Grado GR8 IEM

[Dash]

Do their designs attract the "i" crowd? they don't have branding appeal for a buyout IMHO.

[recstar24]

Do their designs attract the "i" crowd? they don't have branding appeal for a buyout IMHO.

Exactly - compare that to Ultimate Ears, they definitely had way more market appeal to where they were able to be bought out.

[juzmister]

These new models also seem cheaper to produce..Not the best market to exit though lol

[MartyLK]

Very interesting. They use the armature design rather than the dyamic variety driver. Too bad, at that price though, they aren't dual or triple driver designs. Then again, the Klipsch Image X10, and even the X5, are outstandingly wonderful sounding canalphones and use a single armature.

What mostly intrigues me, though, are the sleeves. From the images, the sleeves appear to be the more common large nozzle design rather than the refined smaller nozzle type as used by the Shures and Etymotics.

[The Monkey]

Then again, the Klipsch Image X10, and even the X5, are outstandingly wonderful sounding canalphones and use a single armature.

the x10 is a very good IEM. I think "outstandingly wonderful" is overstating it. Just a bit.

[Hopstretch]

the x10 is a very good IEM. I think "outstandingly wonderful" is overstating it. Just a bit.

You're wrong.

[Dusty Chalk]

I'm going to start referring to the Klipsch as the "times-ten".

[Chekhonte]

I think part of the charm of grado is that it's a family company still. I would be surprised if they would sell the company to a corporation but who knows. My guess would be that they're updating their line because it's cheep to do and the headphone market is expanding with lots of new gear, changing things up keeps people talking about grado headphones. I bet their worried that they'll be buried by an avalanche of other company's gear.

[MartyLK]

The only thing I dislike about the Klipsch Image X10s...with regard to my particular set, which could have been resolved with newer sets...is the stiffening of the wires. Mine have been under constant patching due to breaks in the insulation, exposing the conductors.

I still use them, though, and find them to produce amazing and accurate bass response. What really drops my jaw is how much they sound like my 3-way driver Shure SE530s, which are $500 canalphones.

[MartyLK]

I think part of the charm of grado is that it's a family company still. I would be surprised if they would sell the company to a corporation but who knows. My guess would be that they're updating their line because it's cheep to do and the headphone market is expanding with lots of new gear, changing things up keeps people talking about grado headphones. I bet their worried that they'll be buried by an avalanche of other company's gear.

They certainly have my attention. I've always heard great things about Grado, lending me the impression of high-end audio equipment...serious audiophile stuff. I must say, though, when I first became aware of their IEMs, I had the sensation Grado was merely trying to hitch up to the cash bandwagon...get into the market. Which lead me to think like others are thinking...they might be re-branding some other phones. If Grado indeed is manufacturing these IEMs, word should get out so that they will succeed in marketing them because it's rare that a home company will take such an admirable step.

But, much like the Sleek Audio SA6, these Grados are probably designed...or given influence on their design...by Grado and manufactured in China....or Japan by Foster.

[Edwood]

Grado can spend time on POS IEM designs, but can't be bothered to redesign a single headband assembly.

[Dusty Chalk]

[grado]Hey, if you don't like it, design your own goddamn headphone.[/grado]

[Fungi]

Did Grado even design this? It looks like they asked for an IEM with "GRADO" on it and the GR8 is what happened.

[mypasswordis]

I hate how I read GR8 as "grate" every time. Maybe Grado is telling us something about their sound signature.

[jinp6301]

Grado iGi Earphones - Photo - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

I'm willing to bet Colin's kidney that its the same as

Head-Direct.com | YUIN

[The Monkey]

I think those are going to be filled with suck.

[guzziguy]

Grado iGi Earphones - Photo - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

I'm willing to bet Colin's kidney that its the same as

Head-Direct.com | YUIN

Not much of a bet. We ruined Colin's liver and kidney's last weekend.

[Fungi]

Same down to the exact specs, except the VSONIC goes down to 8 instead of 20 and up to 28k instead of 20k!!!

[cetoole]

I'm willing to bet Colin's kidney that its the same as

Hey!

[Dusty Chalk]

They don't look the same.

[jinp6301]

Huh, they dont. Me = FAIL

[The Monkey]

I will now call this model the Grado Gigli.

[jinp6301]

Hey!

[Tyll Hertsens]

[n_maher]

Tyll,

Any way to get the intermediate frequency lines to show up lighter? Kind of hard to read that graph for me otherwise and your old graphs used to do a lovely job of this.