[pcf]

Quote:

Yep!
 
I'm not on head-fi to sell stuff though, I've been helping people build their own mods. I make more friends that way and heck, I got more free time at the end of the day!
 
PM me if you ever wanna chat about stuff bud.

For sure! Thanks!

 

[rwat25]

Thanks for the feedback guys!
 
I actually prefer open back headphones than closed back headphones. the sound is more natural to me of its open back but Grados leak more sound than any headphone that i had. Although i feel like the SR80i doesnt even need to be used with high volume because you could hear everything on a moderate volume unlike my koss proDJ100, porta pro, and modded KSC75 (used to be a Koss fan until i bought the GRADOS

) I mean i dont think the sound leakage is that bothering anyway unless if you are in a very quiet environment such as a library so i think people shouldnt be discouraged to buy grados because of the sound leakage. i mean the sound quality is worth it. 
 
Where can i get the wooden cups and is it easy to mod  Grados? the only thing i modded was my ksc75 with the kramer mod and replacing it with the senn PX200 ii pads  then with bigger pads that i got from my sony mdr-v150 and the part that holds the pads from it.and putting it on the koss porta pro headband. and i think i would only be comfortable with those kind of mods because grados sr80i is not that cheap.
 
and would recabling change the sound of grados? (i never recabled any headphone but once i learn, i will!)
 
But im gonna order the L-cush or is there any better  cushion that i should consider? Comfort is no problem for me except the cushion. the cushion gets itchy at times.
 
Also i think im satisfied with the sr80i for now and little modding that would make it sound even better than it already is would be nice. But does modding it change the sound with big difference? and how good are the sr225i? because i read somewhere that sr255i sound similar to ms-1 which brought up the question if upgrading would be advisable.

 

[PinoyPogiman]

Quote:

Thanks for the feedback guys!
 
I actually prefer open back headphones than closed back headphones. the sound is more natural to me of its open back but Grados leak more sound than any headphone that i had. Although i feel like the SR80i doesnt even need to be used with high volume because you could hear everything on a moderate volume unlike my koss proDJ100, porta pro, and modded KSC75 (used to be a Koss fan until i bought the GRADOS

) I mean i dont think the sound leakage is that bothering anyway unless if you are in a very quiet environment such as a library so i think people shouldnt be discouraged to buy grados because of the sound leakage. i mean the sound quality is worth it. 
 
Where can i get the wooden cups and is it easy to mod  Grados? the only thing i modded was my ksc75 with the kramer mod and replacing it with the senn PX200 ii pads  then with bigger pads that i got from my sony mdr-v150 and the part that holds the pads from it.and putting it on the koss porta pro headband. and i think i would only be comfortable with those kind of mods because grados sr80i is not that cheap.
 
and would recabling change the sound of grados? (i never recabled any headphone but once i learn, i will!)
 
But im gonna order the L-cush or is there any better  cushion that i should consider? Comfort is no problem for me except the cushion. the cushion gets itchy at times.
 
Also i think im satisfied with the sr80i for now and little modding that would make it sound even better than it already is would be nice. But does modding it change the sound with big difference? and how good are the sr225i? because i read somewhere that sr255i sound similar to ms-1 which brought up the question if upgrading would be advisable.

many people depict you wont hear any music in a loud environment with Sr80i's
You dont have to be in complete silence to really enjoy.
 
But should keep Volume at a minimum, even on a noisy bus because you might set it to your liking so you can hear it when it sounds low, but really could be set higher than usual. and will overtime Sustain your precious ears. because Tinnitus sucks. Deafness even worse
 
Also, the Flat pads seems like a upgrade more or less to the SR80i's because it improves the bass(having drivers closer)
as Grado headphones get BIG or Small differences from different earpads.
 
im not one to learn too much about Cables YET, but if your thinking of recabling you should trust someone who would do it!
im not underestimating your potential skill, but because Grado sr80i's are considered Inexpensive and very affordable, still a bit of a Loss to many Budget Audio Enthusiasts who spend all their cash on Cans.
i mean, you mess up you lose... and lose money to ship to John Grado (Lifetime warranty)
 
Instead of buying Flat pads, you can do the Quarter mod which is Cutting a quarter sized hole in the "Comfies" pads included with the Sr80i.
Let me remind you, using flat pads, or doing the Quarter mod exposese the white drivers of the headphone. and if hair or dust gets in there you have a greater possibility of Grattle.. you dont want that. <Just reminding you.
 
but yea, these are very affordable headphones!
Very well worth the price paid!

 

[Brooko]

@rwat25
 
Headband - http://headphonelounge.com/products/grado-headbands/
Cups - http://headphonelounge.com/products/mahogany-grado-cups/
(There are other cup manufacturers - depending on how much you want to pay.  Look up Martin Custom Audio for some really amazing builds)
 
Personally I noticed no difference in sound changing the cable - I just did it because I was sick of the original cable twisting so much.
 
For pads info - http://www.head-fi.org/a/grado-pad-choices-and-mods
For mod summary - http://www.head-fi.org/a/grado-modification-overview
 
Also have a look at the Grado SR60 mod thread - it has loads of info.  Ask in that thread for specialised help - you're sure to get answers.
 
Personally I'd put the MS1i around the level os the SR125i - but well short of the SR225i.  Many view the SR225i as being the "sweet spot" of the Grado SR range. 

 

[Brooko]

Quote:

Let me remind you, using flat pads, or doing the Quarter mod exposese the white drivers of the headphone. and if hair or dust gets in there you have a greater possibility of Grattle.. you dont want that. <Just reminding you.
 

 
It doesn't expose the driver actually.  There is a protective white cloth over the housing which is there to protect the driver.  Some people also remove this - but I wouldn't advise it - that's when you really expose the driver, and I don't think removing it actually affects the sound much if at all.

 

[rwat25]

@brooko
 
oh wait im wrong about the sr225i sounding like the ms-1. yeah youre right its the sr125i not the sr225i.
 
how hard is replacing the cups? do u just simply remove the drivers and put it in the new one? would the wooden cups from the link be just a slip ons?
 
i know you sent me a link about the cushions but for better soundstage and detail or natural sound which would you think is the best? G-cush or L-cush or comfies with the quater mod?
And im confuse about flat pads. are they like the comfies but flat?
 
Also the reason i wanna recable would prolly be for putting the ipod control cables and shortening the cable or probably making it to have a detachable cable (this one is more like a dream but i hope its possible)
 
@PinoyPogiman
 
Koss Headphones have to be listenend on a high volume and thats all ive been using except an in-ear earbuds klipsch s4 image, which doesnt could be listened to low volume. So im prolly used to the koss because u really have to put it on high volume to hear koss. but like i said grados are amazing even in low volumes. you basically hear what youre suppose to hear even in noisy environment. well i think its a good thing these headphone does not isolate much because i wanna hear my surroundings and even with no isolation i feel like the sound doesnt down grade.
 
well i have no experience in recabling so i wouldnt do yet until i practice on cheaper headphones.

 

[spyrusthevirus]

I recieved a pair of slightly modded grados SR80i (damped with audio foam and dollop mod+sonny headband) and withing the hour i feel part of the erado fan club. this is plain amazing for the humble 100$ I paid. or the 120$ I would pay for a new pair. they have the original comfy, closed pads.
Among others I tried removing the pads to listen to the difference. Its huge. Its better. SO MUCH better. in fact I just ordered a pair of senheiser pads to mod them. but I'd also like the original L-cush pads. It seems grado's policy of resellers also applies to replacements and parts so I was unable to find a seller for greece (they do sell the cans-just not the pads). is there any other way for me to get them? A pm with an ebay link, a shop, or a member able to ship those privately to me would be very much appreciated.
 
oh and these most definately need a headphone amp. volume from the laptop's output is adequate most of the time, but it needs more. and the "preamp"  from foobar2k is (as expected) distorting te sound at peaks and high volumes. I haven't tried pluging them to the headphone output of my speaker amp yet though. I should do so in a minute.
 
EDIT: I did use the speaker amp's headphone output. Big difference. Brighter sound, bass that seems a bit tighter and more defined, much better instrument/voice transparency. The violins from the emperor concerto are shining into my ears. and the piano's dynamics are of the charts. this is the ****.
I thought "hey lets put on the grosse fuge, see how this baby does with polyphony. excuse me but holy ****.
Let me end the rant, if this low cost pair sounds like this, I do not dare imagine what a 1k pair with the proper, similarily priced, sounds like.

 

[Focker]

Welcome aboard, Spyrus! I know exactly what you mean...when I heard the 80s for the first time, even my unmodded ones, I really couldn't believe what I was  hearing. My frame of referrence is high end home audio, and after my first headphone experience with some sennheiser 518s I really wasn't sure what all the fuss was about. I got talked in to trying some Grados and the rest is history. 
 
And you're right about the amp...honestly I'm slowly moving into the camp that advocates for an amp even on the lower grados. I feel like I'm getting a good 90% of their potential from just my iPhone, but that last 10% is becoming more noticeable to me when I fire up either of my desktop amps. The 325s clearly benefitted from an amp, but I never really used one with the 80s until just recently. In low gain setting, the Meier Jazz really grabs hold of these things. 
 
Oh, and you don't even need to get to the 1k price point....the PS500s are stellar headphones and the RS-1s are arguably the most venerable phones that Grado has ever produced. 

 

[Brooko]

Quote:

@brooko
 
oh wait im wrong about the sr225i sounding like the ms-1. yeah youre right its the sr125i not the sr225i.
 
how hard is replacing the cups? do u just simply remove the drivers and put it in the new one? would the wooden cups from the link be just a slip ons?
 
i know you sent me a link about the cushions but for better soundstage and detail or natural sound which would you think is the best? G-cush or L-cush or comfies with the quater mod?
And im confuse about flat pads. are they like the comfies but flat?
 
Also the reason i wanna recable would prolly be for putting the ipod control cables and shortening the cable or probably making it to have a detachable cable (this one is more like a dream but i hope its possible)

 
If you're using the Headphone Lounge cups - it's not hard at all.  they use notches for the cables rather than holes - so you can leave the original cable attached.  Basically you separate the plastic cups (I used a hair dryer, rotating gently around the cups (not over the driver) until the glue loosens enough to pry them apart.  Then you liberate the driver from the plastic enclosure (I used a small chisel, and was very careful).  After that, apply the tape, insert the driver into the enclosure, attach the gimbals, and you are up and running.
 
Mine are actually full woodies (Cabilla's Iroko) - so I had to desolder and resolder the cable.
 
Pads are very much a personal choice.  I didn't really like the TTVJ flats or the comfies (a lot of people swear by them though).  I love the bowls (L cush).  Don't get the G Cush (Jumbos) - they'll really screw up the sound on your SR80is - unless you use extenders.  If you want to look at what is involved - take a look at the MS1000 thread.  If I was you - I'd start with a pair of Senn414 pads, and reverse quarter mod them.  They're dirt cheap and will sit somewhere between the comfies and bowls sonically.  If you like the effect - try the bowls after that.
 
Oh and the TTVJ flats are similar to bowl material, but q-mod comfy appearance (if that makes sense).
 
The only reason I recabled was to shorten it, and because I hated the twistyness of the stock cable.
 
Hope this helped in some way.

 

[PinoyPogiman]

Quote:

@brooko
 
oh wait im wrong about the sr225i sounding like the ms-1. yeah youre right its the sr125i not the sr225i.
 
how hard is replacing the cups? do u just simply remove the drivers and put it in the new one? would the wooden cups from the link be just a slip ons?
 
i know you sent me a link about the cushions but for better soundstage and detail or natural sound which would you think is the best? G-cush or L-cush or comfies with the quater mod?
And im confuse about flat pads. are they like the comfies but flat?
 
Also the reason i wanna recable would prolly be for putting the ipod control cables and shortening the cable or probably making it to have a detachable cable (this one is more like a dream but i hope its possible)
 
@PinoyPogiman
 
Koss Headphones have to be listenend on a high volume and thats all ive been using except an in-ear earbuds klipsch s4 image, which doesnt could be listened to low volume. So im prolly used to the koss because u really have to put it on high volume to hear koss. but like i said grados are amazing even in low volumes. you basically hear what youre suppose to hear even in noisy environment. well i think its a good thing these headphone does not isolate much because i wanna hear my surroundings and even with no isolation i feel like the sound doesnt down grade.
 
well i have no experience in recabling so i wouldnt do yet until i practice on cheaper headphones.

I owned, loved and cherished my Koss Portapro's since the day i bought them. in no way id toss them out
i always keep it hanging on Banana Stands for awesome display.
 
But yea, the PP's are Semi-Open. and dont sound as airy as Grado's
the good thing is, they dont Leak sound that bad,
 
But when i was in noisy environments i always tried to keep it at a minimum most of the time.
 
Either way, they both let sound in

 

[PinoyPogiman]

Quote:

@brooko
 
oh wait im wrong about the sr225i sounding like the ms-1. yeah youre right its the sr125i not the sr225i.
 
how hard is replacing the cups? do u just simply remove the drivers and put it in the new one? would the wooden cups from the link be just a slip ons?
 
i know you sent me a link about the cushions but for better soundstage and detail or natural sound which would you think is the best? G-cush or L-cush or comfies with the quater mod?
And im confuse about flat pads. are they like the comfies but flat?
 
Also the reason i wanna recable would prolly be for putting the ipod control cables and shortening the cable or probably making it to have a detachable cable (this one is more like a dream but i hope its possible)
 
@PinoyPogiman
 
Koss Headphones have to be listenend on a high volume and thats all ive been using except an in-ear earbuds klipsch s4 image, which doesnt could be listened to low volume. So im prolly used to the koss because u really have to put it on high volume to hear koss. but like i said grados are amazing even in low volumes. you basically hear what youre suppose to hear even in noisy environment. well i think its a good thing these headphone does not isolate much because i wanna hear my surroundings and even with no isolation i feel like the sound doesnt down grade.
 
well i have no experience in recabling so i wouldnt do yet until i practice on cheaper headphones.

Oh and yea, if you really have an ambition to earn the skill of Recabling.
i wouldnt do it, but making Removable cords for Grado's sounds pretty interesting. and useful at the same time..
because Grado cords ARE really heavy

 

[our martin]

If you want noise canceling you won't find it with grados, bose are the ones for that!

 

[jiiikoo]

Ah, I just got an e-mail with my tracking number for the Alessandros I ordered!

 

[spyrusthevirus]

It turns out all I had to do was ask. I emailed Grado, explaied that I was given (ie, sold from a member here) the phones from a friend, they had recieved various mods and among others did not have the original headband accessories. I also included the fact that I am located in Greece. Warranty is obviously void, and even if it weren't I dont have anything (receipt and so on).
So the reply was "do you have a US adress?". They didn't even bother with the "I am in Greece." part it seems.  I do have a us adress from a packet forwarding company, so it should be all good
It seems they do not really care about how I got the headphones at all. Small and inexpenssive (and propably fragile as well) parts will be sent right away with no questions asked. As long as you have a US adress of course haha.
I guess parting with a couple of dollars and getting an once gain happy person owning Grados is a fair deal for a company.

 

[PinoyPogiman]

Quote:

It turns out all I had to do was ask. I emailed Grado, explaied that I was given (ie, sold from a member here) the phones from a friend, they had recieved various mods and among others did not have the original headband accessories. I also included the fact that I am located in Greece. Warranty is obviously void, and even if it weren't I dont have anything (receipt and so on).
So the reply was "do you have a US adress?". They didn't even bother with the "I am in Greece." part it seems.  I do have a us adress from a packet forwarding company, so it should be all good
It seems they do not really care about how I got the headphones at all. Small and inexpenssive (and propably fragile as well) parts will be sent right away with no questions asked. As long as you have a US adress of course haha.
I guess parting with a couple of dollars and getting an once gain happy person owning Grados is a fair deal for a company.

indeed, Grado has the reputation for without a doubt, Outstanding customer service