[TooFrank]

I've been looking into getting my first Grado and am hoping to get some guidance from you all. My use case for it would be as a portable option around the house when I don't feel like being tied to my desktop setup. I plan on getting the new FiiO KA11 dongle to pair with my iPhone. Obviously it's not going to be as good as something like a Cayin RU7, but I don't like having a heavy dongle hanging off my phone and just want something very convenient and pocket-able.

I want to experience that classic Grado crunch and clarity that many say works so well with rock and metal. I listen to a lot of guitar-focused indie rock, post-rock and post-metal, shoegaze, etc. (some good examples of bands I listen to in these genres are Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Amenra, Neurosis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Alcest, Deafheaven, Cult of Luna, Stiu Nu Stiu). I also love jazz which Grados are also supposed to be good for. I want something that will be complementary to, and a big departure from, the ZMF house sound of my Atticus and Verite, but I'm guessing pretty much any Grado will give me that.

So far I've been thinking either the SR325x, RS2x, or GH4 if I can find one. I know most would probably say the 325x is the safest pick for someone new to Grado, but I'm really drawn to the idea of getting something that has that classic Grado sound so I can get the full-on experience.

However, this is where I'm hoping to get some valuable insight. I'm anticipating finding F and L cushions very uncomfortable for longer listening, and in the case that I do end up finding them too uncomfortable to enjoy, I want to make sure whatever Grados I get will still sound good and retain the Grado house sound with one of the more conventionally comfortable pad options, namely the G cush, Nyczaj pads, or BA pads. Of the 325x, RS2x, and GH4, which of these would likely work best with any of the pads I mentioned? I've seen some people who are fans of the G cush on the 325x, but most seem to like the F cush best, and I imagine the Nyczaj or BA pads would add too much bass to the 325x and take away too much of the Grado house sound. Maybe the RS2x or GH4 would be a better choice for these types of pads? Are there any other Grados that would be worth looking into? I don't really want to go above $550. Thanks in advance for any guidance!

FWIW: If they are just for "around the house use" you may also consider the BT version GW100x. While I have many other Grados, I still enjoy the very first version GW100. The new versions are supposedly much better in terms of battery life and BT range. It can also be used wired, which to my ears improves the sound quality.
As always, if you have the opportunity to try.....

 

[jonathan c]

Would love to hear the PS2000e some day. My PS500e is really the only Grado I could listen to for extended periods. (Don’t hate me for it, Gradophiles!)

The PS500e is a gem, too. If you can, upgrade it with Nyczaj Audio hardware / Turbulent Labs headband. Sonics, besides appearance, improve.

 

[glpsace]

Playing around a bit...
Is it true that the RS1 originally came with F, not L pads? I received mine with L, but today tried both F and G. With F they show an interesting amount of bass that seems to reach deeper than on my other Grados, while still keeping most of their airy character (unlike the Hemps, which don't have much of that treble glitter I like). They also work quite well with the G pads (also requiring quite a bit more power to reach similar volume, as discussed recently).

Yes, the RS-1 Classic are originally meant to be used with the f-pads, and in my opinion tops without contest the L-pads as the Nyczaj ones. Curiously my 325i is top notch with the Nyczaj pads over the L-ones, but keep in mind that I enjoy bass a lot.

The Hemp, that I also owned in the past - too bad about the cable thickness that I didn´t like at all - is way warmer, almost dark, that is why the treble differs from more conventional models. I loved the sound also. The bass was lovely.

I listen mostly to Instrumental Progressive metal/rock and I love my share of bass, both in quantity and quality but not at the expense of other frequencies.

That is why I like my Grado, I believe they make guitars shine like few headphones and with the "proper" pads and amp, the mid-bass is lovely. Too bad about sub-bass but we cannot have it all.

I also recently got my first ZMF headphone, the Bokeh and I also love it. It sort of similar in many areas to the 325i with Nyczaj pads but with better sub-bass and bass quality overall - it is also a closed HP so not a fair comparison in this matter. Nevertheless let´s keep in mind that I'm comparing a 1200€ (in Europe) headphone to a 200€ one (used since you can´t get them new obviously). Quite remarkable in my opinion.

 

[ilomilo]

I can buy a RS2e for 150euros and a SR80 for 50euros locally. Are these good prices? Should i buy These?

I'd get both, that's insanely cheap! I hope it's a trustworthy source?

 

[ilomilo]

Yes, the RS-1 Classic are originally meant to be used with the f-pads, and in my opinion tops without contest the L-pads as the Nyczaj ones. Curiously my 325i is top notch with the Nyczaj pads over the L-ones, but keep in mind that I enjoy bass a lot.

The Hemp, that I also owned in the past - too bad about the cable thickness that I didn´t like at all - is way warmer, almost dark, that is why the treble differs from more conventional models. I loved the sound also. The bass was lovely.

I listen mostly to Instrumental Progressive metal/rock and I love my share of bass, both in quantity and quality but not at the expense of other frequencies.

That is why I like my Grado, I believe they make guitars shine like few headphones and with the "proper" pads and amp, the mid-bass is lovely. Too bad about sub-bass but we cannot have it all.

I also recently got my first ZMF headphone, the Bokeh and I also love it. It sort of similar in many areas to the 325i with Nyczaj pads but with better sub-bass and bass quality overall - it is also a closed HP so not a fair comparison in this matter. Nevertheless let´s keep in mind that I'm comparing a 1200€ (in Europe) headphone to a 200€ one (used since you can´t get them new obviously). Quite remarkable in my opinion.

There have been about 6 versions of the original button RS1 and the later versions were sold with L pads. I used mine with F and didn't like it all that much. Now with L they are the best Grado headphones i have. They excel with the Mojo 2 and some bass boost or with my iPod Classic. They are special in the sense that they are balanced. Not boring-balanced like the PS500e (they're still great), but the RS1 button has treble like an RS2e, mids nearly like a GS1000i and bass like a PS500. Truly lovely headphones.

 

[Racio]

Checked my post history here, and apparently, the very last post I submitted on this forum was way back 2011

Anyway, just quietly checking in then with my recently copped Grados (BushmillsXGrado + Qudelix5K + Streaming + Double shot Irish coffee + Late afternoon golden hour = My kind of bliss)…

 

[jonathan c]

Really? Now that's interesting. Even better than the GS3000x?

Yes.

 

[OptionTrader]

Checked my post history here, and apparently, the very last post I submitted on this forum was way back 2011

Anyway, just quietly checking in then with my recently copped Grados (BushmillsXGrado + Qudelix5K + Streaming + Double shot Irish coffee + Late afternoon golden hour = My kind of bliss)…

Very nice!

Three of my favorite things: Bushmills, Irish Coffee and Grados.

 

[nierika]

I missed the PS500Xs by a few hours (likely for my own good), but would encourage everyone else that wanted one to send an encourageing email to Grado to do another lot of 50.

 

[jonathan c]

I missed the PS500Xs by a few hours (likely for my own good), but would encourage everyone else that wanted one to send an encourageing email to Grado to do another lot of 50.

That would depend on whether there are any PS500 earspeaker housings available / left in storage. The 'x' series of drivers is not the constraint.

 

[nierika]

That would depend on whether there are any PS500 earspeaker housings available / left in storage. The 'x' series of drivers is not the constraint.

Produce more housings - they will sell out.

 

[OptionTrader]

I just reterminated my RS-1X from the 3.5mm TRS to XLR...

I posted this with some additional information in the Grado mods thread.

It does actually sound better with the improved connection.

 

[jonathan c]

Produce more housings - they will sell out.

That number may be quite high ... so as to defray the fixed and variable costs incurred in 'reviving' a longtime discontinued item (plus a reasonable profit margin).

 

[dbull12]

Decided to order the 225x last night as my first Grado, thanks for all the help everyone! The 325x seemed like a really great choice but after reading some more I thought the 225x might have just a slightly more preferred tonality for me with some additional weight and cost savings.

Coming from my Verite and Atticus, it'll probably take me a little bit to acclimate to the Grado sound once they get here, but I'm excited to see if I end up loving that sound or if its crispness will scare me away haha. Hopefully it'll be the former and I'll join the ZMF + Grado fan camp along with several other people here

 

[rasmushorn]

Decided to order the 225x last night as my first Grado, thanks for all the help everyone! The 325x seemed like a really great choice but after reading some more I thought the 225x might have just a slightly more preferred tonality for me with some additional weight and cost savings.

Coming from my Verite and Atticus, it'll probably take me a little bit to acclimate to the Grado sound once they get here, but I'm excited to see if I end up loving that sound or if its crispness will scare me away haha. Hopefully it'll be the former and I'll join the ZMF + Grado fan camp along with several other people here

SR225x is a headphone with so much value for money. You pay for SOUND not for leather and wood. If you end up liking them, you can safely explore the more expensive models later. Enjoy the music!