some1x /img/forum/go_quote.gif I expected the first post in a thread titled "The Grado HF-2 Review/Comparison Thread" to have .... a review/comparison of the Grado HF-2

So was I >_<

 

[brokensound]

Wooden housing with an outer metal case. Sounds more neutral than the rs1. The sound is very unGrado. A baby ps1000 is a fairly accurate statement. This is from listen at ttvj booth at can jam.

 

[some1x]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullseye /img/forum/go_quote.gif I will update the first post giving links to the comparisons/reviews in order of appereance

That would be very appreciated

 

[Currawong]

I read somewhere they sound like the old RS-1, which I've heard some people liked better.

 

[Bullseye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokensound /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wooden housing with an outer metal case. Sounds more neutral than the rs1. The sound is very unGrado. A baby ps1000 is a fairly accurate statement. This is from listen at ttvj booth at can jam.

Brokensound, did you find it fatiguing in any moment?

 

[some1x]

Fatigueness factor can be very hard to determine in meet conditions ...

 

[thechungster]

Ooh, are they quite heavy?

 

[MadMan007]

For anyone at CanJam who has a listen and anyone who gets to take them home please include equipment used and compare to other phones on the same equipment if possible.

 

[brokensound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullseye /img/forum/go_quote.gif Brokensound, did you find it fatiguing in any moment?

Nope. Not a bit. The rs1 I was comparing it to is more fatigueing. The hf2 sound more balanced. Listening to jimmy eat world, the rs1 emphasized the guitar to the point it was overwhelming the other instruments. The hf2 present all the instruments more equally. It also had a larger sound stage compared to the rs1. I'm trying them on another setup at can jam now. If you were worried the bass is lacking as in the sr125, don't be. The baseline is present.

 

[goober-george]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokensound /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nope. Not a bit. The rs1 I was comparing it to is more fatigueing. The hf2 sound more balanced. Listening to jimmy eat world, the rs1 emphasized the guitar to the point it was overwhelming the other instruments. The hf2 present all the instruments more equally. It also had a larger sound stage compared to the rs1. I'm trying them on another setup at can jam now. If you were worried the bass is lacking as in the sr125, don't be. The baseline is present.

Your review interests me, I used to own SR-60s and found them slightly too forward/fatiguing so I got MS-1s and much prefer that sound signature. Is it possible for you to comment or compare the HF2 sound signature to Alessandro's? Thanks.