hehehe, this is such a friendly community .... I really appreciate the words of caution and support. I suppose there is a risk in tweaking and it's worth pointing out but I was hoping for just the basics (if there is such a thing) ... my budget is SO small right now, I'm basically choosing from Grado, M50, and these. I had and loved the m50s but found them to be ultimately kind of tiring (mostly because of the v-shape, even with white box) ... I like the Grado's but would likely find them tiring in the long run. The t50s seem the most neutral of my choices, but I am slightly worried about the roll off at the extremes.
If I could have any phone I would choose LCD2, then HD650, so I think i appreciate a warm-ish sig with deep tight bass but overall neutrality and lots of detail. I dont mind slightly recessed highs as long as there is true clarity and detail retrieval. I'm not terribly picky, so if there is any agreed upon mods (besides changing pads, which i can do) that can deepen and tighten bass, I'd def appreciate anyone with a track record working on a pair. I have yet to buy them, but if i can come to an agreement I would probably buy them next week! This purchase would allow me more budget for my DAC, so I would love it if this route works.
Besides the ortho-midy goodness, what are the strengths of this phone? I have gleaned that the black background, smooth and natural (opposed to neutral) timber, and clarity are really up there, which does sound REALLY promising ... can they get LOUD if properly amped and how are they with distortion?