Quote:
Originally Posted by
grufferator 
Hello, everyone. Can you recommend a cheap pair of headphones for metal (Meshuggah, Bloodbath) and progressive rock (Porcupine Tree, Riverside, Karnivool)? So far i've had Senns PX-100II, Takstar Hi2050, Beyers DTX 71ie, Brainwavz R1. Most of all i liked the PX-100II's. Meshuggah on the praised Takstars sounded like crap - no bass, ultra-sharp highs. I was hearing only cymbals, the EQ didn't help. Brainwavz R1 have way to much mid-bass (80-200hz). Beyers DTX 71ie sounded good but I didn't feel the agression of metal with them. Will Superlux HD668/HD662/HD661 suit my tastes?
You will get a lot of opinions. I recently bought my first HPs and I've just bought my first amp and am shopping for a DAC. This is just my opinion. I went w/ Grados. For my first real cans, I set a $200 limit.
Grados are often mentioned for rock and metal, but as you see some people hate them. I auditioned Grado 60i, 80i and 225i on two different occasions. I used my Ipod as a source with and without amplification. Coming from my IEMS-Klisch Image s-4-I was impressed in the improvement of sound. I didn't have a good speaker sound system at the time. I found the Grados, while not perfect, gave me a significant upgrade in sound that was good for metal and pretty much anything with guitar which is my preference.
Cons:
1-They are uncomfortable for some.
2-Not really a con, but a fact....they are open and retro looking. If you want to wear them outside, at school, library, on public transportation and want to look slick, look elsewhere. In fact if you are going to be out and about, you probably want IEMs anyway or closed cans. So, I'm speaking primarily of home use, here. A lot of people have a couple of pairs or more. Something nicer for the the house and something else for being out in the community.
3. And, they have a rep for being bright. They don't have a big sound stage particularly in their SR line. I have not heard upper end Grados such as the SRi. The SRi is beloved as a rock/metal can for Grado fans but it costs $700. They are supposed to have a bigger soundstage, while still not really big tho, more detail and refinement. If money wasn't an objecct (right!), I would have thought hard about the SR1.
Pros: 1-The don't need amplification, but may benefit from them. You can easily put off amp purchase and plug into an mp3 player or receiver or whatever from day one. I've had them about a month sans amplification and absolutely enjoy them.
2-They are inexpensive. you can spend less than or around $100 and get something that sounds pretty good relative to that price. One argument for Grados is that other companies may not put quality into their line until you get well over $100, whereas the 60i or 80i is good bang for the buck. If you consider Grados-the 80i is very popular as a reasonable investment (around $80) and you can easily mod/tweek them.
You want to audition them first. I like base, I listen to a lot of doom and sludge and like good base. There are times when I'd like more low end, but that can be partially resolved w/ mods and with amplification w/ equalizer. But, I don't find the base lacking to the point of being a deal breaker. I'm sure other disagree.
For me the225i at $200 was an upgrade from the 60 and 80 and and has a more detailed fuller sound. I've also listened to a lot of other kinds of music-even classical and jazz, electronic.
I did not get to audition HE which I also wanted to check out. As stated, I knew I wanted something for a variety of metal and rock and punk/hardcore. I decided I liked their upfront, aggressive sound and IMO reproduced guitar sound well. The sound puts you front and center like you are almost on stage with the band type of thing.
OK-now you will get to hear all the people tell you that Grados suck Schiiiit and only a three eyed moron would listen to them 
However, if you have been listening to sub par sound on a portable MP3 with lowend earbuds you purchased at Walmart or Best Buys, etc or boombox, and don't find them uncomfortable, I would encourage anyone to at least audition them.
Edited by markm1 - 3/3/13 at 5:27am
