Just got SR60s back from Grado, repaired. No longer sure about their sound.

D

deckeda

Member
Maybe it's been so long since I'd listened to them, and too long listening to my "backup" set, un-neutral (but hey! balanced) Sennheiser PX-100s, that I'd forgotten what SR60s sound like.

I've owned them since the model was introduced and thought their sonic signature was part of my DNA by now.

Got 'em back and they seem very bass-shy. Everything else is about as I remember.

Am I just now too used to the muddy midbass of the PX100? Quite possible.

Somebody set me straight here.
 
Register to hide this ad
Sr-60's are definitely bass-light in my opinion...

You can try the electrical tape mod around the outside rim of the cushion, the improves the seal to the head and bass response.
 
I own the SR80's and am familiar with the sound of the SR60's. Both are pretty bass light, more so the SR60's.

What did they repair? If they replaced the drivers, maybe they need a little break in time to bloom and flesh out the bottom end.
 
I think you just momentarily forgot their sound signature and got used to the PX-100's which are very muddy, veiled, and full of lower mid range bloat (I have them). So the bass light Grado's sound like they are lacking in comparison.

I do this all the time with cans and especially IEM's since I don't listen to them all too often and so sometimes I have a can or two I don't hear for a week or so (and some IEM's not for months). Then when I put it on again it's like...oh yea, this is what that sounds like...I kind of forgot. It never sounds bad since I like how all my headphones sound, but the defects/coloration of the sound are more prominent right away until I get used to them again, especially if I was last listening to a can that did something better or sounded significantly different than the one I start listening to again does. This is what is behind the whole "burn in" effect: totally psycho-acoustic and based on faulty audio memory. Every time I stay away from a can/IEM (or speaker) for an extended time it needs to "burn in" again, yet has thousands of hours of use on it. So I'm just re-getting used to it again is all.

You could try the electrical tape fix as mentioned: I did awhile ago with my 225i's but didn't think the change was that significant. They just don't have that much bass and that is ok since I like their sound signature as it is and have my Beyer 770's for bass (or speaker/sub combo!).
 
Vaughn, I'll have to buy a roll and try it, thanks.

FWIW mine have a new set of SR80-style pads (I think. They're from Grado but larger than the originals. Kinda rounded-edged and closed, not like the flat-edged, open-in-the-center style I've seen in pictures online.)

trhee, the drivers are original. I'd sent them off because the plastic "half ring" that secures each earpiece to its respective metal rod failed with a stress fracture. One completely broke (snapping the half-ring into two pieces) and the other side was almost there. So I could no longer wear them. The other issue was that one earpiece wire covering had pulled free of the Y-connector, exposing the two wires for that earpiece.

Grado fixed all of that for $25 and paid the return shipping. They now have the reinforcing plastic "button/blob" added on each side of both half-rings. Googling for images reveals this was a design change made sometime after I bought mine over 15 years (!) ago.
 
Permanent Waves said:
... the defects/coloration of the sound are more prominent right away until I get used to them again ...
Click to expand...

I think you nailed it, Permanent Waves. When I first put them on tonight I was taken aback. "Whoa! What's going on here?" Couldn't leave them on.

I'd switched back and forth with the PX100s. I've always known, since Day 1, the PX100 was colored and muddy. "Muffled" isn't too strong a description, necessarily. That's because I'd already owned the SR60s. And yet tonight the PX100 were the "comfortable sound" that "sounded right."

The SR60s are already sounding better but I'll look into the tape mod. I don't see myself opening them up, punching holes in them etc.
 
You need to upgrade to the 325i, then you won't have to be so worried about coloration. :)

Although I should add the 325i's are definitely not bass-heavy headphones.
 
Vaughn said:
Sr-60's are definitely bass-light in my opinion...
Click to expand...
Not sure it is just the SR-60's IMO all of the Grado headphones are bass shy

Vaughn said:
You can try the electrical tape mod around the outside rim of the cushion, the improves the seal to the head and bass response.
Click to expand...
This definitely works with the bowls which I have tried it on, it makes for a much more balanced sound.
 
Last edited:
egg_on_toast said:
Not sure it is just the SR-60's IMO all of the Grado headphones are bass shy
Click to expand...

Yep, it is something they're known for.

Flat pads give you a warmer sound with more bass, but they're not cheap. I speak from experience on this btw, I have a pair of after-market flat pads on my SR-60s right now - apparently they were originally intended for the RS-1.
 
Grados are more neutral than bassy or sizzles with highs - non-colored notes. Think of it, how much bass (clean) can you get from a 2" driver? I have the GS-1000i (almost their TOTL) and although they are not bass heavy they do satisfy my needs for the lower notes. My preamp settings are all flat. I think their entire lineup is great for the MSRP.
 
egg_on_toast said:
The US $ price for sure but elsewhere in the world such as the UK they are way over priced.
Click to expand...

Thankfully, while Grado is busy shooting itself in the foot, Alessandro sells its modified Grados for the exact same price in the US and abroad. The only difference is the VAT - even shipping is the same!
 
if the drivers' have been replaced they do benefit from running in... i couldn't gel with the grado sound when i first got my sr60s..so i let them run in for about 50 hours non stop and they smoothed right out...
fresh out of the box they were far too bright..
 
melofelo said:
if the drivers' have been replaced they do benefit from running in... i couldn't gel with the grado sound when i first got my sr60s..so i let them run in for about 50 hours non stop and they smoothed right out...
fresh out of the box they were far too bright..
Click to expand...

My experience with the 325i was the same.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom