Skylabs interview with John Chen of Grado Labs!

It's was such a thrill to sit down and chat with John Chen, National Sales Director at Grado Labs. We cover a ton of stuff and answer some of your questions!
Check out gradolabs.com to see some of the best headphones and phono cartridges available today.
Check out our online store at skylabsaudio.com/shop. We really hope you enjoy our first interview!
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#vintageaudio #vinylrecords #grado

[@sstfairstar]

I met Mr Chen at the Grado booth at the Socal CanJam in 2019 , Really nice guy informative with a great patience he took the time to describe me the difference of grand pianos Glenn Gould was playing on .Sad to hear Grado is not attending the CanJam anymore I think Mr. Chen should write a book . Great info

[@thomasdix8453]

Great interview; thank you and thanks to John Chen!

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks for listening

[@tomday7309]

Thanks again, Kevin. Mr Chen was very refreshing as someone who knows boatloads of technical info and can help the "unlearned" like me understand it enough to make sense. Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I could listen to him over a few beers for hours. I was especially touched by his life story and being around music as a child all the time. My mom could have had a full ride at Julliard as a vocalist after high school in the 1940's, but married my dad instead. She would sing with the classic opera records she played on our Magnavox hi-fi all the time when I was growing up. Her hero was Mario Lanza. Look him up kids.

[@chadhenkels4861]

Great interview. I honestly didn't think I was going to listen to whole thing but I was immediately hooked. "Don't get caught up the weeds" is great advice. I've been guilty of it. It is so easy to do with hi-fi. You did really well for having never done an interview. You definitely picked the right guest, very knowledgeable and genuine guy. Thank you Kevin! Looking forward to more interviews down the road.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kevincooney502]

Kevin, that was a fantastic interview. John much like you has a refreshing outlook on hi-fi. Learn a lot from his common-sense ideas on audio. Thanks so much for your efforts with the channel!! Keep it up. Wish you were closer to me I’d be a loyal customer. Thx again.

[@skylabsaudio]

Much appreciated!

[@AngelGonzalez-hc4zw]

Nothing like finding that treasure original pressing album at one of those antique stores or thrift shop. Maybe one I thought I would never find and then from that moment in the store til I get to my turntable, there is an excitement that Mr. Chen is talking about. Thanks Kevin, for bringing Mr. Chen on your show.

[@user-uj7on9yh5i]

FANTASTIC interview. Keep it up!!!!

[@hippydippy]

What a cool, humble & honest man. Great Interview!

[@bobtowncarguy82]

John is 100% right, I hope the cost of records doesn't go through the roof. I am 41, and I didn't grow up in the Era of vynl records. I have been getting into this hobby more and more lately and collecting records. It's really fun and I love the album art as well as the music.

[@bobkoep2846]

Kevin, thanks for taking the time to do this interview and vid. Don't be concerned about being a professional interviewer (I don't trust them anyway!) You did great. You asked questions that most of us would have asked. Do more! This is kind of a lonely hobby. We don't have a bunch of people around us that 'get it'. They like it, that all say "wow" but they don't really get it. We need this type of 'boots on the ground' insight. Getting the folks who made or were part of the companies that made our gear is an historical treasure to us! Press on! Bob K. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

[@skylabsaudio]

Really appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@zenfishbike]

After hearing John I'll buy a Grado in the future. Thanks for having him on

[@yagersgarage8170]

Another great video ! Well done , thanks for taking the time to bring this to us , great insight to the industry/hobby we love !

[@skylabsaudio]

Much appreciated!

[@JG0929]

A great interviewee and an equally great interviewer. I have run out of your videos to watch and this was literally one of the last ones available. I thought it would not interest me in the least but it was great. Your conversational interviewing is really easy to listen to and not filled with minor annoyances that can drive a listener crazy. I learn some new things each time I listen. Really love these interviews with folks you deal with. I almost felt bad listening him to try to justify the reason for a $12,000 cartridge. Lol. The question was a reasonable one and did not feel like a landmine. He tried so hard to tow the company line but the excuse of hand winding flux capacitors in the Jedi temple using khyber crystals and “aged rubber” felt like it was so outrageous it was hard (even for a company rep) to justify. Just say it’s marketing man… there are dentists and hedge fund managers that are happy to pay it - it’s not for you. Nothin’ but love for Skylabs!

[@patmeadows4759]

Great interview Kevin. You are a natural!! So is John Chen.....refreshing attitude (both of you) I have 3 Grado Cartridges going (7 turntables - 6 vintage - all restored) and a Technics SL1200 MK 7 as the latest and greatest addition. I currently use Grado Prestige Black, Green and Blue. Excellent sounding. Highly recommended. I go way back to Grado cartridges in the 1970's. Grado is a great American success story. (I'm Canadian) Grado has always been true to their roots!! Keep up the great KZbin channel.

[@johnsampson1096]

Good interview. In the mid seventies I had a Thorens TD124 with a mounted Grado tone arm. I had installed a budget Micro Acoustics 2000e cartridge, and boy, what sound! I let the turntable go around 2001, and have been kicking myself since! Old Shep by Elvis was a cut I really enjoyed on it.............

[@ChadCruzen]

That was a really cool interview and I really appreciate John's stance and advice of just try to enjoy it. Great job and love what you're doing with the channel.

[@26Jorgeb]

Great interview! Thanks for the very informative and entertaining video.

[@skylabsaudio]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DethFromAbove1985]

In regards to DQ-10s. It makes sense to me as a rock speaker to me because when you have cymbals crashing and layers upon layers of guitars it should be a good thing to divide up the frequeny range a little more. Therefore giving each driver a little less work to do.

[@thechannel6363]

I've owned a Grade G2+ on my Denon DP-52F turntable since 1982. It was highly recommended from the shop in San Francisco. I recall that it was a significant cost to the overall total of the turntable. Worth it! Replaced the stylus once or twice over the years... but both turntable and stylus have always worked and sounded great to this day!

[@JonPaul]

It was a fun listen. I didn't know about Saul and the "Debacle around the 10B" which caused financial ruin? I also appreciated that after John complained about the price of hearing aids vs the cost of the hardware, that you (Kevin) had the balls to ask him about his $10K cartridges, and then he went on forever about little details to justify that cost. I enjoyed, and you both said "don't get caught up in the weeds" (of the hardware) - that is important, thanks for that.

[@bshingledecker]

I was wondering about that myself. The 10B was what put them on the map so to speak.

[@JeffN-A]

Fantastic! What a down to earth guy! This was a real interesting video. I'll be watching and listening again. Thank you Kevin

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you, Jeff!

[@tomiossi8092]

Kevin/John, I echo Mr.Dix. Really appreciated your insights and expertise. Some above my head but that’s how we learn, right?

[@mladenbasic1]

Thanks for asking the hard questions like what makes the cartridge worth $10,000. Very honest interview. Wrangle up some more of these. Watched it top to bottom.

[@jayyoung5423]

Most informative Kevin, what a great interview!

[@there_is_nothing_here]

wow, what a great dude and a good interview!

[@dwyntsch]

Kevin! Great interview. John Chen is my new Hero! I have watched the video several times, am completely amazed. Loved the "Friend offered stupid money for my speakers", also the Head Response Transfer Function. I will contact you soon, my little Brother and I are going to make a road trip to visit your store some Saturday. I may have something for you! Get a good Amp, a good turntable, some records and ENJOY. Thanks again.

[@skylabsaudio]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hjalmarfossi5728]

Definitely gonna be a fun one

[@jim010109]

I didn't get a chance to watch this interview until tonight. This was a awesome interview. I'm not a big vinyl guy, but I learned a lot. It was very enjoyable to listen to Mr Chen. I have noticed that there is so many people saying stop chasing the shiny toys. Enjoy what you have, it thas taken me years to learn that. Great advice.

[@jamesminotto8036]

I actually was able to speak with John before I purchased my Grado Platinum 3 for my Technics SL 1250. Awesome interview.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you! John is a great guy

[@davidkoslek9372]

Awesome interview 👏 absolutely love the conversation. Thank you!!

[@skylabsaudio]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bradbrown3073]

Always love to listen to the wisdom of experience ….and cut thru all the weeds.

[@Rheasound]

Price keep going because the refinement still going up. More accurate cart, more precise Equipment, requiere better pressing. Great interview. As a Grado fan I could be biased but Grado are great carts, you just need how to fine-tune them.

[@hjalmarfossi5728]

defiantly gonna be a fun one

[@kristonpohlman2685]

Sum-Bitch 8 mins in Im Blown away!!! Unbelievable all that music that was made and listen too. Super cool!!!

[@skylabsaudio]

Smokie and the Bandit FTW :)

[@louiesipes2257]

Outstanding interview! 👍👍👍

[@skylabsaudio]

Much appreciated!

[@jeffm1896]

Great stuff! Well done, Kevin! Two salt of the earth people chewing the fat over something they honestly love.

[@frankflores3948]

Love Grado!!!! I own two headphones of theirs (Reference RS1 and Prestige SR325)!!! Plus a couple of their headphone stands.

[@robertdentel1775]

You have a bright future as an interviewer.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you, Bob!

[@bobgoldesberry7740]

I have a theory on young folks and music regardless of media. I think a lot of music has become processed and repetitive they have discovered the sound of the older music is a fresh sound for them. I hear it all the time selling vinyl at flea markets and pop up sales. They are buying music from the 50s 60s 70s and 80s. Some of the kids are teenagers but most are early 20s that have started to get disposable income. I think that alone will continue the trend.

[@hifitommy]

a lot of great points made here but you are rooted in the vintage receiver camp and can't see out. there are definitely audibel reasons to go with high end, especially used. separates or at least integrated amps result in much better sound than most receivers. one can go down the rabbit hole of used receivers and easily get burned but getting separates allows for significant incremental gains. a used audio research tube preamp will open your ears upon first listen in your system. ss power is just fine when using a tube front end. costlier cartridges such as MCs like the ortofon cadenza black will again reward your ears, decent preamps are much easier to access at decent prices these days but going further can also result in your thinking to yourself (after hearing it in your own system)...DAMN, I should have done this long ago. and I have nothing against moving iron as my all time favorite is the original ADC XLM, and I have had Grados that I loved like the F1+ and 8M! but then I bought a used ortofon MC200 and T20 SUT and I was hooked. i still use a NOS low end Grado that was $15 when new on my

[@aa5az423]

I’ve got a Technics SL-B2. Bought it two years ago and cleaned on it for a couple of weeks and then took it to the local shop (Audio Advice in Raleigh) and had them install a Grado Black and align everything. The Black is great advice for those 40 year old tables. Coming via UPS today is my first modern table, a MoFi Ultradeck with the Ultra Tracker cartridge. That’s the low end MoFi cartridge, but supposedly a huge jump over the Grado Black. I’m going to live with that cartridge for a while, but I’m interested in what would be an appropriate Grado upgrade from the Ultra Tracker. Not incremental, but a serious upgrade, in the $1,000 budget? MC or MM?

[@stuart4819]

Was wondering if grado makes a p- mount mm cartridge?????

[@jbvinyl]

Just watched great video, have a few grado carts and 325 headphones.I wish I could have asked the question about why my sonata cart causes a hum on certain turntables and not others and is there a fix. Maybe you might know the answer I would appreciate it.

[@skylabsaudio]

Unfortunately, I do not. Send Grado a message. I bet they would be happy to help with any of your questions. Thanks

[@bevo65]

Kevin: "I've never done an interview before." Everyone:

[@RoaroftheTiger]

btw - Electro Voice Patrician Speakers had 30 inch Woofers !

[@JonPaul]

They did? Wow. LOL, so that's what his dad had. Dayum.

[@skylabsaudio]

I would have asked about that, had I had known... :(

[@lobstame]

What network interviews used to be like. Just asking the questions the viewers would like to know without being pretentious. Thanks to both of you, much appreciated these days.

[@joedeegan3870]

When I got into audio Marantz and McIntosh werer the most expensive amps, Klipsch JBL,and ElectroVoice were the most expensive speakers. When the High end scam came along, they all had to inflate thier prices to be credible. It was all bunk..

[@user-du1yk7uk9v]

Seeing and listening to MrChen you can feel as a classical environment is WAY more evolute than dumb rock n'roll or any other so called "modern" (read DE-EVOLUTE) music.