Need some final input before taking the plunge. (Again)

[DarkWolf]

Well, I've been ranting about it to anyone who asks, but I'll summerize again.. I went to CadilacJack's house a few weeks ago to audition his Headfive, which I bought, and I got to hear his K701 and 325i. Well, needless to say, I'm not really satisfied with my HD590s any more. They sound so dark and lacking of detail and energy. I tried building a new cable with Canare StarQuad, but it just isn't enough. The others also had so much better immaging and sepperation, it was like night and day.

I had decided that I liked the 325i a little more than the K701. I realise that the K701 is probably the better overall phone, but I really like to rock and feel the energy in my music, so the Grado is for me. I also felt that the Grados did a better job with female vocals, namely Stevie Nicks, who I really like. They were a bit harsh at first, but we put the yellow flat pads on and suddenly all was right in the world. I think CadilacJack reached the same conclusion I did, or I probably would have already bought his.

The thing is, I've been reading a lot of reviews of different phones, and I have too many questions about things I haven't heard. Someone was selling some Audio-Technica AD-2000, and I read the glowing review on those and it seemed they might be even better (albiet more expensive) than the 325i... But they got sold, so that solves that problem. I can't really fit a brand new pair into the budget. Another phone that came up, is the newest edition of the DT770 of all things. Apparently, it still has the same great bass everyone keeps talking about, but it also has more focus on the mid to high range and exelent immaging. These things are all very important to me. Even though I'd prefer an open phone, I'll go where the right sound is.

So, given that I really like the 325i, and that I think the K701 is about 95% of the way there; I'd like them better than the Grados if only the vocals were a little sweeter and they had about 2x the bass, is there anything else that I absolutely need to hear first? Any comparisons to the above phones would be extrmely helpful, even if they only suspend me in confusion untill onother pair of 325i's show up used.

I'll probably just buy them new sometime this week otherwise. Thanks everyone.

 

[granodemostasa]

get the 325i, they blew away the HF1s, and all others at that kind of music at a recent mini meet.. i seriously think they are one of the most underrated cans on head-fi.

 

[DarkWolf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by granodemostasa /img/forum/go_quote.gif get the 325i, they blew away the HF1s, and all others at that kind of music at a recent mini meet.. i seriously think they are one of the most underrated cans on head-fi.

Sweet! I considered the HF-1 when a pair showed up used here for $350 or something, but I read about them and they seemed like a pricey, special addition of the 225. No thanks!

What other phones did you favor them over at the meet?

 

[3x331m]

You can find 325i or k701 used at about the same price range. If you like Rock, you might like the 325i a bit more.

I have both to cover all of my taste of music. You never know you might have both of them at a later time.

 

[Wmcmanus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3x331m /img/forum/go_quote.gif You can find 325i or k701 used at about the same price range. If you like Rock, you might like the 325i a bit more.

That's more or less my take on it as well. Both are excellent headphones, and I generally prefer the K701, but I'm not as much of a rocker as I used to be. Grados all seem to have forward mids and a narrow soundstage, and the 325i in particular has a very pronounced upper mids and lower treble region, which can be pretty cool for rock music.

The K701 have an expansive, almost wrap around, 3D-like soundstage, and as nice as this is for jazz and classical, it doesn't come into play as much for rock. So this is an excellent example of the "it depends" principle. While I would ordinarily recommend the K701 over the 325i as an "all arounder", I think the 325i would be a better fit for your needs because their strengths play right into what you're looking for.

 

[DarkWolf]

Thanks guys. I pretty much know that I prefer the 325i to the K701 for my taste, since I heard both. I just wanted to make sure there isn't anything else that I really need to hear first, like any Audio-Technicas, or DT770 or something like that.

 

[morphsci]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkWolf /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks guys. I pretty much know that I prefer the 325i to the K701 for my taste, since I heard both. I just wanted to make sure there isn't anything else that I really need to hear first, like any Audio-Technicas, or DT770 or something like that.

I also recommend the 325i for your use. You could also look at the MS2i, I have both and the difference between them is really pretty small. Both are very good rockers and as Wayne has stated they are currently underrated on Head-Fi (which is good for you on their used Price).

 

[Davesrose]

Sounds like the 325i is your first choice! That's actually the Grado can that I'm considering. But if you're considering bass bass bass.....how about the HD650 as your can after that?

There's no comparing the 590s to 580/600/650. Based on your previous threads about the 590s, I'm wondering how they sound compared to my 595s! Indications are that they seem pretty different. But the 650s are definitely the most different from the 325is. DT770, some ATs, are too similar to the 595s.....go for the extremes IMO!!!

 

[DarkWolf]

Ok, now I'm getting some really useful info. I would LOVE to hear fist hand about the difference between MS2i and 325i. I've read a lot of contradicting opinions about them, and really need a first hand account from someone who owns both. First of all, I don't think I've come across a real answer as to weather the MS2i is based on the 325i or just the original 325. I've heard the MS2 has a little less harshness in the highs, but even nore detail at the same time. I may have even heard reports that it might have even better bass? Those things would make it absolutely perfect for me. At the same time however, I've heard they are more laid back and "refined" in sort of a Sennheiser kind of way, and don't rock quite as hard. If that's the case, then I'd probably prefer the 325i. What do think? Thanks a bunch to everyone!

 

[F107plus5]

A little history of a "fatboy"!

When there was an MS2 and a SR-325 they shared the same housing but had different drivers. I understand that the SR-325 was way brighter and harsher than MS2 in those days, acording to many user reviews. The SR-325 was updated to the new larger housing and given both a gold tone finish and a change in drivers to celebrate Grados' 50th aniversary and to appeal to a larger audience.

The MS2 was also given the new housing, but remained in the "aluminum" finish.

It has never been officially designated "MS2i" however!! It soon did gain the "Fatboy" handle, but that went away rather quickly when folks realized that "fatboy" took a lot of keystrokes and it was easier to call it MS2"i" cuz it used the same housings as the SR-325i. While the SR-325 received a new driver to calm down the highs a bit, the MS2"i" retained its' original drivers

......I have, and am very happy with, MS2i but unfortunately have never heard the SR-325i.

 

[DarkWolf]

Hmm. thanks for the info. At least now, I have a better idea of how they are physicaly different.. I still haven't convinced someone who owns both to give me a real compairison though, and your info about the drivers still seems counter intuitive to about half of what I've heard about them. It seems they should be brighter then than the 325i, while most call them more nuteral and/or refined. Confusion continues.

Now I'm going to have to do some venting. You guys don't have to read this, but I know you will... Today is generaly my day off from work, but I went in anyway to try and earn a little extra cash since we have Thanksgiving off. It was *supposed* to be busy today, but they just gave me a whole mess of oil changes, a brake job that backed out, and a fuel system cleaning. I probably earned less than $25 all day! And to come home and find out that a nice looking pair of 325i's popped up for $225 and got sold all while I was at work!... I pretty much just paid $60 to change oil all day.

SO, I guess I'm here bumping my thread and dragging my feet, hoping another pair will show up soon. It took the last pair long enough though.

 

[F107plus5]

As I understand it; in the early days of the MS2 and SR-325, the SR-325 was quite a bit brighter than the MS2. When the SR-325i came out with new housings and new drivers, the highs were toned down quite a bit with the new drivers. Not quite down to the same level as the MS2 which didn't receive a new driver, but only the new housing.

In other words; the SR325 went from quite bright to not quite so bright while the MS2 went from not as bright as the SR-325i to not uh...as bright as the SR-325i.

So yeah; the MS2i is supposedly more neutral than the SR-325i which may be more exciting and "fun", but I don't know if one could call either model more refined than the other. In the refinement and retreival of details area I'd suspect that they'd both be just about the same.

Major bummer about work though. Timing can be just so unfair.

 

[DarkWolf]

Thanks agian for the input. I think I'm set for the 325i. I even have another lead on a low milage used pair!

Between F107plus5 and morphsci, I think I've gotten a good idea of the nature of the MS2i. Though I still wish I could hear them back to back...