Differences in grado pads

[Melvins]

What are the primary differences in 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Grado-G-CUSH-Headphone-Cushion-GS1000i/dp/B0039VP3X6/ref=pd_sim_e_5
 
 
and 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Grado-L-Cush-Large-Replacement-Cushions/dp/B0006GCCO0/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1
 
also I am using the normal comfies with came with my sr125i's, reverse quarter modded. What would be the noticable differences (comfort and sound) if I were to get the bowls, or L-cushions?
 

Thanks for your time

 

[Melvins]

wow. this site is so helpful. yes I've searched the forums, but I can't find anything on those G pads.

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,
 
Grado pads are hands down the biggest and fastest way to change a Grado headphone. I've bought the SR60i and SR325i to test the first and last of the particular prestige line to see if it's worth it. Basically to see if the 325i is actually worth another $220 or not. I bought all the pad types too, to test them as well on both headphones. I have to say, after spending time with both headphones, the SR60i and 325i just do not sound that different. Both sounded great. But I definitely did not get an impression that the SR325i was worth the price tag difference, as it was just so similar. I guess that's more testament to the value of the SR60i than anything. However, what did make a huge difference was the cups. SR60's come with those flat discs. They were awful. When I first heard my first Grado, it was on those flat discs that come with it and the sound was pure treble, it was awful I couldn't believe they shipped like that. I quickly put on the L-cush pads, and man, what a difference. Good balanced sound now. Excellent bass response by comparison, tamed treble, and solid mids. Then I put on the G cush pads to go bowl, which are large enough to be over ear, so much more comfortable. But the sound? Oh man it went south, the sound was like pure treble again, the treble soared to new heights of hot and tizzy, it was quite fatiguing, the mids were still there, but the bass pretty much went away again and it was like having treble domes on the ears. I did the test with the SR325i as well and had the same results. The L-cush pads sound wonderful and I consider them mandatory for any Grado that doesn't already have them. Comfort is not ideal. But the sound is ideal to me there. It's the only pad that I felt the bass was appropriate and not overly taxing on treble and mids. The G cush pads are super comfortable, as they raise it to over ear, they're huge. But the sound is not good, it's hot treble, and you lose some bass, so it just doesn't sound right. I think the G cush pads should be reserved for a Grado that was built around using G cush pads from the ground up, which the prestige line is not. Verdict: Get the L cush pads, they're an excellent improvement if you don't already have them. Avoid the G cush pads for prestige line.
 

 

 

 
Here's the flat discs the SR60i's come with (awful, unbelievable, every Grado should come with L-cush standard):
 

 
And again, I found the SR60i with Lcush to be basically as good as the SR325i. I didn't hear a $220 difference. $20 ear pads made more difference to the sound, by far.
 
Very best,

 

[bbophead]

Quote:

Heya,
 
Grado pads are hands down the biggest and fastest way to change a Grado headphone. I've bought the SR60i and SR325i to test the first and last of the particular prestige line to see if it's worth it. Basically to see if the 325i is actually worth another $220 or not. I bought all the pad types too, to test them as well on both headphones. I have to say, after spending time with both headphones, the SR60i and 325i just do not sound that different. Both sounded great. But I definitely did not get an impression that the SR325i was worth the price tag difference, as it was just so similar. I guess that's more testament to the value of the SR60i than anything. However, what did make a huge difference was the cups. SR60's come with those flat discs. They were awful. When I first heard my first Grado, it was on those flat discs that come with it and the sound was pure treble, it was awful I couldn't believe they shipped like that. I quickly put on the L-cush pads, and man, what a difference. Good balanced sound now. Excellent bass response by comparison, tamed treble, and solid mids. Then I put on the G cush pads to go bowl, which are large enough to be over ear, so much more comfortable. But the sound? Oh man it went south, the sound was like pure treble again, the treble soared to new heights of hot and tizzy, it was quite fatiguing, the mids were still there, but the bass pretty much went away again and it was like having treble domes on the ears. I did the test with the SR325i as well and had the same results. The L-cush pads sound wonderful and I consider them mandatory for any Grado that doesn't already have them. Comfort is not ideal. But the sound is ideal to me there. It's the only pad that I felt the bass was appropriate and not overly taxing on treble and mids. The G cush pads are super comfortable, as they raise it to over ear, they're huge. But the sound is not good, it's hot treble, and you lose some bass, so it just doesn't sound right. I think the G cush pads should be reserved for a Grado that was built around using G cush pads from the ground up, which the prestige line is not. Verdict: Get the L cush pads, they're an excellent improvement if you don't already have them. Avoid the G cush pads for prestige line.
 

 

 

 
Here's the flat discs the SR60i's come with (awful, unbelievable, every Grado should come with L-cush standard):
 

 
And again, I found the SR60i with Lcush to be basically as good as the SR325i. I didn't hear a $220 difference. $20 ear pads made more difference to the sound, by far.
 
Very best,

Hey Yo 

 
This cushion thing has always confused me but not enough to spend a whole lot of time and money on.  The first thing I did to my 325is was get the G-Cush because it was more comfortable, couldn't listen to the stock pads, whatever they are, for more than thirty minutes, and, the SOUNDSTAGE which you didn't mention for some reason, is much larger. This is good and worth it IMO.  Now, I've recently gotten the PS500, still prefer the G-Cush but here's my question.  What cushion does the PS500 come with?  It seems different than the 325is stock pads.  And, no, I'm not going to spend $80 to see how similar the 60i is to the 325is.  BTW, the PS500 is similar to the 325is but there are subtle differences which make it a nice upgrade.  Obviously, you mileage does differ.
 
 

 

[MalVeauX]

Quote:

Hey Yo 

 
This cushion thing has always confused me but not enough to spend a whole lot of time and money on.  The first thing I did to my 325is was get the G-Cush because it was more comfortable, couldn't listen to the stock pads, whatever they are, for more than thirty minutes, and, the SOUNDSTAGE which you didn't mention for some reason, is much larger. This is good and worth it IMO.  Now, I've recently gotten the PS500, still prefer the G-Cush but here's my question.  What cushion does the PS500 come with?  It seems different than the 325is stock pads.  And, no, I'm not going to spend $80 to see how similar the 60i is to the 325is.  BTW, the PS500 is similar to the 325is but there are subtle differences which make it a nice upgrade.  Obviously, you mileage does differ.
 
 

Heya,
 
The Gcush pads do have a large sound stage, but it's still at the cost of sound. Some may like that sound. But to me, the treble was way too hot and tizzy, the bass went away and it was just not a nice sound. The Gcush really isn't something to put on the prestige line, they just don't sound right. The Lcush gave a much better balanced sound that wasn't instant fatigue. Gcush is for different headphones.
 
PS500/SR325i comes with large cush pads. The PS1000/GS1000 comes with Gcush.
 
It's just one of those things one has to try to understand.
 
Very best,
 

 

[bbophead]

Quote:

Heya,
 
The Gcush pads do have a large sound stage, but it's still at the cost of sound. Some may like that sound. But to me, the treble was way too hot and tizzy, the bass went away and it was just not a nice sound. The Gcush really isn't something to put on the prestige line, they just don't sound right. The Lcush gave a much better balanced sound that wasn't instant fatigue. Gcush is for different headphones.
 
PS500/SR325i comes with large cush pads. The PS1000/GS1000 comes with Gcush.
 
It's just one of those things one has to try to understand.
 
Very best,
 

Thanks for the reply.  So, the PS500/SR325is come with L Cush?  It seemed that they were different but I can't check right now.  My 325is is at Martin Custom Audio for woodying. 

  My memory could be faulty.  (ya think?)  It's interesting that one person can hear big diffs and another person can hear small diffs on the same comparisons. But, basically, I'm a leveler, not a sharpener.  I listen to a lot of classical and prefer the orchestra spread out more rather than squeezed together. 
 
 

 

[Melvins]

Awesome, so for twenty bucks, the L-cush are worth it? Think I'll order myself a pair from amazon. ASAP haha

 

[Melvins]

thanks so much for your detailed and though out response, I greatly appreciate it!

 

[chrislangley4253]

Quote:

What are the primary differences in 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Grado-G-CUSH-Headphone-Cushion-GS1000i/dp/B0039VP3X6/ref=pd_sim_e_5
 
 
and 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Grado-L-Cush-Large-Replacement-Cushions/dp/B0006GCCO0/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1
 
also I am using the normal comfies with came with my sr125i's, reverse quarter modded. What would be the noticable differences (comfort and sound) if I were to get the bowls, or L-cushions?
 

Thanks for your time

 
Just to Clarify the L-cush are known as bowls, the G-cush as jumbos.
 
Quote:

Awesome, so for twenty bucks, the L-cush are worth it? Think I'll order myself a pair from amazon. ASAP haha

totally worth it, my favorite pad, and i've had them all. Mal's opinions are spot on. 
 

 

[Melvins]

yearp. I am in agreement with you as well after having em' for a few weeks. They are actually more comfortable than my modded comfies actually

 

[Kevin Brown]

S-cushions: comfies
L-cushions: bowls
G-cushions: jumbos
TTVJ flats:  https://www.ttvjaudio.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=127
 
And then the Sennheiser 414 pads with various mods.
 
I like the comfies the best.  I think all Grados are too bright, so the comfies soften the treble for me.  I don't like the bowls: too bright, and their size don't go with my ears for longterm listening.  (Yes, all my bands have been adjusted for comfort.  Still don't like the bowls.)
 
Jumbos: the most comfortable: but the mid range gets sucked out.
 
I have the TTJV flats too, but I can't remember much what they sound like.
 
Grado pads are awesome because you get to customize any pair of Grado headphones by just a few more bucks swapping pads.
 
The 414 pad mods are interesting, but I find these pads too scratchy on my ears (a common complaint).  But you can minimize that to some degree by handwashing them.
 

 

[GM325i]

Quote:

 
And again, I found the SR60i with Lcush to be basically as good as the SR325i. I didn't hear a $220 difference. $20 ear pads made more difference to the sound, by far.
 

 I agree! I put some SR60i drivers in the aluminum case of a 325 with the l cups and I was amazed by the sound. Sometimes I wonder in the differences between the drivers from model to model 

 

 

[Strat1117]

Old dead thread with bizarrely inaccurate (to me) information. Maybe the G Cush pads have a different interaction with wood cups and 50mm drivers, but there is just no possible way tha I could imagine them sounding even a little brighter than the L pads, at least not on my RS1e, where the G Cush not only make them more comfortable, but open the soundstage, increase the bass quantity and quality), and bring the otherwise way too hot (for me) treble totally under control, so you can actually hear and enjoy all of the instruments and voices. I quite emphatically disagree with the above posts, and would go so far as to say this thread should be ignored by anyone interested in the differing sounds of different Grado cushions. At the very least try for yourself - I doubt anyone could duplicate the G Cush pads increasing treble. Rather, I think the G Cush pads introduce a much needed shot of neutrality and bass presence to these otherwise fine headphones.

YMMV, just my $.02, etc., ad nauseum

 

[pblogic007]

Very old thread, but I have to disagree about the SR60. I decided to A/B them with my 225 right now to see what I thought (both with L-Cush) and I find the SR60 (Compared to the SR225) sounds muddy, slow, veiled, and overall likes clarity, separation and sparkle. Going from the 225 to the 60 is a really unpleasant experience. I don't have a money bias here because I received the 225 as a gift. I really wanted to feel the 60 were just as good, but I couldn't.

So, I would say if you are considering these purchases, best to try them for yourself because you may or may not feel their is a difference. I personally can't listen to the 60 after having the 225 on.