Since the other HF-2 thread has become quite a mess, figured it'd be a good idea to start a new one for people to post their impressions in.

mine sound spiffy

Pretty good so far.

Impressions with flats are that they are better than RS-2's all around.

mine sound spiffy

Yes they do.

Jesus christ these are nice. I'm keeping my order.

I'm listening to Peter Gabriel, Up, right now, and the bass is just. right. there. It's not overblow, and it's not "lite", it's just...perfect.

"It's still a fuckin' Grado."

They are f'in great. Really.

Yes, but only the "Head-FI" version.

Yes, but only the "Head-FI" version.

Oh come on, don't say that

Yes, but only the "Head-FI" version.

I thought this thread was for the real HF2, the Head-FI version.

No poll for pads?

I think they are ok good for listening directly out of my zune or laptop.

No poll for pads?

Bowls, of course.

Bowls, of course.

Naaaahhhhh.:basement:

OK, fine, I'll admit bowls are better balanced, clearer, and probably better for most "music." But the reason I went and got these was because I didn't feel like any of my current inventory were doing justice to my death metal collection. As much as I enjoy the audiophiley smoothness, detail, etc of many of the high end phones, I always felt that the majority of them didn't quite have the balls. Well, HF2s with flats is fucking balls out, and I'm willing to sacrifice comfort and endure a little muddiness to have those drivers right up on my ears.

Naaaahhhhh.:basement:

OK, fine, I'll admit bowls are better balanced, clearer, and probably better for most "music." But the reason I went and got these was because I didn't feel like any of my current inventory were doing justice to my death metal collection. As much as I enjoy the audiophiley smoothness, detail, etc of many of the high end phones, I always felt that the majority of them didn't quite have the balls. Well, HF2s with flats is fucking balls out, and I'm willing to sacrifice comfort and endure a little muddiness to have those drivers right up on my ears.

What was I thinking, when I listen to my death metal collection, I don't even use pads.

That's the way to do it!

No poll for pads?

I have no idea what these are, whatever they came with. Grawk put some other pads in with them (I'm borrowing his), but I just used what he had on, which are perfect. Might try the 414 pads next week.

The other pads are the flats, dusty

I remembered I had an old set of earpads from a set of Sennheiser PC-150s (http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/5b/80/75dc224128a05c1a9b4f7010.L.jpg).

I threw them on the HF2s and they are much more comfortable than the bowls. However, the sound is quite different and probably closer to what you guys are experiencing with flats as these are much more shallow than the bowls. The two main differences seem to be increased bass and slight decrease in spaciousness. I think for now I'll stick with these earpads, but I'd be interested to know what you guys think of the 414 pads.

thanks for the idea of the PC headset earpads! I have those, will report

The other pads are the flats, dusty

So the ones I was listening to were the bowls?

If they look like the pads on the RS series on the Grado website, then probably?

Correct. Bowls were on them.

These are the first current production John Grado design (PS1 and HP2 won't qualify) that I really like with bowls since the first minute. Haven't tried them with flats yet, but for how the sound changes by applying pressure on the cups, I think I'll like them better with bowls. Flats would keep the tonal rightness, but would make the bass too much for me. I'll see later.

I like their timbre, they sound nothing like the 225 (even the aluminum cups version Picaudio made) or RS1. For my ears the sound of acoustic instruments is more natural and believable than in any other current JG headphone. Maybe the vintage RS1 are different, and I haven't tried the SR325. Though they keep that fun factor and immediate presence of the family sound, while being refined and smooth in the treble.

I wish they hadn't used those plastic yokes of the SR series, it's a shame

Btw, Vicki's gonna start banning people if other people who own these things don't start posting impressions. I'm trying to talk her out of it, but you know how she can get.

I love mine but don't use them because Jp says the JH-13's are better.

Mine are out on loan, so ban me not.

By the time I get mine no one will care what I think. Oh...maybe not now either:D