CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

Lobby => DIY => Topic started by: stratocaster on February 11, 2015, 08:40:13 AM

Title: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: stratocaster on February 11, 2015, 08:40:13 AM: For quite some time I had some beat-up Grado SR125i drivers and a pair of really nice looking black anodized 325i aluminium shells lying around. Finally found some time working on this “Stealth Grado”.

The following mods were carried out: Drivers were put into Limba sleeves and some internal damping was applied. The crucial part came with the pads. Grado L-cushs were lacking comfort, plus I was not really satisfied with the sonic performance. So I decided to start experimenting on pads, trying every pad I had available. Surprisingly I had the best results with some older Sennheiser velour pads mounted on the L-cushs! This not only gave the best sonic result, but it also increased the comfort tremendously, finally turning these circumaural.

I am really, really happy with these now. They are comfortable, nice-looking, and, what is most important, excellent sounding. Wouldn’t have thought I would ever return to a Grado, but here I am.

Attached pics:

1: Headphones and pads
2: Comparison stock Grado driver with L-cushs compared to the modded circumaural set
3: Overlay left/right
4: FR left
5: FR right
6: CSD right
7: Compared to HD600 (red)
8: Headphones and pads
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: Kamaka on February 11, 2015, 10:34:47 AM: Nice work. :)p1

Could you give any additional details about the pads Sennheiser pads?
I'm curious which ones they are, and did you do anything specific to mount them to the L-Cush pads?
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: stratocaster on February 11, 2015, 11:06:47 AM: I removed the pads from some vintage HD540 Reference II headphones. They resemble HD6xx pads, but were heavily used and quite 'flat'. I finally glued them on the L-cushs, after I made sure I really liked what I was hearing.
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: Solderdude on February 11, 2015, 06:55:03 PM: That would be the first 'cheap' Grado I could possible live with happily.
(Never heard the unobtanium like 'real' grados)

I almost cannot believe a Grado could be modified to measure like this.
Of course, the foam pads are mostly to blame.
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: spoony on February 11, 2015, 08:09:23 PM: Holy shit, ain't that something!

Edit: How important is the wooden sleeve?
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: stratocaster on February 12, 2015, 05:48:01 AM: Quote from: c61746961 on February 11, 2015, 08:09:23 PM
Edit: How important is the wooden sleeve?
The sleeves, whatever material they are made of, are not really that important. I am of the opinion that it is the shape of the sleeve and the cups that is detrimental. The Grado driver is better than its reputation. It is underdamped, in order to 'synergize' with the foam pads and produce that edgy, shouty Grado house sound. If Grado wanted to create a more neutral, balanced headphone, they would have to rethink pads, housing, driver damping ... But it could be done.

I will have to give a Grado driver in a completely new housing a try. So, anybody having some spare Grado drivers to sell?
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: Deep Funk on February 12, 2015, 10:19:45 AM: Impressive, that is all I have to say.
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: stratocaster on February 12, 2015, 10:37:46 AM: Tried a variant with some HM5 velour pads .... A little more bass, 2kHz Grado (shout) peak completely gone. Very relaxed, almost Senn-like, sounding.
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: gelocks on February 12, 2015, 03:48:04 PM: Looks Awesome!
Would probably prefer a bit more bass though... :p
Title: Re: Circumaural Stealth Grado
Post by: funkmeister on February 14, 2015, 04:33:24 AM: My short experience with the SR225i taught my very quickly that the Grado drivers had lots of potential. I'm glad to see them being exploited like this.