Joe Grado website

[Voltron]

Did you normalize for the age of that post?

[postjack]

Have y'all tried flats?

[Dusty Chalk]

WTF, dude, that's actually the appropriate response.

[postjack]

WTF, dude, that's actually the appropriate response.

Shit, you're right. I guess I should read the posts first.

[grawk]

it's like watching turtles fuck.  They're doing it right, but holy hell it takes a long time.

[Emooze]

And it's quite disturbing. I mean, have you ever SEEN a turtle penis?

[Mr.Sneis]

While we're at it a short PSA -- it seems JG has gotten quite shady in his business practices as he ages so buyer beware if you happen to decide you want to throw money at him.  What I've read is enough to scare the shit out of me to eternally kid gloves now my stocker HP-2.

[grawk]

That's quite a vague but inflammatory charge, where's your corroborating information?

[roadtonowhere08]

[Mr.Sneis]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/622756/joseph-grado-signature-product-hp2i-upgraded-hp-1000-headphone-information-journal-and-comparative-review-on-hiatus

 

There's a link at the top of the post which directs you to the beginning of tamahome77's saga.  He is/was not alone it seems and he has since received the pair back from JG but at much higher cost than originally quoted.  As a result he's having to sell them to recoup what he can.

 

I genuinely wish it weren't so but it's quite unnerving to read.

[grawk]

ok, well, caveat emptor anyway, as always.  He's come across as a snake oil peddler ever since he returned to the headphone business a few years ago.  

[roadtonowhere08]

If true... yeesh.  Pretty damning.

 

When I first heard Joe was reconditioning the HP series a few years ago, I was struck by the stupidly high prices he was charging.  Since they are already fantastic phones, what did people really expect out of them?  Why mess with a good (and just about impossible to replace) thing - even if it is by the man himself?

[CD44hi]

I have to say that if that is true, it is pretty sad ending to his headphone manufacturing career. Whether he is senile and is being manipulated, is a possibility.

[HiWire]

What a pity. His microphone project sounded interesting.

[grawk]

It sounded self indulgent and unlikely to me

[Sherwood]

Agreed, Dan. He is past the point of senility, and long past the point of having good enough hearing to be trusted. He was a titan in this business, to be sure, but that time has passed.

Currently, his work preys upon the worst tendencies of "audiophiles" -- what if it could sound better with some magic?

[nikongod]

Currently, his work preys upon the worst tendencies of "audiophiles" -- what if it could sound better with some magic?

 

This is something I have seen in many kinds of expensive hobbies. 

 

I get the impression that lots of people could not spend enough money on a (insert desirable thing to spend lots of money on) so they send it off *IMMEDIATELY* after receiving it to get it upgraded or fix a problem they once heard one guy might have had. 

 

Cameras, Cars, Audio, Bikes, you name it. 

 

It is kind of disgusting with vintage gear. At best it dries up repair parts for people who actually wear their shit out. At worst it just makes your own gear worthless, or your guru disappears with your gear. 

 

PS: Totally guilty and hypocritical for what I did to my Melos. Just saying. 

[recstar24]

I might have been one of the last few to actually get the upgrade within reason and still be able to interact with him when he was still coherent. Even though he did snap at me one time. Lol

[purk]

Agreed, Dan. He is past the point of senility, and long past the point of having good enough hearing to be trusted. He was a titan in this business, to be sure, but that time has passed.

Currently, his work preys upon the worst tendencies of "audiophiles" -- what if it could sound better with some magic?

True but I don't understand the need of preying upon people for money at his age.  I mean he is way past his retirement after all.

[jvlgato]

Because he needs money?

[grawk]

Because someone is telling him he could make a fortune?

 

Maybe as he saw John make money, he got bitter that his name and hard work turned into money for someone else but never for him.

[Sherwood]

I know there's a lot of animosity toward John, perhaps because Grado's best headphones were Joe's, not John's, but I think it deserves to be mentioned that running a profitable headphone business out of the U.S. that has no style whatsoever is not easy.  I don't know how John does it, but he does.  Also, my RS-1s are fantastic, and that's John's doing.

 

Bears mentioning, even if this is not the John Grado thread.

[grawk]

I was suggesting Joe might feel resentment, not that I have a problem with John. I like the HF1s and HF2s more than any of Joe's cans.

[Sherwood]

I was suggesting Joe might feel resentment, not that I have a problem with John. I like the HF1s and HF2s more than any of Joe's cans.

 

You're right, Joe probably would.  Crazy old coot.  Who yells at Ryan?

[recstar24]

You're right, Joe probably would. Crazy old coot. Who yells at Ryan?

Yeah! There was guy Martin Mckenzie who was kind of his go to guy who you would talk to and he would help you keep joe on track. Joe found out I was talking to him and scolded me for trying to go around him. However i did get my cans the next week.