Grado
May 26, 2006 at 6:29 PM Post #16 of 19
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7
325i highs shrill and grainy? Maybe with your set-up, not with mine. I do find the highs to be more prominent than with the HF-1's and not at all recessed, but "shrill" would suggest sibilance, and it's just not present. Not to mention more detail and clarity as well.


Well, I wouldn't argue with more detail and clarity than the HF-1s, but to me sibilance is probably the word I'm looking for. Maybe 200-300 hours will help. But with a Raptor or a HeadRoom Maxxed out home, I hear what I hear. What I hear is very harsh highs, so harsh that I really can't live them. Flats from Todd helped a little with the highs, but didn't help everything else.

Maybe I'm the only one who thinks so.
 
May 26, 2006 at 6:52 PM Post #17 of 19
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruppin
Well, I wouldn't argue with more detail and clarity than the HF-1s, but to me sibilance is probably the word I'm looking for. Maybe 200-300 hours will help. But with a Raptor or a HeadRoom Maxxed out home, I hear what I hear. What I hear is very harsh highs, so harsh that I really can't live them. Flats from Todd helped a little with the highs, but didn't help everything else.

Maybe I'm the only one who thinks so.



Absolutely not, there are probably more people on Head-Fi who would agree with you. Everyone hears differently, and if it's harsh to you with a Raptor, the two of us definitely hear differently. The guy I purchased my HR-2 from had just upgraded to the Raptor and said the HR-2 sounded to him like 90% of what the Raptor sounds like, if that makes any sense.
 
Jun 16, 2010 at 8:34 PM Post #18 of 19
Guys, you're in good company.  I ran Grados for a number of years, and always thought they leaned toward shrill side.  I did come upon a helpful tip a few years back, in which someone suggested adding a very thin foam pad underneath the stock bowl cushion.  This pad was from Radio Shack, and took a little finesse to stretch over the Grado driver.  Although, once it was in place, it really helped smooth out the harshness.  Another positive side effect was the impression of increased bass.  In my opinion, this provided the same dampening effect as listening to speakers in a carpeted room, as opposed to listening in a tiled basement.  Additionally, the mod significantly improved comfort.  I first added this tweak to my SR325i's, and then later to my RS-1's.  To sum it up, it was the best $2.99 I ever spent.
 
Jun 16, 2010 at 9:40 PM Post #19 of 19

 
Quote:
The highs being grainy sounds like a characteristic of Grados used with a Pa2v2 amp, which is listed in your profile. After having HD650's for 2 months, just for kicks, to hear what they'd sound like with an HR-2, I broke out my old MS-1's and I was shocked. Decent detail and no grain in the highs, surprisingly smooth and more enjoyable than the 650's to my ears. In the week and a half since, I bought the 325i's and sold the 650's. Reconverted to Grado, just like that, and satisfied.


The brain always changes how it hears and equalizes itself. I would not be surprised if you wear the Grados for one year and then next year the Sennheisers sound better. Your ears would get tired of the treble or bass if it hears it too much.
That's why I say, we should own many headphones 
darthsmile.gif

 
Anyways, for the OP, I recommend you to try AKG K701s. I had the EXACT problem you do with Grado. I definitely prefer the SR60 over the shrill SR325i. I tried the AKGs in a store, I bought them and have never considered another Grado again. AKG is a devil to drive but it just works so much better for me. It's more spacious, has better resolution, and slightly rolled back highs at the highest of highs. You should not buy an amp just for a Grado. Amps only improve a headphone but never change a lot of it's character. It's an amplifer, NOT an equalizer.
 

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