Grado SR225e owner: SR325e vs PS500e vs RS2e - which way to upgrade?

smy1 said:

  i mean as a passenger. i wanted something for $100 for outdoor use like listening them in the car or when on the bus

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Being that they don't have any isolation, they aren't great for public spaces. In addition to hearing everything, you'll also be sharing with your neighbors. Better off with a closed can, or even an IEM.

smy1 said:

  i mean as a passenger. i wanted something for $100 for outdoor use like listening them in the car or when on the bus

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I don't think any Grado will be great used outdoors unless your surroundings are fairly quite, on the bus you will hear all the noise around you and unless you turn the volume up to high levels you will not hear the music much.

I think I have found a description of what I hope to achieve from my next headphones.
   
The old clichés of being able to hear the scrape of the pick on a guitar string, the creak of the sustain pedal on a piano or the subtleties of a singer taking in a breath are far surpassed by what's on offer here.
Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/grado-ps500-review-sound-quality-and-verdict-page-2#ocsV7z4Fo6iTt1ix.99
 
I'd like to hear that. I don't feel the 225e are at this point. (They might be but maybe I have not got music which has this kind of detail in. Or my DAC may not be capable enough.)
 
I wonder whether the 325e are capable of this. However there are many pro and user comments about their detail. I think the general impression is that the 500e is a step up from the 325e though.
 
One1speed mentioning a preference for the PS500e. Other people mentioned the bass is more relaxed on this new 500, meaning not quite so heavy. They are tempting.

@GreenBow, the sound you describe can be gotten form many headphones for far less than the PS-500e, those that come to mind are HD-600/650/700, HE-400i, SRH-1840, AKG 553 Pro, K7XX, and all three of the SennGrado's that I have built.  Even your SR-225e is capable of this.  You might be right that your music files or DAC/AMP may be houlding you back.
What are your source files?  DAC? Amp?  I keep most of my files in WAV format since I have a lot of HD space on my server but also have MP3-320 cbr files for DAP.

I use FLAC. I want to use .wav and was checking my media player today. It doesn't import .wav files from CD.
 
I am probably a bit harsh on my 225e because I am rarely completely happy with them. However they are good headphones and pick up details I have wondered that I might never have heard before. Yet sometimes they sound quite average. 
 
I only use my Meridian Explorer DAC along with my PC since it has a headphone amp. It's pretty good for the £150 I paid. It was £250 on release but they had to reduce it. Audioquest came out with the Dragonfly v1.2 for £130 and swooped all the awards. 
 
I have a strange relationship with my 225e though. When I criticise them, I feel sort of ungrateful, and seem to only see the positive in them. However overall I don't quite see them as a five star product. I think the only way to pin-point them is that they can sound a little dry.
 
Whereas the 125i I had before sounded richer, while being a little less detailed. Everything seemed matched on the 125i. It's speed and detail, all matched the case material acoustics. The 225e improvements over the 125 seem to make the 225e plastic, just a little out of its depth.

@Greenbow,   PS500 does it for me, lots of details and a big step up from 225i (which I also have). Haven't heard, or care to hear, the e-series.
 
There's an orig PS500 on sale at CAM.
http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649218402-grado-ps500-professional-headphones/

@GreenBow, have you gotten to try many other Grado's?  Other headphones?  Just curious since you seem to be only fixated on Grado's?  For me, as good as the RS2e sounds its not something that I can listen to for very long, much prefer using other headphones to get a different presentation of the music, I like different headphones for their unique sound and don't dwell on negative aspects, better to just enjoy the music. 

Yeah I am open minded to other headphone brands. However I am unashamedly fixated on Grado for reasons other than sound.
 
I find Grado l-cushion extremely comfortable and can wear them all day long. The l-cushion design is perfect for keeping ears cool during warm weather. Having just been through summer with them, they were great. The sound I like too and can listen to them all day. Sometimes I do just that.....I just can not see me wearing another headphone that is e.g. closed backed. For issues of ears getting too hot.
 
It's quite sad to hear you say you tire of your RS2e sound. I can listen to my 225e all day. I really do some days. (Long story; health issues.)
 
With reference to other brands, yes, I bought my mum some Sennheiser.  They were similar in design to Grado but not quite as big, with similar pads to the s-cushion. We both liked them. However the Grado s-cushion does get a little hot. I used to have to wipe my ears on longer listening days with my 125i.
 
@CanadianMaestro, thanks for you thoughts. That's the general idea I get that the higher end phones offer lots more depth. It's said also that 325e is brilliant headphone on the right source too.

@GreenBow Understand you now, good luck with finding the perfect headphone for you and take care of your health.

I have listened to the 225e and PS500e quite a lot the last couple of weeks and i find them remarkably similar. The 500e has more sub-bass and a bit more autority in the bass, better soundstage as far as I can tell and imagining. the 225e is a bit more sparkling in the highs. 225e is lighter and thus more comfortable for extended wear. The 500e is in my opinion a direct upgrade from the 225e, but the difference is not huge

olekrst said:

I have listened to the 225e and PS500e quite a lot the last couple of weeks and i find them remarkably similar. The 500e has more sub-bass and a bit more autority in the bass, better soundstage as far as I can tell and imagining. the 225e is a bit more sparkling in the highs. 225e is lighter and thus more comfortable for extended wear. The 500e is in my opinion a direct upgrade from the 225e, but the difference is not huge

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Interesting. The price diff is substantial, so that may be a good thing.

greenbow said:

   
@CanadianMaestro, thanks for you thoughts. That's the general idea I get that the higher end phones offer lots more depth. It's said also that 325e is brilliant headphone on the right source too.

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I had 325i for a brief time, and found it bright for my music (classical). But it may suit other genres. Have fun trying out diff Grados.

canadianmaestro said:

  I had 325i for a brief time, and found it bright for my music (classical). But it may suit other genres. Have fun trying out diff Grados.

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I am a little wary of the 325e given that some found its predecessors bright. It's said that the 325 was always the brightest of the Prestige Series. However it always reviewed well and the 325e is appreciated pretty much across the board.
 
It does sometimes seem a little odd to use metal casings for acoustic properties. (Yet there is an award winning new £60 Sony earphone that uses brass.) Some say the 325 sounds a little metallic, but I am all for giving it a chance. I wonder though if wood cups on my 225e would be better than 325e. (In either mahogany or maple as Grado have used). I have been looking at the hole-boring drill bits that I would need, and I think it can be done. Considering the cost and effort though I understand why people buy ready made cups, or higher end Grados.

greenbow said:

 
I wonder though if wood cups on my 225e would be better than 325e. (In either mahogany or maple as Grado have used).

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Canadian Maple works well on the cups. 

greenbow said:

 
I am a little wary of the 325e given that some found its predecessors bright. It's said that the 325 was always the brightest of the Prestige Series. However it always reviewed well and the 325e is appreciated pretty much across the board.
 
It does sometimes seem a little odd to use metal casings for acoustic properties. (Yet there is an award winning new £60 Sony earphone that uses brass.) Some say the 325 sounds a little metallic, but I am all for giving it a chance. I wonder though if wood cups on my 225e would be better than 325e. (In either mahogany or maple as Grado have used). I have been looking at the hole-boring drill bits that I would need, and I think it can be done. Considering the cost and effort though I understand why people buy ready made cups, or higher end Grados.

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My suggestion would be to buy them, its a lot of work to make the cups and its not just using a hole saw bit, most are made using a lathe, and you will still need to finish them and get  grill material.  Check out these https://www.etsy.com/search?q=grado%20wood%20cups