Grado SR80i: Just got them - a review

I am a musician (a drummer in a big church) and music is very important, so I desided to buy quality headphones. I had couple of £50 - £100 range Bayerdynamic headphones back in about 1990. They were pretty good, but I was always a bit unhappy the lack of bass in them and they seemed to have a bit sharp treble as well ... maybe too much high frequances. But the main problem was the lack of dynamic in bass.

I read some good reviews about Grados and that they have good bass and that they produce accurate sound. So I got my Grado SR80i s today. Just listening them now...

My review (straight from the box, so no burning... and straight from the CD player): Heh, this is all positive, because I have no experience in very expensive ones. Yes, they sound very good. Best headphones I ever listened ... I can hear details from CD s I never heard before. Bass is good or very good, very good for rock music. And there not that lack of bass dynamic I had with those BAyerdynamics (dont know how the latest BD s are though, I am comparing to 90 s models). Bass goes deep. When the drummer plays ride symbals (or bell) it is clearly separately heard (its on the top of other music), which is good. Best dynamic/ instrument separation I ever heard as well.

I do not have anything to complain, what comes to sound; pleasant all over from bass to treble. I mean, considering that I paid only £85. I cannot believe that with this money you can find essentially better ones ... so I can recommend them if somebody wants to spend less than £100.

So I am very happy that I bought them. They are what I expected them to be (that was not exatcly the case with my 1990 Bayerdynamic phones... something was always missing from them - these are much better than them).

Lets see... if I get very rich at some point, I might buy more expensive ones. Although I already enjoy listening these, so not sure how much more it would add to enjoyment.

Question: would I get essentially better sound by buying a headphones amb? Any suggestions for a good amb? I am now just using my CD players headphones output slot.

I am not sure what you mean by "fatigue", but I have been listening now almost 2 hours, and I cannot say that I feel any fatigue/tiredness. I do not listen very loud - not even need to, because they produce good sound even if listened with less volume.

The sound is not sharp, its just accurate I would say. I do not have any problems after listening 2 hours. Like I said the sound is pleasant.

I just want to re-listen all my records, they sound all so good... .

The only negative thing I can find is that they are not the most confortable to wear in my opinion. The ear pads are touching your whole ear, I would rather have cup-style pads which go around your ear. But some may like them like they are ... But again, sound is excellent. No sure if the earpads can be changed to cups?

yes bowls I mean ... thanks, so I think I can easily replace them if needed. The earphone sized seems to be the same. I am not sure if this is a big proglem though ... will see in a month.

I dont remember anymore, but they were one of the dt -models. They looked like this:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f10/fs...-811-a-210651/

not sure if they were dt811 though.

GOOD!

Just back to tell you that now I have had them 3-4 months, and I can tell you that I am very happy. Always nice to put them on and listen. I can recommend these for ppl wanting cheap ones. I like the deep bass and the precision of the music. I am not sure if I need more expensive ones, these seem to be almost good enough .. . But who knows...

very happy. well used £80.

Interesting to know, I did not know this. It does not affect me much though, because I want to listen at low/mid levels to "save my ears". I rarely listen very loud. Ye, they sound surprisingly good at low levels, I was amazed how rocky they are at low levels, ... thats good so that I can protect my ears by listening at low levels and still enjoy the music.