What happened to Grado's reputation?

[Antony6555]

 
This is pretty much the problem. If I compare the hd600 to the rs-1, the hd600 is more comfortable to wear, has a larger soundstage, and a more neutral response. Even if the rs-1 were the same price as the hd600, and not 2x more, I'd probably go with the hd600 (though the rs-1 is undoubtedly sexier). Even if you love grado's sound, their prices are totally uncompetitive.
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 "Wow, these sound even better than my RS-1s, they're built like a tank, I don't have to fiddle with pads and uncomfortable headbands, and they cost half as much."  The RS-1s were sold shortly after.

 

[maverickronin]

Well, spending that much on headphones can certainly be worth it if you live in an apartment, have roommates, or something.
 
Of course most people don't think they sound goos enough to justify their US price...

 

[Uncle Erik]

If I had roommates, I'd put the money towards Sennheisers. They work better with classical and jazz. The HD-600 trumps the RS-1 with those.

 

[r_monk]

Hmm, after I purchased the sr225 I totally fell in love with the sound. I didn't like my HD580 anymore, even with classical, it sounded just too far away.

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

Dude in nz, I'm in nz as well and I just bought some MS-Pro's for 500 nzd, so we can get good deals, you just gotta find them from private sellers.

 

[Kubernetes]

Yeah, the whole pad thing was just ridiculous.  $700 for headphones with scratchy uncomfortable pads that didn't sound right?  I went through the whole saga of flat pads, then flat pads with holes cut out, the sock pads that made you look like Princess Leia--all because Grado couldn't include some decent pads on its $700 premier reference headphone.  
 
And then there's the patent absurdity of their headphone amps.   You put it in a wood box and charge how much?
 
Stuff like that just pisses you off.
 

 
Quote:

I think everything changed when Grado introduced the bowl pads. Grado was always known for the purity of midrange in their phono cartridge line, and I was amazed how Joe Grado came out with headphones that had the same sonic characteristics as his cartridges. The original SR60 and RS-1 (using flats) continued this trend, then the bowls came out because some complained about a lack of soundstage and top end. And out went the baby with the bathwater.
 

 

[nikongod]

I think the Grado Headphone amp compares favorably to current production offerings from Sennheiser, AKG, or even Ultrasone.
 
Flat pads have always had a hole in them. Dunno what you had.

 

[rds]

Quote:

Y, i know. This is only driver control test. Lighter and stronger system is better.
http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=4&graphID[]=863
http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=4&graphID[]=2033
better systems closer to square. This is simple.

Having some background in control theory as well as experience with audio equipment I beg to differ about it being simple.  In my opinion overshoot is pretty much irrelevant since audio recordings cannot contain the high frequency components that make up a step change (such as that found in the square wave).  There is some truth that "closer to square" is good, but that is certainly not the whole story.  A fast settling time indicates more damping which may or may not be desirable.  Too much damping will actually slow the response time so it's really a trade off between what makes sense for damping in terms of the dynamics you want.  

 

[Marximus]

The first Grados I tried were the SR-60s, and I really liked them, soundwise, but I found them uncomfortable.  A couple years later, I auditioned the SR-225is and found them too bright for my tastes.  And still uncomfortable.

 

[lbj]

Quote:

Question for ya'll, though I hate 'jacking my own thread here.  But I was recommended a Dennon D5000 with a KICAS amp and Jmoney leather ear pads. 
 
So since there isn't a sound store anywhere near me for several hundred miles, I was wondering if the Dennon D5000 or the ATC - AD900 would have some of the bass I enjoy from Grado, but be different enough to warrant their existence.  I'm not looking to replace the Grado 225's, I'm looking to expand my listening capabilities.  I don't want to go completely 180 from what I have now, I just don't want two identical purpose Grado headphones. 

 
Can't speak to the AT, but I have a Denon D2000 and Grado RS-1 (buttonless).  Very different presentations.  The Denon has a mildly u-shaped response, so you get deep authoritative bass and reasonably clear highs, with slightly shelved mids.  The Grado puts the mids out there in front, with tight but comparatively weaker bass.  I think the Denon holds the edge on bass, both in extension and on quantity (they are closed cans which is probably an advantage for bass reproduction).  I will say that the Grado's bass is very musical and tight, the Denon sounds rather flabby in comparison.
 

 

[Greeni]

Quote:

The SR-60, 80, and 225 are excellent for their respective price points. I would argue that the SR-80i is the best value in open dynamic headphones under $100. The issue I had with Grado is that beyond the 225 there becomes some serious competition. Once you get to the RS1 and beyond it almost becomes laughable that Grado charges the prices they command for the same build quality of their $80 SR-60. Which, for $80 is pretty good. For $700+, it's a bit embarrassing to me. That said, the HF2 is a great, but different, sounding Grado. I just shifted from the colored, yet fun, sound of Grados to a more neutral sound signature.
 

 

 
Yeap, I guess the value equation is not really Grado's strong suit once you get beyond the 225 price point. One can get a D7000 for less than the price charged for RS1i nowadays.
 
Srajan Ebaen of 6moons pretty much captured it in one of his review: "As a small company, I find that Grado's best no longer competes with the best the corporate giants offer. Grado's forté instead is offering the best-value models at lower price points."

 

[maverickronin]

Its got nothing to do with being a small company.  Audeze and HiFiMan came out of nowhere with great sounding 'phones ant decent prices for the performance they offer.

 

[estreeter]

Quote:

 


I agree with the above. It's why many of the original members don't even bother anymore.
 
Far too many folks buy far too many headphones, pay far too much attention to what other people think, lose their traction on what "correct" sound is, and, drowning in a deep pool of various sounds, they forget why they enjoyed music in the first place.  

Hey, I resemble that remark
 
Seriously, I agree 100% with your point about folk wanting their hands held. I believe that Head-Fi is getting younger with each passing day - its some sort of Benjamin Button thing. Witness the number of hits on the purple Grado thread vs the number of threads from people asking more in-depth technical questions and getting zero replies.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Hey, I resemble that remark
 
Seriously, I agree 100% with your point about folk wanting their hands held. I believe that Head-Fi is getting younger with each passing day - its some sort of Benjamin Button thing. Witness the number of hits on the purple Grado thread vs the number of threads from people asking more in-depth technical questions and getting zero replies.

A younger membership is not necessarily a bad thing. I'd be more concerned if membership was static. Yes, it diverts conversations away from what interests established members, which is too bad. I miss a lot of the personalities that used to be here.

But if you look 5-10 years down the line, there will be a bigger population of audiophiles interested in technical discussions and high-end equipment. This is the only segment of audiophilia that is drawing in new listeners. It's just a matter of time before they get some decent disposable income and the major manufacturers start taking us very seriously.

 

[pp312]

 
Quote:

But if you look 5-10 years down the line, there will be a bigger population of audiophiles interested in technical discussions and high-end equipment. This is the only segment of audiophilia that is drawing in new listeners. It's just a matter of time before they get some decent disposable income and the major manufacturers start taking us very seriously.

 Well, Uncle, what worries me is that the younger members seem most interested in those genres of music that are least demanding of what we older members would term "accurate" or "neutral" sound. Indeed the "fun" sound seems to fit those genres best, and I'm already seeing more and more threads creeping in about Dr. Dres and Skullcandys and Thunderpants etc. Jazz and classical demand very well designed phones to really pass muster to audiophile ears; the requirements of electronica, rap etc are less demanding and may even be better served with cheaper, less "ruler flat" -type phones (as the above-mentioned manufacturers have already discovered to their profit). So I'm not at all sure that the major manufacturers who'll be taking us more seriously in the future will be the ones you presently have in mind.