Okay, so I don't like grados. What will I like?

[xformulax]

get the g-cush pads and keep the 325's

 

[Duncandun]

So, I'm kind of leaning towards the ms-400s just because every damn review I've found(theres not THAT many though) has been pretty much positively glowing.
 
The only con is the price, and If I can pick them up for ~170, I'd be curbing that a little bit atleast!
 
Plus they look great.
 
someone stop me if this is a bad idea

 

[Duncandun]

Quote:

So, I'm kind of leaning towards the ms-400s just because every damn review I've found(theres not THAT many though) has been pretty much positively glowing.
 
The only con is the price, and If I can pick them up for ~170, I'd be curbing that a little bit atleast!
 
Plus they look great.
 
someone stop me if this is a bad idea

or of course the hd25-1 II, if i can get them cheaper than the ms400's anyway... having a hard time finding them for less than 199.
 

 

[2rooi123]

 
Quote:

So, I'm kind of leaning towards the ms-400s just because every damn review I've found(theres not THAT many though) has been pretty much positively glowing.
 
The only con is the price, and If I can pick them up for ~170, I'd be curbing that a little bit atleast!
 
Plus they look great.
 
someone stop me if this is a bad idea

Go get it. they are very fun sounding which should suit you if you hate grado sound. Mine has been burned in for a few weeks now. The bass is strong and clean without intruding the mids and highs. For 170 you cant go wrong with it

 

[arteom]

I had a pair of MS-2's for a brief time which sounded really good (though kinda bright) but the discomfort was way too much. They are too heavy, and that certainly adds to that. There was really no question, I couldn't keep them. The MS2 is supposed to be a tamer version of the 325 I guess. Now, as far as the Senn HD-25 goes... its super portable, light, stays on your head, can be worn for a few hours without much discomfort (with the velour pads). The sound is a bit darker, and honestly I thought the MS2 was better for guitars and synthesizers. But its a compromise. You can listen for a few hours vs 30 minutes, due both to comfort and the sound not being so bright. The 25's will also isolate very well, wont break on you, travel well. 
 
If you like guitar music and electronic, it will work fine. It's when you get into piano music you start to dislike the hd-25. 

 

[xformulax]

i dont find them bright at all, but i will agree that they're a bit heavy... i find myself grabbing my MS1's more often because they're lighter than my MS2.  MS1 bass is a bit overdone and borderline muddy though IMO... i love the bass on the MS2, gonna try a few different pad options with the ms1 though (comfort isnt a huge deal, i can get by 4-5 hours with a grado, which at that point i'd like to take a break no matter what i'm wearing)
 
KSE + MS2i right now... lovely

 

[Duncandun]

Anyone try the Creative Aurvana Live! ?

 

[Awah]

+1 For the Phiaton MS400s'
 
So much fun to listen to. Love the bass (sometimes a tad heavy, but seems very dependent on the recording) love the mids and the highs don't kill my ears (big deal for me, so sensitive to high freq.)
 
I've had no issues with any genre but I mainly listen to electronic music.
 
But seriously, great portable, easy to drive, look create and a blast to listen too.
 
Sucks you missed the deal in May, was dead on your price point.
 
Highly recommend them!

 

[Duncandun]

 
Quote:

+1 For the Phiaton MS400s'
 
So much fun to listen to. Love the bass (sometimes a tad heavy, but seems very dependent on the recording) love the mids and the highs don't kill my ears (big deal for me, so sensitive to high freq.)
 
I've had no issues with any genre but I mainly listen to electronic music.
 
But seriously, great portable, easy to drive, look create and a blast to listen too.
 
Sucks you missed the deal in May, was dead on your price point.
 
Highly recommend them!

there was a deal in may?

 

[Awah]

Ya bought mine then. Was $199+tax+s&h on headphone.com. $259 reg

 

[Ham Sandwich]

I have a SR325is and it is not a headphone I would want as my only headphone or as a primary headphone.  Too much music just doesn't work on it and some music is just horridly bad.  The SR325is is a headphone to have after you already have 2 or 3 other headphones that you like and plan to use it for those Grado moments when you crave it particular Grado sound and will pick music to suit them.
 
I had a listen to Jónsi - Go Do over at vimeo.  Not pretty at all on the SR325is.  Not pretty at all.  The parts of the song that are brickwalled just sound very unpleasant on the SR325is.
 
The SR325is is much more happy with music like Tracy Chapman - Telling Stories which is an album I was just listening to on the SR325is.  I bought the SR325is for music like that.  I don't use that Grado for metal or post-rock and similar music that Grados are often touted as being a good match for.  The SR325is isn't that kind of Grado.
 
But while you've got the 325 you might as well have some fun with it.  Bend the headband as shown here on Headphile (scroll to the middle of the long page).  Flatten the top of the headband and bend them in right above each rod slider holder thing.  That will get the pads (bowls) to rest more flat around your ears and the headphones will be more comfortable to wear.  They'll also sound better when the pads fit flat around the ears.  Then find some music that suits them and enjoy them for what they are.
 
I don't know of a headphone to suggest for you.  I'm much better at identifying headphones that I don't like than find ones that I do.  I do like the Denon D2000 but to make them sound right I EQ them to fix the recessed midrange and that requires using a media player like Foobar that can add-in a suitable parametric EQ.  Without the EQ the D2000 is only so so depending on the music (not all music I listen to relies on upper midrange sounds).
 
Caution on the Phiaton MS400.  I had a listen to them at a local shop.  Just a short listen, but enough to know they aren't something I want.  They have a very sucked out upper midrange.  I have the Denon D2000 which also has a recessed upper midrange so I know what a recessed upper midrange sounds like.  The MS400 has a much much worse drop in the upper mids than the D2000.  The frequency graph for the MS400 takes a cliff dive at those frequencies.  I don't see it would be fixable even with an EQ.  The upper mids are important for rock because that is where the buzz in a distorted guitar is.  Some rock vocals also have effects that add in some upper midrange sounds.  Recess those frequencies and the guitar or vocals can sound very dull.  In some cases a guitar can go missing in the mix because the upper mids are gone.  If you listen to anything that has a distorted guitar sound taking the lead it is going to suffer badly on the MS400.  Electronic music will generally be fine cause it generally doesn't rely on sounds in the upper mids.

 

[wind016]

hey, before you really decide to get rid of the headphones, have you tried washing the pads?  take out the pads and wash them. it will become MUCH more comfortable.
 
If you are still inclined to get another set of headphones, I would recommend the Denon series to be very versatile. I love my AKG K701s but more for accoustic music.  If you want really nice sounding portable headphones, the Audio Technica ESW and ES series are amazing.

 

[beez]

try some ttvj flat pads. seriously. they will probably change everything you feel about grados. i cant imagine listening to my grados with anything but flats at this point. they really do make that big of a difference in comfort and sound quality. 

 

[xxlink]

 

Quote:

try some ttvj flat pads. seriously. they will probably change everything you feel about grados. i cant imagine listening to my grados with anything but flats at this point. they really do make that big of a difference in comfort and sound quality

 
I agree with beez, if you like the sound of the grados I would suggest trying the ttvj flat pads. I personally don't have any discomfort with my grados, but I know that a lot of people do. I listened to some grados with the ttvj flat pads at CanJam, and they were really comfortable. It may be worth checking out. 

 

[xformulax]

i dont find the flats any more comfortable than the l-cush.
 
may try reversed and quartered HD414 pads for the best balance.... comfies are well, comfy, but SQ takes a hit.
 
 
also, dont buy anything from TTVJ, horribly overpriced shipping.