Over-Ear
Grado PS2000e
84Great
$1900
Full review dataGrado PS2000e vs ZMF Tessidera: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the ZMF Tessidera comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: ZMF Tessidera - Outstanding overall at around $2500.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Grado PS2000e
Sound9.0
Value5.0
ZMF Tessidera
Sound9.2
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Grado PS2000e | ZMF Tessidera |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $1900 | $2500 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2017 | 2026 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | Planar magnetic with 1-micron diaphragm |
| Driver size | 50 mm | 80 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-50kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 99.8 dB/mW | 92 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| Controls | none | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 530 g | 570 g |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | - |
What reviewers said
Grado PS2000e
The Grado PS2000e is a premium open-back flagship that delivers exceptionally dynamic, natural sound with impressive detail, making it a strong choice for critical listening with quality amplification. Its handcrafted build and engaging tuning stand out, but the high price, significant sound leakage, and unconventional design limit its appeal to a niche audience. It requires capable partnering gear to shine and may expose noise in lesser systems.
- Pro:Excellent dynamics and natural, refined sound
- Pro:Handcrafted build quality with premium materials
- Pro:Easy to drive despite needing good source gear
- Con:Very high price limits accessibility
- Con:Significant sound leakage due to open-back design
- Con:Fixed, non-replaceable cable is a practical drawback
ZMF Tessidera
The Tessidera is a premium open-back planar headphone that channels ZMF's signature warm, musical tuning into a planar driver format. It delivers a smooth, full-bodied sound with particularly rich vocals and natural timbre, all while being relatively easy to drive for a high-end model. The build is solid overall, though the stock grill finish shows minor cosmetic imperfections.
- Pro:Smooth, full-bodied tuning with rich vocals
- Pro:Excellent timbre and natural instrument reproduction
- Pro:Relatively easy to drive despite large 80mm drivers
- Con:Mid-forward balance can vary with amplifier pairing
- Con:Minor cosmetic roughness on the stock grill
- Con:Heavy at 570g, requiring a sturdy headphone stand
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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