Sol
100+
loves motorcycles !
Chief Technical Numpty
Posts: 135
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Post by Sol on Dec 28, 2007 13:04:06 GMT
So the HD414 pads arrived ... nice difference ... can't make my mind up whetehr the sound has changed any, but they are definately more comfortable than the standard bowl pads on the Grados, and I rather like the lumious yellow ;0).
Definately a keeper - thanks for the suggestion. A tenner well spent.
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Post by dc on Dec 28, 2007 13:21:49 GMT
they only cost AUD$10 delivered here!
what's that like 4 pounds?
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Sol
100+
loves motorcycles !
Chief Technical Numpty
Posts: 135
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Post by Sol on Dec 28, 2007 13:26:01 GMT
they only cost AUD$10 delivered here! what's that like 4 pounds? Welcome to the rip-off-UK! It never ceases to amaze me how expensive things are here .. having said that, I was amazed that in India, electronic items seemed to cost the same after FX conversion as the UK, and often was more expensive - imagine trying to pay for some high end electrical items on an Indian salary at UK prices! So count your blessings I guess.
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Post by dc on Dec 28, 2007 13:46:47 GMT
yeah. most stuff is over-priced in Australia though
heard stories of guys in China who aren't poor by any means, but must still save up a month's wages to afford headphones =\
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Nigel
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Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
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Post by Nigel on Dec 29, 2007 16:07:38 GMT
Sol,
My yellow Sennheiser pads arrived today.
I've virtually dismissed them already. To my ears they destroyed the sound plus were even more uncomfortable than the stock bowls.
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Post by merton on Dec 29, 2007 17:35:34 GMT
that's why i said to get the ttvj pads. never could understand how anyone could like the senn pads.
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toad
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I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
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Post by toad on Dec 29, 2007 21:51:06 GMT
Most of us have had senns of some sort for so long we have senn shaped ears ;D
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Nigel
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Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
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Post by Nigel on Dec 30, 2007 8:49:36 GMT
Yes, the shape of the pads on the top end Senns are an exquisite fit.
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Nigel
Been here a while!
Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
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Post by Nigel on Dec 30, 2007 9:18:56 GMT
I think John Grado devised a built in uncomfort mechanism so you can only listen to Grados for a limited period of time - therefore protecting one's hearing.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 20, 2008 21:08:00 GMT
Click to view full size. Picture courtesy of Nigel, thanks mate
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Post by beagle on Feb 21, 2008 14:55:51 GMT
I think John Grado devised a built in uncomfort mechanism so you can only listen to Grados for a limited period of time - therefore protecting one's hearing. You protect your hearing by choosing a comfortable volume. Grados don't need to be played LOUD. It's all there at low to moderate volumes. I suppose that some choose not to accept the Grado sound and fit. However, many of the comments seem to suggest that nobody in their right mind could possibly like them. I think they sound great and the comfort issue can be improved by bending the headband and flexing up the pads. It's like having a speedy BMW but complaining that it does not hide the bumps in the road like a limousine does. Having said that, I'd love to hear what the Grado drivers would sound like in a Goldring DR150 housing.
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Feb 25, 2008 3:57:16 GMT
actually 32 ohms is the load of the Grado cans (and pretty much a 32 ohm line from top to bottom rather than all over the map like many cans),your amp really wants to be in the 10 ohm or less range for flat response,with some 47-120 ohm series resistance IF your amp has enough power to "muscle through" and still provide voice coil damping at what to a speaker amp is a high impedance and a headphone amp a very low one. as for the Grado RA-1 it is not the basic circuit that matters but that they not only found a chip that could provide buffer-like output current in a simple single stage "classic" opamp circuit (most amps use a combination opamp/buffer stage to get there ),and that meant SOMEONE had to spend the time searching and testing while getting PAID a salary but that they managed to "tame" the known tendency for bipolar input op amps to have a large DC rider on the output unless AC coupled by using a "proper" feedback network,again likely designed on paper then bench "tweaked" under load. Toss in the passive parts,the R/C are voiced to sound good with Grado cans and the amp actually does what it was designed to do and you can spend more or feel better about purchasing an amp with much more under the hood (complicated brings its own set of problems) so can only be considered a successful design. Can we copy and build the amp for less than the retail cost ? Obviously now that we have the "plans" but that does not mean the amp is not ,a good value just because the parts cost don't add up to the store price. If I were to "improve" on the basic design it would be to make a proper power supply,add input RFI filtering,upgrade the input cap and maybe add some series output resistance to protect the feedback loop (would likely KILL the output current delivery) but that is about it
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Post by chikolad on Jul 12, 2008 22:11:38 GMT
On the comfort subject... From my experience, it just take time for the ear pads to soften and for the metal band to loosen. When I first got my SR80 I couldn't wear them for over an hour straight... but after about a week it improved drastically and now I can wear 'em all day.
Never had comfort problems with my GS1000.
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Post by merton on Jul 12, 2008 22:51:52 GMT
comfort is why i wouldn't buy the metal grado's again. if i went grado i'd get the ms pro's and some ttvj flat pads. that's as comfortable as they'll get.
even beyers get unfcomfortable to me after a while.
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Jul 14, 2008 0:30:15 GMT
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Post by merton on Jul 14, 2008 20:48:53 GMT
is the 325i really that much heavier than the other grado phones?
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
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Post by rickcr42 on Jul 14, 2008 21:49:37 GMT
I think so.
Most use plastic housings,the RS-1,RS-2 and MS-PRO lightweight mahogany while the 325 series is aluminum but here is the weird part.
the 325 is actually closest to the original Joe Grado design which was from the start meant as a professional recording studio monitor and why the ear pieces were made to rotate which though a real pain in the ass sometimes when the cord gets spun around and twisted is a real boon at a recording console where when you take them off and place them on the deck they lay FLAT instead of ready to take a tumble to the floor as with ALL other headphones not mounted on a hook or stand
got the above info from some old audio Advisor catalogs I have/had that were the first to my knowledge introduction of the Joe Grado lineup to the general public
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allenf
250+
tangled up in blue
Posts: 287
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Post by allenf on Jul 19, 2008 7:53:43 GMT
Who ate the comfies? On the subject of Grado comfort, over in "the other camp" there has been a very interesting thread authored by an obviously knowledgable individual regarding the current FOTM in the German headphone forums - Alessandro MS1s fitted with extender pieces (homebrew or Liberators) and Grado GS1000 pads, christened MS 1000. To keep me sane whilst my MS2s were being repaired in Brooklyn NY (more later...) I ordered up some new MS1s, and as I happened to have both GS1000 pads and Liberators to hand - voila! They are amazingly comfortable, with a HUGE soundstage and a very "listenable for hours" quality. Lovely. I've owned SR80s in the past, the atrocious build quality on the plastic Grados hasn't improved lol, but I love them anyway. The same trick performed on the MS2s, with some Beyer capsule foam to tame the pointy top end: MS2 repair: I bought these new direct from Alessandro 2 1/2 years ago and they had begun to grattle like mad. I emailed Grado, they informed me of the repair charges, so I posted them off from the UK. 23 days later they were back. The driver design has changed - they now have some silver material that runs 180 degrees round the inner circumference on the rear of the diaphragm: With well worn, washed and shagged out standard bowls, they sound great out of the box, weighty and restrained. A smooth Grado, whatever next And on the invoice for repair tucked in the box was written: "No Charge (N/C)"Sweet.
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Jul 19, 2008 16:02:17 GMT
as far as I can decipher the Grado written warrantee is not worth the paper it is printed on 'cause even after the stated expiration date I have not yet heard of anyone ever being charged for a repair no matter if that repair was new drivers,a new headband or in extreme cases a total headphone replacement.
This is a very rare thing in these days of aftermarket "service contracts" that you not only have to pay for on top of the product price but that you have to renew on a continuing basis,also not free,and that IF you need to use it becomes a three ring circus to get satisfaction in the end (if you ever do)
even more amazing that it comes from a smallish company that that still builds the old fashion way-in house,one at a time by humans-the least cost effective method known
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allenf
250+
tangled up in blue
Posts: 287
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Post by allenf on Jul 19, 2008 16:29:00 GMT
Guys, be advised that most Grado cans will develop grattle. This is usually caused by hair getting inside and if you gently blow hair through the screen the problem is solved. Sometimes you need to use compressed from an air can. Good luck. Man, I'd exhausted every suck/blow procedure front AND back before committing to the repair. At least it is good you were aware of the problem and attempted to correct it before you spent monies in S&H back across the pond. Next time go to a pub and hire a professional sucker/blower!
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allenf
250+
tangled up in blue
Posts: 287
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Post by allenf on Jul 20, 2008 10:41:17 GMT
Guys, be advised that most Grado cans will develop grattle. This is usually caused by hair getting inside and if you gently blow hair through the screen the problem is solved. Sometimes you need to use compressed from an air can. Good luck. Man, I'd exhausted every suck/blow procedure front AND back before committing to the repair. At least it is good you were aware of the problem and attempted to correct it before you spent monies in S&H back across the pond. Next time go to a pub and hire a professional sucker/blower! Whoah Miguel! How did you manage to edit my post when quoting it
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insanitybeard
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My head feels like a frisby, like a football.....
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Post by insanitybeard on Jul 21, 2008 10:12:51 GMT
Guys, be advised that most Grado cans will develop grattle. This is usually caused by hair getting inside and if you gently blow hair through the screen the problem is solved. Sometimes you need to use compressed from an air can. Good luck. Thanks for that Miguel, I'll give that a try before I send mine back, I'll see if I can find some compressed air!
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Post by merton on Jul 21, 2008 16:25:44 GMT
be careful with compressed air as it can shoot out chemical. a giotto rocket blower or an ai rcompressor may be a better idea.
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insanitybeard
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My head feels like a frisby, like a football.....
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Post by insanitybeard on Jul 21, 2008 22:30:22 GMT
Funnily enough I have EXACTLY what you describe- I bought one to blow dust off of my CDs' and camera lens. Thanks!
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