Dusty Chalk Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 The Grado HF-2 is the first Grado that was good enough that I find myself not caring about the comfort issue. And that's saying a lot. I usually find Grado's terribly uncomfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfillion Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I am finally spending some time with my HF-2 today and so far I think that they are much better than the RS-1 (without the buttons) that I owned in the past. It's the first time that I can wear a pair of Grado for more than 2 hours without any ear fatigue. I think overall, it's a steal for the price ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riceboy Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Okay, just got them today and early impressions are really, really good. I don't want to say too much about them yet as it is still early, but I can say that out of the Luxman P-1 and Maxed out SDS it sounds great. I even tried them with the EC/SS and GS-X at work and I was really impressed with them. I'll try them out with the other amps later, but so far I'm enjoying these much more than the HF-1s which I owned 3 times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socrates63 Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Mine (#84) arrived last week when I was out camping. I only had a chance to plug it in to my GLite for about a minute at work -- just enough time to confirm that it seems to be working fine. The cord is short as many have commented. Is Grado making a matching extension cable? The cable in the HF2 is different than the older pre-"i" models, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieInAFire Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 #170. Pure liquid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlSeibert Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 That is the album I just bought yesterday, so July 21 came a little early this year. I know the 45 RPM vinyl is still coming out at some point, and I think there is an SACD, but the CD was in the store yesterday. Thanks for the tip. I just listened to the samples on Amazon. Very cool. Will be on the lookout for that vinyl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asr Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 HF2 vs Alessandro MS2i Lots of similarities, probably more similarities than differences I'd say, but then what do I know. Equipment chain: Plinius CD-101 > PPA w/ dual headphone jacks. Both headphones fitted with bowl pads. Both headphones have a kind of Grado sound - fast, relatively clear, good bass thump, etc. The MS2i is more treble-tilted, the HF2 a tad darker, but only in the treble. The mid-ranges of both headphones don't seem to be too different - greater lower grunt on the HF2, but not by too much. Cleaner, clearer treble on the MS2i which I definitely prefer. MS2i also more laidback - as in, the HF2 feels more upfront/forward and aggressive. Also more "soundstage" on the MS2i, feels like there's more air around and in front of the band. If the MS2i is supposed to be neutral/flat (which is what I've read about it), then I guess one could say that the HF2 is colored in the mid-range/mid-bass direction. I have tried the HD414 pads on both headphones but since I have only 1 pair of them I can't hot-swap the headphones. And I wouldn't trust my own opinion without being able to hot-swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvinz Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 For whatever reason my HF2's sound really good this morning, enjoying my pandora one membership Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 HF2 + Beta22 = goodness That's my impression for the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asr Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 HF2 with TTVJ FET-A I have the amp on loan from Todd (TTVJ), to be returned in a few days. HF2 sounds really good with it. Less forward/upfront in the mid-range than the PPA that I have, but it counterbalances the treble for added refinement and speed. The HF2 sounds that much quicker and more rhythmic with the FET-A. The amp would be even better with the HF2 if it had a lower gain though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morphsci Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 HF2 with TTVJ FET-A I have the amp on loan from Todd (TTVJ), to be returned in a few days. HF2 sounds really good with it. Less forward/upfront in the mid-range than the PPA that I have, but it counterbalances the treble for added refinement and speed. The HF2 sounds that much quicker and more rhythmic with the FET-A. The amp would be even better with the HF2 if it had a lower gain though. That was definitely my impression from CanJam. The TTVJ FET-A was my favorite pairing with the HF-2. That would make a very nice rig. Having had it at home for a while it sounds better, much better in fact, out of the AA HPA v.1.0 than it does out of the GSX. Earlier in the year when I was able to compare the AA and the FET-A I was struck by how similar they sounded with my MS-Pro so that is not a real surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted July 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 (edited) I've had my HF-2's for a little while now and I must say I think they are pretty easily my favorite current production Grado's. I think the HF-2's have several key advantages over the rest of the line-up. They don't have the typical brightness/sharpness in the treble yet they still have very good extension. Also while many Grado's are renowned for their punchy bass most of them don't go very deep at all, with the HF-2 this is not the case. Their bass roll-off starts at a lower point and I think to some degree that gives them a little more impact. Edited July 27, 2009 by tkam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 I've had my HF-2's for a little while now and I must say I think they are pretty easily my favorite current production Grado's. I think the HF-2's have several key advantages over the rest of the line-up. They don't have the typical brightness/sharpness in the treble yet they still have very good extension. Also while many Grado's are renowned for their punchy bass most of them don't go very deep at all, with the HF-2 this is not the case. Their bass roll-off starts at a lower point and I think to some degree that gives them a little more impact. They were damn near universally loved by this weekend's crew. I don't know why Grado can only do special edition cans well but I find nearly their entire range of current production cans utterly forgettable but both the modded HF-1s and stock HF-2s are superb in my book. They're hardly perfect but what flaws they do have are forgivable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Am really enjoying them with these on. Puts the bass pretty much right in between flats (too muddy for me) and bowls (a bit remote). Comfy, too. Disadvantage -- butt fugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 You could try dying or painting them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 I'm just not that anal. Yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 do you own a magic marker? I'll just refer you back to my written statement, congressman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzziguy Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 They're hardly perfect but what flaws they do have are forgivable. 1 am 1n total agreement w1th you. I really like my HF2 and prefer them to any current John Grado headphone. They hold their own against the HP1000 and PS1 too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 1 am 1n total agreement w1th you. I don't know what you're talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzziguy Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 That alone made your trip to CanJam worth it. I think that the original has much nicer etching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 blurry hf2 ftw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcpoor Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 I think that the original has much nicer etching. i second that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torpedo Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Are on those the grills black or is it a light effect in the pic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Just the light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torpedo Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 So they're the same but for the F1 thing The HF2 have two things that annoy me. One the plastic yoke with that button which contacts the aluminum external ring so the cups won't swing as much as needed when using the bowls, and the too thick wire. It weighs a lot. I don't know if it has any positive audible effect, but I think I'd trade it for a less weighty feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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