[blessingx]

After a several months of using the Senn pads, first on a pair of SR-80's then SR-225's, I'm actually preferring the Grado bowls at present.

Did a week long swap of my 225's with Habib for his HD 580's, and after getting my 225's back, I find I like the slightly less upfront highs and larger soundstage of the bowls. They keep the lush midrange and most of the Grado punch (which I preferred to the Senns), but gets me a step or two closer to the Senns more balanced neutrality and about halfway to its larger soundstage. Sort of the best of both worlds.

Plus with smallish ears (which fit inside the bowls), I've always found the bowls more comfortable than the Senn 414 pads on the Grados. The 580's comfort is something I will miss.

Anyone else?

 

[grinch]

Quote:

Originally posted by blessingx Did a week long swap of my 225's with Habib for his HD 580's, and after getting my 225's back, I find I like the slightly less upfront highs and larger soundstage of the bowls.

"slightly less upfront highs" with bowl pads? are you nuts? heh

i find the bowl pads to enhance grado brightness and are pretty much the scurge of their headphones. they wouldn't have such a reputation for being bright if they had stuck with the flat pads. i can't ever go back to bowl pads after having flats (and vwap's recipe pads). i find the grado pads to bump the bass and brightness, and i guess i've never really been a fan of the grado "soundstage." the only headphone i feel has any sort of real soundstage (a.k.a. headstage) is the stax omega 2.

 

[Chinchy]

I have a mixed-bag response. I know I've posted this on another thread before, so I'll condense my response:

- SR-60 - Senn pads #1
- SR-225 - Bowls #1

Edit: found it. http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...ght=sr225+bowl

 

[MD1032]

I want someone to clarify what is and what should be (he he) or was with the Grado pads. I know that there's the old flat kind and the new triangular-cone shaped ones and stuff, but can someone give me a list of all of the pads, if they are standard, available, or gone, and the advantages and disadvantages of each? I'd REALLY REALLY appreciate it.

 

[jona]

quote

'After a several months of using the Senn pads, first on a pair of SR-80's then SR-225's, I'm actually preferring the Grado bowls at present."


While we may be in the minority, I prefer the bowl pads as well. I can understand the appeal of the Senn flat pads, but I prefer the bowls for their slightly enhanced bass response.
BTW- I own SR-80's and would appreciate your impression of the SR225 vs the SR80. (Unfortunately no local audio carry the 225's for me to audition)

Jon

 

[sacd lover]

md1032, do a search in the headphone section for senn h-19545 pads. You will find an informative review by Zanth and other relevant threads relating to your questions.

 

[Chinchy]

Granted, I've never heard SR-80's. Yet. But I own the SR-60 and the SR-225. And from what I know, the lower end Grados are just like the higher end Grado's, just less... So take the 60's one step higher, and you get the 80's. And so on and so forth.

Granted there are the exceptions, like the SR-325's, since I found those to have a different sonic signature (they were brighter than the others, with an almost harsher treble).

So if you take the SR-60, and you give it more clarity and detail, with slightly better bass, and a nicer midrange, and a nicer high end, and you get the SR-225. All I can say is that if you like the lower end Grado's, you will absolutely LOVE the SR-225.

Oh yeah, and do yourself a favor and never listen to the HP-1000's.

 

[bangraman]

Bowls could be the one and only reason I tarnished the brighter Grados with the Grato moniker.


I just tried fitting the SR80 (Yours actually blessingx... I haven't managed to do anything destructive with it yet) with bowl pads as opposed to the uncut 414 pads which I quite like. Grato is back! My speculation now extends to the 325. Might it have been more manageable with closed off (or slightly perforated) 414 pads? Very probably.


I might have thrown a few more pounds in the direction of Mr Grado (Although RA1/RS1/SR325/80x2/60 could be enough for most

) if he'd bothered to develop proper pads.

 

[OneMalt]

The bowl pads will make your ears bleed and lose the war for the Allies!

(Nothin' but Senn pads for MY babies)

 

[LTUCCI1924]

HI: This pad think is driving me nuts. I use the vwap pads and get great sound more like the ety sound right there in your face but the highs are not as present. Then I switch to the new bowl pads and get great sound with the same slam but better highs and better sound stage plus I find the bowl pads much more comfortable. I have noticed that when I switch to the bowl pads I turn up the volume up about 2 notch's. I guess because they are father from my ears. But this seems to also give more fuller sound and a better grado sound at that. SO it seems that the vwap pads change the grado sound to a more in your face sound and the bowl pads seem to be fuller and more highs not screechy but nice highs and better sound stage and way more comfortable over the vwap pads. It seems very confusing to me because both pads sound good? I am now again using the new bowl pads?

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Quote:

Originally posted by bangraman Grato is back! My speculation now extends to the 325. Might it have been more manageable with closed off (or slightly perforated) 414 pads? Very probably.

I could only listen to the 325's with flat pads and a rolled off source for 15 minutes before getting a headache from the highs. I've never had this problem with other gradoes.

Biggie.

 

[LTUCCI1924]

NotoriousBIG_PJ
HI: You and me both. The 325 give me a headache. I think the 225 are the best grados over all other grados fore sale at the present time. I had the RS1 and very quickly sold them in favor of the 225.

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Quote:

Originally posted by LTUCCI1924 I think the 225 are the best grados over all other grados fore sale at the present time. I had the RS1 and very quickly sold them in favor of the 225.

I use to own both headphones but ended up selling the 225's. The 225's are the best grado's to own for low/mid-fi equipment in my opinion. They don't scale with high end equipment like the rs-1's though.

Biggie.

 

[Duncan]

I'm currently trailling the mutant Blessingx (via Bangraman) memory foam pads... and its gotta be said, if you think your Grados are bright, that these could be your answer

They seem to restrict the treble quite succesfully (not that its particularily overbearing on the RS1)... plus, for a few seconds you get to see what your ears look like in the foam

...Shame about the color though