All Grado headphones sound similar. Of course the more expensive in the line you go, the more “refined” the sound is. Yeah, if I couldn’t justify the GS 1000’s for studio use, I wouldn’t rush out and get them either. I know it’s hard to find a store where you can actually audition headphones anymore; but at Grado’s prices, I wouldn’t purchase them without giving them a thorough audition first.