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Audio-Technica ATH-M50 vs. Grado SR80i vs. other

post #1 of 6
2/2/12 at 5:42pm
Thread Starter 

I've been looking a while for some new headphones. I narrowed it down to these two. If anyone can suggest better, please by all means.

 

Budget: Preferable under $150 but am will to go no more than $200.

 

From what I gathered the Audio-Technica ATH-M50s are a versatile in terms of genre. They're also a closed back pair. The Grado SR80is are pretty raved about from what I've read; but, are geared more towards rock & electronic than classical. They're obviously very open as they're an on-ear set.

 

I'm really not a portable listener, I listen almost exclusively at home.

 

Preferences:

closed back (preferred) or open

natural sound quality

 

Listen to (from most-least):

Rock

Metal

Electronic

Ambient

Classical/minimalist

 

Listen with:

Nuforce Icon uDAC-2

Flac ->Foobar2000

Standard cd quality

Hi-res vinyl & dvd/bd audio

 

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post #2 of 6
2/2/12 at 6:17pm

Heya,

 

Well, do you want isolation or do you want open air and increased sound stage? You have a decent DAC/AMP so your options are wide.

 

I would suggest the Shure SRH840 over the M50 if you want a straight neutralish headphone for everything that is closed. But I would probably even push more towards the Beyer DT770 (rock & metal) over them if you want a little more oumph in the low end, more sound stage, and more comfort. But even then, I would even push maybe more towards the DT880 PRO (semi-open or just consider it open) for a neutral approach. Some alternatives that are closed could be the Fischer Audio FA-003 (or the Brainwavz HM5 clone).

 

Very best,

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post #3 of 6
2/2/12 at 7:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MalVeauX View Post

Heya,

 

Well, do you want isolation or do you want open air and increased sound stage? You have a decent DAC/AMP so your options are wide.

 

I would suggest the Shure SRH840 over the M50 if you want a straight neutralish headphone for everything that is closed. But I would probably even push more towards the Beyer DT770 (rock & metal) over them if you want a little more oumph in the low end, more sound stage, and more comfort. But even then, I would even push maybe more towards the DT880 PRO (semi-open or just consider it open) for a neutral approach. Some alternatives that are closed could be the Fischer Audio FA-003 (or the Brainwavz HM5 clone).

 

Very best,

I've heard the argument that closed headphones cannot grant a full sound stage. Haven't chosen a side on that yet.

 

As for the Shure SRH840 they have pretty solid specs although I haven't seen many recs on them. Which one of the Beyerdynamic DT770s is it? I looked at the Pro version, and they seemed like something I'd be more geared toward. And the DT880 Pros are way to expensive for me.

 

Where would I even try to buy any of these? Both Beyers are only used on amazon.

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post #4 of 6
2/2/12 at 7:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pasiv View Post

I've heard the argument that closed headphones cannot grant a full sound stage. Haven't chosen a side on that yet.

 

As for the Shure SRH840 they have pretty solid specs although I haven't seen many recs on them. Which one of the Beyerdynamic DT770s is it? I looked at the Pro version, and they seemed like something I'd be more geared toward. And the DT880 Pros are way to expensive for me.

 

Where would I even try to buy any of these? Both Beyers are only used on amazon.

 

Heya,

 

Most closed headphones don't have as wide a sound stage as open-air, but there are exceptions. The point however was to figure out if you favor isolation more or if you can go with open-air. As it is, the DT770 PRO would be excellent for you. It has a good sound stage, good isolation, good comfort, good powerful bass. Buying used is a great way to get the most headphone for your money when it comes to hifi. I strongly recommend it unless you're just absolutely against the idea. You can go to the for-sale forum here at Head-Fi and look for some DT770's for even less than on Amazon. I saw 1 or 2 in the $120~150 range already there.

 

Very best,
 

 

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post #5 of 6
2/2/12 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MalVeauX View Post

 

Heya,

 

Most closed headphones don't have as wide a sound stage as open-air, but there are exceptions. The point however was to figure out if you favor isolation more or if you can go with open-air. As it is, the DT770 PRO would be excellent for you. It has a good sound stage, good isolation, good comfort, good powerful bass. Buying used is a great way to get the most headphone for your money when it comes to hifi. I strongly recommend it unless you're just absolutely against the idea. You can go to the for-sale forum here at Head-Fi and look for some DT770's for even less than on Amazon. I saw 1 or 2 in the $120~150 range already there.

 

Very best,
 

 

I'll go either way on isolation or open-air, not a big deal. Checked the for-sale forum, the best was a listing from a few weeks ago at $165. Not really sure right now, I've always preferred to buy new. I'm in no hurry, maybe I'll wait for a good price or listing somewhere on the DT770 Pros; however I'm also still considering the Grados.

 

Thanks for your help.

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post #6 of 6
2/2/12 at 8:56pm

The sr80s are not natural sounding headphones because they are quite colored where they are known to have higher treble. As for the sound stage, it is small; meaning - - - the distance between instruments is small. For comparison: if Sennheiser hd598s scores a 10 in soundstage width, I give the grado sr80s a 3 or 4. My creative aurvana lives gets maybe a 6.5.

 

The sr80s are good sounding but the grado sound signature isn't for everybody because some find them fatiguing (like me). They do poorly in directional type pc gaming.

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