Alessandro MS-1's - what pads do you use?

[appar111]

For those of you who have the MS-1's, what pads do you use? I know they come stock w/ the comfie pads, but alot of people don't like those on their grados and tend to switch to flats or modified senn pads.

So which do you prefer on the MS-1's - the stock comfies, flats, senn pads or (gasp!) bowl pads?

I hear so much about pad swapping on Grados, but not much on the Alessandros..

 

[Jahn]

once i put on the TTVJ flats, i never looked back. but then, it's a little pricey to buy $25 pads for a $99 can.

 

[NeilPeart]

I’ve used all the pads on my MS1, and in the end I settled on the vwaps (modded Senns HD-414 pads). They sound nearly as good as the flats (not quite as tight a bass response, but very close) and are more comfortable (IMO they are the most comfortable of all pads) and cheaper. The stock comfies don’t fit my ears properly, and even with the hole cut the material used affects the sound negatively. The Radio Shack pads are composed of thinner foam than the comfies but their fit is even worse than the comfies, IMO. The flats are the best sounding of all the pads with the MS1, IMO, with the tightest bass, cleanest midrange and least fatiguing top end. However, while they are more comfortable than the bowls, they are still less comfy than the vwaps; they also cost double the price of the vwaps. The bowls have a better soundstage than the other pads (though still lacking compared to most ‘phones) and sharper treble, but they are more fatiguing and the least comfortable of all pads. I sold my bowls because of their terrible comfort and fatiguing presentation (a subjective impression, of course) and I sold the flats because the vwaps achieve 95% of the sound with more comfort at half the price. I kept the stock comfies for resale purposes and the Radio Shack pads because they were so cheap. The vwaps remain on my MS1. I also bought the $10 Beyer DT770 headband to increase the comfort further – I’m very happy with the MS1; it’s a great portable open ‘phone for the summer months (yes, amplifying them does improve their sound, but they sound great straight outta the DAP/PCDP) if one can live with the non-portable cable (I just bundle it up but I’m considering a re-cable to resolve this issue finally).

 

[Icy006]

Just sold my MS-1s and got SR-325s, but I spent nearly a half year getting carried away with different pads on the MS-1...

::. Comfy
Comfy pads excel at nothing. After using C-Pads, I scoff at their namesake

Sound is veiled; the cans are being held back.

::. Quarter-Mod Comfy
For those on a budget, this helps. Less veiling, more clear mids and highs. For serious listening, look elsewhere.

::. Bowls
Damn! There's that signature Grado high end I kept hearing and wondering about. It's charming, and mesmerizing on certain material. But for all the magic in it, I'm afraid I find it fatiguing, like smacking mosquitos out on the lawn while at a Zeppelin concert.

::. TTVJ flats
Wham...impact up the yin-yang. This is fun listening. As a youngin, I always used to cup my hand and press my cheap headphones tight against my ears to feel that muddy bass slam. This is like that, except not ridiculous. Sounds better too. Only problem is you lose some soundstage and high-end sparkle. Still, they're my favorite of the 'standard' Grado pads. Warmth and musicality abounds. Swipe that credit card quick before you look at the cost.

::. vwap flats (modded senn-414)
A compromise some may love. If you can find 'em. Same class as TTVJ flats, but missing that final 10% of thump and warm. Shame, a lot of the magic seemed to be in that 10%. But rejoice, the mids and soundstage are kinda-sorta improved! Little comfier too.

::. Headphile C-Pads (Alpha 4-port)
Big puffy attention-drawing awesomeness. Soundstage & airiness is turbo-injected. Possibly too much, but usually a nice improvement. These things have a comfort level that is head-and-shoulders above all the others. Sounds like TTVJ flats (deep warmth), except more clear midrange and less veiled highs. I got a ported version, with little pegs that you can plug holes with to change the sound. This drives me nuts, because every permutation has different strengths. If you can find a nice pair used, jump on 'em! Easily justifiable price if you're planning a future Grado upgrade, and/or own a masochistic wallet.

 

[Oink1]

Modded Senn pads here - and very nice they are too!

Cool colour - Slightly larger ear to pad contact area really helps with any comfort issues (So does the Beyer headband pad!) Don't mind the stock comfies - though bass performance is down on the Senns... Bowls on the way (Hopefully - Thanks cannedheat

) so i sit here and wait for their arrival (Gotta try 'em right?)

 

[Vkamicht]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icy006 ::. Headphile C-Pads (Alpha 4-port) Big puffy attention-drawing awesomeness. Soundstage & airiness is turbo-injected. Possibly too much, but usually a nice improvement. These things have a comfort level that is head-and-shoulders above all the others. Sounds like TTVJ flats (deep warmth), except more clear midrange and less veiled highs. I got a ported version, with little pegs that you can plug holes with to change the sound. This drives me nuts, because every permutation has different strengths. If you can find a nice pair used, jump on 'em! Easily justifiable price if you're planning a future Grado upgrade, and/or own a masochistic wallet.

This is bugging me because I thought alpha C-pads were closer in sound to bowls than flats. Every time I decide what I want (between the new Gamma & Deltas) I read something that makes me rethink it. I was leaning towards the Deltas (betas) but now I'm rethinking it again.

 

[Jahn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vkamicht This is bugging me because I thought alpha C-pads were closer in sound to bowls than flats. Every time I decide what I want (between the new Gamma & Deltas) I read something that makes me rethink it. I was leaning towards the Deltas (betas) but now I'm rethinking it again.

From what I've heard, neither alpha nor betas have a Bowl signature - they aren't airy/fatiguing, i think the very nature of circumaural pads nixes that. But the betas are closer to the Grados-with-flats sound, while reports are that the alphas sound more like Grados put through the Senn blender in terms of distance/soundstage, stuff like that. I'd rather not even be that relaxed, so I got Betas - and guess what, they have plenty of soundstage for me!

 

[HiWire]

Comfies... I'll look into pad options when/if I get the MS-2.