Brian,
I'm quite content with the HF-2 Grados. I didn't know what to really think because I've read comments and personal mini reviews here and there of them. However, it was a pretty quick decision that I made - when compared to other decisions that I take longer to decide on. I guess realizing that they were a special run of headphones with a target of headphone audiophiles had been one of the hooks that captured me. Keeping in mind that I'm a real Magnum lover, the differences that my ears hear between the HF-2 and the Magnums is not all that different. If anything, the HF-2 might have a very slight amount of less bass - but, very minimal. The mids and highs compare quite like the HF-2, or at least that's how my ears have perceived it. I guess I could break it down into two categories. 1) If you're a tinkerer and don't mind hunting down your components and working with a soldering iron, then the Magnums are a very logical choice. However, 2) If you're one who believes in products that have been tuned and tweaked only by the manufacturer and you want to buy an assembled headphone, with a good backing, then the HF-2 would easily fall on my short list of recommendations.
I've been using the Magnums and the HF-2s with various sources and amps. My Sansui receiver, my O2 amp, my C&C BH amp, a Sansa Fuze and a iPod Video / Classic that still featured the Wolfson DAC chips contained within before Apple switched over to the Cirrus Logic chips. Both headphones have performed very well with these combinations. The HF-2 has, at times, received a slight amount of EQ where I felt it might have been needed. Again, just a slight amount and that was basically dependent upon the player.
I've last listened to the SR-225i in wooden cups as of a few weeks back after being spoiled by the Magnums and they've left me a bit underwhelmed. Again, though, this is basically after drinking the Magnum Kool-Aid is when my view of the SR-225i changed. I will agree with you though, I could easily live with the HF-2 Grados the rest of my listening life as opposed to the MS-Pro headphones from Allesandro. Getting the HF-2 in the mail and connecting them up and being impressed with what I hear was quite an exciting experience for me. I guess lately with the stock headphones, I've found a weakness here and there that has bothered me. But, the HF-2 will stay all secured, just as Grado built them.
The HF-2 is a very comfortable pair of headphones to wear. The SR-325i was a heavier headphone (in my opinion) and the plastic casings inserted in the aluminum cups was just an "odd" combination. I guess Grado maybe thought that they could sell the headphones just on the bling factor alone. They do provide the aluminum cups and a leather headband, but I'm not sure if those two items are worth the $100 additional cost over the SR-225i. For the $300 that the SR-325i runs, one can get awfully close to a great, basic set of Magnums. The wooden cups might be a bit basic, but you'll still have a great set of headphones that should please one quite greatly.
