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Grado-like recommendation

post #1 of 18
4/26/10 at 12:20am
Thread Starter 
I listen mostly to metal and progressive rock and from what I've read the best for those genres are grados but there are several things that make me not want to buy them. First is the soundstage which many people have said is very narrow and I would like a wider soundstage. Second is sound leakage which people say is very bad with the grados. Many people have also said the build quality is not that great and that they are uncomfortable.

I guess what I'm wondering is if there is a headphone with a similar sound to the grado sr60/80 that would sound great with metal/rock but with more isolation and wider soundstage. I'm looking to spend <$150.
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post #2 of 18
4/26/10 at 12:23am
Would you need closed,if that is the case then Denon D1000's or ATH M-50
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post #3 of 18
4/26/10 at 12:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cornman View Post
First is the soundstage which many people have said is very narrow and I would like a wider soundstage.

I guess what I'm wondering is if there is a headphone with a similar sound to the grado sr60/80 that would sound great with metal/rock but with more isolation and wider soundstage. I'm looking to spend <$150.
Depends which model you're talking about. If SR60/80, then yes there hardly is any soundstage. But if you go SR225i and above the soundstage is nice, linear, and wide, but lacks depth. If you want depth too go GS/PS1000.

For less than $150, hard to say. I think V6 and K240 sound grado-like. V6 will give you isolation but soundstage is even more narrow. K240 is great for rock too. Isolation is slightly better because their semi-open and have a decent soundstage. If you find something that matches those criteria, I'd like to know too.
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post #4 of 18
4/26/10 at 12:57am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the recommendations! The k240's are looking like the best option right now. They don't need to be completely closed, just not completely open like the grados. Forgot to mention I do also listen to some jazz and classical so I don't know how well the K240's would sound with those genres.
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post #5 of 18
4/26/10 at 1:06am
I like the Creative Aurvana Live! at 55$ from Costco, good closed headphones with the drives of the Denon AH D1001
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post #6 of 18
4/26/10 at 2:21am
frankly there is nothing closed quite like grado .
People have been asking this question for years
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post #7 of 18
4/26/10 at 3:15am
If you're after isolation, bet get IEMs. See if Westone UM1 works for you, if you can find a way to give them a listen.
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post #8 of 18
4/26/10 at 3:19am
I just got a pair of SUPERLUX HD681 cans and i must say, there an excellent copy of the k240!
With the money you save, you could get one of those + an ibasso t4/t3 portable amp to kick it up to the next lvl XD

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/sup...dphone-436092/
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post #9 of 18
4/26/10 at 9:24am
Soundstage is the single most overrated thing about headphones. The difference between Grado sound stage and phones that are talked up for their sound stage is not that big.

Talking about in circles and reading the same thing over and over makes it seem that way.

People buy grados because of everything else that makes them good for rock. Up front mids and treble, and a tight and well defined bass. This focuses the sound on the guitars and makes the rhythm the background.

Leakage. All open phones do it, and do it about the same, and more linked to volume. Semi open does not exist outside of marketing, and will still leak sound in and out. If you want any isolation, you'll want a closed phone, and nothing could be less Grado-like.

There are lots of opinions on here, but people don't tend to start threads about how good the build and comfort of their phones are. But if someone has something negative to say about either, you'll be sure to see a topic on it.
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post #10 of 18
4/26/10 at 9:27am
cornman, youre describing my dt150s exactly Of course you would need the dt100 velour pads to get them to sound that way. They are a little more neutral in the mids too
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post #11 of 18
4/26/10 at 9:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by donunus View Post
cornman, youre describing my dt150s exactly Of course you would need the dt100 velour pads to get them to sound that way. They are a little more neutral in the mids too
Where do you get DT100 velours? I've tried to get some for mine and Beyer don't make them, only pleather.
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post #12 of 18
4/26/10 at 10:09am
and why it has to be grado-like anyway ?
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post #13 of 18
4/26/10 at 10:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by winzzz View Post
and why it has to be grado-like anyway ?
Maybe because he enjoys their sound signature?
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post #14 of 18
4/26/10 at 10:30am
^ i thought op never heard grado before...?
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post #15 of 18
4/26/10 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drubbing View Post
Where do you get DT100 velours? I've tried to get some for mine and Beyer don't make them, only pleather.
heres one
Beyer Dynamic DT100 Velour Ear Cushions on eBay (end time 29-Apr-10 12:37:09 BST)

another place to get them...

http://uk.shopping.com/xDN-home_audi...ar_pads_dt_100

By the way, I dont use the foam cover for the drivers because they sound too dark when used.
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