How uncomfortable are grado's actually? - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by McNuggetsPie 

Are MS1 better than SR80i?

I've never heard an SR80i myself, but most people who have rate them as better. There are plenty of comparisons on the forum - try a search.  I'd be pretty confident in saying they're not any worse ...  

The MS1s are based on one of the lower-end Grado models (probably the SR80i given the price & cable thickness) but tuned to sound a bit more neutral. They still clearly sound like Grados though - the difference is pretty subtle, from my experience comparing them to some 325is.

I chose them over the lower-end Grados as it was cheaper to import them directly from Alessandro than buy a pair of SR60i locally!

Quote:

Originally Posted by McNuggetsPie 

Are MS1 better than SR80i?

MS1 is like a toned down grado which sound a bit more relaxing and smoother. It's still energetic however. The toned down grado sound makes it a better all rounder, but you won't get the amazing attack on the grado phones

I was really unhappy with the comfort of the SR60i when I first got it. I have a large head and low tolerance for uncomfortable things. However I liked the sound so I stuck with it, and I obsessively bend the headband over and over again to loosen it up. Now after a couple of weeks it fits well. I can wear it for hours without feeling pain. Getting some padding for the headband also helps.

I also washed the pads with shampoo. This eliminated the itchiness and scratchiness of the pads. It also made them softer and conform more easily to the shape of my ear.

I think you should get them, they're not comfortable but they can adapt. However you should be aware that these headphones are meant to be heard while sitting down. They don't stay put, and easily fall off if you bend forward.

Comfort is very individual. I find my HE-500 quite comfortable and not bothering at all, even though they weigh 0.5 kg, and are not know to be the most comfy

I really don't see why everyone's complaining about the comfort of Grados. I currently own the SR60, RS1i and GS1000. I had flats on the 60's until they wore out, and I now have senn 414 pads on them(both quarter modded). I found they sound about the same, but the flats felt more comfortable to me. My RS1i's have bowls on them, and the GS1000's have salad bowls, of course.

As far as on-ear phones go, I don't think Grados are any worse than a lot of the other options out there. And they are super light, which makes them great for long sessions. I can wear both my 60's and RS1's for 5 hrs+ listening sessions without issues. The Grado headbands are also quite easy to adjust in terms of clamping force.

The GS1000s frankly are among the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn, but they are very different from the SR/RS line in a lot of ways, of course.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McNuggetsPie 

Are they very tight? I didn't like the M50's comfort even after stretching them a lot.

I have a fairly large head and I find my SR 225i's to be the lightest, most comfortable pair I have (even more than the HD 580). It's certainly not tight, and not quite as clampy as the M50 or any closed headphone really.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McNuggetsPie 

I hear there are lots of mods for grados, but are there some to really improve the comfort?

I think it's already been mentioned above, but the simplest thing to do is to bend the headband until the earpads rest more comfortably on your ears. Grado even recommend this themselves . You can always bend it back you make them too loose ...

Other than that, buying a 3rd party padded headband and washing the pads in mild detergent worked for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McNuggetsPie 

If I buy SR225i should i buy G-Cush? And which pads are best for SR80i?

You should try the G-Cush and see if it's for you.

No, he shouldn't, they are 50 dollars and they will suck the mids and bass right out of the 225s and make them sound thin and fatiguing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by _nomad 

No, he shouldn't, they are 50 dollars and they will suck the mids and bass right out of the 225s and make them sound thin and fatiguing.

So, he shouldn't even TRY them to see if HE likes them before buying them or not?