What a nice and informative review! Though I am not considering purchasing this, the review is awesome!
Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
shinystuffbuyer
Nick01
Very interesting review, may I ask where you get the beyer headband?
Brooko
@shinystuffbuyer - thanks.
@Nick - I have clients in Germany who purchased it on-line for me and sent it over (I reimbursed them including the postage). I bought two headbands because I have a set of Beyers as well - and that way I have a ready replacement. They were very cheap (less than 10 Euro) - and totally worth the effort. Extremely comfortable.
@Nick - I have clients in Germany who purchased it on-line for me and sent it over (I reimbursed them including the postage). I bought two headbands because I have a set of Beyers as well - and that way I have a ready replacement. They were very cheap (less than 10 Euro) - and totally worth the effort. Extremely comfortable.
bcasey25raptor
Hi Brooko. How do you think these compare to your old Shure SRH840. I own both and is till prefer my Shures. The Alessandro is good though and i highly recommend it for $99. I just fine they distort easily and have a scratchy sound. Maybe i just prefer smooth sounding headphones.
Brooko
Hi Casey - I'd actually take the MS1is - especially after the mods. It could be the different music we listen to - I know you are mainly metal. My main genres are prog and classic rock, blues, jazz and female vocals. The MS1is just have such a beautiful mid-range, and they fell so "alive". I'd love to try going further up the Grado range eventually - but I really need to stop and enjoy what I have for now. My current set-up with both the HD600 and DT880 fed from the NFB-12 is keeping me very happy 
Syros
Wow, this looks like a review from a quality magazine - well done and thank you!
Brooko
Thanks Syros. If you liked this, then you're going to love some of the reviews by the "really talented" reviewers on this site. Unfortunately I'm only an amateur finding my way. But thanks for the kind words anyway.
jgray91
I have always wondered what the Grado house sound is like. It seems this is the alternative to get it outside of the US. Would it work for someone who listens to a broad range of genre, but mainly took delight and pleasure from vocals and how it synergize (for a lack of more appropriate term) with great instrument separation?
Also just to make sure, is the sound leakage out away from you the same loudness compared to what you hear personally?
Also just to make sure, is the sound leakage out away from you the same loudness compared to what you hear personally?
Brooko
@jgray91 - really good questions.
[1] Yes - I think the MS1i is the cheapest and best way to get a taste of the Grado sound outside the US. From my brief testing of actual Grados (SR80i and SR125i) the MS1i sounds pretty close to both - maybe a little less of the Grado very high end - but for someone new to the Grado sound, it's the ideal entry point. If I had my choixe between the SR125i and the MS1i, I still would have chosen the MS1i - personally i think it has a slightly better mid-range.
[2] I use mine for every genre except classical (I have my HD600s for that). I think the MS1i particularly excel at Blues, Bluegrass, Jazz and Classic Rock. I'm not a metal fan - so I can't really give you any pointers on that. Mine are also great with female vocals (folk / rock / indie).
[3] Yes - leakage is pretty bad - you can listen both sides of the cup, and the volume is almost the same (maybe slightly less volume from the chamber - but it would be touch and go.
BTW - My MS1i are now woodied (full woody jacket) - very highly recommend this. Will add an updated pic to the bottom of the review.
Hope this helped.
Paul
[1] Yes - I think the MS1i is the cheapest and best way to get a taste of the Grado sound outside the US. From my brief testing of actual Grados (SR80i and SR125i) the MS1i sounds pretty close to both - maybe a little less of the Grado very high end - but for someone new to the Grado sound, it's the ideal entry point. If I had my choixe between the SR125i and the MS1i, I still would have chosen the MS1i - personally i think it has a slightly better mid-range.
[2] I use mine for every genre except classical (I have my HD600s for that). I think the MS1i particularly excel at Blues, Bluegrass, Jazz and Classic Rock. I'm not a metal fan - so I can't really give you any pointers on that. Mine are also great with female vocals (folk / rock / indie).
[3] Yes - leakage is pretty bad - you can listen both sides of the cup, and the volume is almost the same (maybe slightly less volume from the chamber - but it would be touch and go.
BTW - My MS1i are now woodied (full woody jacket) - very highly recommend this. Will add an updated pic to the bottom of the review.
Hope this helped.
Paul
jgray91
That helps quite nicely. Thanks for the fast reply. Also, I've been reading a lot of the mentioned HD414 pads being reversed. I can't imagine how that is achieved to be honest, and the lack of comparison images between normal and reversed doesn't help either. Hopes this isn't too bothersome. 
Brooko
It's actually pretty easy. You get the 414 pads and then cut an approx 2-2.5cm diameter hole in each pad (use an appropriate sized coin and a craft knife). Start with a smaller hole first - then you can widen it if you need to. To reverse them, all you do is attach the hole you've made to the headphone housing. It'll actually be smaller than needed - but will fit by slightly stretching. End result is a quarter mod (think cutting around a US 'quarter' coin), that's been reversed (pads are on backwards). The reversing just puts a little more space between your ears and the drivers). Sorry - I'd PM you pics - but I sold all my other pads / chambers etc - once I'd settled on my current configuration.
