i just bought some ms1's - and im left wondering - wheres the soundstage? it leaves them sounding just like a slightly brighter and a fair bit more detailed padless ksc-35. while i love the detail and the balance of them - i dont find them bright at all - and i could not go back to my other cans now; it is annoying that there soundstage isnt much better than the ksc-35. if i put my ksc-35's at 0 and my hp890's at 10 for size of soundstage - the ms1's would probably get a 2 or a 3.

im using hole cut and reversed comfies, and im not using an amp. Is this just how grados sound, or would getting different pads (a big problem cause i live in australia), or getting an amp (not a big problem as im almost certainly building a meta after exams - unless you guys think i wouldnt benifit from this using the grados) help the soundstage at all?

also ive onyl had them for 24 hours, so they arent broken in yet - could this be a reason for the lack of soundstage?

one frustrated grado user

Sounds like they are underpowered, sounds like you need an amp.

i hope so - i need something to justify the cost of an amp
i would like to try other pads - but i think my chance of being able to find any in aus. is ZERO.

you could try the beer cooler trick, whereby pressure is taken off the rear of thear - that would put the driver at a more angled "angle" (for lack of a better term), and perhaps this will increase the soundstage. (although I haven't heard it).

trick #2 - put slight pressure on the very bottom of the transducer (into your jaw). see if the staging, and overall sound, changes.

While the MS-1s have less of a soundstage than the HD580s and AKG 501s (my bases for comparison), I don't think it should be that bad. I've used the bowl pads and vwap's modified pads. Certainly the bowl pads should provide more soundstage -- I think that it supposedly their main virtue. But you're using the comfies, which I have not tried. Maybe you should consider pickign up a pair of bowls.


Wallijohn -- Every since I read one of your message regarding the beer/soda cooler trick, I've been looking for one. I used to see them all the time, but now that I have my eye out there are none to be found.

beer-soda cooler? your not talking about a stubbie holder are you? if so then i know what your talking about... made outa neoprene - that stuff?

i would love to try some bowl pads - but as i said, chances of getting them in aus?

however im pretty sure its my source now. plugging them into my 10yr old cheap arse walkman and i now get a soundstage - makes a big difference to the sound - i had to double check i hadnt set my soundcard to mono on the pc

now i have to decide whether to build a meta and use it out of my fortissimo 3, or whether to buy an m-audio revolution and use the headphone out on that - but thats a whole 'nother thread

acs236,

MegaMeee is right. They can be found in $1 shops, WalMart, WalGreens, K-Mart, etc.

MegaMeee,

i think that i will be putting up 2 brand new bowl pads and 2 cloth covers for sale in the for sale section. Now that the SR80 resides in the Aiwa AK100, I find that I have no need for them.

I'm thinking of putting a circular piece inside the DT931 to see if the bass is increased. (like I did the AK100).