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Promises Kept
My first post was an exercise in getting all the bits-and-pieces together to create content. In many ways this is my first real post here ... and I want to keep a promise: For years I've said I would measure the effects of the various headphone pads on Grado headphones ... well, I am very glad to say finally, here it is.

To the best of my knowledge, there have been five basic types of stock Grado ear-pads over the years. From left to right in the photo above:

Small Flat Pad --- Originally the…

To my ears, Grados generally have two faults: the bass lacks authority; and there's a harsh spot in the low-treble around 2kHz. Fortunately, it appears that playing with the pads does indeed effect the sound mildly, and both problems above can be tinkered with.

I'll be mentioning some of the other measurements taken, if you…

The first modification for our viewing pleasure is the reverse bowls (forest green trace). You'll have to look carefully, but it does seem the bump at 2kHz is narrower, and the highs are slightly more rolled-off than the bowls. "Nicer mids; muffles highs slightly; slightly better bass slam," say my notes comparing the bowls reversed against the normal bowls. If you want to hear what flat pads sound like, flip your bowls around and it will give you the idea of what direction you'll go.

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A little headphone archeology reveals The Collected Grado Headphone Mods thread on the HeadWize archive.

The Head-Fi "Post Your Grado Mod" thread.

QQQs SR225 extreem Frankengrado mods.

Bilavideo goes crazy with a pair of Grado SR60s.

Aftermarket Pads and Modified Grados

A big thanks goes out for all the help rounding up Grado headphones and pads for this article to TTVJ who sells the Flat Pads here, and HeadRoom who sells replacement bowl pads here.

Headphile C-Pads installed on…

Oh Nooooos!
I was at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year for my first face-to-face meetings with my new boss and his boss from Source Interlink Media about the InnerFidelity start-up, when out of the blue the boss's boss says, "Say, I've got a meeting with Skullcandy this afternoon, you should come."

Ruh roh.

We high-end headphone geeks don't take too kindly to headphones painted up with pink kitties and cartoon monkeys, so I try to opt out gracefully, "Aw, geez, I dunno, they're not really my thing. They're…

The build quality is quite good, but a bit weird. Headphones from the big makers tend to be tight as a drum…

"The way it was, is not the way it is." - Jamie Oman, Skullcandy Director of Product Developement
Over the course of two days I had conversations with Dan Levine, Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer; Pete Kelly, Director of Industrial Design; and Jamie Oman, Director of Product Developement for Skullcandy. I asked very direct questions about their intentions from the outset, and throughout the design and development process with regard to the sound quality goals of the Aviators, and I was pleasantly surprised with the…

Bass roll-off starting at about 70Hz shows diminishing performance in lowest two octaves, slightly below par for a headphone of this type. With a gentle warm tilt, the very even and flat frequency response between 80Hz and 4kHz indicates the well balanced sound as heard in the listening test; this is markedly superior performance for a headphone of this type. Modest deviation in low frequency response during various headphone postionings indicates a headphone that seals and fits repeatable and well. Peaks and valleys 3kHz and above are normal for headphones…

A Great Sounding Brick
The DT 235 is a general utility, sealed ear-pad headphone, good for use in libraries, museums, point-of-purchase displays, and anywhere you want a reliable headphone that delivers a natural and pleasant listening experience. Their durability also makes them just the thing to give to a youngster who's hard on his/her gear.

Built to take a beating, these cans are a simple design with a fixed headband, swiveling cups, and self-adjustable head-pad. The cable is long at 2.5m (~8 feet), which can be very handy…

The Bowers & Wilkins P5 ($299.99) is a sealed, ear-pad headphone/headset designed for listening and phone use out and about in the city. It’s also designed for people who like quality kit. Paradoxically oozing and understating luxury simultaneously, the P5 is both a comfortable companion and a stylish adornment as it brings you music and phone conversation.

Styling and Build
While I’m not an upscale urbanite, I am an old school geek that appreciates the smell of an MGB GT or the heft of a tactical flashlight. Man, I think B…