I have changed my mind about Grado, I need help now to choose

[giordano]

Dear All,

I love to listen to music, like all of us, for a few years now I have Audio Note E boxes and 2A3 PSE amp. Love the detailed, but still relaxing sound of it. A good balance between details and sweetness. With other words, I like the sound of an Audiolab 8000A, but can not listen to it for more than like 30 minutes. Also like the sound of the 300B tubes, but too sweet for me, hide details.

Recently, I can not listen too much to speakers, I must use headphones. I have an old Sennheiser HD 565 ovation, what I have tried to change sometimes, but I could not. I have tried HD600, I liked the bass (the 565 weakness), but also the soundstage got more narrow, at the mid range I would pick the 565. I did not like grado (never tried also) because it is on ear. I though it makes my ears tired. I had a heavy on ear headphone long time ago, it was a pain. Althought I knew some sounds like what I like.

Now, I have tried a cheap on ear headphone for travel, compared to my 565. Of course the 565 was far better, but, from ergonomics point of view I did not dislike the on ear headphone. In fact, I found that I like the fact that the air flows around my ears with the on ear headphone, and I have realized with the 565 I interrupt sometime (like between albums) to cool down my ears. Wow. That changed how I think about grados.

So now I'm digging forums for which grado ?

From price point of view, I accepted to spend for a HD650 sennheiser. The HD800 is too much for me. From price point of view the SR325is looks O.K.

What I want it relaxing music listening for 2-3 albums sometime, with enough bass (less but clear is better for me than more but overflowing). I want good bass, this motivates to change from the 565, but I do not want ear massage like what the HD600 do. Clear midrange is important, soundstage is important.

Amplification will be difficult, but I will solve it. Now I use SE class A OTL amp, which will not drive a 32ohm headphone. I will make a trafo output class A SE tube amp for the grado.

Unfortunately, there is no place around to try these, sennheiser dominates, some beyer, akg, I can only order Grado.

Thanks for any idea, suggestion.

JG

[boomana]

HF2s.

[roadtonowhere08]

For what you want to spend, the HF-2 or the RS-225i are your only real options when you mention relaxing and Grado together with a heavy recommendation to find a used HF-2.

[giordano]

It was quick ! : -)

I did not found any HF-2 on ebay, I will probably have difficulties to find it.

Should I read the 225i that way that you guys recommend the 225i more than the 325is ?

I also assume from your writing that I should pair the grado with a less aggressive amp.

Thanks,

JG

[n_maher]

Thanks for any idea, suggestion.

FOAD

[HeadphoneAddict]

It was quick ! : -)

I did not found any HF-2 on ebay, I will probably have difficulties to find it.

Should I read the 225i that way that you guys recommend the 225i more than the 325is ?

I also assume from your writing that I should pair the grado with a less aggressive amp.

Thanks,

JG

Be patient and wait for used HF-2 to come up for sale.

[The Monkey]

[Duggeh]

Arsebiscuits to Grado. Get Stax.

[jvlgato]

Reminds me of Maya, the shape shifter from Space 1999. Remember her? She could take the form of any creature she came into contact with.

[roadtonowhere08]

FOAD

I have never seen that acronym before, but knowing this place, it came together quickly

[Pars]

^ Quite common. Last word is die. You should be able to piece the rest of it together

[MoonShine]

EAFD

[fatcat28037]

I have to go along with the HF-2 or 225i suggestions however keep in mind a new 225i is $200 and a used HF-2 is $450 give or take. The HF-2 is the better phone but IMO for the price difference I'd go for the 225i, it isn't refered to as the Grado "sweet spot" for nothing.

[wink]

Some HF2's for sale on Headfi.

Sorry for being helpful....

[shellylh]

For 450 Euro = ~$625, yeah right.

[n_maher]

Shelly, if you want to try a pair of HF2s it can probably be arranged.

[shellylh]

Nate: Thanks for the offer - I tried the HF2 at Canjam LA and really liked them (Vicki let me borrow her pair for a night). I should have kept my pre-order. I just ordered a PS500 hoping that they are pretty similar. I could send them back if there was a reasonable pair of HF2 for sale (from a person I trust at a reasonable price) but I am not sure that will happen soon.

Edited November 1, 2011 by shellylh

[seacard]

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1325376074&/grado-hf-2-alessandro-ms-2. Run!