seowfun's Full Review: Grado SR80 Professional Headphones
Purchase Background
Recently, I started the music listening habit while writing code at work. The Radio Shack headphone that I bought for $15 provides reasonable sounding (at least at that time), but it was too uncomfortable for long period of wear. Having pretty good background in classical music (as I am an established piano player and a so so violin player) and working so hard at work, I decided I deserve a good pair of headphone under $100 :) I listen to all kind of music, including classical, jazz, pop, new age, vocal and soundtrack. Because of that, I want a pair of good all around cans that is good sounding and comfortable.
My Choices
After reading reviews at headphone.com, audioreview.com, goodcans.com and epinions.com, I easily narrowed down my options to Sennheiser HD497, Grado SR60 and SR80.
The Sennheiser is easy to find as they are sold in Circuit City and Ultimate Electronics. The $59 HD497 is the cheapest and best looking among the 3 cans I was looking at, so it was my first choice. Unfortunately, after trying it out, I think it will be uncomfortable for long period of wearing. I didn't have chance to listen to it as I don't want to buy it and then return it later.
SR60 vs SR80
So move on to the Grado. I've called few places before I find out that a local Hi Fi store carry it. The salesman let me audition both the SR60 and SR80, plugging them onto a $2500 Denon receiver.
In terms of comfort, I like the bowl design of the SR80, versus the flat pad design of SR60. Since I wear glasses, the flat pad of SR60 press my ear against my glasses, while the bowl of the SR80 simply cover my ear without pressing it.
Acoustic wise, the SR80 clearly have a tighter bass than the SR60, while the mids and hi sounds the same to me.
So the choice is easy. I choose the SR80. I have not regretted since then.
Sound
After the cans broke in, I started to do serious listening with it, and is amazed by the clarity, seperation, and soundstage produce by it. The music suddenly has a much more "live" quality to them.
Before the SR80, I have always thought that headphone is not good for orchestral music, as the sound was always murky, especially in the midrange. Well! The SR80 change that. Everything sounds so clear. I can hear the sound of midrange instruments, such as viola, if I listen carefully. Listening to the music using SR80 versus using my old Radio Shack's is like looking at a high resolution picture versus a low res version. There is just so much more to hear.
Compare it to my Mid-Fi system with Energy Speakers, Nakamichi Receivers and Marantz CD Player, the SR80 sounds more lively. I feel that the sound of the SR80 is more like those electrostatic speakers from Martin Logan. They are more 'forward' and 'life-like' sounding, compare to my Energy, that is smoother and lay back.
Comfort
Comfort wise, the SR80 still have rooms to improve. It is alright to wear it for one CD of music, but I feel fairly uncomfortable if I wear it for more than one hour. I wish it is as comfortable as the Sony V600 or the Sennheiser HD577.
Equipments
One thing to note that is, the SR80 do sounds better with better equipment. I have tried listen to it by connect to my PC, to my CD player directly, or to the receiver. The soundstage is wider and the sound is richer when connected to the receiver.
Life after SR80
I originally buy the SR80 for listening at work, but now I enjoyed it so much that I always bring it home for more serious listening. It is troublesome to bring it back and forth everyday. In an ideal world, I would buy another pair, but my wife won't be very happy as she was already very nice to allow me to spend $100 on this thing. Now, I'm borrowing my brother-in-laws $15 Koss KCS-50 to listen at work. It actually sound much better than my old Radio Shack's, but too bad not as good as the SR80, especially with orchestral music. But I may purchase one of these just for works if it proves to be comfortable.
Conclusions
Anyway, I love the SR80. Just wish it can be more comfortable and better looking, but I really do not care much about the look. It is ironic that my colleague told me the KCS50 I wear today is very nice, but they never commented on my SR80 since I use it few weeks ago. I guess if looks is important to you, maybe SR80 is not for you :)
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