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Grado RS1 and RA1 pick up!
Jan 2, 2011 at 8:56 AM Post #46 of 104
Flat pads decrease the distance between your ears and the driver. Another reasoning is a flat cushions rest more flush against your ears because of its flat surface as opposed to bowl pads that have a "rim". Consequently, flat pads always drive a more forward or "front seat" sound. It is very unusually if you're getting less bass because that means you're getting less isolation. 
 
Jan 2, 2011 at 9:00 AM Post #47 of 104
I think it might have been because I reversed it so the pads had an almost concave shape rather than sitting flat like the default comfies. I'll play around with it tomorrow.
 
Jan 2, 2011 at 5:13 PM Post #49 of 104


Quote:
brianmendoza said:
UPDATE:
 
I don't know if this helps to solve the vagueness of the year/version of my RS1's but the chord ends with a 1/4 jack, and has a separate adaptor for 1/8 jacks. I just saw a picture of a pair of Grados that had a 1/8 jack as its standard jack, probably vice versa of my pair, as far as the separate/spare jack adapter. 
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The pizza box that comes with your RS1 indicates that the phones were made at the end of 2001 or after. All RS1 come with 1/4 jack. What you saw was one of the prestige series Grados with a 1/8 jack.
As for ear pads. I like flats on RS1 (and SR325). You can only get them from TTVJ. Give them a try. I did and never went back to bowls. 
Congrats!
 
*Just read all the replies about the box. Sorry about the repeated info.*
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Jan 2, 2011 at 6:05 PM Post #50 of 104
The same could not be said for me. Flats are horrible, there I said it. The grado sound is only from bowls imo. What is it that some people find good about flats other than comfort? Midbass galore? Collapsed soundstage?
 
Quote:
pcf said:
As for ear pads. I like flats on RS1 (and SR325). You can only get them from TTVJ. Give them a try. I did and never went back to bowls. 
 
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UM3X sounds a little like RS1 with flats but not really alike.
 
Jan 2, 2011 at 7:21 PM Post #51 of 104


Quote:
kite7 said:
The same could not be said for me. Flats are horrible, there I said it. The grado sound is only from bowls imo. What is it that some people find good about flats other than comfort? Midbass galore? Collapsed soundstage?
 
Quote:
pcf said:
As for ear pads. I like flats on RS1 (and SR325). You can only get them from TTVJ. Give them a try. I did and never went back to bowls. 
 
Click to expand...


UM3X sounds a little like RS1 with flats but not really alike.
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To each his own. There are too many flats vs bowls discussions here already and if you are happy with bowls with Grados, enjoy it!
Here's someone else's take on the matter:
[size=x-small][size=small]"Flat pads were a marvel of modern science when they were first introduced into the audio industry. Created partially from the hidden remains of the extinct wooly mammoth, the Grado flat pads have remained unchanged in their audible superiority over all other Grado pads to ever have been introduced. Grado flat pads work through submolecular friction caused by bacterial organisms grown within the foam itself, feeding off the wooly mammoth remains. The heat caused by this friction crates ruptures in the audio signal similar to the distortion tubes cause that the people here seem to love and enjoy. These distortions create a warmer and slightly more dynamic sound, but its distorting nature unfortunately heavily hinders the soundstage since there are simply too many disruptions in the signal for the brain to tell where the audio signal is coming from.
John Grado stopped selling the flat pads when he realized the poor ethics in distributing the remains of ancient creatures just for the benefit of a few thousand audiophiles. He then created the bowl pad out of basic foam materials and the husks of genetically enlarged beetles. What this created was a much brighter presentation with no disturbances, hence a better soundstage.
I am a big fan of the wooly mammoth, so when Todd Green was able to score 650 flat pads from John Grado (I guess they unearthed a new mammoth at the dig site), I simply couldn't resist. I spend most of my day smelling and caressing my flat pads just to get a feel of what the early cavemen were able to enjoy everyday."
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Jan 2, 2011 at 10:07 PM Post #52 of 104
Damn, I just tried calling local audio stores in San Diego, and had no luck finding replacement pads. So I'm just going to have to wait until my order from ttvj comes in. A store, 30 minutes away, had a pair of S cushions but I didn't feel like driving out in the rain for 'em.
 
I guess I'm gunna have to live with my makeshift setup for a couple days.
 
Jan 2, 2011 at 10:11 PM Post #53 of 104
this post made me search for grado on my local craigslist... :p
 
Jan 2, 2011 at 10:16 PM Post #54 of 104
Quote:
buffalowings said:
this post made me search for grado on my local craigslist... :p
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Haha! I know man. It's become a bad addiction of mine to just continuously search Craigslist. Everything from speakers, headphones, plasmas, etc. I still haven't got a hold on an iPad. That's my current obsession.
 
Jan 2, 2011 at 10:28 PM Post #55 of 104
I need to get those kind of deals. Great find OP! That's a heck of a deal you got. The total price you paid along with the RA1 would have been a steal for the RS1 alone. Enjoy those RS1 and RA1 :)
 
Jan 2, 2011 at 11:03 PM Post #56 of 104
Thanks man! and I definitely will. I've been auditioning 'em all day. I find myself looking for vintage rock/folk to run through em because it sounds so great! I've also played a lot of electronica/dance through them and they definitely still sound great, but for some reason I keep going to bands like Band of Horses and Black Keys.
 
Jan 2, 2011 at 11:39 PM Post #57 of 104
I put my quarter modded HD414 pads on the normal way (ie thinner, flat side and quarter modded hole on the inside) and it did bring the bass back. The bass may be a tad more distinct than with comfies. There's certainly no denying the more forward sound. The TTVJ flats may be the go for you OP if it achieves the same results.
 
Quote:
rockcity said:
Flat pads decrease the distance between your ears and the driver. Another reasoning is a flat cushions rest more flush against your ears because of its flat surface as opposed to bowl pads that have a "rim". Consequently, flat pads always drive a more forward or "front seat" sound. It is very unusually if you're getting less bass because that means you're getting less isolation. 
Click to expand...

 
Quote:
olor1n said:
I think it might have been because I reversed it so the pads had an almost concave shape rather than sitting flat like the default comfies. I'll play around with it tomorrow.
Click to expand...

 
Jan 3, 2011 at 3:30 AM Post #58 of 104
Man. I just got done listening to Dave Brubeck's album, 1954-1966, through my RA1+RS1 setup and the music had me so engaged that I can't help but be in great mood! The first song on the album is, Take Five, one of Dave's biggest hits and I've never heard it like that before. I almost feel like I got a chance to step into the studio with him and give it a live listen. Everything was so life-like, I really feel as if I just got back from a show.
 
Jazz fan or not, this is something that has to be heard at least once in one's life.
 
Anyone got any suggestions? I'm in the mood to download some new artists and albums and run 'em through these cans!
 
Jan 3, 2011 at 4:23 AM Post #60 of 104
Quote:
mrspenkelink said:
^ With the great Joe Morello on drums. With your luck I'd be taking a lottery ticket. You just never know... 
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Yeh man! Speaking of great drummers, right now I've got on: The Best of Buddy Rich: The Pacific Jazz Years. I've been trying all night to get Giant Steps by John Coltrane but no luck.
 
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