new headphones recommendation? grado gs3000e or…

I have found the Beyerdynamic T class headphones are really musical… which would be in line with your liking. They are a bit hard to drive but very intoxicatingly musical.

I own top of the line Focal, Sennheiser, Ultrasond, Denton, and Audez LCD2.. and a bunch more.

The others I would recommend thinking about is Focal. I love my Sennheiser 800… but I had to put over $10K of electronics behind them before I really felt they sounded great… they can be too trebly with a less than great signal. My headphone system is shown under my ID.

i like sparkling highs, textured mids, and tight bass (i hate excessive, boomy bass).

I’d highly recommend the Hifiman Arya Stealth.  If you can afford the HE1000SE, so much the better.  But, I think the Arya Stealths could get you there.  Best of luck. 

Thanks for all the feedback; hmmm, this is tough.

Makes sense to stick with Grados since I know I like them, but it'd also be fun to explore.

How about the Audeze LCD 4z?

Would it be considered a "step up" from the GS3000e?

I like how it's (relatively) easy to drive, because sometimes I like to sit on the couch with an iPad.

(Guess no electrostatics for me then, due to amplifier requirements.)

@cinnamonandgravy, for years I enjoyed my Grado RS1i headphones, and I still have them because they’re very musical and fun to listen to. Then two years ago when the pandemic started I got audio gear upgradeitis and bought a pair of Grado GS3000e hp’s and I loved their sound. But after demoing a pair of Focal Utopia’s, and I traded the GS3000e’s for them because the Utopia’s were really so much better sounding to my ears. Granted the Focal’s are twice the price of the Grado’s, but IMHO they sound like it. Both hp’s can be found used at good prices. 

Audeze ‘phones are great, but if you’re looking for “sparkling highs” they might not be the best fit. FWIW.