dogwan
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 31, 2009
- Posts
- 357
- Likes
- 95
Feeling inspired after modding my SR125i's I started eyeballing my iGrados. They've been hanging on a hook near my front door unused for the last year.
It was quick work to get them apart and in short order I had them quarter modded, damped the back of the magnets, and vented the drivers.
Venting the drivers was easy with a standard "Bic" ball point pen since the taper stopped the pen once you punched through, no risk of damaging the diaphragm. The damping material was leftover speaker sealing caulk from PE. It has about the same properties of BluTack by my estimation.
Once I put them back together I was truly impressed with the sound from the lowly iGrado. Bass was far more articulate with nice slam. I don't think I've seen anybody else vent the drivers on the iGrado like they do on others. However, I recommend it if you're willing. And the quarter mod really opened up the highs.
I thought about replacing the screens but I held off because I question whether or not it's advisable since these don't really have much of a resonance chamber like their big brothers. My thinking is that without a little back pressure from the stock screen they might be too open. Plus, I figure I will be using them for more active endeavours, why make them more vulnerable?
Hmmm, now I might start using these more now that they sound so much better.
BUT WAIT! After sitting with them for a while it slowly dawns on me the real reason they've been neglected. They are very uncomfortable for me. Not at first, but after about 20-30 minutes I get really annoyed. There are two reasons for this. One- I have a very large head and the shape of my skull means the frame puts pressure right on the bone (lower back corner of skull) right behind the ears. Two- the plastic seams (ridges) of the frames start digging in where they rest on the backside of the top of the ears.
You can never underestimate the ability of the slightest imperfection to quickly become torturous. When I first put on the iGrados they are comfortable, which is why I bought them in the first place. But if I wear them for any length of time I get a headache. I had forgotten about this little detail.
Which brings me to the intent of this thread: modding the iGrado for comfort as well as sound.
So I sat there thinking that surely there must be something I could do to make these usable. They sound so good now. Looking at the frames I realized they were strong enough to take a little abuse so apart they came again.
To be continued......
It was quick work to get them apart and in short order I had them quarter modded, damped the back of the magnets, and vented the drivers.
Venting the drivers was easy with a standard "Bic" ball point pen since the taper stopped the pen once you punched through, no risk of damaging the diaphragm. The damping material was leftover speaker sealing caulk from PE. It has about the same properties of BluTack by my estimation.
Once I put them back together I was truly impressed with the sound from the lowly iGrado. Bass was far more articulate with nice slam. I don't think I've seen anybody else vent the drivers on the iGrado like they do on others. However, I recommend it if you're willing. And the quarter mod really opened up the highs.
I thought about replacing the screens but I held off because I question whether or not it's advisable since these don't really have much of a resonance chamber like their big brothers. My thinking is that without a little back pressure from the stock screen they might be too open. Plus, I figure I will be using them for more active endeavours, why make them more vulnerable?
Hmmm, now I might start using these more now that they sound so much better.
BUT WAIT! After sitting with them for a while it slowly dawns on me the real reason they've been neglected. They are very uncomfortable for me. Not at first, but after about 20-30 minutes I get really annoyed. There are two reasons for this. One- I have a very large head and the shape of my skull means the frame puts pressure right on the bone (lower back corner of skull) right behind the ears. Two- the plastic seams (ridges) of the frames start digging in where they rest on the backside of the top of the ears.
You can never underestimate the ability of the slightest imperfection to quickly become torturous. When I first put on the iGrados they are comfortable, which is why I bought them in the first place. But if I wear them for any length of time I get a headache. I had forgotten about this little detail.
Which brings me to the intent of this thread: modding the iGrado for comfort as well as sound.
So I sat there thinking that surely there must be something I could do to make these usable. They sound so good now. Looking at the frames I realized they were strong enough to take a little abuse so apart they came again.
To be continued......
