Alessandro MS1000 and MS Ultimate - DIY & modding [56K warning]

[crapmonster]

I'm not entirely sure to be honest.  I got them off a seller here awhile back in combo with cups+distancers by calico.  It does have the different foam densities (hard around the inside and outside rim, and soft towards the center).  Some pics if it helps.  Its hard to see but there is an area there on the lower left where i tried rubbing it last night and I lost a good chunk of foam.  Fell off as dust and strips.

 

 

[nickchen]

Hmmmm...as this issue hasn't happened before, I'd say they are asian copies, and it looks like those obviously have downsides such as unstabilized foam specs...

 

[crapmonster]

Strangely enough, the left side (at least for now) seems perfectly fine.  l guess ill have to invest in another pair regardless.....
 
I've read a few people covering their grados with things like the Garfield softies, has anyone ever tried this with the MS1000?

 

[rehabitat]

The "asian copies" are uniform in their density, unlike the genuine pads and those described by crapmonster, so nickchens assumptions may be incorrect.  My non-genuine pads of Asian origin have had no issues in the six months I have used them.  I think most punters know that Grado QC is sketchy, to say the least.
 
edit: a possibility just occurred to me; have you left the phones/pads exposed to sunlight for an extended period/s?  UV light will destroy foam of any quality given enough exposure.

 

[nickchen]

Quote:

 
I've read a few people covering their grados with things like the Garfield softies, has anyone ever tried this with the MS1000?

Part of the genuine MS1K mod since ~2010 or so. Read post #1 about "pad lining".
 

 
Quote:

The "asian copies" are uniform in their density, unlike the genuine pads and those described by crapmonster, so nickchens assumptions may be incorrect.  My non-genuine pads of Asian origin have had no issues in the six months I have used them.  I think most punters know that Grado QC is sketchy, to say the least.
 
edit: a possibility just occurred to me; have you left the phones/pads exposed to sunlight for an extended period/s?  UV light will destroy foam of any quality given enough exposure.

Thanks for clarifying things, and your theory sounds reasonable as well 
 
 

 

[crapmonster]

They havent seen sunlight all too much. when not in use, it sits in a relatively dark corner of my room.  I've been reading about the different densities and your comment seems to indicate these are geniune.  I feel like the fact that the left side is fine though, probably indicates this was a fault of my own.  Maybe I got some sort of harsh chemical on there by accident like a cleaning product.
 
nick, thanks for pointing that out.  I did actually read through that post beforehand, but must have glanced over that.  I may try and just get these so I can simply cover the messed up foam rather then buying a new pair.  If I don't have to, I really don't feel like spending another 50 bucks just for foam pads.

 

[nickchen]

Yep, their price tag is really violent.

 

[mrAdrian]

MY PADS ARRIVED OMG!!!
 
Had to go to uni, but I gave them a quick listen... Every song sounded so so so unbelievably good!
*Happiest man on Earth*

 

[nickchen]

 

[mrAdrian]

http://cdn.head-fi.org/4/41/412e993e_IMG_0123.jpeg
 
 
Loving the sound. Tho everyone has already described the change so I won't repeat once again. The soundstage -great improvement over stock- however did not sounded THATT big to me, extremely decent for a pair of alessandro, but its still behind the k701/HD6xx etc... Personal opinion only. I still remember playing orchestral music on the k701 and its still top of all. I have to say it was a couple of months since I've heard those though, so I might have exaggerated their sound-stage. Or my sonic memory got mixed up by the HD800 I tried on the same day.
 
But that is nothing. I LOVE MY MS1000!!! So engaging, aggressive yet silky mids when needed (vocals <3)... I think more details got revealed too, probably due to the larger soundstage. I didn't line my pads but I did have 2 pieces of the blue cloth thing on top of the distancers. I had that with the bowls before my Jumbo finally arrived today, and they sounded good too. It was NOTHING compared to the proper G-cush however.
 
 
And yes, every genre sounds good with them.

 

[nickchen]

Although I tend to repeat myself, you'll propably get better SQ from pad lining than from stuff put onto the distancer

 

[mrAdrian]

I know you've said it like 1000 times haha~ But it still would make them look so bad
 
Might enjoy them like now for a bit longer, then try pad lining when I start getting used to the great sound. Save the excitement 

 

[Flipjack]

 
As a fan of the MS1000, that I've had for about 3 years, I bought an Alessandro MS-Pro to transform it into an MS-Ultimate. But I was deeply disappointed in the MS-Pro's. I expected an MS1000 that would blow me away with its technical ability's. But I wasn't. I decided to sell the MS-Pro's a couple of weeks later. 

 

Now, 8 months later, I was still curious about the Symphones Magnums and how they would sound with the MS-1000 mod. The day after I decided I needed Magnums, I saw a pair of v3.5's in the F/S forums. I wanted to buy a second hand pair, because I wasn't sure if the Magnums wouldnt let me down, as the MS-Pro's did. 

So, I received my Magnum v3.5's last weekend. I put them on and liked what I heared. I didn't get disappointed with it. I switched back to my MS1000. There was an undeniable huge gap in technical abilities. The Magnums were better in every single way. BUT, I really liked the presentation of my MS1000's more and after switching back to the Magnums I was left desiring for more. So this is what I did today: I took my Magnums, put on a pair of distancers and a lined G-cush. I was AMAZED! What This was what I was hoping to get when I bought the MS-Pro's. The bass is full, articulate and detailed. The mids are almost syrupy (but very detailed) and the highs are full, detailed, but don't scream for attention. And on top of that there is a great, fairly wide soundstage. Imaging has never been the strong point of the MS-1000, not much has changed about that with the Magnums. 

 

I really, really, love these MS-1000'ed Magnums. I will shoot some foto's later but for now I won't take them off my head 

 

[NoXter]

MS2000 or a SR325000 was a very special thing. I didn't liked it that much, but I can absolutely understand if other do.
 
These Magnums, well, that is a lot of money for a better fabricated MS2 /SR325.

 

[nickchen]

That was also my first thought when reading Flipjacks impressions, but maybe this Magnum creature isn't as agressive as a MS2000 or a SR325000...