There has to be more behind the scenes that we don't know, but damn.

I doubt it, that is just how Joe is, he is very "confident" in his hp1000 and his new mic, to say the least. He did say if you do not want to bother with the hp1000 and getting any issues resolved that you should just get johns sr125 and flat pads and that should be ok

The ps500 sounding anything like the ps1 or hp1000 will be akin to how the ps1000 was supposed to sound like the ps1. Unfortunately that was not the case.

I do think there is some genuine competitiveness but it's been stated by closer sources than me that John and Joe do have a very mutual respect for each other, moreso from John towards Joe. I think there are some practical issues that also prevent John from doing anything like a hp1000, specifically sourcing the driver and manufacturing costs. If they currently charge $700 for rs1 build quality and $1000+ for gs1000 and ps1000 build quality, what would a hp1000 potentially cost?

The higher end Grado stuff (RS and above) has always been overpriced for what it was. Some people LOVE the sound (including me), so the price was rationalized away. Philosophically speaking, it's not a function of making the HP-1000 in the 2k range or so but more of a realization that the top end is over the top and should be adjusted down (or some models eliminated) so that the HP-1000 could fill the $1,000-$1,600 price point. Obviously prices never really go down on product lines, but the product line right now kind of prevents such a product from coming out. I am not sure many people would go for an HP-1000 over $2k (PS-1000 being $1.6k). I know I wouldn't, but I would never buy any headphone at that price point.

I doubt it, that is just how Joe is, he is very "confident" in his hp1000 and his new mic, to say the least. He did say if you do not want to bother with the hp1000 and getting any issues resolved that you should just get johns sr125 and flat pads and that should be ok

Ah, gotcha.

Edited September 12, 201114 yr by roadtonowhere08

The feud began with their disagreement on the Saw movies

i attempted to track down the photo chronicling this watershed moment in Grado history, but was unsuccessful.

so instead here is a picture of Jacob after he got hit by a car.

The Symphones Magnums are also competitors at this price point.

Fantastic Grado lesson I'm having here! I never cared that much for Grados, but it's great to learn so much about the company and its products.

Wasn't that the reviewer that several years ago went on and raved about the Markl modded LA7000 headphones as being the pinnacle of headphones at the time?? Anyways, I always find it funny seeing professional reviewers write about headphones since they really don't know much about them.

Couldn't agree more. When I travel to England I always buy What Hi Fi, The Absolute Sound and all the other magazines, and I'm happy when they have headphone reviews. But that doesn't last long because I always see absurd comments. I remember they spoke about the Sennheiser IE8 as being "textbook flat". WTF??? That thing has more bass than anything!

You know, I always had the feeling that headphones have a sound signature that's much easier to realize than speakers. To me, speakers tend to sound more like each other. But then as I started to read all those weird headphone reviews I started to suspect that maybe we are tuned to what we hear the most. I mean, maybe I'm more sensitive to a headphone's sound signature because I had many experiences with them, and the opposite for speakers. If that's the case, then it should be the same for them: they're more used to speakers and thus more in touch with their different sound signatures, and less sensitive to different sounding headphones.

Or not.

I wrote to Grado about my concerns, and they assured me in warm and friendly terms that I would like them. Imagine getting a reply from Beyer or Sennheiser: "Dear sir or madam, It has come to the attention of our PR department that you are questioning the quality of the XYZ product we make. Be advised that your concerns are a top priority at ______ Corporation, and our engineers are smarter than you anyway, so piss off."

And your concerns were...

I am curious about the PS500.

Basically I wish I wouldn't have cancelled my pre-order of the HF2.

I also want an RS1 or RS1i, maybe.

I have the RS1i but the PS500 I heard briefly at CanJam in Denver but with low hours so not fully broken in. It sounded good but not as much bass as RS1i but could be break-in related.

or amp related, or source related, or recording related, or environmentally related, or pad fit related.

I wrote to Grado about my concerns, and they assured me in warm and friendly terms that I would like them. Imagine getting a reply from Beyer or Sennheiser: "Dear sir or madam, It has come to the attention of our PR department that you are questioning the quality of the XYZ product we make. Be advised that your concerns are a top priority at ______ Corporation, and our engineers are smarter than you anyway, so piss off."

Grado is a small family-run business based out of Brooklyn. I'm surprised that they even bothered to answer you. They don't really have time for that. What they really meant to say was, "Ahh, fugget about it! If you don't like it, then just go away!"

The PS500 at CanJam on the Butte and Arrete sounded pretty much like an HF-2 to me. I think you would be happy with it, Shelly. Also reminds me how impressive those two amps are, especially the tiny little Butte with the big gain. It doesn't just make headphone go LOUD, it has a very nice, clean and detailed presentation without being sterile. Pete does good things with opamps.

Pete does good things with opamps.

Isn't Pete's daytime work actually involve opamp design and construction?

Thanks for the feedback on the PS500 Al. I may pick one up. I also want the Peak + Volcano but am hesitating to buy since I haven't heard it. I wish I would have listened to it at Canjam Chicago. The Pinnacle of course was amazing.

Peak + Volcano is a great combo and Todd does offer 30 day returns for any reason. Just sayin'.

Todd did say that the PS500 has some differences as opposed to being merely re-branded, but he doesnt know what John G did to tweak it.

I'm bringing a PS500 to Jp's meet next week. Oz is a Grado dealer so he's giving me some gear to bring to the meet. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Peak + Volcano is a great combo and Todd does offer 30 day returns for any reason. Just sayin'.

Yep, another reason that it is so tempting. Plus, I think Todd and DannyB Pete are great guys and I am happy to support them.

I've been listening to them for 2 days now. I was impressed out-of-the-box and liked them more on day 2. Using a gamma2 and torpedo amp. Its remarkable how much more lively and not-dark these are compared to my recently acquired MS2's and 225's.

Didn't want to make a whole new thread for this, but on the subject of Grado, I think it is a good time to be selling the older ones (have seen three pairs range between $1700 to THIS the last two weeks): $2550! WTF?!?!

NOTE: pics were resized by imageshack, so you cant read the description, but these were an immaculate pair being sold by first owner who bought them in 1993.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260878285854#ht_500wt_1413

Edited October 29, 201114 yr by screaming oranges

One guy at the other forum just got a pair for 1850$. Do they actually perform accordingly to the price?

One guy at the other forum just got a pair for 1850$. Do they actually perform accordingly to the price?

Things are always Overpriced especially with the Vintage stuff. However I love them and swear by them, currently owing my 5th set.

Do they actually perform accordingly to the price?

Does anything?

Does anything?

Lower end Grados do it for me. I was more concerned how the fabled HP1000 performs in context of other phones at that price point. Because I see Grado as a fun colored can but the HP1000 is said to be of the neutral sort.

I'd like to see a comparison between the Grado PS-1, the PS-500, and the Symphones Magnum (whichever version is current).

The HP-1000 is very neutral in absolute terms, but people accustomed to other cans' characteristic sounds may think differently.

Edited October 30, 201114 yr by HiWire

Lower end Grados do it for me. I was more concerned how the fabled HP1000 performs in context of other phones at that price point. Because I see Grado as a fun colored can but the HP1000 is said to be of the neutral sort.

You would simply need to listen to them yourself and then make your own, informed, decision. Isn't that always the answer?