Grado headphones

[matthew1]

Today I got Grado headphones from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KYT ... 6FOBQYNPIC

$79

They're the lowest priced set from them, aside from the iGrado model.



I did an A/B test vs. the Sennheiser over-ear headphones I'd been using for 2 years. They're so, so much better than the Sennheisers. I couldn't believe it.

[93Regina]

The never-advertised, always coveted headphones built and sold in Brooklyn

Buried in a packed townhouse on a quiet street in south Brooklyn is a manufacturing operation that produces some of the most renowned headphones in the business. Despite Yelp reviews for the business, Grado Labs doesn't sell directly from its location to consumers, though it does take the occasional walk-up request for repairs. For the most part, its long-time employees, including owner John Grado and his son Jonathan, tinker away through four crowded floors on audio gear that hasn't appeared in advertising since the 1960's.

In the building, the company assembles and ships models that range from the flagship PS1000, priced at $1,700, to the $79 SR60s. As of early June, Grado has evolved the drivers for the second time in 23 years, from the I-series to the E-series.

[matthew1]

Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool on the Grados is excellent. It needs an equalizer dip at 4k to blunt the mid-highs.

The domino effect is... in full effect. Source material is now subject to great scrutiny, and if necessary, quality update.

[93Regina]

Source material

I would agree if ten blindfolded audiophiles were to test headphones, installed via another person in a darkened room, their "blind" assessments may not be uniform.

Analogously, if an engine had enough blow-by causing oil leaks, a mechanic may suggest to rebuild the engine, but another person has suggested a method to relieve crankcase pressure.

I think the upshot of the Three Blind Men and an Elephant is "that there may be some truth to what someone says," but it may or may not be the whole truth. And of course, on forums (i.e., daily life) we experience this over/over.

[93Regina]

Today I got Grado headphones from Amazon....

Well, here's the system to compliment:

AUDIO BRAND TECHNICS RETURNS TO NORTH AMERICA

January 5, 2015 (Las Vegas, NV) – Panasonic today announced the return of the much loved and iconic Technics audio brand into the North American market with the launch of two Technics Hi-Fi systems -- the Technics R1 Reference-Class System and the Technics C700 Premium-Class System. The first new Technics Hi-Fi products to be introduced in six years will be released into North America in March. Specific pricing and availability will be annoucned at a later date.

The new Technics products are based on a concept called the ‘Technics Definitive Sound’ which builds upon decades of audio technology development and know how and is comprised of the following three major technical elements:

Youtube Video

[matthew1]

Interesting, thanks.

[93Regina]

Interesting, thanks.

In early 1970s, I had some high end recording/playback equipment. Like a Thorens turntable, Revox A77, etc. but most of it was stolen, so I took the cash, and bought a new vehicle.

It would appear their Technics R1 Reference-Class System has some nice specs; iirc, it is 150 watts per channel, but its a clean 150 watts.

In Denver, when Laserium was playing in planetarium at Gate's Museum, years ago, they updated their sound system, and it was excellent.

[matthew1]

A friend swears a discrete headphone amp makes as big a difference as decent headphones. He says it's night and day. He's also a big fan of Stax:

[93Regina]

A friend swears a discrete headphone amp makes as big a difference..

Bose in 1968, introduced their 901 Direct/Reflecting speakers; they are not a full frequency response speaker, but they do give a live performance perception.

In 1971, I bought a pair, which may have been around $1K then, but in a setup demo, we stacked two sets of these with good amps, and it was quite an impressive listening experience; keep in mind in those days, speaker/equipment quality was coming of age. That Thorens direct drive turntable or the Revox A77 reel to reel (3 motor drive with direct monitoring of recording) would still be top quality equipment today. Speakers then, were the limiting factor.

That Technics R1 Reference-Class System attempts to separate out various instruments/voice spatially, which is what the Bose system does.

I've not explored headphones, so I would not know if the "live performance perception" would be experienced.

[matthew1]

I've always loved the look of those Bose floorstanding speakers (901, like you hyperlinked, but with stands, I think).

My first revelation as to how speakers could sound magic and "3-D", was in the late 80s when I heard my friend's Infinity set. Nothing special as far as the brand goes, but compared to the speakers I'd always owned it was a revolution. I'd always had garden-variety Technics equipment. I learned quickly that speakers make all the difference, that spending the majority of your budget on speakers is the best bang/buck.

Until then, speakers were whatever I could afford after buying amp/receiver and CD player.