neil_mansilla's Full Review: Grado SR80 Professional Headphones
I work on a notebook computer anywhere between 40 to 80+ hours per week. Nearly the entire time I'm listening to music (MP3s and CDs). I've been cramming these "nice sounding" Sony ear-buds into my ears for a couple years now -- and it was just the other day my brother walked into the office with a pair of Grado SR-80s on his head.
The darn things looked like huge 1970s-retro-style slash airplane-tarmac-worker things on his head, and I laughed. I laughed the entire time, until I put them on. He said, "Neil, it's like strapping a pair of $20,000 dollar speakers to your head, and paying about $100." Not many people have listened to $20,000+ speakers before, but I know he has, working in the mega-hi-fi arena for quite some time, selling $40,000+ systems to folks with plenty of coins to spare.
So, I strapped 'em on my head -- and surprisingly, they were more comfortable than I thought. They needed a little adjusting.. just a little.. "What the *!&?", my thoughts interrupted as all I could hear was stuff I've never heard before on that Jeff Buckley CD that I've listened to for years and years. These headphones were uncovering sounds, like finger-squeaks on guitar, little never-heard-before soft drums hits.. it was almost like hearing a different version of the same song I've been listening to for six years.
So, naturally, I start pulling out every single CD around me. Jazz, classical, Al Green, Sting... stuff I listen to all the time, and what do you know -- it all sounded SO much better. I'm not just talking about, "Hey, more bass" or "Hey, more treble." I mean, just more detail. The SR-80 was painting the music with a finer brush. And yes, more defined bass, more defined mid-range, and high-trebles. Hearing the strings in a guitar strum really s-t-r-u-m, and then ring out -- it's like having your head wired into the artist's guitar pickup.
I enjoy classical, rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B -- and it all sounds better. The best way that I can put it is that the Grado SR-80s bring you as close as you can get to how the artists wanted you to hear their music. If you're a music-head like myself and you've been using standard grade headphones (i.e. Sony [yes, I've used even their EXPENSIVE models], Labtec, etc.) you're plain-as-day missing the boat and just missing out on great sound.
Oh yeah, the next day after trying out my brother's, I drove out to Overture Audio in Ann Arbor and picked up a pair. You'll thank me and my brother once you discover the Grado headphone series.
The Grado SR80 Headphone delivers more powerful sound and a unique design. They operate on a vented diaphragm design that incorporates a large air cha...More at J&R Music and Computer World
Adjustable, soft vinyl headband Superb sound quality Large ear cushions for comfortable listening Mini stereo plug with 1/4-inch adaptorMore at Amazon Marketplace
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