post your grado mods....

[anothertwilight]

And while it's not technically a Grado mod, the final product of the mods, above, was a set of headphones using Rholupat striped rosewood cups; Elleven Acoustica Ypsilon R1 drivers; Canare L-4E6S stripped of insulation and shielding and re-sleeved in paracord; Headband with cow leather outer and lambskin inner and latex padding.

I'd like to take a moment to thank Chris of Elleven Acoustica. I had a minor problem with the drivers I ordered and Chris responded promptly and immediately offered to replace them. No one is perfect, but you can tell a lot about a person by how they react to mistakes and by that measure I can thoroughly recommend Elleven Acoustica for service and support.

The Ypsilon drivers exceeded my expectations. The person for whom these were a gift has better ears and more experience with decent audio equipment and he was ecstatic. Even to my ears the detail was incredible.

Photos show L-cush and pads for the Sennheiser PX100 under them to protect the driver. Tried both with and without the PX100 pads and with generic G-cush instead of the L-cush and this was the combination both I and the recipient thought sounded best.

 

[cathee]

And while it's not technically a Grado mod, the final product of the mods, above, was a set of headphones using Rholupat striped rosewood cups; Elleven Acoustica Ypsilon R1 drivers; Canare L-4E6S stripped of insulation and shielding and re-sleeved in paracord; Headband with cow leather outer and lambskin inner and latex padding.

I'd like to take a moment to thank Chris of Elleven Acoustica. I had a minor problem with the drivers I ordered and Chris responded promptly and immediately offered to replace them. No one is perfect, but you can tell a lot about a person by how they react to mistakes and by that measure I can thoroughly recommend Elleven Acoustica for service and support.

The Ypsilon drivers exceeded my expectations. The person for whom these were a gift has better ears and more experience with decent audio equipment and he was ecstatic. Even to my ears the detail was incredible.

Photos show L-cush and pads for the Sennheiser PX100 under them to protect the driver. Tried both with and without the PX100 pads and with generic G-cush instead of the L-cush and this was the combination both I and the recipient thought sounded best.

immediately the rod blocks remind me of the ones on the HP1000 series. lovely call back, great build.

 

[DavidA]

Follow up question, people say changing the stock cables on their sr60 gives better sound quality, is this also true on sr60e? or did they upgraded the cable already?

I haven't noticed any changes in sound when changing out the stock cables from any of my current Grado headphones (RS2e, SR225e, SR60) with Mogami cables.

@anothertwilight , nice stuff

 

[larry piencenaves]

I haven't noticed any changes in sound when changing out the stock cables from any of my current Grado headphones (RS2e, SR225e, SR60) with Mogami cables.

@anothertwilight , nice stuff

but have you also tried to put silver cables instead of copper in recabling grados? Ive read that silver cables changes the sound.

 

[DavidA]

but have you also tried to put silver cables instead of copper in recabling grados? Ive read that silver cables changes the sound.

I've tried a SPC one which makes no sonic difference to me but I have not tried a pure silver one since they are too pricy to me. FWIW I've has some nice Double-Heilix and Forza cables for my HE560 and HD800 and I didn't hear any differences with them in comparison to the Mogami, Canare and Van Damme cables that I normally use and a friend who has a few Dragon cables says she just has them since she got them used cheap but can't hear any differences from the stock cables of her HD650, HD700, LCD-3f and Ether Flow. I'm not a believer in high end headphone cables but for inter connects and speaker cables I do believe that some cables are better than others and have heard differences at times.

 

[fleasbaby]

Hi guys.
Does anyone know where I can buy the ps1000 grado style metal cups?

Email Chris at Elleven Acoustica. Not sure if he's still doing them, but he's made them before for me.

 

[fleasbaby]

I've also modelled the Grado yoke, both with and without the 'pegs' that engage the cup. Models at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2604975. I didn't like the dimensions of the other Grado yoke models that I found, so I took some measurements and made some that I was happier with. The 'peg' and 'no peg' models are based on the plastic yokes of the Prestige series Grados I have. I've not printed them and can't attest to their strength. I went with another design.

There's a third model that's based on/inspired by the work of Martin Custom Audio that was the design that I had printed at Shapeways. Sockets for the end of the rod are _not_ at an angle. A complete oversight on my part. I thought it might not matter, but ended up bending the stainless rod I used to match the angle of the Grado yokes. I've put off posting until I redo the models with a 'proper' socket, but a new job, moving house etc. has eaten time and I'm not sure when I'll get back to this - so here's where I've got to, if that's of use to anyone.



it turns out that the number of sections I used for the curve was more obvious in the final print than I'd anticipated. You can see that the curve of the yoke is made up of straight sections at an angle. I found the effect oddly pleasing - a reminder of the process that produced these, but realise that might not be to everyone's taste and intend/ed to redo these with a larger number of 'facets' to reduce the effect when printed. Not done. One day.

I've played around with modelling some rodblock replacements for 3D printing. All have a hole on the head side to accomodate an M3 screw to engage the headband. The models with the rounded sides also have a hole to accomodate a 3mm thumb screw to provide friction against the rodblock (with a nod to the original Grado HP 1000). Models have raised or recessed lettering. The recessed lettering comes out much better. Models available at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2552966

These are some quick and rough prints I did on my home machine to get a feel for the shapes.

And this is the design I settled on and had printed in bronze and stainless at Shapeways.

This is after I've threaded the front and rear holes for an M3 hex socket (rear to engage the headband) and M3 thumbscrew for the front. The models are about 10% upscale to account for shrinkage and I expected to have to clean the cavities, but even so, it came damn close to not fitting and I had to grind down a jewellers file to clean the headband socket as well was lightly filing the end of the headband before I could get a fit. Rod hole and screw holes were cleaned with a drill and then tapped. Slowly.

Beautiful work. I've managed to source spring steel, and was toying with the idea of making my own rodblocks on a grinder with aluminium bars, but this makes that seem a tad primitive....thanks for being kind enough to share with the community...

 

[larry piencenaves]

so, the g-cush ive ordered for my sr60e just to try it out, has arrived today, has some minor issues regarding the quality but its only 2$ so cant complain, but the sound, oh boy the frequencies are scattered around the place, recessed mids and boosted the high freq around 16-20khz lows went muffled and the soundstage was missing, I thought it would bring more soundstage but no. comfort wise cant say if its an upgrade, it still smells funky and itchy right now.

question for those who also bought some generic g-pads online: will these gets softer and will the sound quality also changes over time?

 

[DavidA]

so, the g-cush ive ordered for my sr60e just to try it out, has arrived today, has some minor issues regarding the quality but its only 2$ so cant complain, but the sound, oh boy the frequencies are scattered around the place, recessed mids and boosted the high freq around 16-20khz lows went muffled and the soundstage was missing, I thought it would bring more soundstage but no. comfort wise cant say if its an upgrade, it still smells funky and itchy right now.

question for those who also bought some generic g-pads online: will these gets softer and will the sound quality also changes over time?

This is one reason I order 4-5 pairs from different vendors but most are in the $5-6 range. I've never noticed any smelling funky and they are all softer than the OEM Grado G-pads. I think the one that you got is like a few that I've just dumped in the trash since they were so bad in construction quality and the changes to the sound that they did. One thing you might want to try is pay the price ($40-45) for OEM Grado G-pads and if you want a consistent built generic G-pad I'd suggest the Earzonk ones since they are quite consistent in build quality. Another thing to consider is the G-pads were never designed for the SR line so I can see that the effect might be bad as you have found but I've found a few generic ones that sound good on my modded SR60 since they recessed the mids a bit to make the over all sound a bit better balanced between the highs, mids and lows.

 

[larry piencenaves]

This is one reason I order 4-5 pairs from different vendors but most are in the $5-6 range. I've never noticed any smelling funky and they are all softer than the OEM Grado G-pads. I think the one that you got is like a few that I've just dumped in the trash since they were so bad in construction quality and the changes to the sound that they did. One thing you might want to try is pay the price ($40-45) for OEM Grado G-pads and if you want a consistent built generic G-pad I'd suggest the Earzonk ones since they are quite consistent in build quality. Another thing to consider is the G-pads were never designed for the SR line so I can see that the effect might be bad as you have found but I've found a few generic ones that sound good on my modded SR60 since they recessed the mids a bit to make the over all sound a bit better balanced between the highs, mids and lows.

the price was originally 5.25$ but i have a voucher for free shipping so it went down to only 2$ all in all, maybe ive got the bad ones, tho the l-cush Ive got from the same shop has great quality, better sounding than the original grado l-cush pads. also before I bought this I ask the seller which one does this is copied from and he said its closely identical to the earzonks version.

As of now the funky smell or more like factory smell is fading away, I tried to make it softer by pressing it not too hard by hand for quite some time, and surprisingly it changes the sound a lil bit, but yeah it makes the sr60s to sound recessed specially in the mids those 2khz peaks got eliminated, highs are also recessed but starts to elevate at around 16-20khz still which makes it a bit piercing, overall it makes the sr60e sounds balanced and warmer but dull. It removes the fun factor that I love.

 

[anothertwilight]

the price was originally 5.25$ but i have a voucher for free shipping so it went down to only 2$ all in all, maybe ive got the bad ones, tho the l-cush Ive got from the same shop has great quality, better sounding than the original grado l-cush pads. also before I bought this I ask the seller which one does this is copied from and he said its closely identical to the earzonks version.

As of now the funky smell or more like factory smell is fading away, I tried to make it softer by pressing it not too hard by hand for quite some time, and surprisingly it changes the sound a lil bit, but yeah it makes the sr60s to sound recessed specially in the mids those 2khz peaks got eliminated, highs are also recessed but starts to elevate at around 16-20khz still which makes it a bit piercing, overall it makes the sr60e sounds balanced and warmer but dull. It removes the fun factor that I love.

I've read reports of people hand washing their pads in warm soapy (shampoo) water and leaving them to air dry (out of the sun) as a way of softening pads that are too stiff or too harsh. I've not tried this and would recommend it only if you are certain you don't like the pads as they are because there's no reversing the process and it does change the sound. Add shampoo to warm water, soak pads and work the pads by hand, compressing and allowing to return to shape in the water. Remove and rinse in warm water, compressing and relaxing until the water runs clear, then squeeze the last of the water out and leave to dry.

It may help to reduce the smell you mention as well.

 

[larry piencenaves]

I've read reports of people hand washing their pads in warm soapy (shampoo) water and leaving them to air dry (out of the sun) as a way of softening pads that are too stiff or too harsh. I've not tried this and would recommend it only if you are certain you don't like the pads as they are because there's no reversing the process and it does change the sound. Add shampoo to warm water, soak pads and work the pads by hand, compressing and allowing to return to shape in the water. Remove and rinse in warm water, compressing and relaxing until the water runs clear, then squeeze the last of the water out and leave to dry.

It may help to reduce the smell you mention as well.

thanks, ill do that

 

[fleasbaby]

the price was originally 5.25$ but i have a voucher for free shipping so it went down to only 2$ all in all, maybe ive got the bad ones, tho the l-cush Ive got from the same shop has great quality, better sounding than the original grado l-cush pads. also before I bought this I ask the seller which one does this is copied from and he said its closely identical to the earzonks version.

As of now the funky smell or more like factory smell is fading away, I tried to make it softer by pressing it not too hard by hand for quite some time, and surprisingly it changes the sound a lil bit, but yeah it makes the sr60s to sound recessed specially in the mids those 2khz peaks got eliminated, highs are also recessed but starts to elevate at around 16-20khz still which makes it a bit piercing, overall it makes the sr60e sounds balanced and warmer but dull. It removes the fun factor that I love.

Haven’t tried this personally, but heard it works...wash them in warm water and dish soap, let them air dry, should soften them up a touch.

 

[larry piencenaves]

alright, so Ive washed the g-cush with warm water and a fabric conditioner, smell and itchiness went away, sound also improved but not a lot, contrary to the reviews on the original g-cush, these things elevates the bass region instead of reducing it, mid range still recessed but this is not my main problem anymore, its the zing in the highs which make it fatiguing, had to equalized it using APO. I also hear a wider soundstage and airiness in the l-cush, but the comfort I must say is an upgrade.

 

[DavidA]

alright, so Ive washed the g-cush with warm water and a fabric conditioner, smell and itchiness went away, sound also improved but not a lot, contrary to the reviews on the original g-cush, these things elevates the bass region instead of reducing it, mid range still recessed but this is not my main problem anymore, its the zing in the highs which make it fatiguing, had to equalized it using APO. I also hear a wider soundstage and airiness in the l-cush, but the comfort I must say is an upgrade.

I think the shape/size of one's ears make a difference in how one will perceive what the G-pads / L-pads sound like to the individual. I do agree that they tend to recess the mids a touch but for me they also reduce the highs, sometimes there is too much of a reduction in the highs for me.