The actual SR125i is an excellent choice for those who prefer the feel of Grado's toned earpads over the bowl-shaped ones. I personally favor the comfort of the flat, toned shields over the bowl-shaped ones. Certainly, one always has the option to purchase the S-Cush parts and use them with any Grado model they like (excluding iGrado), but a good earpad change will significantly affect how the headphone sounds in your ear canal. Since the SR125i is a type that Grado Labs has built with their flat patches as the designed earpad, I consider the SR125i to be the most ideal buy in their lineup. *Please remember that these flat patches are the same as the flat shields that come with much older Grado models. The difference is that the older flat shields are hollowed out just like the bowl-shaped earpads, but are flat instead of raised. The pads attached with the S-Cush inserts are not useless. Designed To Fit & The Tip: A thin pressed paper container with an open cellular memory foam interlay. Grado Presentation is nothing extravagant. It's possibly the least impressive aspect of the product – not so bad considering you don't use the presentation to listen to music. The headphones look almost identical to the Grado SR60i and SR80i – black plastic earcups, flat pads, user adjustable leather headband, thick Y-split cable. This cable ends with a 1/4 inch jack which means if you're going to plug it into a regular headphone mini-jack, you have to buy an adapter. Like several Grado headphones, the headband tension is easy to adjust by gently twisting the ribbon (manufacturer's instructions). Like all of Grado's designs, there's a retro appeal here. The build will be appreciated by many music fans and enthusiasts, although the design may not be the most aesthetically pleasing. As with most Grado headphones, the SR125i are open-back and therefore not necessarily suited for outdoor use or in places where disturbing others might be an issue. It's also worth mentioning, as we are often asked, what the "i" stands for. It signifies an improvement over the previous SR125 model. Grado consistently tries to improve their headphones, and the SR125 is no exception to this rule. I bring this up to clear any misunderstandings – the "i" stands for iPhone compatibility as it often does for other models. There is no microphone stand or Apple remote functionality here. Alas! Everything About THE SOUND? - The sound, while similar to the SR60 and SR80, will be more detailed with higher spatial description. For many, it may not be worth the extra cost, given that they are quite similar in nature. There's basically less bass format in the SR125, but overall more detail.