In the negotiation of a trade I agreed to give up my J$ headband as part of the deal ( one if the last he had way back). A warning to those faced with this dilemma......don't do it! Lol!! They were and are perfect for a GRADO, comfortable and well made, and don't change the physics of the construction, except to add a much needed improvement in quality and comfort. I didn't realize what I had til it was gone, as they say. The mantas may have more padding, but they are just not the same. (Anybody out there willing to part with theirs, I'm very interested, just sayin') just a word to the wise, in my desire to trade for another set of phones, I didn't calculate this loss until it was to late.
As a footnote, I have come up with a way to liberate drivers from driver housing without heat and damage to housing via saw, x acto, etc. it is time consuming and requires a certain degree of skill, but can be done, and gives you a perfectly usable housing for projects. Amybody interested, fire me a pm and I wil go through the steps. This is not a noob process however, no offence intended.