Grado PS500 Recensie | 93 Gegevens vergelijking

The Grado PS500 is an open-backed, on-ear headphone designed primarily for home use due to its thick cable, 6.3mm jack, and propensity to leak a substantial amount of sound. It features a stripped-back, no-nonsense aesthetic with an adjustable headband and swivel foam-padded earcups that fit snugly without feeling overly tight. In terms of performance, the headphones deliver an exceptionally open, airy, and spacious soundstage where individual instruments remain clear and distinct. However, they are highly critical of source quality, meaning they show up flaws in low-resolution or streamed files and require pairing with high-quality equipment and at least CD-quality music to sound their best. The review highlights several core strengths and weaknesses regarding their build and sonic character. The notable pros include an open and informative presentation, excellent timing with agile beat transitions, a determined, punchy bassline, and a highly entertaining, fun-sounding energy. Conversely, the cons focus on a build that is not particularly luxurious, a tendency to leak massive amounts of audio to anyone nearby, and a slight lack of ultimate sonic refinement and precision when compared to key...

In the Head-Fi review, the Grado PS500 is praised as a versatile, high-value, all-rounder featuring balanced tonality, impressive sonic detail, and superior instrument separation. It is noted for its ability to deliver an engaging, neutral sound profile that rivals more expensive, higher-end headphones, boasting a wider soundstage than the RS1i. Conversely, the review identifies limitations, including a noticeable sub-bass roll-off and a lower-mid/upper-bass emphasis that can create an unbalanced, forward sound. Despite being praised for its space, the PS500's soundstage is described as falling short of the depth and openness found in the flagship GS1000i and PS1000 models. Head-Fi.

The Headfonia review notes the Grado PS500 offers a significant departure from traditional, treble-heavy Grado models by providing improved, articulated bass and a versatile, textured sound profile suitable for various genres. Pros include this enhanced sonic balance and ease of driving directly from portable sources. Conversely, the review highlights drawbacks, including a very intimate soundstage and a utilitarian on-ear design that causes discomfort during long listening sessions. Additionally, the aesthetic is considered unappealing and it lacks a 3.5mm adapter in the box.

The Hi-Fi Choice review of the Grado PS500 (£700) highlights a magnificent, detailed audio performance with a sweet treble and a generous bass that rivals higher-end models, utilizing premium components like rare-earth magnets and specialized cables to minimize noise. These low-impedance, versatile headphones excel at revealing hidden musical details and are easy to drive, delivering near-flagship sound quality, say reviewers. Conversely, the review identifies significant comfort issues stemming from a hard headband and Grado's signature on-ear fit, which may deter some users. Additionally, while satisfyingly deep, the bass can sometimes be perceived as slightly colored rather than entirely neutral, depending on the amplification, note experts.

In his review, George Walker Petit praises the Grado Labs PS500 open-back headphones as an exceptional offering within the company's "Professional Series". Priced at a retail MSRP of $600, Petit notes that these American-made headphones deliver performance that easily rivals competitor models costing up to $1,200. Designed with a vented diaphragm, a hybrid air chamber, and a multi-wire copper cable, the headphones utilize a unique "sandwich design" featuring aluminum shells over a mahogany motor enclosure to significantly dampen vibrations. The reviewer found the sound profile to be magnificent, presenting un-hyped bass and superb clarity across genres like classical, jazz, and rock. The primary advantages (pros) of the PS500 include an extremely accurate and non-fatiguing high end, an unhyped and tight low-end response, and a lightweight construction that remains comfortable during extended mixing and editing sessions. On the downside, the potential drawbacks (cons) stem from their "on-ear" (supra-aural) design rather than an over-ear fit, which initially takes some getting used to. Additionally, while they offer top-tier performance for their price bracket, they still do not quite match the ultimate audio transparency...

The Headfonics review highlights the Grado PS500 as an accessible, high-performance entry into the Professional Series, offering a detailed, rich, and balanced sound with smooth treble, deep bass, and 32-ohm efficiency that drives well from portable players. Pros include superior sound quality and comfort over traditional, bright Grado designs. Conversely, cons focus on the utilitarian design, featuring on-ear pads that cause fatigue, a non-detachable cable, and an open-back nature unsuited for noisy environments.

The Headfonia review characterizes the Grado PS500 as a departure from the brand's aggressive sound, offering a smoother, full-bodied, and mature audio profile with an organic midrange and impactful bass. Utilizing a hybrid mahogany wood and aluminum design, the 32-Ohm headphones are versatile and easy to drive, delivering a balanced sound without the fatiguing treble often associated with older models. Conversely, the review notes that the soundstage is relatively intimate, and the painted aluminum cups look less premium than other models. Comfort is a concern, with the on-ear L-Cush pads causing fatigue over long sessions, while the heavy-duty cable is cumbersome and the open-back design offers no sound isolation.

The Grado Professional Series PS500 headphones are recognized for offering a balanced, energetic sound with fast, forward treble and intimate mids, driven by a 32-ohm impedance that makes them easy to use with portable devices. Key strengths include high-fidelity performance, detailed sound reproduction, and a satisfying physical impact on drums and vocals. However, the PS500 faces criticism regarding long-term comfort, as the stock foam ear pads can cause pressure, alongside a utilitarian design with non-folding, basic headbands. While excelling with live recordings, they can be unforgiving with poorly mixed music and feature a relatively narrow soundstage.

The Grado PS500 on-ear headphones deliver exceptional, highly detailed sound across all musical genres, mimicking the performance of the brand's top-tier £1,700 models at a third of the cost. Built with a handcrafted mahogany inner sleeve and an aluminum outer housing to eliminate distortion, these 32-Ohm headphones are easily powered by portable media players. Pros include an expansive dynamic range, breathtaking clarity from deep bass to delicate treble, and a highly comfortable design featuring 360-degree swiveling earcups and a padded headband. However, the headphones have a few notable drawbacks that limit their versatility. Cons include an open-back driver design that leaks sound heavily, making them entirely unsuitable for crowded public transit or commuting. They also require a 3.5mm to 1/4-inch stereo jack adapter for standard MP3 player use and will distort at maximum volumes if driven by a weak internal amplifier like an iPhone's. Priced at £630, they represent a significant investment but offer unmatched, studio-grade audio quality for home listening.