Is grado really the best?

I use my Shure SRH 840s for portability and I like them for rock. They have great bass to my ears and I find them to be fast and energetic enough to keep up with rock and metal. They are fairly gigantic, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpawluk91 

Is there any brand of headphones that is known for rock or metal other than grado? I mean wow its gotta be the most overlooked genre to make headphones for. All I ever hear is grado grado grado there's no way that's all there is! Besides I hear grado have weak bass and what is heavy metal without breakdowns and drums

Firs of all, there are other's but if all you hear is grado,grado,grado, why dont you try them? They are awsome!!! Second, the bass is not weak at all, it IMO it is correct. Third, if you like to hear precussion, you will hear every little detail, like someone is playing right in front of you. Very fast,fun headphone especially for your genre. And yes it's obvious I am definitly a fan of the grado sound, but I am not knocking any other headphone, this particular model (SR80i) sound so raw and real it's amazing!!! Throw a drum solo on and you will hear what I mean!!! For that matter, any instrument solo or vocal's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpawluk91 

Is there any brand of headphones that is known for rock or metal other than grado? I mean wow its gotta be the most overlooked genre to make headphones for. All I ever hear is grado grado grado there's no way that's all there is! Besides I hear grado have weak bass and what is heavy metal without breakdowns and drums

Any headphone brand is known for rock/metal, and every genre.

That's irrelevant.

What's more important is, if you want a headphone for rock/metal, maybe try to describe the overall qualities that you seek in a headphone, such as how you like your bass, mids, treble, the size of the headphone, the kind and size of pads, the headband, the cable, it's efficiency, and what your source gear will be and whether or not you need isolation or not and whether it's for portable use or home use. Some people like a thin, anemic bass with more up front mids and bright treble for their rock/metal, and others like it very bassy and warm, with rich mids, and rolled off darker treble. There is no "this is only good for rock/metal". This is all flavor and preference.

Very best,

Thanks MalVeauX.

Good reply. You saved me from being a smart ass, this time.

Also IMO there is no best! There are difference's. No headphone doe's it all, or everyone would have them, they all have a different sound signature. And IMO the SR80i doe's a really nice job at sounding very realistic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpawluk91 

I'm using a rockboxed ipod 5.5 and I'm more into the way the music was meant to be played I just know from being in concert that the bass is slammy at times but above all is clarity, if u guys wanna be a smartass please do so I know what to tell u guys lol idc let me have it haha

I really think it come's down the recording and quality of the format.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpawluk91 

The sound I'm trying to acheive is pretty standard to most metal heads, I just hate unecessary distortion and when trying to play like chimaira at full blast things get hectic. I'm a very loud listener and my music isn't lossless it's 256 aac from iTunes. I can't audition the grados before buying them but I'm gonna bite the bullet anyway on sum sr80i's. only thing is I'm a little apprehensive about the bass I've heard mixed results. Anyway to boost the bass without opening them up?

Get L-cush pads with them. Consider that mandatory.

The bass is fine. It's not anemic or thin at all.

Very best,

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpawluk91 

The sound I'm trying to acheive is pretty standard to most metal heads, I just hate unecessary distortion and when trying to play like chimaira at full blast things get hectic. I'm a very loud listener and my music isn't lossless it's 256 aac from iTunes. I can't audition the grados before buying them but I'm gonna bite the bullet anyway on sum sr80i's. only thing is I'm a little apprehensive about the bass I've heard mixed results. Anyway to boost the bass without opening them up?

Yes, I beileve you stated not for bass heavy music, these headphone's IMO do a really good job with the bass, it is not overwhelming,bloated,loose, or muddy, it is fast and tight and just the right amount IMO.

If you buy from amazon and you don't like, you have full return privileges.  IOW, no risk.

Several years back I bought a set of Grado SR-80's after reading everyone's recommendations (especially regarding Rock music).

I tried my very best to enjoy them, sometimes even pretending I did... but I knew that deep down, I really didn't like them.  They were so 'bright' that they fatigued my ears, it almost hurt to listen to the music.  And they had next to ZERO bass!

I finally sold them to a Reddit user in /r/headphones , and purchased a set of Ultrasone HFI-580's from amazon.  In my personal opinion (of course), they're LEAGUES better than the Grado's were (in EVERY genre)

They're so incredibly crystal clear (especially when matched to the FiiO E10 USB DAC AMP), I'm really glad I tried them.

Back when I bought them (January 2012), they were actually cheaper than the next higher model (HFI-680) , however now it looks like that model is cheaper than the 580's.  You might consider getting that model as it's supposed to be a step up.