Grado Love or the RS2 (TTVJ Deluxe Pad) Appreciation Thread

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Feb 13, 2020.

  1. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Lest your statements scare people off, I will provide the following counterpoints:
    1. The grain is more evident on lower line Grados, SR60, SR80. The sound is smoother and less grainy as we move up the line to SR225, RS2, RS1. (Yes, the RS1 is overpriced).
    2. Grain is highly mitigated with the flat pads. Most of the grain is a result of frequency response. Ultimately, the grain argument is more traditional dynamic driver vs planar. The HD800 is just as grainy if not more than an RS2 with flat pads.
    3. One can make a similar arguments that HD650s will always sound like HD650s, or HE6s always sound like HE6s, HD800s impart HD800 sound, or planars always sound like planars.
    4. Without mods, highly respected headphones on SBAF such as HE-6 (or even HE-5) sound like zippy dippy ass.
    5. I can think of a lot more shittier headphones than an SR225e + pads ($250), some costing upwards to thousands.
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2020
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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  4. Huhnkopf

    Huhnkopf Friend

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    any chance of testing these with the 105mm earpads of the GS1000i?
     
  5. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Going on record as saying I am hype for this since I don't think shipping will be too much but leave me at the ass end of the loaner please because postal issues still scare the crap out of me— still traumatised by the one set that got "lost" for ~10 months.

    Also if there's no interest in them afterwards then I can maybe put some funds to buy them for science! Provided you won't be wanting them back because I seem to be hella clumsy tinkering with stuff (need to buy new HD600 drivers ffs).
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    They will be bad. The PS/GS1000 drivers are extra bassy to make up for the increased distance from the ear to the driver which results in decreased lows relative to the highs. The big bowl pads will have catastrophic effects on the frequency response SRxx and RSxx drivers, only making them even thinner sounding.
     
  7. wormsdriver

    wormsdriver New

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  8. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    [​IMG]

    ^I have a set of Symphones v9 if you'd like to compare. In this pic they are in an aluminum shell but driver is seated in an inner wooden sleeve. However, I found them sounding bassy and hollow. The problem was poor seal due to poor install and damaged parts (not my doing); there was no fault with Symphones product itself. Even so, Rhydon at Symphones provided new drivers and helped me obtain new cups all free of charge despite me buying the drivers second-hand. Just waiting on the new headphones to arrive... Here is a frequency response graph from Symphones website:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2020
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    upload_2020-2-14_12-4-29.jpeg

    FWIW, I have Magnum V4s. They are wonderful.
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2020
  10. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    aaa
    The graph is junk - cut off and smoothed. Or are you saying Symphones is bs? Ive supposedly not heard it proper yet.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 17, 2020
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    On the contrary, the Magnums / Symphones, are quite excellent. On a level less grain and more smooth than any Grado driver. Perhaps even too smooth for a Grado if you know what I mean. The concerns I have is that Rhydon kept tweaking the formula for bass on subsequent versions (probably because of lame HFer requests), so it was hard to get a consistent baseline for mods and tweaks. Something that sounded right on V6 (which I felt was already perfected), sounded off on V7, V6, V5, etc. I didn't know what happened to Symphones. Glad to know that he's still around.

    As we can see below, Magnum V4 is quite a bit more behaved than RS2. It's actually too dark with the original TTVJ flat pads and works best with the latest Deluxe flat pads. The first upper mid bump is detailed, but the rest of the highs is smoother, with a very normal mid-treble at the expense of less top octave air.

    Grado RS2 TTVJ Deluxe pads (red) vs. Magnum V6 in HP1 cups (blue)
    Frequency Response
    upload_2020-2-14_12-10-41.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2020
  12. Grattle

    Grattle Friend

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    I'm loving my PS500. I bought it on ebay as "Broken/For Parts". The only parts needed were new pads.

    I completely agree about pad sensitivity. The Grado pads have varying density which I think has some effect. Most 3rd party pads I've seen are uniform in density.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I dunno dude. I try to avoid limited editions due to well they are limited. Once they are gone, they are gone. Looks like the default Pads are the S ones, which normally make my ears sweat (but good in a colder environment).

    $350.00 isn't bad, it is just I don't know if I want to go back to Grado land or not.
     
  14. Grattle

    Grattle Friend

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    Just an acquantance, but I'd be very interested.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Good point. What I was thinking. I'd say SR225 with aftermarket cups and pads. Maybe I will write a guide. It can be done without solder and only Elmers glue.
     
  16. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I agree. There are so many SR225s for sale and in the wild to the point that there's plenty available for mods. Drivers are at the sweet spot for price and performance.
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    You've been upgraded after being properly hazed.
     
  18. Grattle

    Grattle Friend

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    I'm a firm believer in hazing.
     
  19. Brooko

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    Hey Marv
    If you're interested in measuring my MS Pro's, PM me. They'll cost a bit to send over (from NZ), but I can cover that. Then if you have some regulars who want a listen - I'm OK if they tour. As long as you can vouch for the participants. And I'd also be interested in buying a pair of TTVJ flats.
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2020
  20. wormsdriver

    wormsdriver New

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    I'd also be interested in buying a pair of TTVJ Deluxe pads
     

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