Grado SR225e vs Philips Fidelio X2 for metal and rock?

[Aerokitsune]

This is my first post on Head-Fi! I look forward to many more posts in the future, and it feels great to talk to people who share a passion of mine. 
 
Right away, however, I'd like to state that I wouldn't really call myself an audiophile in the same league as most people on here. I don't really use super high quality files or ultra high quality tube amplifiers. Just my music, a simple amp and DAC (currently using a Schiit Magni and Modi), and a good pair of headphones. I listen to a lot of metal, everything from Tool to Slayer, all the way to early Sabbath, and even a lot of modern death metal. I absolutely ADORE my HD598s, but I'm in the market for something new, and a bit more fun. What I love about the 598s is the fact that they just sound great. They sound really smooth and rich in the midrange, and have bass that satisfies me greatly, not too loud, not too soft, just very punchy and active. However, I'm looking for some headphones that would compliment my HD598s. I'm looking for something with similar bass, but a bit louder. I like bass that hits hard but isn't boomy, so I like the punch of the bass guitar and the hit of the double bass. I love myself some midrange, but in this new headphone I want something slightly recessed, not to crazy. I want the crunch of the guitars to shine through and sound heavy as all hell. When it comes to treble, I love smooth and dark.
 
Onto the story: I went and auditioned a few headphones that I really wanted at the time. I tried the HD600s and can say that these are one of my favorites, but I also loved the SR80is I heard. After narrowing it down based on auditions and reviews, I came down to two headphones, the Grado SR225e and the Philips Fidelio X2. And that's where I needed help.
 
I really wanted to try them both, but to no avail. Price is not an issue, as both are within my range. Comfort is a factor, but clamping force is not as important as how they feel on a head of rather long hair. Looks aren't important at all, but if I got the Grados I'd probably get some wooden cups for them, because they would look so nice. This will be for home use and long car rides. 
 
Any help is appreciated, and I hope to get these headphones soon! 
 
For music, I would love something that took the guitar around the beginning of this song and made it crunch and shine:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taDE8gQj6aE
 
 
Whereas for this, I'd love to hear the bass a little bit better, but not overwhelmingly so:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB6n24ASc7w
 
TL;DR: Which headphone fits the criteria better: Not too much bass but more than the hd598, fun sounding mids that let guitar crunch shine through, and smooth treble. Between the two, I'm fairly confident either one will be great, but I want to get some opinions.
 
Thanks, and have a wonderful day!

 

[Monsterzero]

I dont think either fit your TL,DR description very well,but the Grado is closer...

The Grado has the mids for guitar but nobody has ever called Grados "smooth" in the higher regions.I also dont find them to be exceptionally fast for stuff like what you posted in the first video.

The X2 is a very nice headphone for electronica,hip/hop,gaming....not so great for metal IMO.I own the X1 and have like 8 other pairs that I would reach for when listening to metal before I resorted to X2s....and theyre not as fast as the Grados.

If you can get past the peaks in the Grado frequency IMO its no contest,for metal.

EDIT: For comfort...X2 by a long shot....Grados arent comfy.

I re-read your post and early on you want "slightly recessed mids" and then later you say you want guitar crunch to shine thru...confusing.

You want crunchy guitars Grados will deliver,but the mids are far from recessed....X2 mids sound much more recessed,which is why I dont like em for metal.

 

[Me x3]

  TL;DR: Which headphone fits the criteria better: Not too much bass but more than the hd598, fun sounding mids that let guitar crunch shine through, and smooth treble. Between the two, I'm fairly confident either one will be great, but I want to get some opinions.
 
Thanks, and have a wonderful day!

HD650 has more bass than HD598 and smoother treble as well.
Upper midrange is relatively forward, although slightly less forward than HD600.
HD650 has slightly bigger soundstage than HD600 and it's just a tad more microdetailed. It might be what you're looking for.
 
Fidelio X2 has BIG bass and lively treble (not that smooth) and it's not on pair with HD650 in terms of clarity, timbre or detail in my experience. More of a quality consumer headphone, next to a darkish reference headphone (HD650).
 
It really depends on how you want your metal to sound.
Some might love the Grado and hate the HD598/HD600/HD650 and vice versa.
Your preferences are very important.

 

[Monsterzero]

   
It really depends on how you want your metal to sound.
Some might love the Grado and hate the HD598/HD600/HD650 and vice versa.
Your preferences are very important.

Very true,i personally dislike the HD6xx line for metal....I find it to be too slow and too polite/not enough bite in the guitars.
That being said I like an incredibly aggressive fwd guitar sound,fast headphones,which is why I prefer AKG K240 sextett MP and AD2000s for metal,but neither are an option for OP.

Grado is prolly the closest to what sound I like,but as you said personal preference is important.

 

[Aerokitsune]

So I think I've decided on the Grados, and I'm probably getting some nice soft pads for them. I saw that there were these Alessandro MS1 that were around $100 less than the Grado SR225e. Also, maybe it's worth mentioning that I already owned a pair of Grados, the SR60e. I really liked them (until they broke after a rather tough impact) but I felt that there was a lot more boom in the bass than I wanted, to the point that it was obscuring the other instruments. I have demoed the SR80e, and I absolutely loved them, although I had to go with the less expensive option in the end. I'd say that if the SR225e sounds just as aggressive as the SR60e, but have a little less boom and a little more punch and are overall clearer, I might buy them in a heartbeat.
 
I would love to get some HD600s, but they are a little bit too much money for right now. I can find them for around 70 bucks more than the SR225e, but to me they sound really good. I have a FiiO A3 for my portable amp, and my Magni/Modi combo for home. 

 

[ProtegeManiac]

For music, I would love something that took the guitar around the beginning of this song and made it crunch and shine:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taDE8gQj6aE
 
 
Whereas for this, I'd love to hear the bass a little bit better, but not overwhelmingly so:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB6n24ASc7w

 
The Grado will deliver the added "crunch" to the guitars but only halfway for the bass. They have a boost in the upper bass region but tend to roll off earlier than the HD600 for example. 

 

[Aerokitsune]

Will it be around the same kind of bass as the HD598s? Maybe a little bit more? I don't really care for boomy bass that much anyways, I just like precision and punch. If that's what these SR225es can do, I'm sold.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  Will it be around the same kind of bass as the HD598s? Maybe a little bit more? I don't really care for boomy bass that much anyways, I just like precision and punch. If that's what these SR225es can do, I'm sold.

 

You won't get "precision" with something that has a jagged response curve. Also, reaching down deeper doesn't mean boomy, the key is how much louder it is anywhere below 120hz vs 1000hz. Grados are much louder at roughly 80hz to 120hz but then drops down below where 1000hz is below that.

 

You can get more precise response from 1000hz down with something like the HE400i, but the downside there is that has a vast drop between 1000hz and 3500hz, has a slight peak higher than 1000hz there, then drops off and then rises again past where 1000hz is at 8000hz. Overall the curve is still smoother, but while you get a flatter response at low bass range, you probably won't get the enhanced "crunch" that you're looking for.

 

[Monsterzero]

  So I think I've decided on the Grados, and I'm probably getting some nice soft pads for them. I saw that there were these Alessandro MS1 that were around $100 less than the Grado SR225e. Also, maybe it's worth mentioning that I already owned a pair of Grados, the SR60e. I really liked them (until they broke after a rather tough impact) but I felt that there was a lot more boom in the bass than I wanted, to the point that it was obscuring the other instruments. I have demoed the SR80e, and I absolutely loved them, although I had to go with the less expensive option in the end. I'd say that if the SR225e sounds just as aggressive as the SR60e, but have a little less boom and a little more punch and are overall clearer, I might buy them in a heartbeat.
 
 

I do believe the Ms1 is a retuned Grado 80e(could be wrong)or a 125e
The Ms2e is def a retuned 325e

For "metal" the punch" youre describing is mid bass which there is plenty of in Grados/ Alesandros...

Be aware that changing the pads makes a significant difference on how they sound.I have found that the best pads are the least cozy,and the bowls are worst sounding,but most comfortable.

I would recommend highly getting L-cush for best sound,and then another pad to hear the difference.

There is also a simple mod you can do with L-cush that tightens up and increases bass...simply tape the outer edge all the way around the outer rim on both sides....it works,and easily reversed if you dont like it.I use electrical tape. 

On my Alessandro Ms2e I had to remove the tape as there was too much mid bass.

 

[Me x3]

If you want sort of a crossbreed between Grado SR225 and the Sennheisers, check the Yamaha HPH-200.
It used to be a 199usd headphone but I'm pretty sure you can find it cheaper these days.
It has a forward, in your face but open sound sound like Grados, with lively treble.
It has raised mid-bass but the bump is just a tad broader giving a slightly warmer tonality with punch.

 

[Monsterzero]

  If you want sort of a crossbreed between Grado SR225 and the Sennheisers, check the Yamaha HPH-200.
It used to be a 199usd headphone but I'm pretty sure you can find it cheaper these days.
It has a forward, in your face but open sound sound like Grados, with lively treble.
It has raised mid-bass but the bump is just a tad broader giving a slightly warmer tonality with punch.

Interesting.
Never even heard of these before,so I searched em and found a thread started by.....you!

http://www.head-fi.org/t/640370/yamaha-hph-200-pictures-and-review-updated

Have you ever a/b them vs a Grado? Which has more attack on guitars?

 

[Me x3]

  Interesting.
Never even heard of these before,so I searched em and found a thread started by.....you!

http://www.head-fi.org/t/640370/yamaha-hph-200-pictures-and-review-updated

Have you ever a/b them vs a Grado? Which has more attack on guitars?

Yes! Had those in the past.
Grados have more attack on guitars due to raised upper mid-range vs relatively flat upper midrange on the Yamahas.
HPH-200 are relatively sharp and lively sounding but more Beyer-like in that regard.

 

[Monsterzero]

 
Yes! Had those in the past.
Grados have more attack on guitars due to raised upper mid-range vs relatively flat upper midrange on the Yamahas.
HPH-200 are relatively sharp and lively sounding but more Beyer-like in that regard.

ok ,good to hear.That means i dont have to go run out and grab a pair....Grados are too laid back for me

 

 

[Me x3]

  ok ,good to hear.That means i dont have to go run out and grab a pair....Grados are too laid back for me

 

Too laid back around 2kHz???

 

[Monsterzero]

 
Too laid back around 2kHz???

For guitar presentation...midrange...lets say a stage is 20 steps back to front...

Grados sound to me about 3-5 feet from front.
HD600-about 10 feet
AD2000s- about 2 and half feet from front,but a much better overall sound.
AKG K240 Mid production Sextetts-guitars are standing right next to your ears...vocals about 2 steps back...highly aggressive sound...love em.