Grado 325i -- an easy comfort and sound fix

[spinali]

I recently purchased the Grado 325i, and I started experiencing many of the same issues others have mentioned. But instead of "return-itis" (easy to do with expensive phones), I played around and found an unconventional fix that works great (for me).

When the bowl pads are right on my ears, bass and and some trebles are overemphasized. By accident, I moved the phones so the overlapped my temples and the top of my ears. (I played around to get the sound right.) Obviously, the volume went down -- but there was a sudden clarity to both classical and pop music, with a comfortable, accurate bass. I suddenly heard nuances I hadn't even known were there. Instead of screechy highs, I heard overtones.

This accidental "mod" works for my tastes in musical sound, and if I need more bass punch (as with garage punk), I just move the phones down a bit. It's like having a graphic EQ.

I'll be making a CMOY amp soon to boost the volume. Suddenly, it's like having all the rockin' power of a Grado, with hints of the the delicate details of a Beyer. And I'm beginning to realize how really excellent these 325s are.

 

[Turner_Brown]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinali I recently purchased the Grado 325i, and I started experiencing many of the same issues others have mentioned. But instead of "return-itis" (easy to do with expensive phones), I played around and found an unconventional fix that works great (for me). When the bowl pads are right on my ears, bass and and some trebles are overemphasized. By accident, I moved the phones so the overlapped my temples and the top of my ears. (I played around to get the sound right.) Obviously, the volume went down -- but there was a sudden clarity to both classical and pop music, with a comfortable, accurate bass. I suddenly heard nuances I hadn't even known were there. Instead of screechy highs, I heard overtones. This accidental "mod" works for my tastes in musical sound, and if I need more bass punch (as with garage punk), I just move the phones down a bit. It's like having a graphic EQ. I'll be making a CMOY amp soon to boost the volume. Suddenly, it's like having all the rockin' power of a Grado, with hints of the the delicate details of a Beyer. And I'm beginning to realize how really excellent these 325s are.

Get flat pads and you can stop moving your headphones all over your head. You will also notice a bigger difference from those flat pads that you would with a Cmoy.

 

[Chef Medeski]

Very interesting. That only supports my thoughts to buy one.

 

[spinali]

Quote:

Get flat pads and you can stop moving your headphones all over your head

Probably a very good suggestion (especially considering my relative lack of experience in such things).

But wouldn't the phones' drivers closer proximity to the ears increase the bass? (That's something I definitely don't want.) Using the SR225s, the iPod Studio (http://ipodstudio.com/forums/showthr...=5399#post5399) came up with deeper bass with these pads, and others have reported similar results.

Would flat pads really produce the sound I want -- reduced bass levels and increased subtlety in the upper end?

 

[Turner_Brown]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinali Probably a very good suggestion (especially considering my relative lack of experience in such things). But wouldn't the phones' drivers closer proximity to the ears increase the bass? (That's something I definitely don't want.) Using the SR225s, the iPod Studio (http://ipodstudio.com/forums/showthr...=5399#post5399) came up with deeper bass with these pads, and others have reported similar results. Would flat pads really produce the sound I want -- reduced bass levels and increased subtlety in the upper end?

I'm sorry ... I thought you wanted MORE bass. The flats and even the comfys have more bass than the bowls. Some people have suggested putting the bowls on backwards...but I don't remember what they said that sounds like.

 

[Turner_Brown]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinali Probably a very good suggestion (especially considering my relative lack of experience in such things). But wouldn't the phones' drivers closer proximity to the ears increase the bass? (That's something I definitely don't want.) Using the SR225s, the iPod Studio (http://ipodstudio.com/forums/showthr...=5399#post5399) came up with deeper bass with these pads, and others have reported similar results. Would flat pads really produce the sound I want -- reduced bass levels and increased subtlety in the upper end?

I seriously don't know how you are experiencing too much bass with bowls out of an ipod??? Are you using the ipod's eq?

 

[1967cutlass]

dont listen about the flats, they are 99% worthless. the bowls sound better, and the senn pads are 4$ and sound almost the same as the flats, and are more comfortable.

 

[Turner_Brown]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1967cutlass dont listen about the flats, they are 99% worthless. the bowls sound better,

This sounds terribly subjective. They change the sound of the phone entirely...most like it...some don't. The link he posted is a very accurate and fair account of the sonic differences of all 3 types.

 

[EricP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1967cutlass dont listen about the flats, they are 99% worthless. the bowls sound better, and the senn pads are 4$ and sound almost the same as the flats, and are more comfortable.

great universal statement there, and a completely baseless one. I would say approximately 2/3rds of the Grado users that I've seen on head-fi won't use a pair without flats. So much for bowls being better.

 

[Blitzula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1967cutlass dont listen about the flats, they are 99% worthless.

Let's make one thing very clear to the uninformed reader of that comment...you are in the distinct and small minority with that statement.

 

[Malus]

325's rock with the bowls. If that is more comfortable and sounds better, than I suggest you stick with it. You might want to consider the sock mod too, which is detailed at Headwize.

 

[stet]

nice to see Guru getting extra mileage out of his great review.

As far as pads go, I'm pretty much with the general consensus here that lies with Todd's flats and modded Senns, but some people do prefer the bowl, or reversed bowl. But those are the only pads I don't have, so I can't comment on them.

That said, I'm happy for you that you've found a sweet spot; enjoy it. It reminds me someone here before saying the cheapest mod is just playing with the positioning of your headphones. I think it's a suggestion on headwize, too, that a lot of people like wearing their cans low and 'forward,' i.e., slightly toward the face. Screw the pads for now if you're happy. You hang out here long enough and you'll drop a pretty penny anyway, so if you can hold off on the buying and just enjoy the music, then just chill. If you get curious about the pads down the line, you can always order them later.

 

[jjcapurro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinali I recently purchased the Grado 325i

What is a 325i? Is there a new lettered series of Grados now? I've owned the 325 and there was no i... I'm confused.

Cheers,
Jeremy

 

[1967cutlass]

to the people with reading comprehension problems: what i said about bowls sounding better is irrelevant as i stated that the sennheiser pads do as much as the flats, while costing virtually nothing, thus supporting my statement that they are 99% worthless.

 

[Kirosia]

The pad thing is subjective. There is no universal "better" b/w the bowls and flats.

Also, imo the senn pads aren't really as good as the flats in SQ. If you can afford the real thing, go for it. I'd buy used though, since you might not like them and might want to resell with minimum loss.