Well, my mind has changed. The realization of what I actually want has come to fruition after my week-long search that included considering the K702's, Beyer 880's and 990's, and HD600's, here's what I've concluded:
I enjoy the sound of a bright yet dark system. My Paradigms do just that. They are revealing and crisp on the attack. They add what I'd call "dark" coloration. They're completely geared toward rock and roll, as am I.
I called the Stereoshop. They don't stock the 702's. My friend owns a set. He said "Dude, they are NOT for you!". I'm taking his word on it. He heard my 225's and was instantly offended. Hehe.
Fortunately, a friend's father owns a set of 600's, and a Creek amp (I forget the model number). I had a sit down with them. They're not me either. The bass sounded solid. The mids were smooth and in distant. The highs were silky and not so involving, either. I felt like I was hearing more and listening less.
I spent a significant amount of time reading about the Beyer 880/990's as well. People who seem to enjoy the sound of a Grado enjoy the sound of a Grado. Those people, in almost every case, are not Beyerdynamic supporters.
So, I'm going to climb the Grado ladder. Which leaves me at a choice, albeit one that I'm 99.99% decided on. TTVJ has a limited number of HF-2's. From the overwhelming amount of reviews and comparisons that I've read, they employ the same drivers as the 225's. Additionally, they are the most polite of the Grados. They seem to have better staging, but at the cost of less detail (most of you would call this a less brightness, I call it "less Grado-ish"). Additionally, folks who are staunch Grado-ists claim that they have an overwhelming bass presence, and an unnatural one at that. On the upside, they have great timbre. When the humidity is right.
In that price range (actually, $144 less after shipping) also exist the newly re-designed sr325is'. John Grado grew tired of folks universally praising the 225 over the 325, and so.... They've made the aluminum more dense. They've enlarged the housings to the volume of the RS-1i. They're using a real leather band with a minimal touch of padding, an 8-braid beast of a cable, a new improved driver design, blah blah blah...
Opinions on the new 325is' are mixed. Descriptions of their characteristics are not. Grado has a particular sound, that culminates in the RS-1i, and extends now into the GS-1000. 325is owners as well as several sources that I've read seem to tout the re-designed 325's as the closest in sound to the RS-1i that exists in the lineup, even going as far as claiming their superiority over the RS-2i. Of course, these are the folks who prefer the more detailed aspects (brighter, I'm not afraid to say it) of the 325is. I am one of those people. I like the guitar in Supertramp's Bloody Well Right to scream, to be dirty, raw, gritty, nasty, rock and roll!
I could buy used online and save some bucks, but.. On something that I'll very hopefully give to my children some day, nah... I'll go new.
So, tomorrow, I'm putting in my order for a brand spankin' new set of Grado sr325is headphones, and an order for the G-Cush bowl earpads. Rumor has it that the 325is sounds nearly identical in staging and coloration to the RS (G-Cush) pads.
We shall see!
Now the question is, do I keep my 225's and my 60's? For now, for sure.
