Thankyou for a awesome review. Most people on here go on about what they headphones look like and I'm happy you just tell us what you really think about the sound because that's all that matters in the end. Cheers :)
Listening to SR80s now. Buy em. Work fucking fine on iPod. In fact, I compare them to my friends expensive skull candys all the time, and mine kicks their ass
Try them with a nice amp. You'll be surprised how much better they sound. With iPod, you only get half the sound quality. iPod's amp is very weak. Trust me and just try.
@BigHairyBalls3000 Yea but Skullcandy is all brand. Every over ear Skullcandy I've owned, which was 2 and have heard many more; Would not even get a 3 on my 3/5. Actually maybe just a 3 is all it would get.
@slslslsl you don't need an amp to drive these, you can drive them without an amp. Seriously they are not difficult to drive, they are not Audeze LCD2's, LCD3's or Sennheiser HD 800's. I own a pair of Grado / Alessandro Music Scene One and they run fine with out an amp.
Try 'Pro-Ject Headbox MK2' for US $159. It's a dedicated headphone amp that has received great reviews over the years. I plug my SR225i into my NAD C340 Integrated amp that is a part of my stereo system, together with NAD C540 CD Player.
'Turtle Beach Earforce DSS' is complete garbage based on my research. iTunes files are encoded at 256 kbps (kilobits per second) and CDs at 1400 kbps. CDs have much better bass, much more open sound and much cleaner high frequencies.
Rather than buying ATH-M50 from Audio Technica, why not upgrade to a better model from Grado. Sell the SR60 and get the SR225i. I got them and they are awesome, but make sure your amp and file quality is good too.
You need a lot more power to get great sound out of the SR225i model and also CD quality files to get the full potential out of them. SR60i work with iPod a lot better because they are a lot more efficient and a lot more iPod oriented. SR60i have the same drivers like the "iGrado" model which are the official iPod headphones according to Grado.
And trust me, I am not a blind fan of Grado. I like Grado for one reason only - they are the best sounding cans. Period. End of story.
Unfortunately, you are wrong. SR80s are 32 ohms, but the iPod runs out of bass when volume is turned up nice and loud. In order to have good sound with good bass at high volume, you need much more power than the poor iPod can provide. The specs on paper never tell the whole story. I'm sure you don't even own them. Just looking up the specs on Grado website doesn't make you an expert on their sound.
...actually, I do own these sr80's. my can's of choice are 600 ohm beyer dt-880's so I think I understand impedance. although I am fully aware that there are much more expensive headphones out there, but I am a very price/performance conscious individual, which is also exactly why I also own and recommend SR80's. Apple product DAC's are not at all bad and drive the 80's fine. Better with an amp? All decent headphones are. But you are scaring away potential first time grado buyers.
I'm not trying to be a jerk even though I came off that way. Good review you have made here. I just think that you pushed the audiophile line more than understanding exactly what by far most potential 80 buyers are looking for, and willing to spend, and so detracted them than is warranted. PEACE
The SR80 model may be sitting low in the Grado line of all of their products, but it is not a low-end product by any mean so it deserves also better amplification. The 'iGrado' model is just fine straight out of the iPod and it doesn't benefit from more power at all.
DACs and amplifiers are two different things. Amplifiers provide the power and I know from experience that SR80s don't sound any good on my iPod at high volume. They lose all of their bass. And they are only OK sounding at low volume on iPod. Any Apple iPod has very weak amplification built-in.
I am not here trying to scare away anybody, but rather tell the truth and steer people in the right direction. As we all know, in life, not many people like to hear the truth.
I believe this is one of the first reviews that moved me to purchase the SR80i ... which led to the MS1i ... and then now the SR325 all in the span of year.
Im going with your advise on the Grados vs the Sennheisers. Could you please tell me your opinion on what Grados you would get if you were going to use them with an ipad, iphone, and laptop, along with a nice headphone amp inbetween. Price is not an issue . Also, because Im on the go, and will be using w/ Mac products, and will be going into a 1/8 in jack, would it be ok (if I have the amp inbetween) if I go w/ a 1/4 jack headphone? Will I loose anything going from 1/4 to 1/8 in ? Thx!
'iGrado' model is great for iPad, iPod, Mac or iPhone and no amp is required with 'iGrado' model. Very convenient and only $50. If you want to use your portable devices with a dedicated headphone amp, go for either SR 225i or SR 80i.
The 1/8" vs 1/4" jack dilemma is unfounded as your amp plays the biggest role in the sound quality of your headphones. DAC (digital-to-analog) converter is also important, but a lot of amps come with a DAC converter built-in so get one of those amps.
One more thing. If you don't have CD quality files (1400 kbps), don't even bother with SR 225i or SR 80i models and corresponding amps. They need much better file quality to show their full potential. For MP3s, I would go with either an 'iGrado' or SR 60i model and I would not even bother with amps or anything else.
@Coilaman wtf, i'd challenge anyone with human ears to hear the difference between a 256kbps lame encoded mp3 and a cd, double blind and tell them apart
The difference between a 320 kbps MP3 file and a 1400 kbps CD file is very obvious in the bass and in the high frequencies. The separation between different instruments and overall spaciousness of the sound is much better with CD quality files.
It's much easier to hear those differences with better amplifiers, DACs and headphones. Low quality electronics and low-end headphones will struggle to show those differences in an obvious way.
@DarkShroom The mp3 encoding applies filtering even as low as 8k on some settings (read the source code), this can be audible with some songs esp on HF emphasizing phones like Grados.
@others - Ears will quickly get used to emphasized HF sound (within a day) such as Grados. Going to the other direction can take much longer to gain back the sensitivity needed to hear high stuff (eg. grado->senns). As one gets older, ears HF sensitivity gets worse and phones with HF emphasis become desirable.
I am considering to buy a pair of fine headphone. I've bought Aurvana Live and I'm disappointed. It is tiresome after few minutes, hights were too 'light' and crispy, too much bass. Sound unpleasant not natural. I was considering to buy Grado 60 , but some people say bad things, and just recently I consider something cheaper like AKG 404 or something from akg. I don't have any amp. Any sugestions? I listen mostly to trip hop, electronic and jazz( my favs).
Don't waste your time with low-end AKGs. Just get either the iGrado or the SR60. iGrado model is even better if listening on your iPod. People who say that Grados suck are suckers themselves.
I own the Sennheiser HD598 and i'm very disappointed with them. I haven't heard the Grados yet but i think they will be much better. The bass on the sennheisers seems to muffle the rest of the sound. Lots of people talk about the Sennheiser veil and i think that is what they mean.
Try your Sennheiser HD598 with some better amp and a good quality DAC device. Those cans will need a lot of power, good DAC and good file quality to show what they can do. Only a store purchased CD encoded at 1400 kbps counts as optimal file quality for your headphones.
MP3s will give you disappointing results. And don't even try to re-encode your MP3s to 1400 kbps. It doesn't work.
Hey man! That was a pretty passionate review - in a good sense :) I'd order iGrado's from ebay (living outside the US) but the only concerning thing is they are described as on open type ones so one can hear traffic noise and others hear what you are listening to - that's not what i would really like. Any suggestions for this case?
As for Grados I'm only beginning discovering them and I think I'll certainly some model in a while.
'iGrado' model is awesome. Their bass is great and they sound really well balanced straight from iPod. They are also better at isolating you from the environmental noise than any other Grado models. I really wouldn't care about a little sound leaking out. It's really minor in today's noisy buses and subways.
Trust me, SR60 and SR80 leak a lot more sound and they provide less sound isolation. Also, they sound a lot thinner in bass if you don't use them with a dedicated amp.
You could also try the Apple In-Ear Headphones if you like to insert things in your ears. However, making a good seal in your ear canal will be crucial for good bass and balanced sound overall. There are 3 different sizes of silicone ear-tips supplied with them.
I like to use a large ear-tip for my right ear and a medium one for my left ear. I get awesome bass and well balanced sound with that combination, but you will have to experiment with the proper fit.
have u tried philips? i'm using philips SHP2700. n a bit setting on my audio player,it's great. but of cos it cant be compared with hi-end headphones such as those u've tested. have any comments about philips headphone?
I really like Philips electric shavers, but I have never tried their headphones. I am sure my Grado SR225i would completely destroy any Philips model. Grado is the best for me and I prefer to kick back and relax rather than experiment all the time with different manufacturers.
Oh totally agreed! Dream Theater is my all-time favorite band. SC is such a sick album, I do with the mastering was a little better though. I prefer "Scenes From a Memory", that album gets me every single time!
I have a question, If I were to buy a some headphones in the 40-80 dollar range for listening in an iPod touch, should I buy iGrado or a Sennheiser PX 100-II On Ear Miniheadphone (White)?
I say go for Grado in $ 40-80 price range. You get better sound for your buck. The iGrado model is available in black only these days. I guess they discontinued the white because of lack of demand for white model. Now looking back, I also wish I bought the black ones. The black looks better, in my personal view.
My best and most advanced headphones are Grado SR225i. My most recent ones are Apple In-Ear Headphones and they are incredible and very comparable to lower range Grado stuff like iGrado and SR60.
Ciolaman, I have a simple question. I currently have H212's, and had them for about a year. I like the sound, but i wanna move on. I wanna buy something like Sennheiser hd558 or hd598. The thing i wanna know (since i never owned headphones more expensive than hd212pro).... are those headphones like Hd555/558 or HD595/598 really worth paying three times more money? I mean, is the sound really noticably better on some mid-fi headphone for around 250 dollars?
More expensive Sennheisers will give you much better sound, but they will also require good electronics and good file quality to sound their best. iPod headphone output does not have the power required to drive a $250 pair of Sennheiser cans and MP3 files are a very bad idea if you are trying to take the full advantage of any high-end pair of headphones.
You must listen for yourself and then make a decision. Nobody can tell you what's good for you. You have to do your homework.
@Coilaman Yea I know i need good electronics and audio files. I only have FLAC format music on my HDD, and im currently using Logitech Z2300 amp as a source. Which is a pretty damn powerful amp, better than my behringer ma400. But i just wondered whether the more expensive headphones are only a bit better, i wouldnt wanna be disappointed after buying them.
I don't buy anything without trying. There will be no regret if you audition them in the shop. However, partnering electronics matter as well so make sure you audition them with proper electronics to experience their full potential.
If you are buying them on line, you are in for all kinds of surprises because you can't hear them before buying. Check the return policy of the store, be it on line or in the 'brick and mortar' retail store. Many stores allow only exchanges.
@Coilaman Yea i know, but the problem is, HD558's are new headphones, and no store close to me has them in stock, so if i wanna buy them, i have to order them and pay in advance. Thats the part of the story that sucks....i dont know, ill try to talk with the guy in the store and ill see what i can do about that. Thanks for advice.
The Logitech Z2300 does not have a DAC converter built-in and it also has a very weak headphone output. You are actually using your stock DAC inside your computer as a DAC. A bad idea unless you have one of those very expensive computer sound cards. Behringer MA400 is just a basic and very cheap headphone amp.
You need a much better amp and DAC converter for HD555 or HD595. Some headphone amps have a DAC converter already built in, but make sure to check before buying.
Just to let you know, your Logitech Z2300 amp has a separate circuitry for headphone output, so don't think just because it's powerful for powering your speakers that it will be powerful driving your headphones. The headphone output on that system is very poor. It may be good for you with the headphones you have, but it will suck with a $250 pair Sennheisers, Grados or any other headphones of that quality.
@Coilaman Ok. I thought its powerful enough, since my Hd212pro sound extremely loud at 50% of volume already, and sound much much much better than when plugged directly into the sound card in the back of PC.
Which headphone amp would you suggest in low-mid class? Up to about 60-70 dollars. And should i get an additional sound card even tho i buy the amp?
If you can't spend more than 60-70 dollars on an amp, forget about buying a better headphone amp. HeadRoom Total AirHead is $99 and Headroom amps are very good. A better sound card will definitely provide a better DAC converter than anything that came stock with your computer. Some better headphone amplifiers are Pro-ject Headbox ($150) or Little Dot Headphone amp ($189).
@Coilaman I was also thinking about NuForce uDac2 , the DAC+headphone pmp combo in one device, it costs about 200 dollars in my country. Was reading some reviews, and everyone seem to be very happy with sound quality and power of that device. Apparently, its good enough to run mid-fi/hi-fi headphones like AKG k702 or Senn HD650. Well, I dont know whether that is true, but i guess its good enough for 558's.
Headphones and electronics are kind of like cars and engines.
In order to achieve the best performance, a race car needs the very best engine. Cheap cars don't need the the best engine.
A lot of people buy very high performance headphones, but they neglect the electronics part and then they complain that their expensive, high end headphones don't sound right to their ears. The better the headphones, the better the electronics they require for the best sound possible.
I think you are on the right track and it's really good you are doing your research and asking questions. It will pay off in hundreds of hours of happy listening to your favourite records.
@Coilaman I was in the audio shop today, i got recommended to take the NuForce uDac2 that i heard about yesterday. Its very nice little dac + amp combo....the bad thing is....i tried it with sennheiser HD600's. I was amazed with the sound. I never thought a headphone could sound that good and be so loud. I think i might save a little more money and get something more high-end than Senn HD558's I wanted until today. :P Probably gonna get the Hd600's or AKG702's together with the uDac2.
@Coilaman you were right claiming that good headphone amplifier would do better work for headphones than home movie theater receiver. I've got Japanese ADL GT 40 USB DAC and use it mainly as a headphone amplifier. The sound is really robust, full of clarity, accuracy, and separation. By the way, I use Grado SR 325is.
Hey, nothing is carved in stone, but I am glad you like your new Furutech ADL 40. And the Grado SR 325is are true monsters. I have the SR225i now and I love them with my NAD C340 Integrated amplifier and C540 CD player. The SR225i are a big upgrade from SR80 model and worth every cent.
iGrado are great for bus, but I prefer Apple In-Ear Headphones because of better portability and better isolation from the outside noise. And the sound of the In-Ears is really great and well balanced. Apple In-Ear Headphones will cost you $79 in the U.S. or $89 in Canada. I had the Klipsch model you mentioned, and I hated them so much. They have a very overblown bass, unnatural and unbalanced sound overall, and they always used to get out my ear canal because of their heaviness.
When I say heaviness, I mean weight. The Klipsch S4 or S4i are much heavier than Apple In-Ear Headphones and that's why they always fell out of my ear.
I've never tried Grado iGi, but yes, they could be a good choice. I would do some research about them and look for some reviews first. The Apple In-Ear headphones are a dual driver design (separate drivers for treble and bass) in each earphone piece. I don't think the iGi model is a dual driver design.
Dual driver designs have a clear technological advantage and I really don't think you can find a better earphone than the Apple's In-Ear ones if considering earphones under $100.
I'm not going to buy a nice pair of headphones if I need a good quality source to accommodate their full potential. I would have to spend on more than just headphones. If it works like crap with the ipod I shouldn't have to spend 100 bucks on it. They need to make something more versatile.
Get SR60 or iGrado models. They are both optimized for iPod. iGrado model costs $49 and SR60 costs $79. Great bargains. iGrado model is now available in black only.
High quality Grado headphones like SR225 and SR325 need better electronics to achieve the full potential. You may not like it, but that's the nature of the beast.
Get SR60 or iGrado models. They are both optimized for iPod. iGrado model costs $49 and SR60 costs $79. Great bargains. iGrado model is now available in black only.
High quality Grado headphones like SR225 and SR325 need better electronics to achieve the full potential. You may not like it, but that's the nature of the beast.
@Coilaman I just went and got a new pair of headphones today. But I decided to go with the Sennheiser hd238. So far I've noticed a huge improvement over the headphones I got at wallmart for 4 bucks lol. Great for games and music, cost me 50 at compusa.
I'm not saying that my 212pro perform bad. I still use it to watch movies and playing games.. it"s way better than grado Sr80 for that kind of purpose..
My iGrado is great for traveling.. Luv it.. small and don't need a lot of juice.
So guys, buy headphone that suits your needs.. and the most important thing is, buy headphones that sounds best for you. Cause ppl have diferent taste..
So Grado is better than Sennheiser because your SR80 outperforms your HD212? Ever heard an HD600? or even HE90? To the people that are interested in Grado SR80, check out the Alessandro MS1. It's an improved SR125 for only 99 bucks!
@Coilaman I would totally agree with your words in regard of choosing right sound setup. To get the best sound, choosing right headphones is not right, but also the quality of CD/LP records, CD player/turntable, cables and amplifier.
@Coilaman I had a HD600 with Mogami upgrade cable, shop around on eBay, I got mine for $300 shipped to canada, but the DAC i use now is $180, the tube amp cost $300. the HD600 is much better than the SR80s, since its not even in the same tier, you should compare to SR325/RSi 1/2
Are you drunk? My review compares Sennheiser HD 212Pro with Grados. There is not one word about the HD600 in my video. Pay attention. Don't drink and drive.
@Coilaman Are you drunk? I am not replying to you, I am replying to Coilaman to his question "And how much is HD600? MSRP on Sennheiser website is US $519.95. Not even close in price. So why compare it?", Not you!! You stop drinking and driving. Now start reading.
hi friends help me please i listen music on iMac 27 Echo audiofire 2 Firewire Yamaha Mixer Stanton Turntable St 150 Adam A5 Grado Heaphones sr 60 is good for my audio system? Grado is Good only iPod/iPhone? Help me Please!!!!!! Thanks
It's good to see an intelligent person who clearly knows what he is talking about on youtube, this site is heavily polluted with moron's...thanks for the review coilaman
@indierollz You'll have enough volume, but the bass will not be that great. Better get SR60i. Those will be a better match if you don't want to spend money on an amp.
@noyan000 The difference between 320 kbps and lossless is obvious, but not to the ignorant people. Ignorant people will always say that every speaker sounds the same, every CD player sounds the same and all amplifiers sound the same. I've heard it all and I am not interested in what ignorant people say. You are just one of those ignorant people.
@Coilaman It's one thing to say that there is a difference between the two and another to say the difference is obvious. Of course speakers, amps, and headphones will sound different. I am not refuting that. Ignorance has nothing to do with hearing the difference between 320 and lossless... They sound so similar to me, so I was simply commenting on it, not trying to insult you.
Coilman, you have got me on very spot. I had the same experience with headphones. Before, I literally was in love with Sennheiser headphones. I tried HD 515, 555, and finally 265 Linear. I was amazed by the spacious, smooth sound with impressive bass. But what later on I simply couldn't miss was the awareness that the sound was muffled and pretty much laid back. With my new Grado, I received incredibly crystal clean sound with well defined bass and highs.
@peterthemonkey, I dont' agree completely. Top-end GRADO models are superior than Sennheiser's top-end. The problem is that they are too expensive.
When you are into hifi headphones, you appreciate all serious headphone brands, models top to bottom. Normally ignorant people are the people that say "this is the best", "this is the best". And there's no way.
Anyway, I think GRADO's are the most special electrodynamic headphones and one of the finest brands without any doubts.
I cant agree to be honest, i work on a audioequipment-store with quite a big variety and as such iam able to test some of the high-end babies like the Sennheiser HD800 and the Grado Gs1000i.
Compared to those, i think the HD800 surpasses them in matter of soundstage and neutrality easily.
Just some of the STAX combined with a good AMP was in my Opinion on the same level or even better than the HD800.
I agree all the way. The point is that when I say "superior", doesn't mean necessarily "neutral". HD800 are clearly more neutral than GS1000, I know. But doesn't mean necessarily better.
We know that Grado's are not as neutral as Sennheisers but perfectly we could enjoy them much more anyway (or the opposite, it's all about your own tastes) . So, that is a critical factor for me.
Yes, electrostatic headphones/amps are in another league.
@JADJuanan HD 800 most probably are only Sennheiser headphones which lack of muffled coloration which is so much present in the rest of headphones of such German brand.
@craneywatch mmm... yes, but not that much. And I like muffled coloration a bit. The problem with the HD 800 is that they are cold, bright and a bit fatiguing and too analytical if not proper amplified. They need a warm and relaxed very good amp to sound right. I listen to them with an OTL tube amp. These headphones need warm, relaxed, tubey sound in order to balance their character. Warm jazz and classic music are the best for them. Bad recordings are incompatible with these cans.
@JADJuanan if bad records are not compatible with HD 800 it means that those cans are very revealing, and don't mask the sound. If I want to get the best audiophile experience, I use high extended resolution CD records. I don't have turntables. To be honest, at this moment I prefer speakers to headphones if I want to enjoy the sound in full. How about you? Do you generally prefer speakers or headphones to get the best of the sound?
@craneywatch Yes, they are very revealing. The transient response and impulse response is very good, pretty fast. They are perfect for Jazz, Classical, or any good and warm recording. For instance, heavy metal is a no, no way!!.
Old recordings normally have artifacts and cold sound, haven't they? These are again, rejected.
A popular album like "Love Over Gold" by Dire Straits, is incompatible too. This album is very cold and analytical, just the kind of signature to avoid.
@JADJuanan do you think Denon headphones would be great choice for heavy metal? I am not sure. By the way, I should have mentioned before that there are times when I want to enjoy speakers, but other times headphones are my main choice.
@craneywatch Sure, Denon's are great. And I think yes, they are very good for heavy metal. Grado's are a great choice too.
Nowadays I prefer listening to headphones. They are always far better for the price. The resolution, distorsion levels and speed they have, are unreachable by speakers. On the other hand, speakers are more realistic in the bottom end, the bass impact, the body of an instrument, the deepness, soundstage and imaging in front of you.
@craneywatch I forgot, the best choice for a pair of Denon's are the AHD2000. If I buy some Denon's in the future, I'll go for the AHD2000's for sure, and maybe the AHD7000's. The AHD5000's suffer some minor sonic flaws (and it's why they have some popular mods) that the D7000's seem to fix. But again, the great choice is the D2000.
@JADJuanan Denon AHD 2000 are wooden and closed and headphones. I tried even more advanced Denon headphones Denon AHD 7000 with MP3 player and as far as I remember the sound was not impressive. It was not smooth, rich and airy at all. I have to say that if Denon AHD 7000 are really meant to produce clean and rich sound with powerful bass, this goes only with serious heavy audio equipment such as stereo amplifier and CD player. And frankly, I prefer headphones with open air chamber.
You don't need a stereo amplifier or the CD player that is normally used with speakers. You can just buy a small dedicated headphone amp with a built-in DAC converter and you will have more choice in getting the sound you want because dedicated amps are available in tube configurations and not just in solid state.
All consumer receivers and amps in your local electronics store are the solid state type. A good tube based small headphone amplifier often sounds way better.
@Coilaman I actually have headphone amplifier "Project". Yes, it is not a tube headphones amplifier. To be honest, my Pioneer Receiver does much better work for headphones than this dedicated headphones amp.
Also, with Pioneer Receiver I have options of changing bass and treble which I don't have with Project. Headphone tube amplifier surely should produce even better sound, But I don't think I can afford it at this moment.
Don't cheat yourself into thinking that your home amplifier you use for amplifying speakers will give you better sound with headphones than a dedicated headphone amp. Rest assured, it will not sound any better. More likely, it will sound worse.
Among knowledgeable audiophiles, power and size mean nothing. The quality of sound always wins. Often, a 3W single-ended triode based amplifier sounds more robust and better balanced than your average consumer type 100W solid state amp.
@Coilaman I think, I didn't get that great working headphone amplifier you were writing about.
do you know where I can get those nice headphones amplifiers? By the way I live in Toronto.
Also, why do you think that I don't need CD player. So, do I have to attach my audio system to laptop which utilizes ordinary sound card instead? I don't think so.
The CD player is OK and I use it, but it's not necessary. The DAC converter quality in your CD player is the key to good sound. My CD player is NAD Electronics C540 and it cost me $800 tax included. It has a 24-bit Burr- Brown DAC converter.
A lot of dedicated headphone amps have DAC converters built in and that way you can avoid using your sound card in your computer. You can also buy a dedicated DAC converter and connect it to either your CD player or compter.
@Coilaman I actually use NAD C515BEE CD Player which produced the best quality sound which I ever had. But for my Grado SR 325is amplifier I use Pioneer VSX 820 K. Pretty much the same amplifier as I use for my PSB speakers with Definition Technology Sub. It feels, that this Pioneer Amplifier gives nice amplification to my speakers throughout hearable sound spectrum. But I have to admit that the same cannot be said about headphones.
Brack Electronics, Bay Bloor Radio carry dedicated headphone amps. Call them first to see what they have. Bay Bloor Radio carries 'Musical Fidelity' brand so they could get you a tube based headphone amp from them. Bay Bloor Radio also carries Grado and Pro-ject headphone amps. Call them and do some research on your own.
@MASTERCON12 Grado are NOT studio headphones, I agree. Great studio headphones are made by AKG, Beyerdynamic and Sony. Sennheiser also makes some good studio headphones.
Awesome review! I was deciding about buying the Grado SR80, and to see that I need an amp to use it's full potential is well going to cost me more money. Anyways do you have an recommendations on a good portable amplifier?
@MASTERCON12 I tried several AKG's and gave one of them away to my sister. I was not happy with them at all. The sound was overly warm and muddy in midrange frequencies which really affected vocals and most instruments. On the first listen they were quite good and then I quickly got tired of their overly warm sound. I will never buy them again.
@Coilaman Look, I'm not trying to defend AKG or anything, but the 601 and the 701/2 are heralded for their neutrality. Not every headphone by a single manufacturer sounds the same, or even necessarily similar. For home listening, the high-end AKG's can be somewhat boring and uninspired to listen to, because absolute neutrality is generally boring and uninspired. They also require a significant amount of power to bring any significant bass. (I'm a beyer owner btw.)
@Coilaman I think you're talking about a different headphone; the AKG's are notorious for being especially cold and anemic in bass. Still, I do like the Grado's sound more/
About the foam, reminds me the Flats pads on Grado's. Coilaman, bowls pads are not very recommended in low end models like SR60, SR80 and SR125. That's why now the new models come with "comfies" pads, because of Bowls reveal their weaknesses. Flats are the best for them.
Also I've purchased the Koss Portapro few days ago, they are awesome for 23€ (shipping included) ($32). Simply the best headphones for the price, the best cans for the buck in the world by far.
I've spent a lot of money on various headphones. The Koss Portapro have one of the most balanced sounds of all of them. They are the best "value for money" cans out there. I love the adjustable fit on them. Spread the word....
Yes, that's right. Even thought they can't beat models like SR60i or SR80i, I agree with you. Thirty bucks is an insanely great price for the Koss. They are very light and comfortable to wear. The signature is "boom, boom", a lot of bass and good midrange. But of course as they are not so much, the top-end is their weakness, lacking highs in every way, the opposite of the ultra high quality highs of Grado's.
I don't agree Grado's are neutral, Coilaman. They have the bass and highs increased and the midrange is a bit lowered. This is why they are the best for genres like Rock. They are very dynamic and have that lovely and wild signature . Also they lack in soundstage. I know this because I've got the Alessandro MS1's (the equivalent to the SR125's), the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650. And the Sennheiser HD600 are one of the most neutral existing cans.
Grado headphones are the most neutral headphones out there by far. But they must be connected to good electronics for best results. If you feed them with crap, they will deliver crap.
Maybe your ears are made for them, or your system neutralize them a bit. But to my ears Senn HD600 are more neutral than my MS1i, even though Alessandros are the mod version of Grado's, which are more neutral. That's why they sound specially better with acoustic/Rock. And drums? to die for. Classical music better with Senn HD600 or AKG701
@Coilaman i couldnt disagree more, although i do love their sound (agressive, and punchy) if you want the MOST neutral headphones, i would recoomend getting some reference headphones (higher end aks or sennheisers)
I don't think so. I already bought the newly redesigned Grado SR225i and those are my reference headphones for life. I don't need anything better than them.
Yep. And vocals on GRADO's are very defined, very high resolution. This is because Grado's are bright headphones and HD650 are more realistic in this way. But... this doesn't mean that the brightness on Grado's is a bad thing, it's great in acoustic sounds and some others. I'll have to try what you say about removing the foam on HD650's
Yes, of course. GS1000 is an strange model from Grado that has a different signature from all of the line up. They are not such as great for Rock Records, they have a huge soungstage and a laid back signature. It's like the upgrade version of the AKG K701/702 headphones. They are great for Classical and Jazz. Grado RS1's are the best for rock/acoustical. Also there are special and limited units like HF2, PS1 (the wildest cans, very unique and expensive), ...
They only have a couple of lower-end models with solid ear pads. All others come stock with the hollow ones. But you were always able to order the kind of ear pads you preferred from Grado.
Whats a good amp for my Bowers&wilkins P5 while using them with my iphone 4s?
MrBarrbapapa 2 weeks ago
@MrBarrbapapa
Try 'Pro-Ject Headbox MK2' for US $159. It's a dedicated headphone amp that has received great reviews and it sounds great with any headphones.
Coilaman 2 weeks ago
Thankyou for a awesome review. Most people on here go on about what they headphones look like and I'm happy you just tell us what you really think about the sound because that's all that matters in the end. Cheers :)
hemhemimakatekobum 4 weeks ago
Listening to SR80s now. Buy em. Work fucking fine on iPod. In fact, I compare them to my friends expensive skull candys all the time, and mine kicks their ass
BigHairyBalls3000 1 month ago
@BigHairyBalls3000
Try them with a nice amp. You'll be surprised how much better they sound. With iPod, you only get half the sound quality. iPod's amp is very weak. Trust me and just try.
Coilaman 1 month ago
@BigHairyBalls3000 Yea but Skullcandy is all brand. Every over ear Skullcandy I've owned, which was 2 and have heard many more; Would not even get a 3 on my 3/5. Actually maybe just a 3 is all it would get.
megaman01001 3 weeks ago
hey, I own a pair of sr80i, but i know anything about what kind of amp to drive it well. any recommendations?
slslslsl 1 month ago
@slslslsl
Check out the comments under my video for amp reccomendations.
Coilaman 1 month ago
@slslslsl
Check out the comments under my video for amp recommendations.
Coilaman 1 month ago
@slslslsl you don't need an amp to drive these, you can drive them without an amp. Seriously they are not difficult to drive, they are not Audeze LCD2's, LCD3's or Sennheiser HD 800's. I own a pair of Grado / Alessandro Music Scene One and they run fine with out an amp.
someguy6481 19 hours ago
@lions66666
Try 'Pro-Ject Headbox MK2' for US $159. It's a dedicated headphone amp that has received great reviews over the years. I plug my SR225i into my NAD C340 Integrated amp that is a part of my stereo system, together with NAD C540 CD Player.
'Turtle Beach Earforce DSS' is complete garbage based on my research. iTunes files are encoded at 256 kbps (kilobits per second) and CDs at 1400 kbps. CDs have much better bass, much more open sound and much cleaner high frequencies.
Coilaman 1 month ago
hey guys, do you think buying the ATH-M50 is worth it if I already have the sr60's?
jaodff 2 months ago
@jaodff
Rather than buying ATH-M50 from Audio Technica, why not upgrade to a better model from Grado. Sell the SR60 and get the SR225i. I got them and they are awesome, but make sure your amp and file quality is good too.
Coilaman 2 months ago
@Coilaman hmm will the sr225's be ok with an ipod? or do I need an amp for them as well? You seem to be a huge fan of the grado's my man. haha
jaodff 2 months ago
@jaodff
You need a lot more power to get great sound out of the SR225i model and also CD quality files to get the full potential out of them. SR60i work with iPod a lot better because they are a lot more efficient and a lot more iPod oriented. SR60i have the same drivers like the "iGrado" model which are the official iPod headphones according to Grado.
And trust me, I am not a blind fan of Grado. I like Grado for one reason only - they are the best sounding cans. Period. End of story.
Coilaman 2 months ago
@Coilaman thanks for the suggestions! guess Ill keep my sr60's. haha
jaodff 2 months ago
the sr80's are only 32 ohm. they are EASILY driven by your ipod or whatever else. this guy telling you otherwise is nonsense.
evilsnakes1 2 months ago
@evilsnakes1
Unfortunately, you are wrong. SR80s are 32 ohms, but the iPod runs out of bass when volume is turned up nice and loud. In order to have good sound with good bass at high volume, you need much more power than the poor iPod can provide. The specs on paper never tell the whole story. I'm sure you don't even own them. Just looking up the specs on Grado website doesn't make you an expert on their sound.
Coilaman 2 months ago
@Coilaman
...actually, I do own these sr80's. my can's of choice are 600 ohm beyer dt-880's so I think I understand impedance. although I am fully aware that there are much more expensive headphones out there, but I am a very price/performance conscious individual, which is also exactly why I also own and recommend SR80's. Apple product DAC's are not at all bad and drive the 80's fine. Better with an amp? All decent headphones are. But you are scaring away potential first time grado buyers.
evilsnakes1 2 months ago
2...
I'm not trying to be a jerk even though I came off that way. Good review you have made here. I just think that you pushed the audiophile line more than understanding exactly what by far most potential 80 buyers are looking for, and willing to spend, and so detracted them than is warranted. PEACE
evilsnakes1 2 months ago
@evilsnakes1
The SR80 model may be sitting low in the Grado line of all of their products, but it is not a low-end product by any mean so it deserves also better amplification. The 'iGrado' model is just fine straight out of the iPod and it doesn't benefit from more power at all.
Coilaman 2 months ago
@evilsnakes1
DACs and amplifiers are two different things. Amplifiers provide the power and I know from experience that SR80s don't sound any good on my iPod at high volume. They lose all of their bass. And they are only OK sounding at low volume on iPod. Any Apple iPod has very weak amplification built-in.
I am not here trying to scare away anybody, but rather tell the truth and steer people in the right direction. As we all know, in life, not many people like to hear the truth.
Coilaman 2 months ago
I believe this is one of the first reviews that moved me to purchase the SR80i ... which led to the MS1i ... and then now the SR325 all in the span of year.
karausu 2 months ago in playlist More videos from Coilaman
@karausu
I got the SR225i model and I love them. Review is coming up soon. You are smart for getting the Grados. They are the best in the world.
Coilaman 2 months ago
Im going with your advise on the Grados vs the Sennheisers. Could you please tell me your opinion on what Grados you would get if you were going to use them with an ipad, iphone, and laptop, along with a nice headphone amp inbetween. Price is not an issue . Also, because Im on the go, and will be using w/ Mac products, and will be going into a 1/8 in jack, would it be ok (if I have the amp inbetween) if I go w/ a 1/4 jack headphone? Will I loose anything going from 1/4 to 1/8 in ? Thx!
sralmy 5 months ago
@sralmy
'iGrado' model is great for iPad, iPod, Mac or iPhone and no amp is required with 'iGrado' model. Very convenient and only $50. If you want to use your portable devices with a dedicated headphone amp, go for either SR 225i or SR 80i.
The 1/8" vs 1/4" jack dilemma is unfounded as your amp plays the biggest role in the sound quality of your headphones. DAC (digital-to-analog) converter is also important, but a lot of amps come with a DAC converter built-in so get one of those amps.
Coilaman 5 months ago
@sralmy
One more thing. If you don't have CD quality files (1400 kbps), don't even bother with SR 225i or SR 80i models and corresponding amps. They need much better file quality to show their full potential. For MP3s, I would go with either an 'iGrado' or SR 60i model and I would not even bother with amps or anything else.
Coilaman 5 months ago
@Coilaman wtf, i'd challenge anyone with human ears to hear the difference between a 256kbps lame encoded mp3 and a cd, double blind and tell them apart
DarkShroom 3 months ago
@DarkShroom
The difference between a 320 kbps MP3 file and a 1400 kbps CD file is very obvious in the bass and in the high frequencies. The separation between different instruments and overall spaciousness of the sound is much better with CD quality files.
It's much easier to hear those differences with better amplifiers, DACs and headphones. Low quality electronics and low-end headphones will struggle to show those differences in an obvious way.
Coilaman 3 months ago
@DarkShroom The mp3 encoding applies filtering even as low as 8k on some settings (read the source code), this can be audible with some songs esp on HF emphasizing phones like Grados.
@others - Ears will quickly get used to emphasized HF sound (within a day) such as Grados. Going to the other direction can take much longer to gain back the sensitivity needed to hear high stuff (eg. grado->senns). As one gets older, ears HF sensitivity gets worse and phones with HF emphasis become desirable.
fourbarposer 1 month ago
AKG K 518 LE, iGrado or the HD 428
MrCheesedogim 6 months ago
I am considering to buy a pair of fine headphone. I've bought Aurvana Live and I'm disappointed. It is tiresome after few minutes, hights were too 'light' and crispy, too much bass. Sound unpleasant not natural. I was considering to buy Grado 60 , but some people say bad things, and just recently I consider something cheaper like AKG 404 or something from akg. I don't have any amp. Any sugestions? I listen mostly to trip hop, electronic and jazz( my favs).
Good review by the way!
hugo11819 6 months ago
@hugo11819
Don't waste your time with low-end AKGs. Just get either the iGrado or the SR60. iGrado model is even better if listening on your iPod. People who say that Grados suck are suckers themselves.
Coilaman 6 months ago
@Coilaman I would agree with most of that. Except AKG's K240's are only a $100 and sound fantastic.
xsvmaster 5 months ago
lol my SR80's always twists where the cord splits very confusing
Camy415 7 months ago
I love the GR8 when amped nicely
HiFiReviewer 8 months ago
I own the Sennheiser HD598 and i'm very disappointed with them. I haven't heard the Grados yet but i think they will be much better. The bass on the sennheisers seems to muffle the rest of the sound. Lots of people talk about the Sennheiser veil and i think that is what they mean.
dtz1000 8 months ago
@dtz1000
Try your Sennheiser HD598 with some better amp and a good quality DAC device. Those cans will need a lot of power, good DAC and good file quality to show what they can do. Only a store purchased CD encoded at 1400 kbps counts as optimal file quality for your headphones.
MP3s will give you disappointing results. And don't even try to re-encode your MP3s to 1400 kbps. It doesn't work.
Coilaman 8 months ago
Hey man! That was a pretty passionate review - in a good sense :) I'd order iGrado's from ebay (living outside the US) but the only concerning thing is they are described as on open type ones so one can hear traffic noise and others hear what you are listening to - that's not what i would really like. Any suggestions for this case?
As for Grados I'm only beginning discovering them and I think I'll certainly some model in a while.
wtfwtfwtf777 8 months ago
@wtfwtfwtf777
'iGrado' model is awesome. Their bass is great and they sound really well balanced straight from iPod. They are also better at isolating you from the environmental noise than any other Grado models. I really wouldn't care about a little sound leaking out. It's really minor in today's noisy buses and subways.
Trust me, SR60 and SR80 leak a lot more sound and they provide less sound isolation. Also, they sound a lot thinner in bass if you don't use them with a dedicated amp.
Coilaman 8 months ago
@wtfwtfwtf777
You could also try the Apple In-Ear Headphones if you like to insert things in your ears. However, making a good seal in your ear canal will be crucial for good bass and balanced sound overall. There are 3 different sizes of silicone ear-tips supplied with them.
I like to use a large ear-tip for my right ear and a medium one for my left ear. I get awesome bass and well balanced sound with that combination, but you will have to experiment with the proper fit.
Coilaman 8 months ago
have u tried philips? i'm using philips SHP2700. n a bit setting on my audio player,it's great. but of cos it cant be compared with hi-end headphones such as those u've tested. have any comments about philips headphone?
barberismeable 9 months ago
@barberismeable
I really like Philips electric shavers, but I have never tried their headphones. I am sure my Grado SR225i would completely destroy any Philips model. Grado is the best for me and I prefer to kick back and relax rather than experiment all the time with different manufacturers.
Coilaman 9 months ago
Dream Theater baby:)
SlimNFR 9 months ago
@SlimNFR
Yes, I know. They are like nobody else. Especially 'Systematic Chaos' is some of their best and tightest work.
Coilaman 9 months ago in playlist My Top Videos
@Coilaman
Oh totally agreed! Dream Theater is my all-time favorite band. SC is such a sick album, I do with the mastering was a little better though. I prefer "Scenes From a Memory", that album gets me every single time!
SlimNFR 9 months ago
Comment removed
xbsoft 9 months ago
killer accent, thx for the review. Ill be picking up the Grado SR60
Tork64 9 months ago
I have a question, If I were to buy a some headphones in the 40-80 dollar range for listening in an iPod touch, should I buy iGrado or a Sennheiser PX 100-II On Ear Miniheadphone (White)?
cheesicles 9 months ago
@cheesicles
I say go for Grado in $ 40-80 price range. You get better sound for your buck. The iGrado model is available in black only these days. I guess they discontinued the white because of lack of demand for white model. Now looking back, I also wish I bought the black ones. The black looks better, in my personal view.
Coilaman 9 months ago
Nice Video.
Any particular headphone amps that work well with the Grado SR80?
Kind Regards.
olanzip 10 months ago
@olanzip
Thank you. Some good headphone amps are Pro-Ject Headbox II, Musical Fidelity X-Can V8 and HeadRoom Total BitHead. Do your research first, though.
Coilaman 10 months ago
@Coilaman What are your the most recent or should I say the most advanced headphones?
craneywatch 9 months ago
@craneywatch
My best and most advanced headphones are Grado SR225i. My most recent ones are Apple In-Ear Headphones and they are incredible and very comparable to lower range Grado stuff like iGrado and SR60.
Coilaman 9 months ago
@craneywatch thank you for your rapid answer.
craneywatch 9 months ago
Thanks! You should do more of that reviews-they are great.
Winsucker 10 months ago
DREAM THEATER!
Looking into getting the Grados SR80i, thanks for the review!
h3nRiQu3J 1 year ago
nice dream theater t-shirt
domrobsim 1 year ago
Ciolaman, I have a simple question. I currently have H212's, and had them for about a year. I like the sound, but i wanna move on. I wanna buy something like Sennheiser hd558 or hd598. The thing i wanna know (since i never owned headphones more expensive than hd212pro).... are those headphones like Hd555/558 or HD595/598 really worth paying three times more money? I mean, is the sound really noticably better on some mid-fi headphone for around 250 dollars?
derbigpr500 1 year ago
@derbigpr500
More expensive Sennheisers will give you much better sound, but they will also require good electronics and good file quality to sound their best. iPod headphone output does not have the power required to drive a $250 pair of Sennheiser cans and MP3 files are a very bad idea if you are trying to take the full advantage of any high-end pair of headphones.
You must listen for yourself and then make a decision. Nobody can tell you what's good for you. You have to do your homework.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman Yea I know i need good electronics and audio files. I only have FLAC format music on my HDD, and im currently using Logitech Z2300 amp as a source. Which is a pretty damn powerful amp, better than my behringer ma400. But i just wondered whether the more expensive headphones are only a bit better, i wouldnt wanna be disappointed after buying them.
derbigpr500 1 year ago
@derbigpr500
I don't buy anything without trying. There will be no regret if you audition them in the shop. However, partnering electronics matter as well so make sure you audition them with proper electronics to experience their full potential.
If you are buying them on line, you are in for all kinds of surprises because you can't hear them before buying. Check the return policy of the store, be it on line or in the 'brick and mortar' retail store. Many stores allow only exchanges.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman Yea i know, but the problem is, HD558's are new headphones, and no store close to me has them in stock, so if i wanna buy them, i have to order them and pay in advance. Thats the part of the story that sucks....i dont know, ill try to talk with the guy in the store and ill see what i can do about that. Thanks for advice.
derbigpr500 1 year ago
@derbigpr500
The Logitech Z2300 does not have a DAC converter built-in and it also has a very weak headphone output. You are actually using your stock DAC inside your computer as a DAC. A bad idea unless you have one of those very expensive computer sound cards. Behringer MA400 is just a basic and very cheap headphone amp.
You need a much better amp and DAC converter for HD555 or HD595. Some headphone amps have a DAC converter already built in, but make sure to check before buying.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@derbigpr500
Just to let you know, your Logitech Z2300 amp has a separate circuitry for headphone output, so don't think just because it's powerful for powering your speakers that it will be powerful driving your headphones. The headphone output on that system is very poor. It may be good for you with the headphones you have, but it will suck with a $250 pair Sennheisers, Grados or any other headphones of that quality.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman Ok. I thought its powerful enough, since my Hd212pro sound extremely loud at 50% of volume already, and sound much much much better than when plugged directly into the sound card in the back of PC.
Which headphone amp would you suggest in low-mid class? Up to about 60-70 dollars. And should i get an additional sound card even tho i buy the amp?
derbigpr500 1 year ago
@derbigpr500
If you can't spend more than 60-70 dollars on an amp, forget about buying a better headphone amp. HeadRoom Total AirHead is $99 and Headroom amps are very good. A better sound card will definitely provide a better DAC converter than anything that came stock with your computer. Some better headphone amplifiers are Pro-ject Headbox ($150) or Little Dot Headphone amp ($189).
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman I was also thinking about NuForce uDac2 , the DAC+headphone pmp combo in one device, it costs about 200 dollars in my country. Was reading some reviews, and everyone seem to be very happy with sound quality and power of that device. Apparently, its good enough to run mid-fi/hi-fi headphones like AKG k702 or Senn HD650. Well, I dont know whether that is true, but i guess its good enough for 558's.
derbigpr500 1 year ago
@derbigpr500
Headphones and electronics are kind of like cars and engines.
In order to achieve the best performance, a race car needs the very best engine. Cheap cars don't need the the best engine.
A lot of people buy very high performance headphones, but they neglect the electronics part and then they complain that their expensive, high end headphones don't sound right to their ears. The better the headphones, the better the electronics they require for the best sound possible.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@derbigpr500
I think you are on the right track and it's really good you are doing your research and asking questions. It will pay off in hundreds of hours of happy listening to your favourite records.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman I was in the audio shop today, i got recommended to take the NuForce uDac2 that i heard about yesterday. Its very nice little dac + amp combo....the bad thing is....i tried it with sennheiser HD600's. I was amazed with the sound. I never thought a headphone could sound that good and be so loud. I think i might save a little more money and get something more high-end than Senn HD558's I wanted until today. :P Probably gonna get the Hd600's or AKG702's together with the uDac2.
derbigpr500 1 year ago
@Coilaman Btw, thanks for all the answers. :P
derbigpr500 1 year ago
@Coilaman you were right claiming that good headphone amplifier would do better work for headphones than home movie theater receiver. I've got Japanese ADL GT 40 USB DAC and use it mainly as a headphone amplifier. The sound is really robust, full of clarity, accuracy, and separation. By the way, I use Grado SR 325is.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@craneywatch
Hey, nothing is carved in stone, but I am glad you like your new Furutech ADL 40. And the Grado SR 325is are true monsters. I have the SR225i now and I love them with my NAD C340 Integrated amplifier and C540 CD player. The SR225i are a big upgrade from SR80 model and worth every cent.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman Are the iGrados good for the bus or should i get some IEM like the Klipsch image S4?
pedro071992 1 year ago
@pedro071992
iGrado are great for bus, but I prefer Apple In-Ear Headphones because of better portability and better isolation from the outside noise. And the sound of the In-Ears is really great and well balanced. Apple In-Ear Headphones will cost you $79 in the U.S. or $89 in Canada. I had the Klipsch model you mentioned, and I hated them so much. They have a very overblown bass, unnatural and unbalanced sound overall, and they always used to get out my ear canal because of their heaviness.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@pedro071992
When I say heaviness, I mean weight. The Klipsch S4 or S4i are much heavier than Apple In-Ear Headphones and that's why they always fell out of my ear.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman What about the Grado iGi ?
pedro071992 1 year ago
@pedro071992
I've never tried Grado iGi, but yes, they could be a good choice. I would do some research about them and look for some reviews first. The Apple In-Ear headphones are a dual driver design (separate drivers for treble and bass) in each earphone piece. I don't think the iGi model is a dual driver design.
Dual driver designs have a clear technological advantage and I really don't think you can find a better earphone than the Apple's In-Ear ones if considering earphones under $100.
Coilaman 1 year ago
I'm not going to buy a nice pair of headphones if I need a good quality source to accommodate their full potential. I would have to spend on more than just headphones. If it works like crap with the ipod I shouldn't have to spend 100 bucks on it. They need to make something more versatile.
hockeyhatesgooglnow 1 year ago
@hockeyhatesgooglnow
Get SR60 or iGrado models. They are both optimized for iPod. iGrado model costs $49 and SR60 costs $79. Great bargains. iGrado model is now available in black only.
High quality Grado headphones like SR225 and SR325 need better electronics to achieve the full potential. You may not like it, but that's the nature of the beast.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@hockeyhatesgooglnow
Get SR60 or iGrado models. They are both optimized for iPod. iGrado model costs $49 and SR60 costs $79. Great bargains. iGrado model is now available in black only.
High quality Grado headphones like SR225 and SR325 need better electronics to achieve the full potential. You may not like it, but that's the nature of the beast.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman I just went and got a new pair of headphones today. But I decided to go with the Sennheiser hd238. So far I've noticed a huge improvement over the headphones I got at wallmart for 4 bucks lol. Great for games and music, cost me 50 at compusa.
hockeyhatesgooglnow 1 year ago
Coilman, I have the same experience in regard to audio. I used to be fan of Sennheiser before, but switched to Grado.
craneywatch 1 year ago
Coilaman is right..
My grado Sr80 is my main headphone (for now)..
I'm not saying that my 212pro perform bad. I still use it to watch movies and playing games.. it"s way better than grado Sr80 for that kind of purpose..
My iGrado is great for traveling.. Luv it.. small and don't need a lot of juice.
So guys, buy headphone that suits your needs.. and the most important thing is, buy headphones that sounds best for you. Cause ppl have diferent taste..
Sorry for my english..
Great video man...
goharrymau2 1 year ago
I tried Grado head phones and they are......simply hands down the BEST. I recently purchased the SR80i and ditched all my other cans
pstchaseki 1 year ago
FINALLLY some1 who actually knows a thing or two about headphones
J33VANxD 1 year ago 11
@Aizura77
Not true. SR80 was CAD $120, the HD212 Pro was CAD $80. This is a very fair comparison. You are comparing HD600 with SR80.
HD600 - US $520
SR80 - US $95
You are not fair at all.
Coilaman 1 year ago
So Grado is better than Sennheiser because your SR80 outperforms your HD212? Ever heard an HD600? or even HE90? To the people that are interested in Grado SR80, check out the Alessandro MS1. It's an improved SR125 for only 99 bucks!
Aizura77 1 year ago
@Aizura77
And how much is HD600? MSRP on Sennheiser website is US $519.95. Not even close in price. So why compare it?
Coilaman 1 year ago 14
@Coilaman I would totally agree with your words in regard of choosing right sound setup. To get the best sound, choosing right headphones is not right, but also the quality of CD/LP records, CD player/turntable, cables and amplifier.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@Coilaman well, my HD600 cost my $330 bucks but I can find them for less indeed.
But I agree with you that Sennheiser's only shine starting from $200. Grado's are always far better for the price in the low range models.
JADJuanan 1 year ago
@Coilaman I had a HD600 with Mogami upgrade cable, shop around on eBay, I got mine for $300 shipped to canada, but the DAC i use now is $180, the tube amp cost $300. the HD600 is much better than the SR80s, since its not even in the same tier, you should compare to SR325/RSi 1/2
HiFiReviewer 8 months ago
@HiFiReviewer
Are you drunk? My review compares Sennheiser HD 212Pro with Grados. There is not one word about the HD600 in my video. Pay attention. Don't drink and drive.
Coilaman 8 months ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
@Coilaman Are you drunk? I am not replying to you, I am replying to Coilaman to his question "And how much is HD600? MSRP on Sennheiser website is US $519.95. Not even close in price. So why compare it?", Not you!! You stop drinking and driving. Now start reading.
HiFiReviewer 8 months ago
@Aizura77
You win the asshole award aizura, bravo..
greenrolaids 1 year ago
DMCakaJCARDEMA 1 year ago
@DMCakaJCARDEMA
Grado SR60 will be great for you, but try higher models as well if you have the money.
Coilaman 1 year ago
I'm loving that dream theater shirt my man. Great review also! :D
Ggevorkyan 1 year ago
It's good to see an intelligent person who clearly knows what he is talking about on youtube, this site is heavily polluted with moron's...thanks for the review coilaman
4evaclapham 1 year ago
When using the grado sr80 on the computer, does that give enough power for those cans? or do I need an amp?
indierollz 1 year ago
@indierollz You'll have enough volume, but the bass will not be that great. Better get SR60i. Those will be a better match if you don't want to spend money on an amp.
Coilaman 1 year ago
Jeez, your eMac is still kicking. Your not the first person I seen still using these. Gotta love it. Apple Forever.
AppleianKF 1 year ago
@AppleianKF A Mac with a 1GHz G4 processor and 1GB of RAM memory is all you need to move mountains. 20,000 views and counting.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman LOL. Seeing stuff like that man makes me say "Wow, the old bitch ain't giving up is she" LOL
AppleianKF 1 year ago
the sennheiser hd 212 is for rap lol, extreme bass
11bobcats 1 year ago
You must have some pair of ears on you to hear the difference between 320 and lossless.
noyan000 1 year ago
@noyan000 The difference between 320 kbps and lossless is obvious, but not to the ignorant people. Ignorant people will always say that every speaker sounds the same, every CD player sounds the same and all amplifiers sound the same. I've heard it all and I am not interested in what ignorant people say. You are just one of those ignorant people.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman It's one thing to say that there is a difference between the two and another to say the difference is obvious. Of course speakers, amps, and headphones will sound different. I am not refuting that. Ignorance has nothing to do with hearing the difference between 320 and lossless... They sound so similar to me, so I was simply commenting on it, not trying to insult you.
noyan000 1 year ago
@noyan000 You really think I was born yesterday? That was a bad guess.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman ??
noyan000 1 year ago
all these headphones are garbage...
Dizzles 1 year ago
Great headphones and good taste in music too. Nice video.
rockgod2131 1 year ago
Yes, a fellow Dream Theater fan!! I just saw them not too long ago in Seattle and they destroyed.
ValhallaAwaitsU 1 year ago
Coilman, you have got me on very spot. I had the same experience with headphones. Before, I literally was in love with Sennheiser headphones. I tried HD 515, 555, and finally 265 Linear. I was amazed by the spacious, smooth sound with impressive bass. But what later on I simply couldn't miss was the awareness that the sound was muffled and pretty much laid back. With my new Grado, I received incredibly crystal clean sound with well defined bass and highs.
And yes, they need to be amplified.
craneywatch 1 year ago
Hmm, not sure if the High-End Models of Grado can compete with and high-end Sennheiser to be honest...
But its kinda true, that the low-end Sennheisers won't get you that far into hifi :)
Nevertheless, good Review.
peterthemonkey 1 year ago
@peterthemonkey, I dont' agree completely. Top-end GRADO models are superior than Sennheiser's top-end. The problem is that they are too expensive.
When you are into hifi headphones, you appreciate all serious headphone brands, models top to bottom. Normally ignorant people are the people that say "this is the best", "this is the best". And there's no way.
Anyway, I think GRADO's are the most special electrodynamic headphones and one of the finest brands without any doubts.
JADJuanan 1 year ago
@JADJuanan
I cant agree to be honest, i work on a audioequipment-store with quite a big variety and as such iam able to test some of the high-end babies like the Sennheiser HD800 and the Grado Gs1000i.
Compared to those, i think the HD800 surpasses them in matter of soundstage and neutrality easily.
Just some of the STAX combined with a good AMP was in my Opinion on the same level or even better than the HD800.
Cheers.
peterthemonkey 1 year ago
@peterthemonkey,
I agree all the way. The point is that when I say "superior", doesn't mean necessarily "neutral". HD800 are clearly more neutral than GS1000, I know. But doesn't mean necessarily better.
We know that Grado's are not as neutral as Sennheisers but perfectly we could enjoy them much more anyway (or the opposite, it's all about your own tastes) . So, that is a critical factor for me.
Yes, electrostatic headphones/amps are in another league.
JADJuanan 1 year ago
Comment removed
JADJuanan 1 year ago
@peterthemonkey, I will have a pair of HD800 soon in my hands at a very special price. :)
Let's see how good they can be.
Cheers
JADJuanan 1 year ago
@JADJuanan HD 800 most probably are only Sennheiser headphones which lack of muffled coloration which is so much present in the rest of headphones of such German brand.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@craneywatch mmm... yes, but not that much. And I like muffled coloration a bit. The problem with the HD 800 is that they are cold, bright and a bit fatiguing and too analytical if not proper amplified. They need a warm and relaxed very good amp to sound right. I listen to them with an OTL tube amp. These headphones need warm, relaxed, tubey sound in order to balance their character. Warm jazz and classic music are the best for them. Bad recordings are incompatible with these cans.
JADJuanan 1 year ago
@JADJuanan if bad records are not compatible with HD 800 it means that those cans are very revealing, and don't mask the sound. If I want to get the best audiophile experience, I use high extended resolution CD records. I don't have turntables. To be honest, at this moment I prefer speakers to headphones if I want to enjoy the sound in full. How about you? Do you generally prefer speakers or headphones to get the best of the sound?
craneywatch 1 year ago
@craneywatch Yes, they are very revealing. The transient response and impulse response is very good, pretty fast. They are perfect for Jazz, Classical, or any good and warm recording. For instance, heavy metal is a no, no way!!.
Old recordings normally have artifacts and cold sound, haven't they? These are again, rejected.
A popular album like "Love Over Gold" by Dire Straits, is incompatible too. This album is very cold and analytical, just the kind of signature to avoid.
JADJuanan 1 year ago
@JADJuanan do you think Denon headphones would be great choice for heavy metal? I am not sure. By the way, I should have mentioned before that there are times when I want to enjoy speakers, but other times headphones are my main choice.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@craneywatch Sure, Denon's are great. And I think yes, they are very good for heavy metal. Grado's are a great choice too.
Nowadays I prefer listening to headphones. They are always far better for the price. The resolution, distorsion levels and speed they have, are unreachable by speakers. On the other hand, speakers are more realistic in the bottom end, the bass impact, the body of an instrument, the deepness, soundstage and imaging in front of you.
JADJuanan 1 year ago
@craneywatch I forgot, the best choice for a pair of Denon's are the AHD2000. If I buy some Denon's in the future, I'll go for the AHD2000's for sure, and maybe the AHD7000's. The AHD5000's suffer some minor sonic flaws (and it's why they have some popular mods) that the D7000's seem to fix. But again, the great choice is the D2000.
JADJuanan 1 year ago
@JADJuanan Denon AHD 2000 are wooden and closed and headphones. I tried even more advanced Denon headphones Denon AHD 7000 with MP3 player and as far as I remember the sound was not impressive. It was not smooth, rich and airy at all. I have to say that if Denon AHD 7000 are really meant to produce clean and rich sound with powerful bass, this goes only with serious heavy audio equipment such as stereo amplifier and CD player. And frankly, I prefer headphones with open air chamber.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@craneywatch
You don't need a stereo amplifier or the CD player that is normally used with speakers. You can just buy a small dedicated headphone amp with a built-in DAC converter and you will have more choice in getting the sound you want because dedicated amps are available in tube configurations and not just in solid state.
All consumer receivers and amps in your local electronics store are the solid state type. A good tube based small headphone amplifier often sounds way better.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman I actually have headphone amplifier "Project". Yes, it is not a tube headphones amplifier. To be honest, my Pioneer Receiver does much better work for headphones than this dedicated headphones amp.
Also, with Pioneer Receiver I have options of changing bass and treble which I don't have with Project. Headphone tube amplifier surely should produce even better sound, But I don't think I can afford it at this moment.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@craneywatch
Don't cheat yourself into thinking that your home amplifier you use for amplifying speakers will give you better sound with headphones than a dedicated headphone amp. Rest assured, it will not sound any better. More likely, it will sound worse.
Among knowledgeable audiophiles, power and size mean nothing. The quality of sound always wins. Often, a 3W single-ended triode based amplifier sounds more robust and better balanced than your average consumer type 100W solid state amp.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman I think, I didn't get that great working headphone amplifier you were writing about.
do you know where I can get those nice headphones amplifiers? By the way I live in Toronto.
Also, why do you think that I don't need CD player. So, do I have to attach my audio system to laptop which utilizes ordinary sound card instead? I don't think so.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@craneywatch
The CD player is OK and I use it, but it's not necessary. The DAC converter quality in your CD player is the key to good sound. My CD player is NAD Electronics C540 and it cost me $800 tax included. It has a 24-bit Burr- Brown DAC converter.
A lot of dedicated headphone amps have DAC converters built in and that way you can avoid using your sound card in your computer. You can also buy a dedicated DAC converter and connect it to either your CD player or compter.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman I actually use NAD C515BEE CD Player which produced the best quality sound which I ever had. But for my Grado SR 325is amplifier I use Pioneer VSX 820 K. Pretty much the same amplifier as I use for my PSB speakers with Definition Technology Sub. It feels, that this Pioneer Amplifier gives nice amplification to my speakers throughout hearable sound spectrum. But I have to admit that the same cannot be said about headphones.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@craneywatch
Brack Electronics, Bay Bloor Radio carry dedicated headphone amps. Call them first to see what they have. Bay Bloor Radio carries 'Musical Fidelity' brand so they could get you a tube based headphone amp from them. Bay Bloor Radio also carries Grado and Pro-ject headphone amps. Call them and do some research on your own.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman thank you very much. I will do research in terms of right amplifier and DAC.
craneywatch 1 year ago
@MASTERCON12 Grado are NOT studio headphones, I agree. Great studio headphones are made by AKG, Beyerdynamic and Sony. Sennheiser also makes some good studio headphones.
bsod4u2 1 year ago
Great review. thx.
Forkroute 1 year ago
Awesome review! I was deciding about buying the Grado SR80, and to see that I need an amp to use it's full potential is well going to cost me more money. Anyways do you have an recommendations on a good portable amplifier?
viet411 1 year ago
@MASTERCON12 I tried several AKG's and gave one of them away to my sister. I was not happy with them at all. The sound was overly warm and muddy in midrange frequencies which really affected vocals and most instruments. On the first listen they were quite good and then I quickly got tired of their overly warm sound. I will never buy them again.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman Look, I'm not trying to defend AKG or anything, but the 601 and the 701/2 are heralded for their neutrality. Not every headphone by a single manufacturer sounds the same, or even necessarily similar. For home listening, the high-end AKG's can be somewhat boring and uninspired to listen to, because absolute neutrality is generally boring and uninspired. They also require a significant amount of power to bring any significant bass. (I'm a beyer owner btw.)
MASTERCON12 1 year ago
@Coilaman I think you're talking about a different headphone; the AKG's are notorious for being especially cold and anemic in bass. Still, I do like the Grado's sound more/
MrAdsee 1 year ago
two of the best headphones ever
didimissomething 1 year ago
if you like dream theater and havn't heard these bands you should really consider checking them out. vanden plas, ark, redemption
Gharper8619 1 year ago
CARCASS!
InfernalMassacre666 1 year ago
About the foam, reminds me the Flats pads on Grado's. Coilaman, bowls pads are not very recommended in low end models like SR60, SR80 and SR125. That's why now the new models come with "comfies" pads, because of Bowls reveal their weaknesses. Flats are the best for them.
Also I've purchased the Koss Portapro few days ago, they are awesome for 23€ (shipping included) ($32). Simply the best headphones for the price, the best cans for the buck in the world by far.
JADJuanan 2 years ago 2
@JADJuanan
I've spent a lot of money on various headphones. The Koss Portapro have one of the most balanced sounds of all of them. They are the best "value for money" cans out there. I love the adjustable fit on them. Spread the word....
Kilvere5 1 year ago
@Kilvere5,
Yes, that's right. Even thought they can't beat models like SR60i or SR80i, I agree with you. Thirty bucks is an insanely great price for the Koss. They are very light and comfortable to wear. The signature is "boom, boom", a lot of bass and good midrange. But of course as they are not so much, the top-end is their weakness, lacking highs in every way, the opposite of the ultra high quality highs of Grado's.
JADJuanan 1 year ago
When are you going to upload the SR225's review? C'mon ;)
JADJuanan 2 years ago
I don't agree Grado's are neutral, Coilaman. They have the bass and highs increased and the midrange is a bit lowered. This is why they are the best for genres like Rock. They are very dynamic and have that lovely and wild signature . Also they lack in soundstage. I know this because I've got the Alessandro MS1's (the equivalent to the SR125's), the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650. And the Sennheiser HD600 are one of the most neutral existing cans.
JADJuanan 2 years ago
Grado headphones are the most neutral headphones out there by far. But they must be connected to good electronics for best results. If you feed them with crap, they will deliver crap.
Coilaman 2 years ago
Good amplification+source is a must, of course.
Maybe your ears are made for them, or your system neutralize them a bit. But to my ears Senn HD600 are more neutral than my MS1i, even though Alessandros are the mod version of Grado's, which are more neutral. That's why they sound specially better with acoustic/Rock. And drums? to die for. Classical music better with Senn HD600 or AKG701
JADJuanan 2 years ago
@Coilaman i couldnt disagree more, although i do love their sound (agressive, and punchy) if you want the MOST neutral headphones, i would recoomend getting some reference headphones (higher end aks or sennheisers)
spencer22941 1 year ago
I don't think so. I already bought the newly redesigned Grado SR225i and those are my reference headphones for life. I don't need anything better than them.
Coilaman 1 year ago
@Coilaman
You should hear the PS-1000 with the Grace design m902 headphone amp.You would change your mind.
The PS-1000 are my favorite cans out of all my collection,and I have pretty much all the upscale cans. My newest clip shows a few.
bsod4u2 1 year ago
vocals on the HD650 are silky. I unveiled the sound by removing the thin foam covering the drivers....
jcabb1 2 years ago
Yep. And vocals on GRADO's are very defined, very high resolution. This is because Grado's are bright headphones and HD650 are more realistic in this way. But... this doesn't mean that the brightness on Grado's is a bad thing, it's great in acoustic sounds and some others. I'll have to try what you say about removing the foam on HD650's
JADJuanan 2 years ago
@JADJuanan I agree thAT. I have gs1000 and far from neutrality.
yilmaz196 2 years ago
Yes, of course. GS1000 is an strange model from Grado that has a different signature from all of the line up. They are not such as great for Rock Records, they have a huge soungstage and a laid back signature. It's like the upgrade version of the AKG K701/702 headphones. They are great for Classical and Jazz. Grado RS1's are the best for rock/acoustical. Also there are special and limited units like HF2, PS1 (the wildest cans, very unique and expensive), ...
JADJuanan 2 years ago
Nice review.
I also have a pair of Grado SR-80, it's no doubt the best headphone I've ever had.
I am looking for a more portable headphone for the bus and train, so the iGrado's sounds like a good choice.
M60Berserker 2 years ago
When was it when Grado started replacing the hollow ear pads with the solid paded ones???
StrawberryFields1421 2 years ago
They only have a couple of lower-end models with solid ear pads. All others come stock with the hollow ones. But you were always able to order the kind of ear pads you preferred from Grado.
Coilaman 2 years ago
@yyyy2999 I bought my sr80i's at bay bloor radio in downtown toronto
dmunro91 2 years ago
@dmunro91 ahh i see
yyyy2999 2 years ago