Grado RS-1 - Headache-inducing?

[Raymond Kim]

I do not mean to bash the Grado RS-1s in any way...

I think they are an awesome pair of headphones, and I'd like to listen to music through them all day.

The only problem is that I get headaches when listening to the Grado RS-1s. Oddly enough, the Sony CD3000 does not give me headaches.

Anyone else have this kind of experience? What can I do to prevent headaches popping up when listening to the RS-1s?

 

[pigmode]

Trade'em in?

 

[Combat Bob]

Are you listening through an amp?

 

[Raymond Kim]

My dad has a deathgrip on the RS-1. He loves 'em to death and won't let them go.

And yes, I am listening through a headphone amp, the older Headroom Home, and I listen with the crossfeed turned on...

 

[Vertigo-1]

I'd chalk it up to a couple of possibilities...

1. Too much treble, leading to "ear bleeding" pain.

2. Too much bass...what you could be experiencing is a bass headache.

3. Too much volume...and with Grados, it's very easy to go way over what you should be listening at, despite whatever you may think or say.

4. The RS-1s have a death grip on your ears...and physical exhaustion leads to mental exhaustion.

I don't think option 1 is the problem since you say you're using Headroom's crossfeed with the RS-1s which I think sound rolled off by themselves...the crossfeed with RS-1s would roll off the highs even more. Option 2 is a high possibility since the crossfeed increases bass, and the RS-1's bass is more impacting and remains in the upper bass region. The CD3000's bass is more in the lower regions of the "feelable" area. Option 3 is obvious, and think about option 4.

 

[BenG]

The Grados may be fatiguing to you because they have a relatively uneven response compared to the Sonys and just about every other high-end can, for that matter.

 

[Beagle]

A solution: Find a pair of the older flat pads and loosen the headband a bit, perhaps they clamp on to your head a bit too tight.