Zanth

Excellent! I am about to throw down some serious cash on a bunch of text books (talk about getting raped!) and look forward to helping the site out. Hope this link works.

Kevin Drumm's Tannenbaum

An easier solution is to wipe Windows altogether and install something with balls.

I resurrected someone today (prolly the main reason I am drinking a syrong red alone on a Monday). No magic, just directed electricity. Though, if I could declare I blessed him and sent him on his way, that would be much much cooler.

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Sold the other headphones! Seriously awesome to read that an alternate offering is that good. I think I will get the ES3xs fixed and send a second set of impressions for the 16s. Dan, did you go in for the dac/amp thing for the 13s?

HeadphoneAddict: I am pleased you are pleased! I came looking for just this post. My ES3Xs need to go in for a bit of a refit on the right and I figured while I am getting impressions done, I may as well look into the ES5s. However, I have been hesitant because of my interest in the 13s or 16s. The JH Audio customer service/quality control had me worried so I have been holding off. Now with the ES3X channel bit, I figure the time has come to make a decision. What are your thoughts on the Ety 4 series? I've found that over the last year I actually prefer them to any custom IEM I own. Yet, I am still willing to shell out the cash for a JH16 or ES5x. Decisions decisions!

Thanks guys! 33... freakin' killer of a year thus far. Not in a good way, but things are looking up!

They are heavy, but when used with the larger pads, the weight is dispersed so it doesn't feel as heavy as PS-1's or HP-1000's.

Definitely. The R10's are a very fast headphones. Likely the fastest dynamic headphone outside of the Qualias (which I have not heard).

So very very true I really do like that snappy bass, but in so many ways (particularly compared to the R10's) the HP-1000's fall short and for that kind of money, I would want to start investigating wholely new sounds, not something that comes close to what I already have. Despite the HP-1000's being very linear and having a wonderful palpable bass, they aren't so different from modern Grados. R10's though, or Qualias (which I have not yet heard) would be such a dramatic difference that they would add nicely to my collection. I'm wondering if I have a special/unique pair or something. 5 Head-fiers have heard my GS-1000's and although one of them is completely in love with the HP-1000, he still really enjoyed the GS-1000's. The others adored the them and of the remaining 4 only one would choose the RS-1's over them because of the intimacy which he describes as definitively Grado. Something he craves and looks to a Grado for. So either my system just bodes well with them or I lucked out and got a sweet pair that more closely resembles the prototypes. Of the two prototypes, I liked one over the other. I'm not sure if Bozebuttons has the one I really liked or not. I do know that my pair of GS-1000's falls in between the sound of the two. As for vintage fountain pens...precious metal tipping, injections...craziness. I'm still searching for one really nice fountain pen that feels great in my hand and is built very well. I know of a Japanese fellow who custom makes titanium pens...$1400 I think and the build time is 8-14 months.

Thanks Jacob

Bozebuttons is right, Jude owns the other prototype. There is a chance though that there were 4 prototypes made and his sons have the original two. The reason I put numbers to the review was so that folks not caring to read through it, could at a glance get a feel for how I felt about each phone. I even mentioned this in my review. The numbers represent something subjective overall but there are aspects of sound that is objectively different from each, so I tried to put a number to it so people could read that and be done with it. If they wanted more of an explanation they could read the review. Since the numbering system is intrascoring, I don't see why anyone would care that I used them or not. If I could, I would own a pair of HP-1000's again, the Melos misses them a lot. That surely won't happen until I graduate though, prices are astronomical and way out of my budget.

Yep, you are right, that is why I like your R10 suggestion. Comfy, cable can be shortened, light weight, can be covered in wool to act as a toque look a like and all it will cost is my next born son

No, I think the rich tonal balance (when tubed right, otherwise it is very transparent and tonally closer to neutral, though falling on the warm side) would be perfect for work. The Gilmore Lite would be too cool for me at work.

Though speakers are not in my immediate future, nor really in my remote future, but I have been listening to some very serious setups as of late and speakers offer some things headphones do not: 1) listening for 2+ 2) realistic bass 2) soundstaging/live feel With a new little one on the way, it would be great to be able to sit with him on the couch late at night while my wife tries to get some zzz's and my other son is sleeping upstairs. I could do this with headphones I suppose, but it would be safer all around to do this with speakers. I have a hankering for coincident victories and tube amp from CJ or VAC, but that is beyond my budget, even used. But if only to dream, what woudl be some nice warm sounding floor standers, full range speakers? I'm looking for something that is 80 lbs or so, so that my little toddler could not knock it over.

I think it would be too neutral for me for work with the RS-1's. I was thinking maybe a heavily tube rolled Maple Tree Audio if I could get one used on the cheap.

I think the R10's are awesome with the iPod too...and they would work well outside if I covered the wood with wool for the wind and rain...but they cost a bit, trade a child to be for the R10's?

Price is kinda indeterminant right now, but the cheaper the better.

I'm in need of a new tone arm cable. I am presently using the stock Van den hul cable on my SME V arm. It's copper but is not as resolving nor as rich as I would prefer. I was thining Cardas Golden Reference or Cross, but they are pretty pricey, as is the more revealing but more linear Hovland and Graham 2.2. Any suggestions?

I'm interested in a very small foot print of an amp. I like a warm colouration when I'm working. I will likely be using the RS-1's and the RA-1 will be far too lively. I would love something with tubes, but the EMP AE is too rich for my blood and well, out of production. THe RKV is very interesting but quite a bit larger. I will be using an iPod.

Hi folks, I'm new here. I was wondering if anyone had good advice on a portable phone that is resilient in artic temps? I'm in Canada, use an iPod and want something better than the iduds, but the phones have to fit under my toque, so KSC 35's and anything larger are out. I own Ety 4p's but I can't have the isolation while walking.