Grado GS3000e review: Overpriced flagship headphones? 

Alternatives to consider (linked below go to Amazon): Open-back: -Sennheiser HD800S: locally.link/4sWw -HiFiMan Jade II: amzn.to/2GnIe4W -Audeze LCD-3: locally.link/BlHm Closed-back: -Sennheiser HD 820: locally.link/nZ0L -Fostex TH900: locally.link/NhUw -E-MU Teak: fave.co/30UtaUJ

This headphone is outstanding. Energetic, live like sound, open, deep soundstage. True in your ears and be happy!

Cool video! Honestly I didn't knew of any other Grado stuff except their most famous SR80e. I really like stuff from BeyerDynamic when it comes to closed-back, and AKG for open-back. You should really give a try at chi-fi IEMs, there's really affordable stuff in that category that sounds absolutely astounding, and some other stuff that sounds horrible. Moondrop has amazing models specially their Blessing 2. I personally have a Fearless S8Pro and their detail and clarity is mind-blowing.

Nice professional presentation! But, I have to comment, the comments on the sound are so dramatically different from, not only my long-term listening experience, but the general consensus about the "Grado sound", and the 3000e in particular, that I have to wonder if there was something defective in the review pair; something electrically mismatched in the system (though unlikely, as these are easy to drive, and the reviewer seems like a pro), or simply a matter of taste. Sub-bass is flat, in the acoustics sense; accurate, not accentuated, but true and in tune. Listening to the tones of the lowest instruments as a way of gauging strict frequency performance, the low E on a string bass, 33hz, has a solid, clean tone, nothing rolled off. "Sub-bass" is a misleading term - if you go by the tones of actual instruments, there is very little music below 40 hz; a pipe organ and some synth tones, sure - but the Grado bass is simply accurate to the music. Classical pipe organ, Saint Saens Organ symphony; Joni Mitchell "Cotton Avenue with Jaco's open bass note about a minute in; Drop The Bass by Magic Mike; Baduyzm by EBadu. Nothing is exaggerated for BOOM effect. Mid-bass and upper bass is what most people think of as bass, and these are - to my ears, but also by reputation - look for consensus in reviews -- one of the areas where Grado phones, and these and the PS2000e in particular, shine. Clean, true to the timbre of instruments, and deep. Texture, the "feel" of instruments, the physicality of them, surrounded by the "air", the sense of space and place, are stellar. Listening well into the night while I should be sleeping.... As the speed of attack, clean and controlled but resonant decay as the tones trail off, is a brand strength, these phones, as with most of the line, have a great sense of pace and groove. I've literally never heard anyone refer to Grado miss as "recessed". This sounds like there was something very wrong with the review pair. Just - not something one associates with these headphones. I'm listening alongside a pair of Audeze LCD-3 and Sean HD800; the "fun factor", the presence and rhythmic speed of the music, is a notch above. Reviewer speaks of a recessed midrange; Grados are most universally known for an extremely PRESENT midrange, reproducing voices, guitars, saxophones, etc, with unusual sense of "you are there". I respect the effort the reviewer makes here, but as a headphone nut with first-class electronics and good quality sound files (plus plenty of decent commercial mp3s, I'd recommend that you a) find a way to demo a pair and b)read other reviews. I think you'll find that this one is dramatically different. As long as his pair were working properly, thats fine, as you may have similar ears as the reviewer's. But don't make your choice based on one review. Read, and tell me if I've misrepresented anything. These are a bargain for a flagship headphone. And whichever way you go, enjoy the h--- out of the music!

Grado headphones are not for everyone as is obviously the case here .

.Grado cables are not removable because the headphones are designed to work with those cables only

What amp did you use with them? Contrary to popular opinion, I find Grado headphones are extremely picky to sound their best. They are the LS3/5a of headphones.

Its so strange... But my ps1000e still feels the same as when I got it 5 years back... That being said i take very good care of them!

Wobbly bass?? Have you tried a proper amp like a Felkis, Linear Tube or Schiit Audio. These are not gaming headphones. They do require a more quiet setting than most other open backs. But when properly driven they are exquisite

What DAC, and amplifier did you use ? I have been led to believe the electronics leading up to the headphones can make a substantial difference in what is heard. Certainly the reviews I have read in the past in Stereophile and The Absolute Sound, or video reviews such as Steve Guttenberg's or Passion for Sound make mention of the attendant equipment used in the audio stream.

I had the sr325 and the gh2. They sound right but they do not scale well with price. If I'm paying more than $1k for these, I expect better build

I purchased the Grado GS3000 from Moon Audio, with the Premium Black Dragon cables. They will blow them all away!! You hear deep into the recording. All the subtle details come out lively, realistic, accurate, pure, balanced, low-distortion, natural. Don't waste your money on higher priced headphones that are not nearly as good as the Grado GS3000.

You missed the verdict timestamp in the description ;)

This headphone is way out of my league. But if I have the money I'd probably buy these over focal or hd800s or hifiman Arya

Seems you really stirred up the hornets nest lol - I appreciate your review and commend you for covering such a controversial topic ;)

Great review. I agree even the best Grado does not have the soundstage or resolution. Still, there are some charms to Grado. For one thing, I dig the Grado look. I once seriously considered DIY swap the driver of $1400 GS2000e with the driver with Philips SHP9500. Because to my ears $85 Philips sounds better than it.

Thanks for this video, I just bought about 50 pairs of these headphones. I'm not sure what you mean by overpriced, they're quite cheap, if I do say so myself.

i've never experienced so much subjective waffle as online audio reviews. just get a good return policy and trust your ears. i can hear people talk about me through 2 shut doors. says it all. not to mention "esteemed" reviewers trolling people over their hard earned high end choice.

Fair review. Fixed, thick cables are standard across all grados - but standard doesn´t mean it´s good / worth the price. Same for the earcups. You like it / deal with it, or hate it. But I think you are wrong on tearms of "longevity". I own RS1 for almost 10 years now, and the "up and down element" will not wear out and become loose. That is because the metal bar inside it will always have a little bit of pressure on it when you wear the headphones, so it would need to slid up and down at a slight angle, which it will not, because ..physics. :)

Again...the driver is designed for close orientation to the ear. Aftermarket pads ruin the sound

Hifiman Arya is a better choice as well!

one of the best sounding headphones, the worst designed headphones (no "one of" in the front).

Yep. Heard one. Grados are still crap. That was on the back of a Bryston DAC into a Woo WA23 - so no one can ask how good the equipment was, lol. Flat, and nothing special. The HD660S2 was better.

Rs2e probably sounds just as good

If you are sentimental and wanna hear how old crapy drivers sounded in the past go ahead and buy Grado, they are for old peoples and old songs :) but anyway there are other headphones that gonna be better at that department haha

Thanks for the honest review. I just saw a gs3000e sold for about 1000 USD on audio mart so I come to check review. Grado headphones overall is a joke, especially their high end models. I had two grado before the gr10 first which sent to me instead of gr10e, the high is extremely sibilant, making a regular hd800 extremely warm in comparison lol. 2 years after that I got a store demo gh2 limited edition it was 33% off so I thought gave grado another try. It was not as bright as the gr10 but still similar to hd800 and mid and low is garbage. Sony z7 first gen which you can get for half of gh2 is like 10 times more enjoyable. The build quality is really a joke they try to sell as handmade, lol. Headphones you cannot stick with old tech. I had a lot of headphones as well including mid range electrostatic like stax 4170. Japanese and German headphones is just on a whole different level. Enough said, I sold all my audeze due to their weight even though I miss the bass. Right now just have a hd820, T1 first gen, z7, U12 Adel, JH16a+jh3a (got cheap and fits me with eartips), Fiio x7 ii, chord Hugo, audio GD reference 10.32 modified to drive these headphones. After many years of rolling equipment, settled for these, for now haha. But no more grado. I wouldn't mind trying the gs3000e, but I'm sure it will be disappointing like most of gears I try these days. Once you get to 1000 to 2000 range they all sound good just different signature. Still got to give zmf a try. Oh and focal headphones. You get to try everything without money loss when you get on audio mart and when you are done with them want to try something else flip on eBay to break even or make some money. I sold the audeze xc and added a little more to get an used hd820. It didn't wow me which I know already but just a nice headphone for long listening session and movies. Later probably sell it and try sony z1r. Maybe it will wow me. But won't be night and day difference with z7 from what I read.

Well, I have Audezes, Hifimans, Sennheisers, Beyerdynamics, Mezes and Focals and for some reason I always go back to my Grados, so imo your opinions are totally wrong. I'm already in 7th heaven with my R2Se and 325e so I'm pretty sure these would be even better. The rest of brands are highly overrated. NOTHING beats the Grado sound.

If hd800s sub base sounds more prominent than this, then this one is fucked...

Grados sound signature is typically love it or hate it ~ i really loved it (own the GS1000 and GS1000e) BUT i agree... the price range is just disgusting. Max USD1000.00 would be fair... for MSRP, no thanks.

Just by looking at the picture, I already know it's overpriced :D

It seems to me that any Grado priced above ps500e does not purchase you much more value above that. It is puzzling why Grado engineering does not even care to provide more value to customers by improving qualities on their cheap plastic suspension, cables, headband comfort etc. It does not take space science to do those, and it is their attitude that often bothers me.

I dont know why anyone would buy a Grado headphone?! Crap build and sound.