I have tried both. The sock mod works great on the ears. Tames the highs some, and adds soms bass. After 6 months I couldn't listen without the socks, the highs were just too much...put on a set of g cush about 2 weeks ago, and im in heaven. I was really getting tired of the closed in sound stage, and tried senn. 598s total juck. Like toy cans, congested. Hifi man he 500. Went very deep (down to the gut), but also congested with no highs. Akg k550s, as I was burning them in they opened up nicely with a wide sound stage, but after 60 hrs., I lost it. I went from the 6th row back up to the 2nd at around 100 hrs..one pro review said the same..With the 325i with g cush have the best of both worlds. 6th row seating, the instruments are nicely spaced while still maintaining the grado sound that I love. It was the best $45 I ever spent..these things sound like $800 cans. Don't hesitate. Buy them.