To Grado. Or not to Grado?

[iponderous]

^ At least you're increasing your post count wind016.

 

[purrin]

Well back on topic and for the OP, there is one thing I don't like on Grado's (with the exception of the GS1000): piano.  Grado's IMO are not the best at piano - some fair better than others.  This is mainly because of their rather uneven response (bumped up uneven midrange and warmness on some models).  The GS1000 is the only Grado that really does piano well because of its smooth midrange.
 

 

[iponderous]

Deleted - double post.

 

[wind016]

LOL mmhmm
 
+1 more
 
Quote:

^ At least you're increasing your post count wind016.

 

[Ham Sandwich]

Quote:

i do love and hate my grados (sr 325i) at the same time. i absolutely love their airy sound, but ... since they are rather heavy (metal housing) i have to take them off after an hour or so. yes, they really hurt. so much that i am unable to enjoy the music after a while. this hasn't changed from the first day, which was 5 years ago.
 

Try bending the headband the way Headphile suggests for the C-pads (scroll to the middle of the long page).  Flatten the top of the headband and bend the headband in sharply right above the rod holders.  That will get the bowls to fit more uniformly and flat around the ears.  Do it in front of a mirror and you'll be able to see when they are bent enough to give the ear cups enough rotation freedom to allow the bowls to fit flat.  It works for me with my head.
 
With the stock bend as it is from the factory the bowls were fitting kind of cantilevered around my ears.  More pressure at the top of the bowl pad than at the bottom.  That isn't good for comfort and can also have an affect on sound quality if the bottom of the bowls have a gap.
 
I'm also experimenting with some additional padding on the headband.  Right now I've got an old headband foam bit from my HD580 taped to the Grado headband.  It's an old foam bit that has already been squished beyond its life, but is working to make the Grado headband more comfortable on top of my head.  I'll need to rig up something better.

 

[wind016]

I don't know if he washed the pads yet, but that can help. still painful though
 
Quote:

Try bending the headband the way Headphile suggests for the C-pads (scroll to the middle of the long page).  Flatten the top of the headband and bend the headband in sharply right above the rod holders.  That will get the bowls to fit more uniformly and flat around the ears.  Do it in front of a mirror and you'll be able to see when they are bent enough to give the ear cups enough rotation freedom to allow the bowls to fit flat.  It works for me with my head.

 

[Ham Sandwich]

Hammond B3 organ sounds good on SR series Grados.  Both rock B3 organ and jazz B3 organ.  Medeski, Martin & Wood is neato on the Grado.

 

[fromatoz]

@ Ham Sandwich
thanks for the suggestions. very much appreciated. will try it.

 

[Bilavideo]

 

I have the same feeling about the SR325i having owned it for a year. It is the most painful headphone I've ever worn.
 

 

Both the 325 and the HF2 have this issue because they're metal and heavy.  There's a much bigger issue with these two headphones than with the plastics or the woodies.  The PS1000 gets away with it because it's circumaural.  The only problem there is the headband was never designed to handle that much weight and the jumbos create a less than stable hold.  The PS1000 are the easiest to roll off your head.  I found bending the band inward to provide a lot of help on that front.

 

[Bilavideo]

 

Well back on topic and for the OP, there is one thing I don't like on Grado's (with the exception of the GS1000): piano.  Grado's IMO are not the best at piano - some fair better than others.  This is mainly because of their rather uneven response (bumped up uneven midrange and warmness on some models).  The GS1000 is the only Grado that really does piano well because of its smooth midrange.
 

I honestly don't know why Grados need to spike so much above flat while other headphones, like Sennheiser, have to spend so much of the HF "rolling off" below flat.  
 
As for piano, that SR60i that I tweaked does piano better than any Grado I've ever owned, including the PS1000.  Purrin, as I know this is an issue for you, I wouldn't mind sending you my SR60i to get your feedback on it.

 

[Bilavideo]

 

Try bending the headband the way Headphile suggests for the C-pads (scroll to the middle of the long page).  Flatten the top of the headband and bend the headband in sharply right above the rod holders.  That will get the bowls to fit more uniformly and flat around the ears.  Do it in front of a mirror and you'll be able to see when they are bent enough to give the ear cups enough rotation freedom to allow the bowls to fit flat.  It works for me with my head.
 
With the stock bend as it is from the factory the bowls were fitting kind of cantilevered around my ears.  More pressure at the top of the bowl pad than at the bottom.  That isn't good for comfort and can also have an affect on sound quality if the bottom of the bowls have a gap.
 
I'm also experimenting with some additional padding on the headband.  Right now I've got an old headband foam bit from my HD580 taped to the Grado headband.  It's an old foam bit that has already been squished beyond its life, but is working to make the Grado headband more comfortable on top of my head.  I'll need to rig up something better.

It's interesting that you should say this.  I was doing something called "bend the band," where I'd bend the headband into a heart-like shape (not exactly but a bit like an upside-down triangle).  It really did help with both comfort and bass.

 

[Achmedisdead]

Quote:

Hammond B3 organ sounds good on SR series Grados.  Both rock B3 organ and jazz B3 organ.  Medeski, Martin & Wood is neato on the Grado.

+1...that is an excellent sounding combo!

 

[supersleuth]

Hmm. Just to show how tastes and hearing differ, I consider realistic piano tone to be one of my SR80's greatest strengths. This is why reviews can never substitute for hearing for yourself.

 

[elcamel1216]

Hello all, OP here, sorry I haven't been present at all.  I have been a quiet mouse in the corner some time just observing.  I have read through countless threads on this topic and simply never felt satisfied so I wanted to see what would come of starting one myself.  First, thank you to everyone who put in their thoughts that had some real validity, and substance behind their opinion, negative or positive.  I really appreciate it. Sorry this started some raging war.Though I must say I was aware that the conflict is a frequent one on the forum.  I got through to the store up North and after a week of talks with the guy, who BTW is probably the best owner EVER, is sending me two pairs of Grado's, either RS1 or RS2 (he's not sure which yet) and a SR225i.  I will be able to audition them both with my taste in musical genres and artists.  I plan on writing a super thorough review whether I like them or not, completely unbiased as this will really be a first impression and I have no former experience with other brands to sway my favoritism .  
 
I can't wait to really exam their ability to show vocals and mids, and really analyze how messy my music may become with headphones oriented in a sound signature or reproduction tendency typical of Grado's.  
 
Overall from this thread:
 
I have gained a rather positive impression of the sound signature as it relates to my musical tastes (and those of you who oriented your posts to relate to that I thank big time!). I still have hesitations pertaining towards the way I will respond to the peaks in treble, BUT these hesitations have been dramatically lessened via the thread.  
--
I drive a 40th anniversary mustang with an upgraded sound system that came stock as part of the anniversary package...its a mach1 sound system and it sounds great, but I find that I EQ the treble all the way up to satisfy my desires, so I doubt the Grado line will be too imposing for me .  Guys thanks so much for all your help.  I hope this post will get back to all of you who had a response. I am left thoroughly satisfied and enlightened.  
 
 

 

[supersleuth]

Don't forget to experiment with placement on your ears; Grados with bowls both allow for a wide range in where they sit on your ears, and change quite a bit in sound depending on this. (See at http://www.meier-audio.de/ under "tips & tricks".)