www.stereophile.com/content/recommended-components-2024-edition-headphones-headphone-accessories

Really?

...no Grado? Audio Technica? Beyerdynamic?  Fostex?  AKG? etc etc.

Can't spot the criteria for recommendations - only items they've reviewed in the last year?

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

Grado haven't advertised with any media in decades and probably don't feel the need to engage with the legacy press.

Some eye watering prices for high end phones now so temptation is easily avoided.

Every product listed here has been reviewed in Stereophile.

•Stereophile's Recommended Components list is concerned mainly with products available in the US through hi-fi retail outlet

•This listing was compiled after consultation with Stereophile's reviewing staff and editors—including, notably, Technical Editor John Atkinson.
Our ratings take into account what we heard during the review period but also our continued experience with the product (if we've had any) since the review was published.
Post-review experiences may cause a product to be downgraded or removed—or upgraded.

•Recommendations, then, are most useful to those who share, or at least are aware of, reviewers' tastes and proclivities and the reviewing context.

•The best use of this list, and of the reviews from which it is derived, is to help you decide what to audition.

Good luck finding a reasonable selection of headphones to audition at your local shop.
A2A seemed to have cornered a big chunk of the NZ market and some brands reach has shriveled. I don't know what stock the Auckland A2A shop carries but almost everything I've ordered has come from Melbourne including everyday items like Grado earpads.

I can understand the non reviews of Audio Technica items as the wooden series were originally designated for the Japanese home market. The four sets I've owned I had to chase down in Japan or Hong Kong.

Don't know about their new store but AV World had a very good selection of headphones in store.

Some brands they sell Meze, Dan Clark, Meze, Sennheiser, Audio Technica, Denon, Koss. I don't see any Audeze anymore.

It seems Audeze,like Grado is all tied up with A2A now. Bit sad as Grado phones were everywhere at one time.
I got my SR60, 225 and RS1 from Colin Walkington in Ingill and when he closed used to get replacement pads from Totally Wired in Dunedin.
I think NZ Audio in CHCH was the importer then.
Purchased the GR8s from The Listening Post in chch so they had a good spread around dealers at one time.
I've only ever managed to audition two headphones before purchase, the SR60 and a Sennheiser HD650 which a generous forum member loaned me.
Not a particularly strong result for the approximately twenty phones I've owned.

I've bought all mine secondhand bar half a dozen or so IEMs.

Never auditioned any beforehand!

Upgrading based on brand sound signature, reviews or friend's similar models eg Grado SR60s to SR80 to RS2 to RS1i. LCD 3s based roughly on LCD 2. Usually works out.

Mar 17, 2024 7:15:30 GMT 12 cooksferry said:

Good luck finding a reasonable selection of headphones to audition at ....

Of course, we very cunning, grateful mateys in the south had an aficionado's carefully curated stable of h/phones and h/amps to audition.

...in a delightful music room, located in the leafy suburb of Richmond in InverVegas.

(and if your were an 'every good boy' your 'deserved favour' was some liquid enhancement to assist musical enlightenment). 

Ever thankful to you Mr C @ Casa Cooksferry 

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

Appreciate the feedback F. Unfortunately unwarranted now as both the headphone and music collections have shrunk.
Look forward to a catch-up when you return and a couple of new items to try.
Always good to get trusted feedback.
Hope you're enjoying the heat and sun.😄