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Are Grado Prestige Line of cans even worth the $$?

post #1 of 57
6/23/07 at 12:44pm
Thread Starter 
Just read this review and tears formed in my eyes. I was so set on getting the SR125s until I read that it's just SR80s on TREBLE boost.


http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=250

I know that it has nice soundstage. ANd that's what set me on getting it in the first place. But I ALSO know that even the lower GRADOS are very bright. What this means gathering from the review is that the SR125 on my ears will blow out my drums shrieeeeeking like mad.

Please confirm that this is not true. I really like how modded KSC75s shine. MS1s don't have soundstage so they won't be much of an upgrade for me who's YEARNING for it.

I thought the SR125/SR225 offerings would be the best next option for someone who likes the KSC75 sound signature but wants SS.

So tell me honestly? Are they even worth more than the $150+ I'm willing to put out for them? I'm going in UNAMPED btw. HOWEVER, if there is a cheap (less than $200) amp that will tame them..please, please let me know. (I was set on getting the SR125s over the SR225s). Before I read this review, anyway.
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post #2 of 57
6/23/07 at 12:47pm
if you're after sound stage, and are sensitive to treble maybe you should look outside of Grado
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post #3 of 57
6/23/07 at 12:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dissembled View Post
Just read this review and tears formed in my eyes. I was so set on getting the SR125s until I read that it's just SR80s on TREBLE boost.
you have to take everything here with a grain of salt

that being said, I feel that the grado prestige line are a great bang for the buck headphone, but you really have to listen to them to understand the differences between them

I have only heard the sr60, sr225 and sr325i.
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post #4 of 57
6/23/07 at 1:31pm
upgrading to any grados will not boost the soundstage (according to people here)

look elsewhere for your sonic preferences...
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post #5 of 57
6/23/07 at 1:43pm

MS2i

Some people report that the MS2i has a relatively large soundstage -- and thus go back and forth between their pair of MS1/MS2i depending on the music and the sort of sound they want to hear. I haven't heard either, so I couldn't tell you anything from personal experience.
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post #6 of 57
6/23/07 at 1:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by uraflit View Post
upgrading to any grados will not boost the soundstage (according to people here)

look elsewhere for your sonic preferences...
I've read many reports that the 125/225s do offer ample soundstage. The imaging is said to be less than clear than most but there is soundstage.

http://www.consumerreview.com/cat/au...9_2750crx.aspx

(2nd review)

http://cnet.nytimes.com/headphones-h...-30618197.html are just some I've read.

It's best if you search Google with a highlight feature. Most recommended, folks.


Quote:
Originally Posted by yale.reinstein View Post
Some people report that the MS2i has a relatively large soundstage -- and thus go back and forth between their pair of MS1/MS2i depending on the music and the sort of sound they want to hear. I haven't heard either, so I couldn't tell you anything from personal experience.
I'm not willing to spend $300 on phones right now, sadly. $150 to $175 is the most i'm willing to spend.
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post #7 of 57
6/23/07 at 2:16pm
I would not really take cnet and consumer reviews seriously... grados are well known for having a tiny soundstage.
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post #8 of 57
6/23/07 at 3:09pm
I honestly admit that I haven't spent a lot of time trying to determine whether it's the Grado plastics or the sole Alessandro plastic that has the greatest soundstage since a fair amount of it even seems to depend on the pads used. While the SR-60 and the MS-1 each share comfies and the higher Grados have bowls, that may contribute to the question.

But I don't recall a heavy opinion stating that one group is clearly superior to the other in this regard.

....unless I missed something.
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post #9 of 57
6/23/07 at 5:18pm
I don't think the SR-125 would have any more soundstage than a MS-1 with bowl pads. If you're still using the comfies, try some bowls and see how you like 'em. Buying a SR-125 when you already have a MS-1 seems like the very definition of "sidestep"; I'd recommend getting something different, maybe a closed can like the Equation RP-21.

Edit: sorry, for some reason thought you already had a MS-1. So my question is what are you upgrading from? Just the KSC75? I haven't heard the SR-125, but it seems to be one of the least loved Grado phones, whereas the MS-1 is one of the most popular. I'd seriously consider ordering a MS-1 with bowl pads, my comment above about soundstage still applies.
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post #10 of 57
6/23/07 at 5:34pm
Grados have hardly any soundstage. Their energetic and up-front presentation is what makes them attractive to most people.
But if you are looking for balanced phones with soundstage, I wouldn't be looking for Grados.
This is not to put them down, I enjoy my SR325i quite a bit.
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post #11 of 57
6/23/07 at 5:40pm
for soundstage, go 325i (MS-2i preferred) or higher. 125 is nice, MS-1 w/bowls is nearly identical, and not so much better if you have to buy a set of bowls (I didn't know MS-1's came with flats). Many like 225, essentially all prestige series is bright (225's less so). It sounds to me like you're looking for AKG or Senn (more likely Senn). If you're on a budget, get AKG K271 (some of the best loved phones out there) or Senn 580 used. Any Senn lower than 580 won't sound like you want it to.
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post #12 of 57
6/23/07 at 5:42pm
Really if you're looking for soundstage, msot Grados have none to tiny amount of that. I've tried SR325, SR225 (w/bowls), and MS1 (w/ modded HD414 pads) and to me soundstage is none to speak of compared to other full-sized headphones I've tried.

SR225 is a little brighter than MS1 but also more detailed. MS1 is not that bright to my ears and IMO wouldn't be too bright for your ears if you're coming from KSC75 which are quite bright in their own.

I was in the relatively same position as you around a year ago. I was also looking for a fun sound around that price range with at least some soundstage. Finally ended up with DT531 and has been happy ever since. I heard DT250 has relatively similar sound sig. A DT990 will also do for $~250.
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post #13 of 57
6/23/07 at 5:51pm
Soundstage is only one small portion of an overall experience. As you can see on the boards, the Grado/Alessandro family has a very large and loyal following. When it comes to per $$$, Grados are an excellent value.
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post #14 of 57
6/23/07 at 6:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrookR1 View Post
Soundstage is only one small portion of an overall experience. As you can see on the boards, the Grado/Alessandro family has a very large and loyal following. When it comes to per $$$, Grados are an excellent value.
Something I think the 75's lack is good soundstage. I want phones that can provide what my modded 75's lacks..

The general consensus of this thread is to choose other brands.... Sorta depressing since I can tell just how much the Grados/Alessandros here are loved. (Besides the Koss's, I've NEVER seen a more largely loved product than the MS1s.)

But yes, I think the best step for me know is to look outside the Grado line of phones. What's EVEN harder is that there's no headphone stores in my area. So the only resource I depend now are the often contradictory/biased remarks of online articles & forum members here.

I depend on other people's ears to tell me what's good instead of rely on my own.

I hope to God there is an online trial service available to try out headphones. Would be great if you guys could refer me to one.
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post #15 of 57
6/23/07 at 6:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dissembled View Post
I hope to God there is an online trial service available to try out headphones. Would be great if you guys could refer me to one.
Come to one of the meets!

You may still love the grados. What type of music do you listen to? Rock? Metal? If so you would still love them. Using other people's ears is the worst thing you can do BTW.
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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › Are Grado Prestige Line of cans even worth the $$?