Just to put some things I feel in perspective about Grado & Sennheiser. I have been using the SR325i for a month now and persuaded my roommate who did not want to spend large amounts but wants a can to listen to a lot of metal to buy an SR60. He received it yesterday and I sat down with it for an hour or so today just to see how it compared to my SR325i and the results were absolutely shocking.
The SR60 had a little more forward presentation for metal and rock music and somehow I was vastly enjoying the music from it than from my SR325i. The 325i added more depth to music but was receded and was NOT as fun and interesting as the SR60 and I just cant figure out where did my extra $230 go. I wanted my Sr325i to be significantly better, but instead, all it did was add a little more depth and ear-piercing highs, while the SR60 was SO MUCH fun to listen to. Even though I am evidently not happy with my 325i, it goes out to say something great about Grado.
Unlike any other brand, John Grado is very particular and devoted to what he does and i have no doubt that making extremely good headphones is his true passion, for if it was not, he would not have made the cheap Sr60 sound so good. Instead he would have done what the other money minded capitalists like Sennheiser, sony etc. do, i.e. make cheap crappie sounding crap for the lesser priced models. The SR60 was released 10 years ago and imagine at that time when all other companies were making dung headphones for that price, John released the SR60. In effect, we owe our gratitude to him for having raised the standard so that other $-dwellers like Senns & Sony are forced today to make good stuff even in the lower price-range.
If a small company like Grado can do this much, I am mighty sure that with all the money in the world, a company like Senn. can surely ace it. But they won't ever make a headphone that costs $70 perform 95% of a model that costs $300 and 85% of one that costs $700. So, I request all those folks that criticize John Grado to ponder and analyze matter a little more before churning out opinions.
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