[gknix]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and I just bought my Alessandro Ms-1's from the alessandro website (in fact i got these headphones because of this forum!) I am still a newbie, and new to all audiophile forums , and headphones, and I wanted to see if this is normal on the headphones.

I hope the pictures can reveal some of the problems, but most of it cannot be seen. When i removed the comfy pieces(stock earmuffs), I realized there are a lot of scratches on the outside surrounding the drivers. Is this normal? Is it possible that I somehow received a used Alessandro Ms-1s? These are my very first pair of decent headphones and I am panicking a little!

Please advise. Cheers.

 

[Halftrack]

Sadly, yes.

My own MS1i looks just as crappy as that.

You can blame Grado's combination "hand-crafting" process and their [apparently] poor quality control system for that. They still sound good though.

 

[EddieE]

It's in the mould, if they are the same as my sr125i that is - look closely at the scratches on left and right casing - indentical. So they aren't imperfections with your phones they are imperfections with the mould used to make them.

 

[heishiro]

mine has less scratch, just dont look at it. listen

 

[dclancy]

That's why they're covered with foam. Any comfort is completely coincidental.

 

[kmhaynes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dclancy /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's why they're covered with foam. Any comfort is completely coincidental.

Ha ha!

Even if there's some scratching in the molds, they also get "placed" (probably tossed) into a box while waiting for the next step in the production process.

Just keep the foam on the phones, and the phones on the head, and none of the that will matter much while you are enjoying them!

 

[mritt400]

They must have gotten beaten around on the truck from Grado... I got the original MS1's used and they are not even close to that bad...

 

[MomijiTMO]

Looks about normal. lol

 

[gknix]

thanks for the information everyone. I guess I'll accept them as is, who knows maybe if I return them and get a new pair, they will be worse.!

I'll just enjoy my sounds

Also, other than making the Ms-1's....to Ms-1000, is there another way to make the bass more prominent? I find the bass a little lacking.

There is a very good song that I use to listen and 'test' the bass , Red Hot Chili Peppers Hyde Park - 'Intro' ...and its quite lackadaisical compared to my bose QC 2 ...!!!! which is kind of ridiculous.

I have to say though, after running my headphones for about 15 hours now, they sound a little better...

p.s.kmhaynes, i did look at your ms-100's..I wish I could do something like that too. But I'm just not sure what the measurements are for those pieces!

 

[Halftrack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gknix /img/forum/go_quote.gif thanks for the information everyone. I guess I'll accept them as is, who knows maybe if I return them and get a new pair, they will be worse.! <trim> p.s.kmhaynes, i did look at your ms-100's..I wish I could do something like that too. But I'm just not sure what the measurements are for those pieces!

You might want to look up what the various Grado pads (and non-Grado pad - the HD414) do for sound. Sorry if I can't help more, as I don't remember the various results offhand.

 

[LeonWho]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gknix /img/forum/go_quote.gif thanks for the information everyone. I guess I'll accept them as is, who knows maybe if I return them and get a new pair, they will be worse.! I'll just enjoy my sounds Also, other than making the Ms-1's....to Ms-1000, is there another way to make the bass more prominent? I find the bass a little lacking. There is a very good song that I use to listen and 'test' the bass , Red Hot Chili Peppers Hyde Park - 'Intro' ...and its quite lackadaisical compared to my bose QC 2 ...!!!! which is kind of ridiculous. I have to say though, after running my headphones for about 15 hours now, they sound a little better... p.s.kmhaynes, i did look at your ms-100's..I wish I could do something like that too. But I'm just not sure what the measurements are for those pieces!

The MS1000 mod will definitely enhance the bass.

 

[MomijiTMO]

MS-1s aren't 'bassy' as in the trend to create headphones with unnatural bass. I guess it is my preference as I find the K701 to have bang on perfect bass.

 

[sampson_smith]

The scratches are par for the course. You may find that there is a notable increase in bass as they burn-in physically and mentally. You can also try the reverse quarter-modded HD414 pads, or reverse L-cushions which improve the bass as much as the taped "basshead" mod.

 

[iHelp]

I don't like reverse bowls IMO.

But to the OP, mine were a bit scratchy right out of the box.
Quote:

Originally Posted by sampson_smith /img/forum/go_quote.gif The scratches are par for the course. You may find that there is a notable increase in bass as they burn-in physically and mentally. You can also try the reverse quarter-modded HD414 pads, or reverse L-cushions which improve the bass as much as the taped "basshead" mod.

 

[salannelson]

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