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Post by copperpipe on Nov 7, 2020 16:52:41 GMT -5
I'm also curious about the open back. How much sound leaks through? Not trying to hide anything while listening so not looking for "dead silent", but one of the reasons I use headphones is to keep the sound from disturbing others in my house.
If I'm watching James Bond (lol, got to rewatch those Sean Connery movies) on soft to moderate volumes, are you going to hear that 5 feet away? 10 feet away etc?
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Post by monkumonku on Nov 7, 2020 16:57:52 GMT -5
Got the GR1's yesterday and listened to them twice through the below track set.
Quality wise, they come in a nice sturdy box, inside of which is the plastic carrying case that offers excellent protection. The build quality of the headband and cups is very nice, and I like the clicks when adjusting the headband. The cord is nice, too, though if you want to store the cans in the case you have to remove the cords each time. Overall, very sturdy with excellent fit and finish.
Comfort-wise, I thought they were pretty comfortable. The ear pads don't fully enclose my ear so it sits on part of them, and thankfully the pads are soft so it doesn't start to get irritating. I found the cord to be microphonic. Any tapping or rubbing on the cord is magnified through the earpieces.
Here's my track list. It was streamed from CD's ripped to disc to a Sonos unit -> Schiit Bifrost "Bimby" DAC -> Schiit Valhalla 2 amp.
Danse Boheme from Bizet's Carmen (Mercury Living Presence recording); Come-On-A-My-House by Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Schnitzer Orchestra (great vocals, lots of detail); Caravan by Jeff Goldblum and the same orchestra, same album; The Gentleman Is A Dope by Claire Martin (great jazz with a bass line that runs up and down the frets); Blue Motel Room by Claire Martin (A capella ensemble); Berne, Baby, Berne! by Hiromi Uehara (solo piano); La Nozze di Figaro, last scene of Act 2, Georg Solti conductor (operatic vocal ensemble with orchestra); Groovin' by Kenny Rankin; I Love Being Here With You by Diana Krall (live in Paris version); East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) by Diana Krall (live in Paris version); and Let Me Off Uptown by Cheryl Bentyne
I listened to these tracks with the GR1's (twice), Sennheiser 800's (twice; these are the original version not the "S"); and Sennheiser 650's (once).
The first impression that came to mind was the sound from the GR1's is "thick." There is an emphasis in the lower range which makes them sound fuller than the Senns. Bass is prominent, with lower bass violin, bass guitar and bass drum having more impact and standing out than both Senn cans. Voices are slightly recessed because of this emphasis in the lower registers.
The bass was especially noticeable with how the line walks up and down the scale on Claire Martin's "The Gentleman is a Dope," and the bass violin (i.e., upright bass) solos on the two Diana Krall tracks, both plucked and bowed.
Kenny Rankin's "Groovin" is kind of difficult because it was recorded to sound really lush and full. There's reverb that makes it even more lush. The GR1's had too much bass causing it to sound muddier compared to the Senns. The lush character of Rankin's voice was accentuated.
Brass instruments in the tracks still had a good sense of bite to them but a bit less of an edge through the GR1's and the same with the piano. The piano had a smoother tone to it which to me made it sound less live or in the room.
The fit/comfort of each set of cans made a difference as well. The Senn 650's get very uncomfortable because the headband is so tight. I can't wear them any extended length of time. The GR1's are much better though I wish the ear cups were larger so they enclosed my entire ear. The semi-closed nature of them made the music seem less airy and open. The Senn 800's are really comfortable. The ear pieces fully enclose my ear and I get a really nice sense of air when listening to stuff. I know these differences come from the construction of the ear pieces and not the music itself, but that's sort of like having different room treatments, except they are on the ears instead of in the room.
How do the three sets of cans compare? For me, the 800's are the best headphones I've ever listened to. They have excellent balance, a fine sense of airiness and are detailed from top to bottom. Everything sounds clean, clear and natural. They've been criticized for having a lack of bass but I think they are balanced. The visceral impact of bass and the detail is there, and it doesn't stand out but blends with the music.
The 650's have the same sound character as the 800's, perhaps slightly more forward in the mids but the bass is slightly more recessed and not as detailed as the 800's. Plus they get so uncomfortable.
The GR1's sound good but I prefer the Senns. If you like a fuller sound and more prominent bass, these would be good. They were up against stiff and more expensive competition (the 800's were $1,100 and the 650's $500).
I read Dyohn's excellent review and I'd say we differ in the following: I found the cord microphonic and he didn't; I thought they were more comfortable than he did; and he thought the mids were more recessed than I did. I've never heard Dr. Dre headphones and have no desire to, so I can't comment on that but yes, the GR1's do have prominent bass. The mid and high detail is there but affected by the lower range.
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LCSeminole
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Post by LCSeminole on Nov 7, 2020 18:50:26 GMT -5
It's interesting to hear the differences in what headphones are comfortable, as I personally can use the Sennheiser HD600/650's for long periods of time without fatigue. While I was hoping to be dissuaded from purchasing the GR1's, so far I'm still on the fence and the comments on the low end/bass aren't helping.
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Post by monkumonku on Nov 7, 2020 21:03:26 GMT -5
It's interesting to hear the differences in what headphones are comfortable, as I personally can use the Sennheiser HD600/650's for long periods of time without fatigue. While I was hoping to be dissuaded from purchasing the GR1's, so far I'm still on the fence and the comments on the low end/bass aren't helping. I must have a big head because the 650 just squeezes it to no end! The GR1's are definitely bottom-heavy, very visceral. But they don't obscure the higher frequencies. I've heard some headphones that had so much bass the whole thing was a muddy mess. These are not like that. You can still hear the details in the music.
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Post by bolle on Nov 10, 2020 2:27:06 GMT -5
Thank you for the detailled review Monkumonku! I already finde the Sennheiser HD600 and 650 kind of "full" or "warm/rich" sounding, so the GR1 definetely isn´t for me.
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Post by copperpipe on Nov 10, 2020 8:29:42 GMT -5
Thank you for the detailled review Monkumonku! I already finde the Sennheiser HD600 and 650 kind of "full" or "warm/rich" sounding, so the GR1 definetely isn´t for me. The "warm/rich" comments are somewhat confusing to me as well, because like you I find Sennheisers sound to be what is normally referred to as warm; rich and detailed midrange. Most people prefer a V equalizer, heavy on the bass and treble with a gutted midrange, and that was my preference too until I bought my first pair of Sennheisers and grew over time to really like the midrange presentation. I don't know how the GR1's can be warm but still have a midrange that is lacking. Clearly I missed the memo on how to describe house sounds!
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Post by brutiarti on Nov 10, 2020 10:11:11 GMT -5
Sennheiser= Warm Emotiva= Live with fuller sound because of the bass
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Post by david96 on Nov 10, 2020 18:16:30 GMT -5
Sennheiser= Warm Emotiva= Live with fuller sound because of the bass I would agree with this but dont want to pretend I am a reviewer at all. Just know that I am liking these a lot.
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