HELP!!MY BOWL PADS SOUND TINNY?

[Beagle]

Now you have to understand that when I auditioned the RS-2 headphones in Montreal using Peter Gabriel as a demo disc, they sounded fine. Bought them in March. Now I find that the bowl pads sound thin and the flats are a tad bassy and grainy in the treble.

Also another problem..when I go to the RS-2 immediately after having listened to the HD650 for a few days, the RS-2 sounds honky and coloured but it goes away after a few minutes. And after I adjust, I realize that I like the RS-2's overall sound and dynam

ics better, yet I miss the smoothness and seamlessness that is apparent with the HD650. After the RS-2, the HD650 can sound a bit flat and bland, even when cranking them up (this using the X-CAN V3). The sound is a little too smooth. But I still don't feel the Grado matches the 650's top to bottom evenness of response.

The size of the HD650 also bothers me. I think they are too massy and bulky, despite their lightness and comfort. There always seems to be excess pressure around the side of the head area.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[nichifanlema]

lotsa typo.....kinda hard to understand

............
can anyone decipher that?

 

[Kirosia]

He says that when he originally auditioned the RS-2, they sounded good. But now that he has them, with the bowls they sound tinny, with the flats the bass is more prominent and the treble is grainy.

After he listens to the HD650, the RS-2 sounds colored and stuff.

The RS-2 and the HD650 are completely different phones. The RS-2 is more euphonic, upfront, and smaller in soundstage. It's a grado vs sennheiser thing. Two different sonic characteristics, but both good.

 

[mulveling]

Try putting on the bowl pads reversed - flip them around so that the flat sides will face your ears. I find his reaches a sort of middle ground between the flats and bowls, in terms of both bass and treble, assuming you can handle the comfort issues.

As for switching from the hd650s to rs2s, yes, your ears will partially adapt to the sonic signature of whatever you've been listening to. Since the 650s and rs2s are so drastically different, this process will be especially noticeable.

 

[bln]

Kind of an unusual post for a 3-year veteran and "Headphoneus Supremus." Is this a joke?

 

[skitlets]

Maybe he was so upset at this revelation that he had to have a few drinks?

 

[Permonic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bln Kind of an unusual post for a 3-year veteran and "Headphoneus Supremus." Is this a joke?

EDIT.

 

[Beagle]

I made some changes and it should be a bit more ligible now. Was in a bit of a rush last night.

 

[hop ham]

I feel the same way regarding the 650's and the RS-1's. I don't have any problems with the bowls -- I like them much better than the flats.

I just recently received the 650's with the Mobius and they had enough time to settle down. I find the 650 sound very even throughout and the RS-1's definately seem colored in comparison. If I compare them back to back, the 650's sound a little more boring initially, but after spending more time with them, they sound more balanced than the RS-1's, so the length of time I allow my ears to adjust effects how I feel about them in comparison. Once I put the RS-1's back on, I initially think they sound tipped up on the high-end, but more dynamic.

So far after owning the 650's for a short amount of time, I can see how I would want to use the 650's more for extended listening and the RS-1's for shorter listening. I still beleive that the RS-1's are more involving and suck you into the music more -- but this might be because I've owned them for a while. Things may change with time.

 

[Beagle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hop ham I feel the same way regarding the 650's and the RS-1's. I don't have any problems with the bowls -- I like them much better than the flats. I just recently received the 650's with the Mobius and they had enough time to settle down. I find the 650 sound very even throughout and the RS-1's definately seem colored in comparison. If I compare them back to back, the 650's sound a little more boring initially, but after spending more time with them, they sound more balanced than the RS-1's, so the length of time I allow my ears to adjust effects how I feel about them in comparison. Once I put the RS-1's back on, I initially think they sound tipped up on the high-end, but more dynamic. So far after owning the 650's for a short amount of time, I can see how I would want to use the 650's more for extended listening and the RS-1's for shorter listening. I still beleive that the RS-1's are more involving and suck you into the music more -- but this might be because I've owned them for a while. Things may change with time.

Good post. I suppose that the "blandness" I perceive might be accuracy, as far as headphone accuracy goes. Perhaps live unamped music might also sound bland and boring next to the added punch and tipped up midrange that many hi fi systems provide, which is exciting but not accurate.

But I'll stick with what I've always considered to be the real mojo of each phone...the Grado (w/flats) offers a pretty accurate simulation of live music from a "close up" point of reference, and the Sennheiser from a more distant perspective. It's usually more exciting the closer to the musicians you get, but others might prefer to be further back and let the music come to their ears. And some might fall asleep listening to Martin Logans while getting right into Pro-Ac's or Totem speakers and vice versa.

I do find the bowl pads offer speed, snap, clarity, soundstage...but cymbals and vocal sibilants tend to sound spitty, and when 90% of recordings sound that way, you are convinced that it's nor right.

I think that if Grado made a bowl pad that was covered with that velvet material that the HD600/650 has, it might tame that problem, soak up some of those excess highs.

 

[hop ham]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagle Good post. I suppose that the "blandness" I perceive might be accuracy, as far as headphone accuracy goes. Perhaps live unamped music might also sound bland and boring next to the added punch and tipped up midrange that many hi fi systems provide, which is exciting but not accurate. But I'll stick with what I've always considered to be the real mojo of each phone...the Grado (w/flats) offers a pretty accurate simulation of live music from a "close up" point of reference, and the Sennheiser from a more distant perspective. It's usually more exciting the closer to the musicians you get, but others might prefer to be further back and let the music come to their ears. And some might fall asleep listening to Martin Logans while getting right into Pro-Ac's or Totem speakers and vice versa. I do find the bowl pads offer speed, snap, clarity, soundstage...but cymbals and vocal sibilants tend to sound spitty, and when 90% of recordings sound that way, you are convinced that it's nor right. I think that if Grado made a bowl pad that was covered with that velvet material that the HD600/650 has, it might tame that problem, soak up some of those excess highs.

I agree. Even though I prefer the bowls, I don't think they're perfect. The cymbals definately sound off as well as "sss" sounds. You described the characteristics of bowls accurately IMO. I guess this is where people split on them. I'm willing to put up with the drawbacks of bowls -- or at least more so than the flats.

Ever since I received the HD650's I've been asking myself if I prefer the accuracy to the lively sound of the RS-1's. The Grado aggressiveness and bite is a very addicting/entrancing sound. The HD650 accuracy and smoothness is a very civil/refined sound. Having both isn't all that bad I guess.

 

[joelongwood]

Beagle, try the squash mod............put the bowl pads between some VERY heavy books, and leave them there for a day or so. At first, they spring back fairly quickly when removed, but after a few times, they tend to squash against your ears pretty easily. Kind of a cross between a bowl pad and a flat. I've done that to all my bowls, and I like the effect a lot. Give it a try, you might like it.

 

[tanfenton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagle Good post. I suppose that the "blandness" I perceive might be accuracy, as far as headphone accuracy goes. Perhaps live unamped music might also sound bland and boring next to the added punch and tipped up midrange that many hi fi systems provide, which is exciting but not accurate.

Wow. If that's accuracy, I need to start hiding from reality.

NGF

 

[Beagle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelongwood Beagle, try the squash mod............put the bowl pads between some VERY heavy books, and leave them there for a day or so. At first, they spring back fairly quickly when removed, but after a few times, they tend to squash against your ears pretty easily. Kind of a cross between a bowl pad and a flat. I've done that to all my bowls, and I like the effect a lot. Give it a try, you might like it.

Thanks, I'll give that a try. I have quite a few pairs of bowls. I'll sacrifice a pair and experiment!