Worth tracking down Alessandro MS2i?

the ATH-M50's are like the polar opposite to Grados, IMO

 

To my ears, Alessandros are just Grados with better mids, but the highs and bass suffer with more fog.

 

Just get a par of Grado SR80i with G cush cups and call it a day, it's not worth it to track down and test out a headphone to see if you like it. Especially when you would go over to a fellow Head-fi's place to test them, I don't know of any store that sells grados let alone let's you test out Alessandros. This ain't bestbuy son'

I have no idea where you're from, but I have two places where I can test out SR80, SR125, and when they're not sold out, SR60 and SR225. My point is, there are places to demo Grados, but they're usually smaller shops or dedicated headphone shops.

I have yet to hear a SR325 though so I can't give any input on a tamer version of it. I'd say that from what I hear about the out of control highs of the 325 though, you may be better off with something like a 225 since it doesn't get the velocity of aluminum making the highs as exciting as they are. However, the MS2 may be the solution as well, but I don't know much of anything about the Alessandro line's sound sig. Or you could try to find a RS2 or a modded pair for sale as they will me much calmer (again, usually) and (for the most part) retain the grado sound.

you might find some information here

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/123457/ms-2-ms-2i-appreciation-thread/

If you still have the 325's wrap a piece of electrical tape around the outside flat circumference of the stock bowls and give it a listen.

 

Here is an article you might find interesting: Evaluation of Grado Stock and Modified Earpads

 

The jumbo's (G cush) are a very mixed bag IMO. They improve the soundstage but they seem like they kill the Grado energy.

 

The MS2i is a very nice headphone BTW, but I'd try the tape mod on your 325 first.

I find my dt990  brighter than my ms2i. Then again I love how both sound for different reasons. Lost love for my m50. The ms2i sounds krispy kreme

The fabric softener seems to work OK for a bit, then some of the roughness on the foam starts to re-appear.  Plus, if you are allergic to perfumes, you might want to look for a fabric softener that isn't scented.  The stuff they sell at Walmart has a scent in it.  I've been "buzzing" off of that spring fresh scent for about 2 months now.  

 

Oh, bye the way - just a bit off topic.  However, this evening I was in Home Depot to buy some accessories for headphone modding.  I purchased a can of spray paint and they had ask to see my ID.  Apparently, in my state - Virginia, they don't sell spray paint to people under the age of 18.  Not sure if this is a nationwide policy, yet.  First, the meth cookers ruined it for us with the Sudafed, now the graffiti artists and paint huffers have ruined it for those of us who want to buy spray paint for legitimate purposes.  What's a poor guy to do?  

The carding for paint and glue has been here for a long time. That's why I can't buy paint for anything myself, I have to send my dad on paint runs.

Aren't you using the goldies as your 325s Wayne? I'm pretty sure I've read more complaints about the highs in the SR325is than any prior version, just to point that out.

I have the 600ohm. Everything about it seems right except for the mids which the ms2i do great.
 

 

My MS2i is about 150 hours burnt in. The most obvious out-of-the-box feature of the MS2i vs. SR325i is the liquid, magical, fantastical mids and toned down highs. It's not so much as foggy for me, you still can listen to borderline shrill and piercing sounds on some tracks, but not as extereme as the SR325i.

 

I also notice a bigger soundstage, mildly so. I have read that aluminum housing grants headphones that sparkle and detail, which my BilaGrado SE-60i could not match (Plastic housing, 4 Hole vented, Blu Tak & Felt, Steel mesh, minor recable).

 

To be honest, MS2i does not stray away from that Grado sound, and to me the mids of MS2i (Guitars/Female Vocals/Synths) is just heavenly. The 325i was a bit too bright for me, more like SR60i (stock) on steroids, I have no idea how it fares after being burnt in.

 

My modded SR60i has ear tingling thumpy, ear-tingling bass, decent midrange, decent highs. It is so much fun for my mp3s. If I change it to woodie cups, liberate the drivers, It WILL sound better than my MS2i I'm positively sure .

Yes, that's correct.  I never found them to be horrible on the highs, though.  I currently have them for sale because I don't want to carve up an anniversary edition of Grados.  I did recently get a new cable and drivers installed by Grado, though.  The new drivers haven't had enough break-in time, yet, to make a true observation.  I guess if I were to spend a bit of time breaking them in properly, I could determine how Grado's drivers may have changed between now and 5 years ago.  However, when the "Goldies" were released, they were the "i" series - or, the front runners to the revised signature sound of the Grado SR series.

 

Your welcome. I tried it not to long ago when I first reaquired the 225 and liked the results. I was recently loaned a headphone for comparison purposes that came to me with taped bowls. So I've been experimenting with the sound of taped bowls versus untaped. I've heard of another mod for 325's  that involves removing a plastic ring inside the cups. All reports were very positive. wje could possibly better answer what that mod is and how to do it. Glad it worked for you though