

Matte black Grado SR60e
Got bored and tore apart an old set of SR60e. Sanded, primed, painted with matte black and seal with a matte clear coat. Added a detachable cable adaptor. I think it looks nice.
Grado SR225x
Another one down … I have the SR225i but not a fan of the X version. But with the Muse, it mellows it out.
Grado B pads
Grado 225x and B pads
They work! I don’t like the 225x with stock pads. Too narrow than my 225i’s. But with the B pads, it’s spacious, low end is mellowed out but vocals stay pretty much the same.
They do the same from the 225i but change the signature, wider sound stage but at the cost of low end, too mellowed out highs and less clarity in the vocals. My worn L pads will stay with 225i
Grado B pads
First impressions with the new Grado B-cushions after an hour of testing across three models: original Hemps, new Hemps, and Classic 325s.
Comfort & Build
Out of the box, they’re on the stiffer side, though a quick hand wash or standard break-in should soften them up. Your ears sit farther from the driver than with standard pads, but closer than with G-cushions. On my ears, they still feel strictly on-ear, but overall comfort is a clear upgrade. Interestingly, the foam where the pad mounts to the housing is soft, but the surface resting against your ear is much firmer. It’ll be interesting to see how third-party brands replicate these.
Sound Impressions
Classic 325 (Pass): Absolutely not a good pairing. The signature sparkling highs vanish, the mids recede into the background, and the low end gets muffled. Skip these for the 325s.
OG & New Hemps (Strong Recommend): A total winner. While measurements would likely show small changes, to my ears they preserve everything that makes the Hemps special. The signature warmth remains, the highs drop just a fraction without losing energy, and vocals stay forward and engaging. Low-end impact gets a subtle, clean boost.
Verdict
I like them enough that I just ordered a second pair—one set for each of my Hemps (home and office setups). Over the weekend, I’ll be running them through the rest of the lineup: SR60, SR80, SR125, SR225, and the new Classic SR80. Full updates to follow!
Grado Classic SR80 with detachable cable adaptor mod
Running Grado Classic SR80 on the Muse M3 Ultra balanced is a nice pairing. You get some extra width, some warmth in mids and highs