ZMF Grado Headphones : Pad Mod Review

[jprenaud78]

How does it sound?

Sounds like headphones
I préfet this one to beautiful pads
Its comfortable and dont change the signature

 

[Ilomaenkimi]

How about sibilance with ZMF Beyer Pad Mod? I have Hemps and RS2x.
If these pads increase sibilance at any level to RS2x they are no to go for me.

 

[OptionTrader]

I'd be interested to hear what you think once you get them, thinking about trying this on my GH-1's.

After spending the entire morning listening to the RS-1x while swapping from the standard L cushions to the ZMF Beyer mod and back a couple times, I'll have to say that the majority of my time forward will be spent with the ZMF Beyer mod in place.

With my 60+ year old ears, I am having a really tough time finding a difference in the sound signature overall. The Grado sound is still there, the bass is ever so slightly improved, and the increased comfort is the icing on the cake. I like icing on my cake.

I have not tried the G cushions yet.

 

[pk4425]

After spending the entire morning listening to the RS-1x while swapping from the standard L cushions to the ZMF Beyer mod and back a couple times, I'll have to say that the majority of my time forward will be spent with the ZMF Beyer mod in place.

With my 60+ year old ears, I am having a really tough time finding a difference in the sound signature overall. The Grado sound is still there, the bass is ever so slightly improved, and the increased comfort is the icing on the cake. I like icing on my cake.

I have not tried the G cushions yet.

Curious, @OptionTrader, do you have enough room with the Beyer pads to make your Grados true over-ear? Wide and deep enough? I have some odd cartilage in my right ear that needs a bit more space than some pads provide, but Audeze and HiFiMan stock pads always have worked for me, as do stock and ZMF pads for my HD 6XX.

Thanks!

 

[OptionTrader]

Curious, @OptionTrader, do you have enough room with the Beyer pads to make your Grados true over-ear? Wide and deep enough? I have some odd cartilage in my right ear that needs a bit more space than some pads provide, but Audeze and HiFiMan stock pads always have worked for me, as do stock and ZMF pads for my HD 6XX.

Thanks!

The Beyer pads definitely fit around my ears, just like my T1.3 does. I find them to be very comfortable. The ZMF-Beyer mod for the Grado works for me.

 

[alexdemaet]

I have a Grado Ps2000e and a Grado rs2e. Which zmf pads would you recommended? Do I have to buy pads for each hp? I believe I will have to buy an adapter for each hp bowl (the Ps2000e bowl is the biggest one).

 

[jprenaud78]

For my Rs2e i use ori leather perforated

 

[DannyG321]

This is a very helpful thread. I own a paid of RS-1 headphones that I got about 30 years ago directly from Grado. I ordered from an authorized Grado dealer who was going to drop ship them to me but given my long term desire to actually see Grado in person, I made arrangements for the pick up in Brooklyn. At the same time I bought their Headphone Amp and still have the headphones in the beautiful wooden box that was just being phased out at about that time.

Unfortunately, I only used them for about 10 hours before I decided that I didn't like the fit. The earcups weren't comfortable to me. So for almost 30 years these minty headphones have been sitting in that box untouched. Every so often I take them out to see if they are in good shape (they are!) but I then put them away for another day.

FYI I first became aware of Grado from a book that circulated in NY that showed where the best bargains were. A section on hifi raved about Grado's cartridges so I used to buy them from Harvey Sound on 44th St. (IIRC) in the late 70s, same time I started buying the MOFI Beatle albums there. I loved the Grado cartridges.

So back to this thread, I may give the adapter and pads a try on my RS-1.

I do wish that ZMF had pads available for my beloved Koss Technician VFR headphones! Still have them! Still love them! But they are awfully crunchy on my ears!