I've owned a set of Grado SR80's for a few years and love them. I REALLY want to see what the 225 or 325i sound like. Are they are considerably better? 90% of the time I listen to them on the computer with Soundblaster Audigy sound card. Also, would they sound much better using a headphone amp? I got alot of grief from wife and daughter when trying to justify price of upgraded Grado and amp? Thanks.
Need help from Grado headphone veterans
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OneMalt
Will work for music
In my limited experience, any pair of headphones sounds better through a dedicated HP amp. I've yet to hear the jack on a preamp or receiver that does justice to a good pair of headphones (remember the keyword limited).
I think that under the right circumstance, you'll probably hear an improvement going from the 80 to a 125, never mind the 2 headphones you mentioned.
My Grado experience includes currently owning the SR-60, SR-325, RS-1 and RA-1.
I think that under the right circumstance, you'll probably hear an improvement going from the 80 to a 125, never mind the 2 headphones you mentioned.
My Grado experience includes currently owning the SR-60, SR-325, RS-1 and RA-1.
solarmusick
Active Member
For those models you most definitely would need a headphone amp to notice a substantial difference. I'm not rich enough to know from personal experience, but from what I've read, everyone says that. I've only had Grado SR60s, considered the 80s but passed. Great headphones, had to sell them because open 'phones aren't ideal for me. I can't even imagine how great the higher-end models must sound with a nice amp.
Byrdsmaniac
Active Member
When I bought my SR-80's I thought they were significantly better than the popular SR-60. I heard little to no difference between the SR-80 and the SR-125 and I did not feel that the slight improvement in the next model up (I no longer recall which model, the store didn't have all models available for listening.) was worth the additional cost. The SR-80's are very good units.
The additional power supplied by inserting an amp between your phones and the sound card can make a noticeable improvement if you are in the habit of pushing the volume near the card's limits, but the resolution of the sound card can still limit the overall sound quality if it is not up the task.
The additional power supplied by inserting an amp between your phones and the sound card can make a noticeable improvement if you are in the habit of pushing the volume near the card's limits, but the resolution of the sound card can still limit the overall sound quality if it is not up the task.
oicdn
Active Member
Read this:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/rs2-vs-sr80-grado-hype-297033/
I'm regularly exposed to RS2's and feel the difference is minimal. Definitly NOT worth the price difference in my eyes, but the RS2's are no doubt better.
In short, having significant time logged onto SR80's, I would go as far as saying, specialty ones aside like the HP1, HP2 or PS1, that they're the best bang for the buck out there. Don't confuse that as being better, just for the dollar, it gives you the most performance.
If I DID however have extra cash floating around, no doubt I would own the woodies simply because it adds a certain signature to the sound, but worth the $400 difference? Most deifnitly not, IMO atleast. The added bass and weighty sound you get from upgrading to RS2's you can accomplish (for the most part) with electrical taping the bowls. It's a well known mod, and well known to work. Also, electrical tape keeps it from looking ghetto, over using regular tape.. You probably wouldn't even realize it if I didn't tell you:
And yes, that's REAL carbon fiber. lol.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/rs2-vs-sr80-grado-hype-297033/
I'm regularly exposed to RS2's and feel the difference is minimal. Definitly NOT worth the price difference in my eyes, but the RS2's are no doubt better.
In short, having significant time logged onto SR80's, I would go as far as saying, specialty ones aside like the HP1, HP2 or PS1, that they're the best bang for the buck out there. Don't confuse that as being better, just for the dollar, it gives you the most performance.
If I DID however have extra cash floating around, no doubt I would own the woodies simply because it adds a certain signature to the sound, but worth the $400 difference? Most deifnitly not, IMO atleast. The added bass and weighty sound you get from upgrading to RS2's you can accomplish (for the most part) with electrical taping the bowls. It's a well known mod, and well known to work. Also, electrical tape keeps it from looking ghetto, over using regular tape.. You probably wouldn't even realize it if I didn't tell you:
And yes, that's REAL carbon fiber. lol.
I should have also mentioned I don't play the headphones loud any more. (Too much ringing in the ears from the old days). That's why I like the SR80 so much. It is so much fun at low to mid levels I couldn't help but wonder what the upgrades must sound like. I will try to find a store in Seattle that carries Grado headphones and try them out for myself. For the Peter Gabriel fans...listen to the Up album on these in a dark room for a REAL treat. Thanks for the responses.
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
Tikkaman I love Peter Gabriel's "Up" album, but I almost always prefer to listen to my vinyl copy.
I can offer you a little advice here. I have the SR-60s, which I really liked, enough to spend the money on an upgrade. I recently got the 325is (the gold ones), and I haven't used them for a very long time, but I'm very, very impressed. Quite a difference between these and the 60s, though I have to add that I'm using the Grado RA-1 headphone amp.
If you can afford it buy the headphone amp and upgrade your headphones, I doubt you'd be disappointed. The SR-225s are really the revered model of Grado headphones, although I've never heard them. You might want to try those.
signal-dude
Just one good watt.......
Got headphones?
I just wanted to thank you folks for your sound advice about the Grado SR-80 cans. I was on the fence for a while about buying them and you guys gave me the big push.
Got them today and I must say they are all you said they are. The sound is on par with my new edition Pro4-aa's but of course the comfort level is over the edge. The bass performance of the Grado's equals the Koss which amazes me.
I already have my list of CD's thats going to be played on my new cans tonite. Thanx again!
I just wanted to thank you folks for your sound advice about the Grado SR-80 cans. I was on the fence for a while about buying them and you guys gave me the big push.
Got them today and I must say they are all you said they are. The sound is on par with my new edition Pro4-aa's but of course the comfort level is over the edge. The bass performance of the Grado's equals the Koss which amazes me.
I already have my list of CD's thats going to be played on my new cans tonite. Thanx again!
solarmusick
Active Member
They sound even better once you "break them in." I'm not quite sure how true that phrase is, but as you get used to something new, usually you can detect details much better and enjoy them more. Maybe it's not the physical headphones being broken in but the musical perception instead. Probably a combination of both factors.
Anyway, from what I could tell the major difference between the SR-60s and 80s is that the 80s have a bit more bass emphasis, which is good since the 60s are a bit on the "bright" side.
signal-dude
Just one good watt.......
Got some new cans!
solarmusick said;
"They sound even better once you "break them in." "
Yes they do, have been running them all afternoon at normal listening levels.
"I'm not quite sure how true that phrase is, but as you get used to something new, usually you can detect details much better and enjoy them more. Maybe it's not the physical headphones being broken in but the musical perception instead. Probably a combination of both factors."
I think both. The Koss PRO4-AA cans sounded "stiff" is the best description I can give them when right out of the box. After maybe 10 to 15 hours they "loosened" up and sounded great. And you're right, listen for a while and you can't help but hear details and new sound but I think thats with anything new either cans or speakers.
solarmusick said;
"They sound even better once you "break them in." "
Yes they do, have been running them all afternoon at normal listening levels.
"I'm not quite sure how true that phrase is, but as you get used to something new, usually you can detect details much better and enjoy them more. Maybe it's not the physical headphones being broken in but the musical perception instead. Probably a combination of both factors."
I think both. The Koss PRO4-AA cans sounded "stiff" is the best description I can give them when right out of the box. After maybe 10 to 15 hours they "loosened" up and sounded great. And you're right, listen for a while and you can't help but hear details and new sound but I think thats with anything new either cans or speakers.
The Grado SR325i's are much closer to the RS line than the prestige line.The 80's are good for air lines,MP3's and light enough to jog with but they can't touch the SR325i's they are in a leage by them selves .The only down side to the 325'is is they are a little heavy but a little added pading on the head strap takes that problem to task.
Designdweeb
Super Member
Without a headphone amp, as that is how I listen, I auditioned the Grado 80, 125, 225, and 325 models.
I even brought my sister along, for a lark, and as she put on the 325s her eyes opened wide.
I did hear such a distinct difference,that I abandoned my 'affordable audio' ways, as I thought the price well worth the thrill.
I can't imagine about the improvement the day I get around to upgrading to a headphone amp.
The 325 is the most amazing of them all.
My only complaint is that after an hour or so, my ears start to perspire, and after two hours or so, my ears hurt from the pads.
I even brought my sister along, for a lark, and as she put on the 325s her eyes opened wide.
I did hear such a distinct difference,that I abandoned my 'affordable audio' ways, as I thought the price well worth the thrill.
I can't imagine about the improvement the day I get around to upgrading to a headphone amp.
The 325 is the most amazing of them all.
My only complaint is that after an hour or so, my ears start to perspire, and after two hours or so, my ears hurt from the pads.
zenith2134
Lunatic Member
Yep the 325i's are not very comfy, but geez they sound great. And, IMO, burn-in is real. I did a pink-noise burn and kept checking back once in a while. It took 150 hours before they maintained their nice sound signature.
Throw in a nice tube can-amp and boy are you set. I am loving the Grado sound.... coming off SR-80s I can honestly say I'd never go back.
Throw in a nice tube can-amp and boy are you set. I am loving the Grado sound.... coming off SR-80s I can honestly say I'd never go back.
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Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
I've said that I find the 325i pretty comfortable, but I definitely agree with you that ears get hot after a while, and after a couple hours the comfort level goes down quite a bit. Still love them.
twc5964
Active Member
I've been a headphone guy for years and years and I agree.Get a tube headphone amp and dont look back(I have 3 headphone amps and an external dac). I have the Grado sr-225's and the 325's fraternal brother:Alessandro ms2's.The ms2's are built by Grado and are a little more neutral in sound and not quite as bright as the sr-325i's.Alessandro is a guitar amp builder and has Grado build these to his specifications for musicians.
Grados are low impedance cans and are easily driven without a headphone amp. But,they require a good 1 watt of solid state current or tubes to make them really shine(tube amps does them justice).Plus,imho they are the quintissential rock headphones over Sennheiser,AKG,Ultrasone,Beyer Dynamic.etc..... The 225's are not a nite and day difference from the sr-80's.They share some of the same charactersistics but the 225's have a tighter more focused sound.I love them and use them all the time.It's the best $200 bucks I've ever spent on headphones.
I can highly recommend a very affordable best bang for the buck $200 tube headamp- The Little Dot MK III.Outstanding quality and sound for the price.They also offer the Little Dot MKII which is around $150 dollars.Highly recommended from a great Chinese company.Dont let that scare you if interested.They strive for quality at great prices.Just go to HEADFI and browse the threads to read reviews of their current amps.I also have a $525 solid state headphone amp and the Little Dot sounds better and was $325 bucks cheaper in price.Good luck and happy listening.
http://www.little-tube.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=97&posts=1&start=1
My Alessandros
The Little Dot MkIII
