I recently upgraded my Grado SR80 headphones to Alessandro Grado MS-1 (after a slight accident) and whilst I enjoy the sound from both SR80 and MS-1 find that after an hour of listening the top of my head and my ears become uncomfortable.
After surfing Grado results across the net (mainly in the mod crazy US) I came across Turbulent Labs who offer replacement leather headbands.
See http://www.turbulentlabs.com/grado-onyx-manta/
I ordered the Onyx Manta leather headband at $50 USD including delivery to the UK from Malaysia (approx. 1 week).
This headband has transformed the comfort and cannot understand why Grado do not use padded leather as standard.
Side by side the sorry sight of the original skinny Grado pleather band is pitiful versus the Turbulent Labs genuine padded leather offering.
Turbulent have a range of excellent videos online showing fitting etc and the buying experience has been very pleasing.
Taking comfort further and attempting to solve the ear comfort issue I have also taken delivery of the Grado G cushion ear pads (meant for the GS1000).
I found the S cushions that came with the MS-1 terrible (scratchy/itchy, making my ears very hot quickly and also muffling the sound).
I have used L cushions on my SR80 for a few years and whilst better than the S cushions they were not that comfortable but.....
The G cushions (John Grado will no be happy as he says they should not be used on the SR range as they change the sound from the original) are very, very comfortable in comparison (also very, very expensive at £50+)
I have found that I have to increase the volume a couple of notches to get the same perceived volume as the L cushions.
I will be doing A/B tests and might swap G and L cushions depending on my listening session but I would recommend both the Turbulent Labs leather headband and Grado G cushions to improve the Grado experience.
Hope this is interesting to someone
Regards
After surfing Grado results across the net (mainly in the mod crazy US) I came across Turbulent Labs who offer replacement leather headbands.
See http://www.turbulentlabs.com/grado-onyx-manta/
I ordered the Onyx Manta leather headband at $50 USD including delivery to the UK from Malaysia (approx. 1 week).
This headband has transformed the comfort and cannot understand why Grado do not use padded leather as standard.
Side by side the sorry sight of the original skinny Grado pleather band is pitiful versus the Turbulent Labs genuine padded leather offering.
Turbulent have a range of excellent videos online showing fitting etc and the buying experience has been very pleasing.
Taking comfort further and attempting to solve the ear comfort issue I have also taken delivery of the Grado G cushion ear pads (meant for the GS1000).
I found the S cushions that came with the MS-1 terrible (scratchy/itchy, making my ears very hot quickly and also muffling the sound).
I have used L cushions on my SR80 for a few years and whilst better than the S cushions they were not that comfortable but.....
The G cushions (John Grado will no be happy as he says they should not be used on the SR range as they change the sound from the original) are very, very comfortable in comparison (also very, very expensive at £50+)
I have found that I have to increase the volume a couple of notches to get the same perceived volume as the L cushions.
I will be doing A/B tests and might swap G and L cushions depending on my listening session but I would recommend both the Turbulent Labs leather headband and Grado G cushions to improve the Grado experience.
Hope this is interesting to someone
Regards