Well, I can tell you with 100% certainty that they will be used every day. I should know, I bought them. Was $2550 too much to pay? Certainly, yes; but that's not the point.
When I was 16 years old, I bought a pair of HP-1s with the reference cable from Vka. I met him in a subway station, handed him some $700 cash, and he gave me a cardboard box filled with some fantastic headphones. This was in 2000.
Fast forward to 2008: I'm in college and money is tight. I needed a car, so I sold the HP-1s. I even made a tidy profit. Before you ask, yes, there was a girl involved, and yes, it is the only decision I have ever regretted. As a rule, I don't have regrets. This is the exception to that rule.
So, here we are now in twenty eleven. A week ago, missing the HP-1s, I decided to buy a pair of Alessandro MSPros in the hopes that they would fill the emptiness in my soul. The MSPros are wonderful fantastic 'phones. They can do many things, but this, they cannot do.
So this week, I had a chance to buy HP-2s for around $2k, but I offered ~$100 too little and they were gone in a flash. This time, I was going to have them. My top bid was $2559.83. If the other guy were willing to pay $10 more, they would be his. Until the last 3 seconds, I thought they would be mine for 'only' $2150. In time, that other person will find his phones, and he will probably pay less than I did.
As I understand it, my chief competitor is in the UAE. Presumably, that person is in a much better position financially to afford these phones than some grad student slave like me; but, I wanted these HP-2s, and I am willing to work as hard and as much as necessary to have them. At first I was weary about placing such a high bid, but there was a girl involved this time too. She said go for it. I am forging the ring myself (A Platinum/Iridium/Ruthenium Alloy of 10%, 88%, and 2% respectively.)
In conclusion, I am very excited to soon have the HP-1000 sound available when I want. I ask kindly that you refrain from criticizing the high price I paid, and instead be happy that I finally have what I am looking for. I preferred these even when compared with a Magico M6/Halcro setup and a Rockport Arrakis/Boulder setup. For me, there is no better sound, I can't even imagine such a thing. If it turns out they aren't as good as I remember, I can always sell them, and if I have to take a loss so be it; but I would not have paid that price if I weren't already so familiar with them.
The most likely ending is that I'll love them as always, and I'm never getting rid of them until I die. If the lettering wears off, that's OK. If it really bothers me, I'll get into the silk screening business. But I will never make the mistake of losing them ever again.
Thanks for sharing the story mate! If ever there was a worthy winner in a bidding war, it would be you.
As you already know, these are fantastic headphones and they are made to be listened to. I am glad that you are not one that would put the headphones in a display cabinet (I haven't gone that far myself
All the more power to you man, if anything you should be glad that the HP-1000 is exactly what you want,
enough time has passed in your life to confirm that this is an endless audio love affair for you and those drivers,
you're not going to stop loving them all of a sudden.
Sadly, an affliction which affects many on here who suffer from 'upgrade-itis extremus'!
Loved today, gone tomorrow. You've gone the distance instead.
Here's a pair of Grado SR300 with HP1000 drivers that was sold for $550 two weeks ago to ebay user chichichichia that was trying to sell a pair of SR200 with HP1000 for $1300 on ebay months back. LMAO
Voyager,
No one is critisizing you for paying a high price. If anything, this price will whet the appetite for any HP2 owners contemplating selling theirs.
The guy that's selling the SR300s is most likely the same guy that bought those SR300 two weeks earlier. Both located in LA but with different ebay account. $800 for mint HP-1. I should say almost mint except for that partially rubbed off '+' sign on the left cup.Some lucky guy bought them. http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/212780-consignmentjoseph_gradosignature_hp1000/
$2800...wow good time to sell them but not on head-fi though.
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