Ultimate Headphones.... Grado GS1000 vs AKG K701 vs Sennheiser HD650

We're in audiophile territory now! Big Bucks for slight improvements in sound quality. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning.

It's been over 10 years since I first started exploring headphones that are better than the standard department store/electronics superstore variety. My first purchase for myself was a Sennheiser HD580 for home use, and a Grado SR80 for portable CD player use. While the HD580 at the time was the touted audiophile favorite by Stereophile magazine, I quickly discovered that to my ears, they sounded muffled in comparison to the Grado. Had I not also owned a Grado, I would have probably been happy with the Senn. But, knowing I could hear so much detail with the Grado, I found I would rarely put the Senn's on and eventually sold them off.

But... (there is a but)... The HD580 was a full sized, circumaural headphone, (as compared to the mid size, supra-aural design of the Grado). Meaning... with some larger scale music, the Senn's just had a bigger, fuller sound. More space. More sound stage. Some people prefer that to the more intimate, "on the stage" sound of the Grados. I can appreciate that. Also to some, the Grado's sound too bright. Many will prefer the less detailed, more "back in the audience" sound of the Senn's. Different people prefer different sounds from their Cans.

Over the past decade, Senn has made minor improvements to the HD580. The HD600 improved upon the materials, (and sounded better to the critics... though it was a minor improvement). And now, they have the HD650 which again slightly improved on the materials, cord, and maybe a little bit on the sound. But here's where I often use the term "We're in Audiophile Territory." You spend big bucks for slight improvements.

Even though the Senn's are still adored by some in the press, I still love the detail you hear with the Grado's and continue to be a Grado affectionado, (have been listening to the SR325i and RS1 for a while now). I will mention, a few years back, I started using my Grado's with what we call a "Comfort Ring." Basically, a circumaural earpad with soft material placed between the Grado earpad and the ear, (not a permanent attachment so you can go back and forth between supra-aural and circumaural). Besides making the Grado's more comfortable, they do move the transducers out a little bit from the ear and create a bigger space... a more circumaural sound. I've been quite pleased with them. (FYI, Listening Station has been selling the Comfort Rings in their accessories section for several years now).

AKG K701 OK... I do try listening to other brands looking for that compromise, bigger soundstage with more detail than the top of the line Senns. Enter AKG. This past year AKG has come out with two new audiophile headphones. The K601 and the K701. I was impressed. Full sized, circumaural headphones with soft earpad material. Quite comfy. And good, circumaural sound with more detail than the above mentioned Senn's. They're not quite as hard to drive as the Senn's, (which definitely need good amplification to power them), but still benefit from a better than average headphone amp. And just this week, (August 2006), Stereophile magazine has a review out intimating that the K701 may be the new "Reference" headphone. And, I would venture, to a Senn listener, they may find the increase in detail might be enough to sway them away? I must say, I am quite impressed. Good build quality. Comfy. And though I am listening to them with good amplification, (the Antique Sound Lab Tube amp, the MG Head OTL Mark III DT ... more on this in an upcoming review), I think they would sound pretty good even connected to a decent headphone jack found on a receiver.

Has this Grado affectionado been converted? Well, no. I still prefer the sound of the Grado SR325i with Comfort Rings to the AKG. Just can't get enough of that detail.

AND NOW...... Grado has raised the ceiling! They've just introduced a new top of the line! The GS1000. GS stands for GRADO STATEMENT! Have they improved upon the RS1? For those who don't know the Grado line, the RS1 is their wood body headphone that's had a cult following for the past decade. Audiophiles who love a true audiophile company and have to have their very best... owned the Grado RS1. And yes, the RS1 has been Grado's best. But it's improvement in sound over the RS2 and SR325i is minimal, (and not heard by some). So, could John Grado come out with something better????

Grado GS1000 - Front I've been listening to the GS1000 for a few days now. And yes, I think he's done it! The body is again made of wood. Quite a bit bigger than the RS1. And it has a very large, circumaural earpad. A first for Grado! That great Grado detail is definitely there. And the sound stage.... it's much bigger than any previous Grado! And yes, it's still a very open headphone, (sound leaks in and out)

How does it compare to the so called reference K701? Well, the ASL amp has two headphone jacks so I've been comparing back and forth, (and adjusting the volume for proper comparison as the Grado is easier to drive than the AKG). The K701 is a very good headphone. But the feeling I get from the Grado's is one of a more "You Are There" feeling. Perhaps you know the electrifying feeling you get when you're at a live performance and hear the buzz in the equipment. With some good recordings, I have felt that with the GS1000. Yes... I think I like the GS1000..... alot!

Grado GS1000 - In Box It's now a few days later.... Been listening more to the GS1000 and loving the sound. And now a comparison that's a bit irrelevant since the headphone I'm about to compare with is no longer available. I just happen to own an AKG K1000. It's an audiophile headphone that was discontinued last year after many years in production, (cost was up to around $1000 when it went by the wayside). Well, it's more "ear speakers" rather than headphone. Basically the speakers are suspended in front of each ear, sit on a hinge so they can be tilted to allow for wide adjustment in sound. And it requires more of a standard speaker output to power them, (most headphone amps can't power it). And for this comparison, I just happen to be testing another Antique Sound Lab tube headphone amp, the MG-Head OTL 32 DT, which actually has a special dedicated connection which allows it to power the K1000. Well, as is true with many headphone auditions, the K1000's sound great when not compared to anything else. But, side by side with the GS1000, hands down I prefer the sound of the Grado. The AKG K1000 does offer a very spacious sound. But the Grado GS1000 has a fuller sound. The bass is just more prevalent, but not at all overwhelming. Another plus, I can hear that reverberation that continues after the note has finished, (listening to acoustic recordings of course). Will I ever listen to my K1000 again?

Grado GS1000 - Side OK... some real world observations. The circumaural earpads of the GS1000 are much more comfortable than Grado's previous earpads. But, they're almost too big. I have a small head, and the headphones are bordering on being too big for my head even at it's smallest setting. Kids, or even a few adults, may find this headphone doesn't fit very well on their head? Build is pretty much the same as the RS1. Same leather covered headband and same metal rings that hold the transducers. Obviously, the large, beautiful wood body has a lot to do with the mystique of this headphone. This is not a fancy engineered headphone with fancy materials like the Senn HD650 or the AKG K701. But I would equate it more to a hand crafted instrument made out of wood. A labor of love, (as well it should be as like most Grado's, I'm sure it's mostly hand made/assembled in Grado's Brooklyn facilities?). The cord still has a "Y" that connects to each ear like all their previous headphones. And you will still find crimps in the cord connections, a sign of hand assembly. But given 10 years of history with the Grado's, I can attest to the quality of their cord and connections.

And the price...... hate to say it... but this is one spendy headphone. Around a thousand bucks... Ouch! Yes.... We're in Audiophile Territory Here! But, if you've got to have the best Grado... this is now it!

FYI - Since some of you have asked, Grado is not supplying a wooden box for this headphone, (nor do they supply one for the RS1). It comes in a cardboard box with cut-out foam. Listening Station Headphones is providing for FREE with the purchase of the GS1000, a nice, large size, protective headphone pouch. See their web site for a picture: ListeningStation

Ultimate Headphones...

Grado GS1000 vs. AKG K701