Why that looks suspiciously like my go-to RS1e with Beautiful Audio hybrid pads. I really like this combination. One of my first ventures beyond Sennheiser HD650s, it just expanded in every way. As much an aural education as the 650s were. I pack them when traveling, easy to drive, easy on the ears.
And the Grado-haters will not hear any shouty treble. But yes, great air. Great soundstage.
I’m envious (in a good way) thinking what it’ll sound like with those tubes back there.
I agree with most of this video, except the conclusion that Grados are not worth it unless you want to mod them. I happen to like my SR125x a lot, with the right EQ. Which neatly segues to:
@Resolve Can you post your measurements of the Grados here, please?
I have a bit of hearing loss, maybe -10db very sharply at 2000hz, 4000hz and 9000hz. Can anyone recommend a headphone that will sound foor up there for me?
You’re certainly correct about the cable. And really no quarrel with the discussion about the foam pads. Inner Fidelity did have data on the mods and their effect, at least the most common ones. They documented positive results from the “tape mod” which is reversible and costs as much as some sticky tape.
You take care to mention that your review does not try to cover the whole Grado line, but I think it would have been fair to point out that you are selecting the lowest tier Grados. I’m not a fan of the Geekria pads generally. Yaxi makes a replacement foam pad that feels better (and is available in purple).
For a number of years - at least documented on the old Inner Fidelity site, the RS-1 and a number of the higher end Grados above that have a smoother response and deeper bass. I can attest to the RS-1e with the larger driver having much better bass extension than my entry-level Prestige Line Grado.
Pad rolling is the number one item to consider - and with mid to higher level Grados, the Beautiful Audio pads are documented to have positive effects on the sound, not to mention converting to over ear and great comfort. I favor their hybrid pad. Not for the light of wallet, they costs as much as other premium pads, and so are probably not appropriate for the models you reviewed.
I would like to see some of the discussion you suggest on mods and their effects - although for me, pad rolling is #1, followed perhaps by an external cable mod cutting off the heavy stiff thing an inch outside the cup.
Technically not the bottom, since there’s also the SR60x. And actually, the only thing that changes from a measurements perspective once you go up to the Hemp (or 325x as well), is that you get more midbass, yielding a sound very similar to the SR 225x overall. All of those peaks and ‘features’ are still there. So… I tend to think if someone is bothered by the treble peaks on the lower tiered ones, nothing about the more expensive ones is likely to change that opinion.
But as mentioned in the review, I’m very curious to try modding some. I think this is where there’s potential.
I expect the easiest path would resemble what I did with my Beyer DT800 600 ohm set. I bought super thick Dekoni leather pads with thick mesh filters. They cut the treble by 10-15 dB IIRC. Then, I EQ the treble back up to neutral and EQ down the excessive midbass.
The net result is that the mids are great while the highs and lows are stunted/muted. It seems Koss, Beyer, and Grado use similar old-generation driver designs with similar flaws and potential.
The RS-1e now 1x is the top of the mid-line reference series. Not in the Prestige series, and tested quite differently on Inner Fidelity.
@Lothar_Wolf might be able to elucidate the Statement Series, I’ve only heard the GS-1000 years ago.
Those who have the Hemp and higher level Grados seem to place it similarly to the top of the Prestige Series.
I did some pad rolling on my SR125x with the Yaxi, Dekoni, and 5 Geekria options that fit it. I have yet to decide if I like the Yaxi or this Geekria best: Amazon.com. Both are a small upgrade in sound and comfort. The Geekria seems to have better bass response but I EQ and the Yaxi aren’t black, so I’ve pretty much settled on the Yaxi.
This Geekria looks and sounds the same as stock: Amazon.com
All of the rest including the Dekoni sounded significantly worse. Which makes me shy away from trying the (appropriately named) Beautiful Audio pads. I concluded that converting on-ear to around-ear may not be a good idea, but perhaps I just need to try a higher tier Grado.
Changing an open front volume headphone to a sealed front volume headphone isn’t a pad roll, it’s creating a different headphone.
It would be like drilling holes in the side of a sealed front volume headphone (say Sundara) to create vents. I don’t think that would end well.
Still, all that matters is that people are happy with their listening.
For many years Grado had 3 types of cushion, the G, L, and S. The G was larger and bowl shaped, and came on the high end Statement headphones. The L was on most of the middle headphones, and the S was on entry models 60 and 80. The S was also known as the “comfy” cushion. The S is much like the flat on-ear pads of inexpensive headphones like box store Sony and Senn PX.
Grado has added the 2 part F cushion to many of the mid-range models. They can all be seen at the following official link. Other cushions are for specialty models.
The construction of the L and G cushions has been examined, and they appear to be of two densities of foam, with the more dense foam on the outside. The famous basic tape mod consists of putting tape around the outside of these cushions, creating a bit of a better seal and changing how sound reflects in the earpad.
The Yaxi cushions are like an improved S. Other manufacturers have additional designs. Most Grados can use any of the G, L, S, or F cushions.
Beautiful Audio has done quite a bit of work basing custom earpads on the G and L cushions, but increasing depth and providing choices of materials. They also have a kit to convert to a replaceable cable . When you order earpads, they suggest you measure your headphones - over the years there has been some small variability in Grado’s “ring size” for want of a better term, and they make sure the headphones fit. The website also goes into some depth regarding which earpads create which sound changes, much as the ZMF site does.
https://www.beautifulaudio.biz/grado-earpads-headbands
They now produce their own headphones also, but I’ve not heard any reviews.
The seal is mostly going to affect bass response, but the bass response is not my complaint about using, for instance, the Dekoni pads. I think it’s changing the distance between the driver and my pinnae that is the causing the biggest issue. As pennstac points out, the S pad that the Prestige series uses is the flattest pad that Grado uses.
Headphones with foam pads were intended to not have a seal.
I’m just tryting to say that creating a seal is a radical change.
If people are happy with modding to create a seal then all’s good.
I may be in the minority but I experience an open/vented front volume vastly differently from a sealed front volume. The Sundaras are unlistenable for me despite being superior in pretty much every way over the Grado Pestige line. I’ve been listening to Grados because they don’t seal.
I recently tried the HD 560S because I learned that many of the Sennheisers have a vented front volume. This has been a game changer because they give me an “unsealed” experience and also have a natural tuning. I probably won’t go back to the Grado’s.
That’s very interesting. Can you be more specific as to the differences you hear? Is it like open vs closed back? It’s been awhile since I have tried the Hifiman Sundara but I remember thinking they didn’t sound quite as open as the other open backs I owned at the time. I could probably say the same about my Hifiman HE6se V2.
But they’re open backs anyway. I wasn’t talking about a seal like with closed or IEM. Just how it feels on vs over ear and with sound leaking from everywhere vs only from some places.
I find the RS-1e with Beautiful Sound pads to be somewhat like the Senn HD-6xx with far better detail and soundstage, extended air, and actual bass and sub-bass. Not a treble monster.
The space from the driver away from the head is the back volume. The space from the driver toward the head is the front volume.
The front and back volumes can be open or sealed independant of each other.
The Grados are open on both volumes. Sealing the front changes it from open front volume to closed front volume.
It’s an odd sensation.
If someone was whispering in your ear your brain would tell you there’s a sound source an inch or two from your ear.
Listening to orchestral music with the Sundaras my brain is telling me there’s an entire orchestra two inches from my ear which makes no sense.
It’s like my brain is locating the specific source of the sound (the driver) instead of just hearing music.
This is my experience of it. I have no scientific explanation for what’s actually going on (especially considering the Sundaras sound good to pretty much everyone else on the planet). I do know my hearing is messed up in “creative” ways so it could be due to that.
I had a hearing test once - the kind where they put electrodes on your head and monitor the brainwave response. The machine’s interpretation of the results was “Left ear - hearing sucks. Right ear - WTF is that? Did the wires fall off or something?”.
So yeah, it could be my messed up ears.
I don’t disagree. My take is that the pads can be (1) acoustically open, airy, and foamy, (2) acoustically closed and absorb a lot of treble – such as microfiber or felt, or (3) acoustically closed and reflect sounds – such as leather or smooth synthetics.
With #2 I have a sense of listening in a black hole or anechoic chamber. I experience air pressure fatigue over time, but most headphones sound okay for a while.
With #3 I think you are hearing echoes and reflections, and they too bug me. It’s not different than a live concert with multiple speakers near solid concrete walls. Everything can turn to mud.
HelHelHelloolololoooooo
I also agree that your dislike of closed cups may relate to differences in left versus right ear hearing potential. I have different perceptual dips in my left versus right ears, even though I can detect loudness at about the same levels overall.
Interesting.
How do you experience the Clear’s?
I can’t tell from pics but it looks like there are vents in the cup similar to the HD 6XX.
So maybe it sounds like an “upgraded” HD 6XX rather than a sealed front?
Also, do you get any “closed” feeling from the HD 800S?
The HD 800 S is the most open sounding headphone I’ve ever used outside the RAAL “bat ear” headphones. The HD 800 S lets you hear everything in the room and everyone can hear your music too.
The Clear – I’m running Dekoni microfiber pads right now. I haven’t used factory pads for years, but I think they are a bit leaner. See @Resolve’s “Pad Rolling with the Clear” post on the main headphones dot com site. The Dekoni pads are more closed than the 800 S, but not reflective. Focal’s products with metal drivers are inherently sharper-edged and more dynamic than most headphones, so people with extra-sensitive ears should try before buying and use warming pairings.
