If the left side is out completely, but sounds normal when you fiddle with it, it definitely needs replacement. However, a dirty filter can kill the sound almost completely. I thought the left channel died on my PFEs, but a new filter had them sounding perfect.

I certainly wouldn't say the MS1s are bass-shy, but it's not exactly the right bass for rap/hip hop. The Denons have boomier bass, and more of it. MS1s are tighter, faster, and more controlled. IMO, it's the aggressive mids/highs that really sound out of place when using the MS1s for hip hop...

Quote: Originally Posted by kugino hair dryer for a couple of minutes works fine. perhaps your hair dryer does not get hot enough? That's what I'm thinking. We inherited it with the apartment, and it's not much of a dryer. You're right, it wasn't a difficult re-cable. With...

Quote: Originally Posted by AudioCats holy crap, you grado dudes are fearless.... Yeah, the entire operation had me sort of nervous. Headwize has a page of grado mods with a few different methods for opening the cups. None of them seem like a great idea, but it worked OK...

I recabled my MS1i last night. It went smoothly. Like tenzip, I didn't bother to remove the old solder. I just tinned and fluxed the new wire and used the existing solder on the pad. New solder is probably better, but I've overheated components while removing solder in the past, and I didn't...

Quote: Originally Posted by GreatDane I also amp my KSC75 and often use +75 Ohms. Definitely! 75 Ohms resistance + Kramer mod turns these into very impressive phones, and they scale surprisingly well with amplification.

You might be able to get it shipped from Korea via Gmarket. They have an English version of the site, and I'm pretty sure you can register as a non-resident and get international shipping. Not certain, though. I've only seen the 2 gig versions, however, and the prices are far from great...

So far I'm really liking these phones. Bright for sure, but also detailed, accurate, and much faster than my Denon D1000s. Exactly what I was looking for. If I have one complaint, it's that the build quality seems ugly as sin. Mold flashing on the plastic, the nasty y-crimp...They don't look...

Woot! They came. So far, I'm quite impressed. Upper mids and highs are very forward, which is what I was expecting. I was not expecting the bass response, however. I'm convinced that head-fi is full of bassheads. I read so many posts saying these were bass-shy, but that's not the case at all...

I'm a huge fan of pulseaudio. If it's not built into the distro properly, it can take some tweaking, but it's great when done correctly. It's easy to set a default device, and you can route individual audio streams to specific devices. (I usually like system sounds and firefox/flash sounds sent...

A new pair of KSC-75s (stupid easily-lost ear clips), and 2 more years of webhosting.

Not at all. Prices are a little high in Korea, but it's (somewhat) offset by the declining value of the won. The source I've found is currently selling them for 70,000 won, which is about $53 USD. Not terrible, but certainly not great. I'm still looking for a cheaper seller. I'll PM you with...

Wow, that was fast. Hopefully mine will come this week. I'm planning on trying the 1000 mod also. It's easy to get the pads here in Korea, and I should have some distancers on the way soon. Glad you like them. I'm jealous...

Congrats! No news yet on mine. When did you get the shipping confirmation? Initial impressions?

James Madison College - Michigan State University Graduated in 2007 with a BA in International Relations. I'll be back in the states soon for my Masters.

Waiting on Alessandro MS1s...

I use an Ibasso D2 Boa, which sounds fairly warm to my ears. I've not heard the nuforce but other reviewers said the Boa was warmer. At 165, the Boa is a lot cheaper than the Predator, and includes a DAC. If you wanted to step up, you could look at the D3 or D10 models.

This was asked earlier, but I don't think it was ever answered. Does the improved version include the heavier cable that Grado is using on the SR125i?

Good idea with the nut, nickchen. One trick I've used when epoxying nuts: Fill the inside of the nut with hot wax from a candle. (Make sure to clean the outside before using epoxy, as the wax will keep it from bonding.) After the epoxy has set, just use a lighter/heat gun/hair dryer to melt the...

Quote: Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict Before I start, I want to tighten up the metal rods inside the plastic sliders as they slide down too easily and I don't like them loose - any suggestions? I've been looking at pictures of some of the rod-locking mods. If you had a...

Quote: Originally Posted by DigitalAnalog Sorry to have to ask again but how long do you suppose it takes for Alessandro to ship within CONUS? Certainly not the best person to answer this, because I've never received a product from Alessandro in the states, but... ...in my...

Quote: Originally Posted by nickchen You need to do the MS1K mod if you want deep bass. I've been thinking about it. I've contacted rds about the distancers and found a local source for the pads. ...sometimes I really miss living in the states.

Quote: Originally Posted by nickchen Alessandro home game. Good to hear. How do they sound with piano? Lately I've been listening to a lot of jazz and classical piano, and none of my phones really capture the tone of a piano properly.

I've got the D1000s (identical to the 1001s). They isolate some, but not a lot. If somebody is talking near you, it might be muffled a bit, but you'll certainly hear it. I find they do a pretty good job with sound leakage, however. If someone is right next to you, they'll probably hear a...

I was told that shipping was via USPS (U.S. Postal Service) airmail. I'm not sure if that's different than USPS Priority. Priority mail usually comes to Korea in 5 business days. Maybe the 3 week estimate is just to keep people calm if the package is held up in customs. Edit: Just checked the...