SR60-Mod part II

[zyzyx]

Quote:

anyone...?
 
 

You might want to go a little easier on the hole punching. While it started out as a full 10 hole mod, it quickly evolved to a 4 hole (or even less if using wood cups) procedure for most in order to keep the bass from becoming overly dominant. (Also, though not directly related, it's very easy to replace the cheap, plastic screen with a superior metal mesh. You won't need to put felt on it, either.)
 
I'm sure others can offer additional thoughts.
 

 

[wje]

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I've modded the sr60i's by: A. taking the inner mesh out, B. punching all the holes out next to the driver, C. adding a circle of felt padding on the farside of the driver and the inside of the outer screen, and D. quarter modding the comfies.

 

So my question is_    If I do those same mod's to my stock sr225, will I lose that awesome mid-high frequency sparkle thats not in the 60i's? I could use more bass, as long as it's the same quality as it is now. If it would muddy it up I'll pass on it... 


 

 
OK, allow me to answer this as gingerly as I can.  We all know through our readings, that Grado has some variation of sound among their same model.  For example, it has been noted on more than one occasion, that people have heard Grado model "X" sound one way and then when they heard another pair of model "X", the sound was different.  With that being said, it's hard to predict fully how your results will end up if you decide to take the ink pen to the holes and cover them with the felt.  However, do keep in mind that one of our members - Chris, has found that buying some muslin fabric from the fabric store is an excellent restoration fabric to use if you feel that you've opened up too many holes.  I believe he tried felt initially, but it didn't work as well as the muslin fabric did for un-muddying the bass.
 
I wish you were a bit closer to me.  You could hear a pair of SR-225 Grados with all 10 vent holes opened and the felt applied - as well as the loin cloth removed.  However, they are in a set of Cabillas cups, you'd still be able to decipher the sounds based on your music and what you currently hear with your stock SR-225i ... before putting them under the surgeon's knife.  
 
After hearing nothing but headphones with modified drivers over the past 2 months (with the exception of the stock Alessandro MS-Pros) and now hearing Marty's SR-325i Grados, I sort of wished two things had happened first.
 

• That I had put several hundred hours of play time on the headphones before popping some holes open.
• Used the drivers in the wooden cups after the proper break-in to determine if the bass was at a good enough level for me

 
Now, with that being said, I might consider moving towards the following modifications on my SR-225 and my MS-1i headphones:
 

• Remove the felt and install some muslin fabric and see if I can restore the sound and tone of the bass as close back to "stock" as I can.
• Keep the Dynamat installed on the rear magnet of the drivers.
• Switching over to silver cables to see if some of that Grado "sparkle" can be restored a bit.

 
 

 

[Nintendam]

Quote:

You might want to go a little easier on the hole punching. While it started out as a full 10 hole mod, it quickly evolved to a 4 hole (or even less if using wood cups) procedure for most in order to keep the bass from becoming overly dominant. (Also, though not directly related, it's very easy to replace the cheap, plastic screen with a superior metal mesh. You won't need to put felt on it, either.)
 
I'm sure others can offer additional thoughts.
 

hmmm... maybe ill stay away from venting for now...  As for the metal mesh, my stock 225's already have that, so they seem content for now
 


Quote:

 
OK, allow me to answer this as gingerly as I can.  We all know through our readings, that Grado has some variation of sound among their same model.  For example, it has been noted on more than one occasion, that people have heard Grado model "X" sound one way and then when they heard another pair of model "X", the sound was different.  With that being said, it's hard to predict fully how your results will end up if you decide to take the ink pen to the holes and cover them with the felt.  However, do keep in mind that one of our members - Chris, has found that buying some muslin fabric from the fabric store is an excellent restoration fabric to use if you feel that you've opened up too many holes.  I believe he tried felt initially, but it didn't work as well as the muslin fabric did for un-muddying the bass.
 
I wish you were a bit closer to me.  You could hear a pair of SR-225 Grados with all 10 vent holes opened and the felt applied - as well as the loin cloth removed.  However, they are in a set of Cabillas cups, you'd still be able to decipher the sounds based on your music and what you currently hear with your stock SR-225i ... before putting them under the surgeon's knife.  
 
After hearing nothing but headphones with modified drivers over the past 2 months (with the exception of the stock Alessandro MS-Pros) and now hearing Marty's SR-325i Grados, I sort of wished two things had happened first.
 

• That I had put several hundred hours of play time on the headphones before popping some holes open.
• Used the drivers in the wooden cups after the proper break-in to determine if the bass was at a good enough level for me

 
Now, with that being said, I might consider moving towards the following modifications on my SR-225 and my MS-1i headphones:
 

• Remove the felt and install some muslin fabric and see if I can restore the sound and tone of the bass as close back to "stock" as I can.
• Keep the Dynamat installed on the rear magnet of the drivers.
• Switching over to silver cables to see if some of that Grado "sparkle" can be restored a bit.

 
 

thanks for your input!
 
i think before I vent I'll try out the dynamat... I'd rather not do anything to drastic to my 225's yet, the ttvj's def helped out. If I do end up venting I will definitely start with 4, not all 10... good advice
 
 

 

[chrislangley4253]

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Chris, Sadly, Alessandro responded to my request yesterday.  They indicated that the MS-Pro headphones can only be serviced in-house at their location.  They won't sell the drivers separately.
 
 

breaking my heart Alessandro!
 


Quote:

Yeah, it's weird. I would have expected the opposite as well. Don't get me wrong, the wood really made these come together, but I feel it was in more subtle ways than the cable. 
 
In which order did you do the mods? I'm wondering if that has anything to do with our perceived differences. Because the cable upgrade was not just the isolated improvement in the cable, but also how it synergized with the previous wood mod. Either way, the entire package is leaps and bounds better than what it started as. I'm going to get to A/B these with a bone stock SR60i this weekend so I'm definitely looking comparing them. 
 
I let a few co-workers test drive them yesterday. One of them was so blown away that he went home last night and researched headphones for a few hours. When I got in this morning, he was ready to pull the trigger on some RS-2's, until I convinced him that it may be more fun to mod his own. I let him compare them side-by-side with my stock SR225s that I brought in. He thought that the woodied SR60's blew them away. 

Wood cups> and then I did the cable and source upgrade around the same time.. I got the new dac/amp before the cable, but not long before.. And the cups were pretty close to getting the amp too. 


Quote:

 
OK, allow me to answer this as gingerly as I can.  We all know through our readings, that Grado has some variation of sound among their same model.  For example, it has been noted on more than one occasion, that people have heard Grado model "X" sound one way and then when they heard another pair of model "X", the sound was different.  With that being said, it's hard to predict fully how your results will end up if you decide to take the ink pen to the holes and cover them with the felt.  However, do keep in mind that one of our members - Chris, has found that buying some muslin fabric from the fabric store is an excellent restoration fabric to use if you feel that you've opened up too many holes.  I believe he tried felt initially, but it didn't work as well as the muslin fabric did for un-muddying the bass.
 
I wish you were a bit closer to me.  You could hear a pair of SR-225 Grados with all 10 vent holes opened and the felt applied - as well as the loin cloth removed.  However, they are in a set of Cabillas cups, you'd still be able to decipher the sounds based on your music and what you currently hear with your stock SR-225i ... before putting them under the surgeon's knife.  
 
After hearing nothing but headphones with modified drivers over the past 2 months (with the exception of the stock Alessandro MS-Pros) and now hearing Marty's SR-325i Grados, I sort of wished two things had happened first.
 

• That I had put several hundred hours of play time on the headphones before popping some holes open.
• Used the drivers in the wooden cups after the proper break-in to determine if the bass was at a good enough level for me

 
Now, with that being said, I might consider moving towards the following modifications on my SR-225 and my MS-1i headphones:
 

• Remove the felt and install some muslin fabric and see if I can restore the sound and tone of the bass as close back to "stock" as I can.
• Keep the Dynamat installed on the rear magnet of the drivers.
• Switching over to silver cables to see if some of that Grado "sparkle" can be restored a bit.

 
 

I can send you some of the fabric if you want it. I have a bunch of it. Like 2 whole dollars worth
 

 
Quote:

hmmm... maybe ill stay away from venting for now...  As for the metal mesh, my stock 225's already have that, so they seem content for now
 




thanks for your input!
 
i think before I vent I'll try out the dynamat... I'd rather not do anything to drastic to my 225's yet, the ttvj's def helped out. If I do end up venting I will definitely start with 4, not all 10... good advice
 
 

better yet, start with 1 or 2that is my favorite amount of holes with my wooden cups.. i'd say probably 3 or 4 with plastic. Still start with 1 or 2.
 

 

[wje]

Quote:

I can send you some of the fabric if you want it. I have a bunch of it. Like 2 whole dollars worth
 

Chris,
 
Thanks - but, I feel it wouldn't be worth the postage.  Plus, you now have enough to perform hundreds of upgrades in the future.  My mother was a seamstress, so I do know my way around a fabric store as I did a bit of shopping for her when I was young and she couldn't get out.  Now, if I take my daughter along with me, it will be a whole 'nother story.  We'll probably come home with some Leopard print something or another that she would have talked me into.

 

[chrislangley4253]

Quote:

Chris,
 
Thanks - but, I feel it wouldn't be worth the postage.  Plus, you now have enough to perform hundreds of upgrades in the future.  My mother was a seamstress, so I do know my way around a fabric store as I did a bit of shopping for her when I was young and she couldn't get out.  Now, if I take my daughter along with me, it will be a whole 'nother story.  We'll probably come home with some Leopard print something or another that she would have talked me into.

I went in there again the other day because I was in the area and wanted to get some more stiffened felt. i got some red to see how it looks. I've been busy with stefan's ms pros and life lately though. 
 

 

[wje]

Quote:

I went in there again the other day because I was in the area and wanted to get some more stiffened felt. i got some red to see how it looks. 
 

 
JamesMcProgger will be happy to see you using that "red" felt.  He's a guy who does like vibrant colors.  

 

[chrislangley4253]

Quote:

 
JamesMcProgger will be happy to see you using that "red" felt.  He's a guy who does like vibrant colors.  

I really wanted a darker red.. I thought it would look good with the bloodwood, but I settled for a sheet of pure red, because it was all i could find.
 
 

 

[JCS]

Wow, the venting and screen removal mods were so easy.  I'm completely DIY illiterate, but those two were actually pretty easy to do.
 
I did find I had to do the quarter-hole mod after venting (10 holes each).  It sounded too muffled and tinny, as if the music was filtered through a sponge shoved into a coffee can. Cutting holes in the pads gave me back enough treble and clarity to make me happy.  
 
Highly recommended to others.

 

[Kojaku]

Wow, the venting and screen removal mods were so easy.  I'm completely DIY illiterate, but those two were actually pretty easy to do.
 
I did find I had to do the quarter-hole mod after venting (10 holes each).  It sounded too muffled and tinny, as if the music was filtered through a sponge shoved into a coffee can. Cutting holes in the pads gave me back enough treble and clarity to make me happy.  
 
Highly recommended to others.

This is why I avoid essentially irreversible driver mods...I lovey grado sparkle up high on my 225i's...

Kojaku

 

[Saintkeat]

So my leathersmith got back to me after 2 weeks with a custom full grain leather head band in cognac.
 
I think he did a fantastic job. Unfortunately, this means I have all the parts to complete my Grado, EXCEPT.... you know..
 

 

[BobSaysHi]

Quote:

So my leathersmith got back to me after 2 weeks with a custom full grain leather head band in cognac.
 
I think he did a fantastic job. Unfortunately, this means I have all the parts to complete my Grado, EXCEPT.... you know..
 

We all feel your pain.
 

 

[Questhate]

Quote:

question;
 
so I've modded my sr60i's with most of the mod's from the OP of the first thread- they sound great.
 
I currently own a sr225(not i) and have not done any mod's to them. I just got a pair of TTVJ flats and they definitely helped the bass out (with the bowls there is that kick, but that flats have that kick and also lower hz, but they coincide a bit so it's harder to distinguish). 
 
I honestly feel that the bass (although muddier) on the modded sr60i goes deeper than my stock sr225's with flats.
 
I've modded the sr60i's by: A. taking the inner mesh out, B. punching all the holes out next to the driver, C. adding a circle of felt padding on the farside of the driver and the inside of the outer screen, and D. quarter modding the comfies.
 
So my question is_    If I do those same mod's to my stock sr225, will I lose that awesome mid-high frequency sparkle thats not in the 60i's? I could use more bass, as long as it's the same quality as it is now. If it would muddy it up I'll pass on it... 
 
on a side note, the song ulysses by franz ferdinand is a great song to get non head-fiers hooked on good sound, esp by the way of grado

I would love to know the answer to this question as well, because right now, I'm really torn on whether or not to touch my SR225i. I've mostly finished the SR60i, and I love them to death, but they are a different beast than the SR225i. The sound signature is different between the two models, whether stock or modded. I'm afraid of messing up the mid-high sparkle on my 225s too if I put them in wood, or vent any holes. I guess there is only one way to truly find out, but if you end up modding your 225s before I do, please be sure to report back! 

 
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Oh my. The more I see them, the more I become convinced that I eventually need a pair of Marty's customs in my life. But then again, I probably wouldn't even put them on. Just throw them in a trophy case and gawk at them anytime I need a pick-me-up. 
 
Quote:

This is why I avoid essentially irreversible driver mods...I lovey grado sparkle up high on my 225i's...

Kojaku

+1 here. I'm hoping to convince my coworker to get some 225s to mod, instead of the 60s, so that I can see first hand if any mods will change (or diminish) that sparkle. 
 

 

[mosshorn]

I should have a pair of Marty's cups coming in soon, and I'm barely able to contain the excitement! He's been super helpful and has put up with my crap  
 
 
As far as hole mods go, I bought mine with 8 popped. I think I might post up a trade for some stocks and see if anyone wants to. I love my sparkly highs, so it would be completely worth it to me.

 

[kongmw]

Got my cups and leather headband from Marty today! Although sadly my school postal office is still holding Cabillas' package from Spain hostage. 
 
I can hardly bare to wait for the end of the day to arrive at work so that I can put my disassembled sad pieces of sr60i's back together! 

 
Hopefully will have some pictures soon. But darn it those cups from Marty feel so smooth in hand!