Grado Labs SR80e
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Introduction
Grado has long held a revered spot within various audiophile circles, renowned for its handcrafted, on-ear headphones spanning diverse price points. Today, we delve into the SR80e, the third iteration of the much-acclaimed SR80 model. Succeeding the SR80i, the SR80e was launched in 2014. I made the acquisition 3.5 years ago and have been a proud owner ever since.Aesthetic, Build, and Wearing Comfort
The SR80e embraces Grado's timeless design ethos, featuring retro open-back ear cups and a plastic headband. To my understanding, the cup's dimensions remain unchanged from the SR80i, but Grado has introduced a newer plastic material, which they claim enhances acoustic performance. The build exudes a utilitarian vibe, with some parts appearing modest, yet it's undeniably robust. Comfort-wise, opinions on the SR80e might be polarized. For me, the absence of a padded headband was a drawback, prompting adjustments to better fit my head's contour.Sound
Let's preface by noting that the classic Grado sound, often described as aggressive and crunchy, isn't my cup of tea. My experiences with the brand's first and second-generation products were short-lived due to this sound signature. However, the third generation, especially when paired with third-party cushions, proved more palatable.Speaking of cushions, a specific Geekria model (which I informally term "flat cushions") greatly fulfilled my needs. The pad's texture is comparable to the stock S-cushion in softness, but its central hole seems to amplify the bass and temper the treble.
Tonally, the SR80e leans towards neutral, albeit with a slight W-shaped curve. It showcases a gentle bass bump in the lower regions, with some attenuation underneath. The upper midrange is a tad elevated, rendering discernible energy in the presence region. When transitioning to the Geekria flat cushion from the stock S-cushion, the bass felt richer, while the mids and treble became more subdued.
Technically, the SR80e outperforms expectations. It presents a commendable immediacy in instrument attack and decay. While detail retrieval has its bounds, crucial auditory information isn't lost. In the sub-$100 range, the SR80e might be among the most resolving headphones, though I haven't tried its successor, the SR80x, yet.
Soundstage and spatial dynamics are pivotal for my listening sessions. Grado consistently delivers on spatial realism, and the SR80e, despite its entry-level classification, does not disappoint. The soundstage leans intimate, yet it often feels like performers are directly serenading me—a likely structural advantage.
Comparison
Comparing the SR80e, given its affordability, can be challenging. However, I've juxtaposed it against two similar-priced contenders: the Sennheiser HD650 and the Koss Porta Pro.Against the HD650, the SR80e feels a tier below in technical prowess, with the HD650 offering superior detail and smoother highs. Yet, the SR80e counters with tighter bass, enhanced transient response, and arguably superior soundstaging.
In a more intriguing face-off with the on-ear Porta Pro, the SR80e trumps in every dimension. Not only does it offer a more refined sound, but its acoustic harmony is also superior. The Porta Pro's treble often feels disjointed, and its muted top end pales in comparison to the SR80e's capabilities.
Measurements
Data was captured using the MiniDSP EARS, calibrated against a custom curve based on the HPN and HEQ profiles. The frequency response largely aligns with my subjective experience, with a few observations:
- The Geekria flat cushions seem to tweak the frequency response slightly.
- The heightened energy between 2k and 3k Hz is perceptible, but perhaps not as pronounced as the graph indicates. This discrepancy might be attributed to the unique supra-aural structure and its inherent resonance characteristics.
Conclusion
Embracing a blend of retro aesthetics and contemporary advancements, the Grado SR80e offered remarkable value to me, especially at their price point. While it might not eclipse higher-tier models in every aspect, their unique sound signature, combined with commendable technical capabilities, makes them a compelling choice for myself. Their compatibility with third-party cushions further augments their versatility, allowing users to tailor the auditory experience to their preference. In the panorama of sub-$100 headphones, the SR80e undeniably carved a distinctive niche during its days, reflecting Grado's commitment to quality and acoustic excellence. I'm confident that the current in-production SR80x, as the direct successor, is at least on par with the SR80e with marginal improvements in some aspects. I look forward to personally verifying this in the future.
Rock On - Grado SR80e On-Ear Headphones Review
Grado SR80e is one of the finest headphones for those who enjoy a colorful, dynamic midrange, and a really sparkly treble, but don't require a lot of bass. They are priced at 100 USD, and they will be compared with Brainwavz HM100, 1More Triple Driver, and AIWA ARC-1. The pairings will include FiiO M6, iBasso DX160, and Shanling M2X.
Introduction
Grado doesn't need much of an introduction, being one of the oldest, best known audio companies in the entire world, with an excellent track for customer support, as well as an excellent track for the build quality of their products. They are best known for pick-ups, and for high-end audio products for vinyl enthusiasts, but they also make some amazing headphones, and even when looking at something really affordable, like the SR80e, they manage to offer something special, magical, and most definitely intriguing for those who are on a budget.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Grado, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank Grado for providing the sample for this review. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Grado SR80e find their next music companion.
About me
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
This is officially the first Grado headphone I have unboxed, and it left a really good impression on me, Grado really knows how to make a nice package, and even for a headphone that's only 100 USD, they make what I could call a really stylish and high-end presentation.
The package has all the info about the headphones on it, and it includes the headphones. The only extra accessory you can find inside is an adapter from the 3.5mm plug to 6.3mm, so you can use SR80e with a multitude of sources.
Grado is known, as a company, for approaching the enthusiast, and the high-end passionate, so many of their headphones used to have their cables ended in a 6.3mm plug only, and it feels refreshing, and really handy to have the cable end in a mini plug, as I could test SR80e with all the portables I have around.
If anything would be missing from the package, that is a set of extra pads, as the originals are easily replaceable, but given the 100 USD price tag of SR80e, their entire package is pretty much perfect.
What to look in when purchasing a Flagship Headphone
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html
Technical Specifications
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
Having an impedance of 32 OHMs and a SPL of 99.8 dB means that SR80e is easily driveable form a portable, even from most smartphones, which is great news for those midrange and treble lovers.
The fit of the SR80e is different from what you may expect. They are an on-ear design for sure, but their cups are much much larger than they look like in photos, they are enough to cover most of my ears. While this isn't ideal for everyone, my understanding is that high-end grado headphones are even larger, and they fit even better, so I'm really curious to hear one of those higher-end models and see if the comfort is heavenly now.
The aesthetics are pretty retro and old-school, but Grado made sure to keep what was best about their design, and improve on it. The cups can swivel, and the size can be adjusted. The mechanism for adjusting the size of the headphone is actually pretty secure, and the entire thing feels high-quality. The headband has just the right tension to feel natural on my head, and the clamping force is high enough for walking, and for doing daily activities, like HIFIMAN Sundara, but it isn't tight enough for them to get too hot, or for the sponge to force its way into my head (Ultrasone Signature DXP is a great example of a headphone that's really tight).
If there's anything that leaves to be desired about the SR80e in terms of comfort, that's the fact that the sponge is indeed touching your ears, and it can get hot during usage, especially during summer, but it breathes better than pleather materials, so most 100-USD headphones won't really have a better comfort either, especially other on-ear designs.
The headphones are open-back, which is rare for this price range, and SR80e has a really open sound thanks to that, but that also means that they leak quite a bit, and they don't isolate very well from the outside noise. Every headphone has some degree of passive noise isolation, even open-back ones, but if Sundara was one of the very open ones, then something like Rosson RAD-0 was a pretty isolating open-back headphone. Closed-back headphones are much better at separating you from the outside noise, and if you don't want anyone to listen to your music, there are options like the MOOH M0 headphones out there.
The cables of SR80e are not detachable, and this has been the tradition for Grado entry-level headphones for a long while, but happily the default cable is long enough, and of good quality. The cable is not microphonic, so you don't have to worry about sound traveling to you through the cable, although it is a bit long for your casual walk, so you may have to fit it in a loop for the best results while walking.
Video Review
Link To Youtube Video Reiew:
Sound Quality
I will start by saying, from the start, that the actual detail, quality and clarity of SR80e easily qualifies the sonic ability of SR80e for being in the same level as most 200USD headphones. They may have better clarity and detail than Meze 99C, especially if you don't EQ the 99C, but Grado has other models in that price point which should be even better, and which I will be testing really soon.
This means that there's a catch, right?
Actually, yes. The whole sound of SR80e is focused on the mids and the treble, and there's a colorful, dynamic, punchy midrange, with an even punchier treble, with a lot of sparkle, detail, and presence. The downside is that the on-ear design, combined with the breathable sponges, leads to a roll-off in the bass, starting from about 80Hz, and the roll-off gets stronger the closer you get to 20 Hz. This doesn't mean a lot, if you listen to rock and metal, and this is the music style I feel SR80e was tuned the most for, but it will be quite something if you'll try to listen to some EDM or Trap.
The bass is clearly the weakest link from SR80e's sound, and it is a bass that relies heavily on the mid-bass and upper bass presence rather than on the sub-bass. This being said, it is quite tasteful, it has a natural to slightly slow decay, but it works really well for rock, punk, metal, and all that is lively. Songs like Iron Maiden - The Trooper sound good, and the roll-off in the bass is barely noticeable, while the guitar solos are juicy, and the cymbal crashes have a natural ringing to them.
The midrange is a strong point for SR80e, because it has excellent dynamics, punch and clarity. Everything is pushed pretty forward, which means that the soundstage is pretty intimate, but for rock and metal this means that you feel like you're in the first row at a concert, which for most metalheads is the best feeling in the world. The guitars especially, both acoustic and electric guitars are presented tastefully, and there's a great deal of extension in the treble as well, which means that every note sounds natural. Songs like System Of A Down - Chop Suey manage to sound forward, the attack is great, and a headphone that's a bit more aggressive is great for this type of music.
The saving point for the stage of SR80e is actually the great imaging and stereo separation. Instrument separation is also great for 100 USD, and you can clearly separate guitars from the drums, there's no bloat and no mushiness, no muddy sounds.
The treble has great extension, but it doesn't have a dry character, so it is not harsh. This being said, it is really forward, and unless you love an impactful / interesting presentation, and unless you want to feel like you're right next to the band, it may be a bit much. In fact, Grado is pretty well-known for lively treble, and while my personal taste is to like quite a bit of treble, they are treble-happy, so don't focus on them if you want a smoother experience. I love a more sparkly treble, even for Jazz, because I enjoy the sounds of cymbal crashes, but once again, SR80e shows their ability best with Rock and Metal, songs like Bon Jovi - It's My Life also work great for SR80e, because the voice is clear, and the background effects are present with good separation from the forward guitars, and all sounds separated enough from the drums, so SR80e sounds pretty sweet and tasty with Bon Jovi too. The bass roll-off doesn't make itself heard (pun intended), because there's enough upper bass and mid bass to give the song good weight and substance.
Portable / Desktop Usage
As I see it, SR80e is a dual-purpose headphone. It has a price that's pocket-friendly enough to be taken outdoors, despite being open. The driver also seems to be fairly well protected from dust and debris, so you don't need to worry about damaging them when taking them outdoors. This being said, they leak a bit much for your typical bus ride, so you may get some unfriendly looks if you blast rock and metal through them (assuming this is what you'll be paying, it is their forte after all).
On the other hand, they are light, have enough cable, and are comfy enough to make a good desktop headphone as well. Maybe not a great one for doing mastering and music work, but for listening to music and enjoying music, especially songs like Guns N Roses - Welcome To The Jungle will be fun to jam to through the SR80e.
They don't scale that much with the source, so you don't need to invest in a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ to enjoy them, but they do get a bit better with the source, if you have a good one. Earmen TR-AMP is a great DAC/AMP to use for SR80e, and so are iFi xDSD, Chord Mojo, or FiiO Q5s. As far as DAPs go, an iBasso DX120 would be a perfect match, and if you're looking for a really minimalistic setup, something like FiiO M5 would be pretty awesome.
On the other hand, if you're going to use SR80e at a desktop, a FiiO K5 PRO would make a great companion, but so would an xDuoo TA-10 if you wanted to make them thicker, and heavier, and to smooth out some of the treble. That defeats the purpose of their tuning a bit, but if you'd enjoy them more, I would be more than happy to advise you to do it.
Comparisons
The main competitors for Grado SR80e are all considerably more expensive than it, and that is because not only it punches above the 100 USD price point in terms of clarity, dynamics and impact, but there aren't many 100 USD headphones out there that come close in terms of build quality, and craftsmanship. The competitors are Brainwavz HM100, 1More Triple Driver, and AIWA ARC-1. If Meze 99C wasn't 300 USD, it would make a great comparison, because it shows how two companies went for two totally different signatures with their headphones. The OVC Tube Headphone would also make a great comparison because the midrange and the treble are pretty similar between it and Grado SR80e.
Grado SR80e vs Brainwavz HM100 (100 USD vs 200 USD) - Starting with the HM100, a really nice headphone at their 200-USD price point, from the get-go, the package is much better for HM100. The comfort is also a bit better, but HM-100 is the kind of headphone that gets a bit hot as well, and although their earpads are soft, and their headband also pretty soft, they have some hotspots in the fit, making the fit of the two comparable. The sound is really different, and where SR 80 e is a really sparkly, and colorful headphone, the mids of HM 1000 are the kind that are recessed, and quite a bit, where the bass of HM100 is boomy, and their entire sound colored dark, the sound of SR80e is bright, and it is a colorful and dynamic headphone. The soundstage is far larger on HM 100, where the instrument separation is a bit better on SR 80e, and the imaging is also a bit better on SR80 e. I would pick SR 80 e for acoustic, rock, punk, metal, and would pick HM100 for EDM, electronic, Trap, and all the music styles where the bass matters quite a bit, since HM100 has a considerably better in the sub-bass and also has a good rumble for their price point.
Grado SR80e vs 1More Triple Driver Headphones (100 USD vs 200 USD) - The 1More Triple Driver is a really similar situation to HM One Hundred. We're talking about the Triple Driver Headphones, and not the IEMs, as the naming of 1More can be a bit confusing, they have both a Triple Driver Headphone, and a Triple Driver IEM. In terms of comfort, the triple driver is actually not more comfortable than Grado, and actually, I prefer the fit of SR80e to that of the Triple Driver, the Triple Driver is pretty tight, and although their earpads are softer than the ones Grado uses on their SR80e, there are hotspots on Triple Driver which are not present on SR80e. The 3-Driver Headphones are bassy, warm, but also kind of unnatural in the midrange, and they have some peaks towards the upper midrange, which can be a bit fatiguing. By comparison, SR80e is more balanced, has a more natural midrange, and SR80e has better extension in the treble. Listening to EDM and electronic music with Triple Driver is a much better experience, because it has a ferocious bass and sub-bass, but they aren't quite as detailed and as sparkly as SR80e which rocks for Rock and Metal.
Grado SR80e vs AIWA ARC-1 (100 USD vs 180 USD) - AIWA ARC-1 is a pretty balanced headphone, and even has bluetooth, so for 180 USD, it is a really excellent choice, but that is, only if you prefer using the Bluetooth. ARC-1 is actually more comfortable than SR80e, but they aren't fully over-the-ear either, and their fit can best be described as borderline over-the-ear, because for my medium-sized ears, they still fit on-ear. They get a bit hot during summer too, just like HM100 and Triple Driver, and all of the headphones in this price range will have a similar comfort in the end. The ARC-1 sounds better on Bluetooth than they sound wired, they have better soundstage, imaging and instrument separation, and they have a more balanced, coherent midrange and overall sound. By comparison, SR80e doesn't have bluetooth, but there is a version of Grado with bluetooth out there, which I will hopefully be reviewing in the future, and comparing the sound side-by-side reveals that SR80e has a more natural midrange, with better treble extension, and a brighter overall sound, where ARC-1 has better bass and sub-bass, and fares better for EDM, Industrial and Jazz, but SR80e fits better for rock and metal, including more aggressive styles.
Recommended Pairings
I would actually pair SR80e with a larger number of sources, especially high end ones, or at least more expensive sources, but given their 100 USD price point, I tried my best to stay within what was acceptable in terms of pairings. Shanling M2x seems like a great one, and iBasso DX160 too. FiiO M6is also pretty great. One pairing that you will want to consider is xDuoo TA-10, but you may also want to take into account getting a HIDIZS DH1000 as both are smooth and warm, so they make ease out the treble and the midrange of SR80e, all while thickening their sound.
Grado SR80e + iBasso DX 160 (100 USD + 400 USD) - This is the most expensive DAP I have on this list, and I could have gone with DX150, because that one comes with an AMP module that is thick, smooth and warm from the factory, but I wanted to highlight DAPs and sources that make the most out of the original SR80e signature, not ones that tone it down. This is because this one headphone has some beauty of its own in the sound, for treble heads, and for those who like rock and metal for the mids and sparkly treble. iBasso DX120 can also drive SR80e just fine, but if you want Tidal, and if you want to make the most out of Tidal, also make the most out of most streaming services out there, if you want to have a DAP that's as versatile as it is ergonomic and beautiful, the DX160 also provides a clean, crisp sound, that highlights the excellent extension, sparkle, and overall detail of SR80e, as well as most headphones in the sub-1000 USD price range, but also is able to drive some really expensive headphones, like Rosson RAD-0.
Grado SR80e + Shanling M2X (100 USD + 220 USD) - Shanling M2X is one of the more interesting DAPs because it has a really sweet midrange, but also good treble sparkle, and for the price point, it has access to Tidal and other streaming services, making it a pretty good purchase. The thing that made me fall in love with it the most was the ergonomic and the build quality, though, and the fact that it can actually drive some pretty interesting headphones for the price point. SR80e is one of those headphones, and M2X gives them a really nice imaging and clarity, but also a good amount of sparkle in the entire sound, and rather than taking out some of the energy that the sound of SR80e has, it highlights it and offers a good way to enjoy the Grado experience.
Grado SR80e + FiiO M6 (100 USD + 130 USD) - FiiO has many mini DAPs, including the newly released M3PRO, and the M7, and the M5, but nothing compares to M6 in terms of how well balanced the device itself is. The size is diminutive, but it is ergonomic, the shape is rounded, but also practical, and the sound, although not the strongest in the entire world, and especially not enough to drive all headphones out there, it is a great match for the SER80e, and their sparkly, energetic, colorful nature. There's a good amount of detail and clarity from this pairing, and it is one of the least expensive options for driving the SR80e, besides the FiiO BTR5, which sounds even better than M6 at times, but which is more of a DAC and on wire, if you want to experience the maximum quality it can deliver.
Value and Conclusion
If there's one thing clear from the start, the Grado SR80e has outstanding value. Furthermore, they don't have a very compelling package, but Grado packaged what is a 100-USD Headphone in a beautiful way, they included a nicely printed booklet about their company and their story, truly a job well done in an american style.
The build quality is pretty great, no odd creakings, and the cables are of good quality. The fit and comfort won't be the best since it is an on-ear design, but the happy part is that your ears can breathe and you won't get quite as hot as you'd get with pleather and leather imitation that's usually found at the 100-USD price point. The headphones are open-back though, so you may need to take into account both the leakage and the poor passive noise isolation if planning to use them outdoors, or in a silent environment.
The sound is dynamic, vivid, sparkly, and punchy, especially in the midrange and the treble. The bass is rolled off, but music has good weight and thickness, enough to sound natural, and to not feel squashed out. For the 100 USD price point, it works well for rock, metal, and it is great to see a headphone made for us old-school rockers, who don't necessarily want to spend more than 100-USD on a handy headphone.
And handy it is, because it goes to Audiophile-Heaven's Hall Of Fame. Nothing can purchase a product's presence in my personal ranking, but sheer quality and outstanding features in some way. With SR80e, it is the price / performance ratio, and the technical ability to work well with Rock and Metal, literally touching my soul through their performance.
At the end of this review, if you're looking for a good pair of entry-level headphones that play metal, rock, punk and all of the beautiful energetic music well, if you don't mind a bit of a bass roll-off, and if you appreciate a forward midrange, a forward treble, Grado SR80e should make a long time companion for you, and bring lots of fun through the years.
Full Playlist used for this review
While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.
Youtube Playlist
Tidal Playlist
https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b
Song List
Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Dope - Addiction
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
Sirenia - Lithium And A Lover
Saving Abel - Addicted
Hollywood Undead - Levitate
The Offspring - Special Delivery
Escape The Fate - Smooth
Samsara Blues Experiment - One With The Universe
Dope - Rebel Yell
Crazy Town - Butterfly
Silverstein - My Heroine
Memphis May Fire - Not Over Yet
I hope my review is helpful to you!
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Grado SR80e is one of the finest headphones for those who enjoy a colorful, dynamic midrange, and a really sparkly treble, but don't require a lot of bass. They are priced at 100 USD, and they will be compared with Brainwavz HM100, 1More Triple Driver, and AIWA ARC-1. The pairings will include FiiO M6, iBasso DX160, and Shanling M2X.
Introduction
Grado doesn't need much of an introduction, being one of the oldest, best known audio companies in the entire world, with an excellent track for customer support, as well as an excellent track for the build quality of their products. They are best known for pick-ups, and for high-end audio products for vinyl enthusiasts, but they also make some amazing headphones, and even when looking at something really affordable, like the SR80e, they manage to offer something special, magical, and most definitely intriguing for those who are on a budget.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Grado, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank Grado for providing the sample for this review. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Grado SR80e find their next music companion.
About me
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
This is officially the first Grado headphone I have unboxed, and it left a really good impression on me, Grado really knows how to make a nice package, and even for a headphone that's only 100 USD, they make what I could call a really stylish and high-end presentation.
The package has all the info about the headphones on it, and it includes the headphones. The only extra accessory you can find inside is an adapter from the 3.5mm plug to 6.3mm, so you can use SR80e with a multitude of sources.
Grado is known, as a company, for approaching the enthusiast, and the high-end passionate, so many of their headphones used to have their cables ended in a 6.3mm plug only, and it feels refreshing, and really handy to have the cable end in a mini plug, as I could test SR80e with all the portables I have around.
If anything would be missing from the package, that is a set of extra pads, as the originals are easily replaceable, but given the 100 USD price tag of SR80e, their entire package is pretty much perfect.
What to look in when purchasing a Flagship Headphone
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html
Technical Specifications
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
Having an impedance of 32 OHMs and a SPL of 99.8 dB means that SR80e is easily driveable form a portable, even from most smartphones, which is great news for those midrange and treble lovers.
The fit of the SR80e is different from what you may expect. They are an on-ear design for sure, but their cups are much much larger than they look like in photos, they are enough to cover most of my ears. While this isn't ideal for everyone, my understanding is that high-end grado headphones are even larger, and they fit even better, so I'm really curious to hear one of those higher-end models and see if the comfort is heavenly now.
The aesthetics are pretty retro and old-school, but Grado made sure to keep what was best about their design, and improve on it. The cups can swivel, and the size can be adjusted. The mechanism for adjusting the size of the headphone is actually pretty secure, and the entire thing feels high-quality. The headband has just the right tension to feel natural on my head, and the clamping force is high enough for walking, and for doing daily activities, like HIFIMAN Sundara, but it isn't tight enough for them to get too hot, or for the sponge to force its way into my head (Ultrasone Signature DXP is a great example of a headphone that's really tight).
If there's anything that leaves to be desired about the SR80e in terms of comfort, that's the fact that the sponge is indeed touching your ears, and it can get hot during usage, especially during summer, but it breathes better than pleather materials, so most 100-USD headphones won't really have a better comfort either, especially other on-ear designs.
The headphones are open-back, which is rare for this price range, and SR80e has a really open sound thanks to that, but that also means that they leak quite a bit, and they don't isolate very well from the outside noise. Every headphone has some degree of passive noise isolation, even open-back ones, but if Sundara was one of the very open ones, then something like Rosson RAD-0 was a pretty isolating open-back headphone. Closed-back headphones are much better at separating you from the outside noise, and if you don't want anyone to listen to your music, there are options like the MOOH M0 headphones out there.
The cables of SR80e are not detachable, and this has been the tradition for Grado entry-level headphones for a long while, but happily the default cable is long enough, and of good quality. The cable is not microphonic, so you don't have to worry about sound traveling to you through the cable, although it is a bit long for your casual walk, so you may have to fit it in a loop for the best results while walking.
Video Review
Link To Youtube Video Reiew:
Sound Quality
I will start by saying, from the start, that the actual detail, quality and clarity of SR80e easily qualifies the sonic ability of SR80e for being in the same level as most 200USD headphones. They may have better clarity and detail than Meze 99C, especially if you don't EQ the 99C, but Grado has other models in that price point which should be even better, and which I will be testing really soon.
This means that there's a catch, right?
Actually, yes. The whole sound of SR80e is focused on the mids and the treble, and there's a colorful, dynamic, punchy midrange, with an even punchier treble, with a lot of sparkle, detail, and presence. The downside is that the on-ear design, combined with the breathable sponges, leads to a roll-off in the bass, starting from about 80Hz, and the roll-off gets stronger the closer you get to 20 Hz. This doesn't mean a lot, if you listen to rock and metal, and this is the music style I feel SR80e was tuned the most for, but it will be quite something if you'll try to listen to some EDM or Trap.
The bass is clearly the weakest link from SR80e's sound, and it is a bass that relies heavily on the mid-bass and upper bass presence rather than on the sub-bass. This being said, it is quite tasteful, it has a natural to slightly slow decay, but it works really well for rock, punk, metal, and all that is lively. Songs like Iron Maiden - The Trooper sound good, and the roll-off in the bass is barely noticeable, while the guitar solos are juicy, and the cymbal crashes have a natural ringing to them.
The midrange is a strong point for SR80e, because it has excellent dynamics, punch and clarity. Everything is pushed pretty forward, which means that the soundstage is pretty intimate, but for rock and metal this means that you feel like you're in the first row at a concert, which for most metalheads is the best feeling in the world. The guitars especially, both acoustic and electric guitars are presented tastefully, and there's a great deal of extension in the treble as well, which means that every note sounds natural. Songs like System Of A Down - Chop Suey manage to sound forward, the attack is great, and a headphone that's a bit more aggressive is great for this type of music.
The saving point for the stage of SR80e is actually the great imaging and stereo separation. Instrument separation is also great for 100 USD, and you can clearly separate guitars from the drums, there's no bloat and no mushiness, no muddy sounds.
The treble has great extension, but it doesn't have a dry character, so it is not harsh. This being said, it is really forward, and unless you love an impactful / interesting presentation, and unless you want to feel like you're right next to the band, it may be a bit much. In fact, Grado is pretty well-known for lively treble, and while my personal taste is to like quite a bit of treble, they are treble-happy, so don't focus on them if you want a smoother experience. I love a more sparkly treble, even for Jazz, because I enjoy the sounds of cymbal crashes, but once again, SR80e shows their ability best with Rock and Metal, songs like Bon Jovi - It's My Life also work great for SR80e, because the voice is clear, and the background effects are present with good separation from the forward guitars, and all sounds separated enough from the drums, so SR80e sounds pretty sweet and tasty with Bon Jovi too. The bass roll-off doesn't make itself heard (pun intended), because there's enough upper bass and mid bass to give the song good weight and substance.
Portable / Desktop Usage
As I see it, SR80e is a dual-purpose headphone. It has a price that's pocket-friendly enough to be taken outdoors, despite being open. The driver also seems to be fairly well protected from dust and debris, so you don't need to worry about damaging them when taking them outdoors. This being said, they leak a bit much for your typical bus ride, so you may get some unfriendly looks if you blast rock and metal through them (assuming this is what you'll be paying, it is their forte after all).
On the other hand, they are light, have enough cable, and are comfy enough to make a good desktop headphone as well. Maybe not a great one for doing mastering and music work, but for listening to music and enjoying music, especially songs like Guns N Roses - Welcome To The Jungle will be fun to jam to through the SR80e.
They don't scale that much with the source, so you don't need to invest in a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ to enjoy them, but they do get a bit better with the source, if you have a good one. Earmen TR-AMP is a great DAC/AMP to use for SR80e, and so are iFi xDSD, Chord Mojo, or FiiO Q5s. As far as DAPs go, an iBasso DX120 would be a perfect match, and if you're looking for a really minimalistic setup, something like FiiO M5 would be pretty awesome.
On the other hand, if you're going to use SR80e at a desktop, a FiiO K5 PRO would make a great companion, but so would an xDuoo TA-10 if you wanted to make them thicker, and heavier, and to smooth out some of the treble. That defeats the purpose of their tuning a bit, but if you'd enjoy them more, I would be more than happy to advise you to do it.
Comparisons
The main competitors for Grado SR80e are all considerably more expensive than it, and that is because not only it punches above the 100 USD price point in terms of clarity, dynamics and impact, but there aren't many 100 USD headphones out there that come close in terms of build quality, and craftsmanship. The competitors are Brainwavz HM100, 1More Triple Driver, and AIWA ARC-1. If Meze 99C wasn't 300 USD, it would make a great comparison, because it shows how two companies went for two totally different signatures with their headphones. The OVC Tube Headphone would also make a great comparison because the midrange and the treble are pretty similar between it and Grado SR80e.
Grado SR80e vs Brainwavz HM100 (100 USD vs 200 USD) - Starting with the HM100, a really nice headphone at their 200-USD price point, from the get-go, the package is much better for HM100. The comfort is also a bit better, but HM-100 is the kind of headphone that gets a bit hot as well, and although their earpads are soft, and their headband also pretty soft, they have some hotspots in the fit, making the fit of the two comparable. The sound is really different, and where SR 80 e is a really sparkly, and colorful headphone, the mids of HM 1000 are the kind that are recessed, and quite a bit, where the bass of HM100 is boomy, and their entire sound colored dark, the sound of SR80e is bright, and it is a colorful and dynamic headphone. The soundstage is far larger on HM 100, where the instrument separation is a bit better on SR 80e, and the imaging is also a bit better on SR80 e. I would pick SR 80 e for acoustic, rock, punk, metal, and would pick HM100 for EDM, electronic, Trap, and all the music styles where the bass matters quite a bit, since HM100 has a considerably better in the sub-bass and also has a good rumble for their price point.
Grado SR80e vs 1More Triple Driver Headphones (100 USD vs 200 USD) - The 1More Triple Driver is a really similar situation to HM One Hundred. We're talking about the Triple Driver Headphones, and not the IEMs, as the naming of 1More can be a bit confusing, they have both a Triple Driver Headphone, and a Triple Driver IEM. In terms of comfort, the triple driver is actually not more comfortable than Grado, and actually, I prefer the fit of SR80e to that of the Triple Driver, the Triple Driver is pretty tight, and although their earpads are softer than the ones Grado uses on their SR80e, there are hotspots on Triple Driver which are not present on SR80e. The 3-Driver Headphones are bassy, warm, but also kind of unnatural in the midrange, and they have some peaks towards the upper midrange, which can be a bit fatiguing. By comparison, SR80e is more balanced, has a more natural midrange, and SR80e has better extension in the treble. Listening to EDM and electronic music with Triple Driver is a much better experience, because it has a ferocious bass and sub-bass, but they aren't quite as detailed and as sparkly as SR80e which rocks for Rock and Metal.
Grado SR80e vs AIWA ARC-1 (100 USD vs 180 USD) - AIWA ARC-1 is a pretty balanced headphone, and even has bluetooth, so for 180 USD, it is a really excellent choice, but that is, only if you prefer using the Bluetooth. ARC-1 is actually more comfortable than SR80e, but they aren't fully over-the-ear either, and their fit can best be described as borderline over-the-ear, because for my medium-sized ears, they still fit on-ear. They get a bit hot during summer too, just like HM100 and Triple Driver, and all of the headphones in this price range will have a similar comfort in the end. The ARC-1 sounds better on Bluetooth than they sound wired, they have better soundstage, imaging and instrument separation, and they have a more balanced, coherent midrange and overall sound. By comparison, SR80e doesn't have bluetooth, but there is a version of Grado with bluetooth out there, which I will hopefully be reviewing in the future, and comparing the sound side-by-side reveals that SR80e has a more natural midrange, with better treble extension, and a brighter overall sound, where ARC-1 has better bass and sub-bass, and fares better for EDM, Industrial and Jazz, but SR80e fits better for rock and metal, including more aggressive styles.
Recommended Pairings
I would actually pair SR80e with a larger number of sources, especially high end ones, or at least more expensive sources, but given their 100 USD price point, I tried my best to stay within what was acceptable in terms of pairings. Shanling M2x seems like a great one, and iBasso DX160 too. FiiO M6is also pretty great. One pairing that you will want to consider is xDuoo TA-10, but you may also want to take into account getting a HIDIZS DH1000 as both are smooth and warm, so they make ease out the treble and the midrange of SR80e, all while thickening their sound.
Grado SR80e + iBasso DX 160 (100 USD + 400 USD) - This is the most expensive DAP I have on this list, and I could have gone with DX150, because that one comes with an AMP module that is thick, smooth and warm from the factory, but I wanted to highlight DAPs and sources that make the most out of the original SR80e signature, not ones that tone it down. This is because this one headphone has some beauty of its own in the sound, for treble heads, and for those who like rock and metal for the mids and sparkly treble. iBasso DX120 can also drive SR80e just fine, but if you want Tidal, and if you want to make the most out of Tidal, also make the most out of most streaming services out there, if you want to have a DAP that's as versatile as it is ergonomic and beautiful, the DX160 also provides a clean, crisp sound, that highlights the excellent extension, sparkle, and overall detail of SR80e, as well as most headphones in the sub-1000 USD price range, but also is able to drive some really expensive headphones, like Rosson RAD-0.
Grado SR80e + Shanling M2X (100 USD + 220 USD) - Shanling M2X is one of the more interesting DAPs because it has a really sweet midrange, but also good treble sparkle, and for the price point, it has access to Tidal and other streaming services, making it a pretty good purchase. The thing that made me fall in love with it the most was the ergonomic and the build quality, though, and the fact that it can actually drive some pretty interesting headphones for the price point. SR80e is one of those headphones, and M2X gives them a really nice imaging and clarity, but also a good amount of sparkle in the entire sound, and rather than taking out some of the energy that the sound of SR80e has, it highlights it and offers a good way to enjoy the Grado experience.
Grado SR80e + FiiO M6 (100 USD + 130 USD) - FiiO has many mini DAPs, including the newly released M3PRO, and the M7, and the M5, but nothing compares to M6 in terms of how well balanced the device itself is. The size is diminutive, but it is ergonomic, the shape is rounded, but also practical, and the sound, although not the strongest in the entire world, and especially not enough to drive all headphones out there, it is a great match for the SER80e, and their sparkly, energetic, colorful nature. There's a good amount of detail and clarity from this pairing, and it is one of the least expensive options for driving the SR80e, besides the FiiO BTR5, which sounds even better than M6 at times, but which is more of a DAC and on wire, if you want to experience the maximum quality it can deliver.
Value and Conclusion
If there's one thing clear from the start, the Grado SR80e has outstanding value. Furthermore, they don't have a very compelling package, but Grado packaged what is a 100-USD Headphone in a beautiful way, they included a nicely printed booklet about their company and their story, truly a job well done in an american style.
The build quality is pretty great, no odd creakings, and the cables are of good quality. The fit and comfort won't be the best since it is an on-ear design, but the happy part is that your ears can breathe and you won't get quite as hot as you'd get with pleather and leather imitation that's usually found at the 100-USD price point. The headphones are open-back though, so you may need to take into account both the leakage and the poor passive noise isolation if planning to use them outdoors, or in a silent environment.
The sound is dynamic, vivid, sparkly, and punchy, especially in the midrange and the treble. The bass is rolled off, but music has good weight and thickness, enough to sound natural, and to not feel squashed out. For the 100 USD price point, it works well for rock, metal, and it is great to see a headphone made for us old-school rockers, who don't necessarily want to spend more than 100-USD on a handy headphone.
And handy it is, because it goes to Audiophile-Heaven's Hall Of Fame. Nothing can purchase a product's presence in my personal ranking, but sheer quality and outstanding features in some way. With SR80e, it is the price / performance ratio, and the technical ability to work well with Rock and Metal, literally touching my soul through their performance.
At the end of this review, if you're looking for a good pair of entry-level headphones that play metal, rock, punk and all of the beautiful energetic music well, if you don't mind a bit of a bass roll-off, and if you appreciate a forward midrange, a forward treble, Grado SR80e should make a long time companion for you, and bring lots of fun through the years.
Full Playlist used for this review
While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.
Youtube Playlist
Tidal Playlist
https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b
Song List
Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Dope - Addiction
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
Sirenia - Lithium And A Lover
Saving Abel - Addicted
Hollywood Undead - Levitate
The Offspring - Special Delivery
Escape The Fate - Smooth
Samsara Blues Experiment - One With The Universe
Dope - Rebel Yell
Crazy Town - Butterfly
Silverstein - My Heroine
Memphis May Fire - Not Over Yet
I hope my review is helpful to you!
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I bought the Grado SR80e but I was not too happy with it. After a month, I was hardly ever using it. I also own the Sennheiser HD600 and HD700, Beyerdynamic DT990 and T51i, Massdrop HifiMan HE4xx, and Philips Fidelio X2. All my other headphones sounded better than the Grado.
I use the Schitt Asgard 2 for my amp and a Marantz CD5005 as the source.
The problem is the Grado was way too bright and it only had a hint of bass. I normally listen to headphones at low to moderate volumes but the Grado only sounds good when it is played loud. When I tried to play the Grado loud, it would hurt my ears due to the bright treble. When played at moderate volume, it would lack bass and have too much treble.
First, I tried swapping pads. I bought the replacement pad for the Sennheiser HD414 (the bright yellow pads.) It was essentially the same as the stock pads as far as sound and comfort, so it did not help at all. It seemed to me the problem was that the drivers were too close to my ears, so I stacked the original pads on top of the new pads, so it was now double the distance to my ears. This reduced the volume considerably, so I had to crank it up.
The result was that now the frequency response is smoothed out quite a bit (but still some brightness,) the bass is much fuller, and the separation of instruments is the best I have heard.
I listen almost exclusively to classical and opera. With the double pads the Grado SR80e is as good as any of my other headphones and on some recordings, it is the best.
If you are thinking of purchasing the Grado SR80e, I recommend picking up an extra set of pads and trying the double pad mod. Just make sure you have an amp that is powerful enough to make up for the extra volume you will need to accommodate the loss of efficiency.
For me, it made all the difference in the world. I would hardly ever use the Grado when I was using the stock pads by themselves. With the double pad mod, they are often times my favorite headphones.
Treble - Before mod, treble was very bright and harsh. With mod, treble is well integrated with the rest of the frequencies.
Midrange - Before mod, lower midrange was almost missing completely and upper midrange was bright and harsh. After the mod, midrange has exceptional clarity.
Bass - Before mod, bass was mostly missing or very faint on most recordings. In fact I was mostly using the Grado only on recordings that had too much bass. After the mod, the bass is really detailed and extended and it is well integrated with the rest of the frequencies. The Grado has the best bass of any of my headphones except for the X2.
Imaging and soundstage - Before the mod, imaging was pretty good but not as good as the HD700 or HE4xx. Soundstage was barely there. After the mod, imaging and soundstage are better than any of the other headphones I own.
I recommend doing the double-pad mod if you already own the Grado SR80e. I do not think I will ever listen to them without it. It completely transforms the listening experience.
****************************************
I just changed to a cheap knockoff of the G Cushion for the top pad. It makes the SR80e much more comfortable and gives a big boost to the bass and smooths out the treble. I highly recommend using the G Cushion for the pad that you put on your ear.
I use the Schitt Asgard 2 for my amp and a Marantz CD5005 as the source.
The problem is the Grado was way too bright and it only had a hint of bass. I normally listen to headphones at low to moderate volumes but the Grado only sounds good when it is played loud. When I tried to play the Grado loud, it would hurt my ears due to the bright treble. When played at moderate volume, it would lack bass and have too much treble.
First, I tried swapping pads. I bought the replacement pad for the Sennheiser HD414 (the bright yellow pads.) It was essentially the same as the stock pads as far as sound and comfort, so it did not help at all. It seemed to me the problem was that the drivers were too close to my ears, so I stacked the original pads on top of the new pads, so it was now double the distance to my ears. This reduced the volume considerably, so I had to crank it up.
The result was that now the frequency response is smoothed out quite a bit (but still some brightness,) the bass is much fuller, and the separation of instruments is the best I have heard.
I listen almost exclusively to classical and opera. With the double pads the Grado SR80e is as good as any of my other headphones and on some recordings, it is the best.
If you are thinking of purchasing the Grado SR80e, I recommend picking up an extra set of pads and trying the double pad mod. Just make sure you have an amp that is powerful enough to make up for the extra volume you will need to accommodate the loss of efficiency.
For me, it made all the difference in the world. I would hardly ever use the Grado when I was using the stock pads by themselves. With the double pad mod, they are often times my favorite headphones.
Treble - Before mod, treble was very bright and harsh. With mod, treble is well integrated with the rest of the frequencies.
Midrange - Before mod, lower midrange was almost missing completely and upper midrange was bright and harsh. After the mod, midrange has exceptional clarity.
Bass - Before mod, bass was mostly missing or very faint on most recordings. In fact I was mostly using the Grado only on recordings that had too much bass. After the mod, the bass is really detailed and extended and it is well integrated with the rest of the frequencies. The Grado has the best bass of any of my headphones except for the X2.
Imaging and soundstage - Before the mod, imaging was pretty good but not as good as the HD700 or HE4xx. Soundstage was barely there. After the mod, imaging and soundstage are better than any of the other headphones I own.
I recommend doing the double-pad mod if you already own the Grado SR80e. I do not think I will ever listen to them without it. It completely transforms the listening experience.
****************************************
I just changed to a cheap knockoff of the G Cushion for the top pad. It makes the SR80e much more comfortable and gives a big boost to the bass and smooths out the treble. I highly recommend using the G Cushion for the pad that you put on your ear.
Attachments
BACKGROUND
I enjoyed my Superlux HD-330 for several months. I always had a closed pair, an open pair, and earbuds at any given situation to cover all my needs – isolated listening, awareness of surroundings, and extreme portability for the commute home respectively. However, when I sold my portable amps and relied solely on my smartphone (Lenovo K4 Note with Wolfson 8281 Audio Hub) for all my listening needs, I found the need to crank up the volume a little bit more (70% or higher) due to the higher impedance (150 ohms). So it’s time for a change. And since I’ve been eyeing to purchase at least one legendary pair before I retire from the hobby, I decided to go for the sole sword master of the headphones world, Grado.
This is a finale review. And as such, I will do my best to provide as much as a complete review as possible and include sections that I haven’t included before. Let’s begin.
ABOUT ME
I listen to almost all genres of music but my favorites are rock, blues, and jazz.
I am a music lover, not an audiophile. I need to veer away from the audiophile persona from now on. I love music more than the equipment to play music with. I recognize that decent equipment is important but decent is good enough. Expensive is not necessary. I’m not willing to go past the $100 mark for any reason. I firmly believe in the law of diminishing returns.
I believe in burn-in but it depends on the headphones. Some do not need much. Some do not need any at all.
I believe in measurements but I never relied on them. I solely rely on my ears.
I believe that blind test is the only real test, without any visual influence or biases, without placebo.
Audio nirvana for me is a state of mind, not a state of equipment.
Regardless of my beliefs, I respect all audiophiles and music lovers for their passion and dedication.
PACKAGING
Here are the pictures of the basic packaging and the headphones themselves. As simple as it is, I like the vintage feel of the overall package. It’s retro and you feel like being part of the Grado heritage:
SPECS AND FEATURES
For complete specs and features, please check here - http://www.gradolabs.com/headphones/prestige-series/item/1-sr80e
BUILD QUALITY, DESIGN, AND COMFORT
Build quality feels light but durable. I would’ve liked a click adjustment on the headbands and more stable earcups (as they freely rotate and can sometimes cause cable tangling) but this is part of the Grado design philosophy where most is invested to sound so this is a minor gripe for me.
Comfort is average for the on-ear design. The typical feeling of something pressing on your ears is there. It’s not a deal breaker but the HD-330 is more comfortable.
Design is really retro and classic that it almost takes you back to the 1960s. I really like it. It’s refreshing to see this type of design with today’s overly fashionable and science fiction looking headphones.
SOUND
Burn-in: Not Applicable (Yes, you read it right. It’s not applicable.)
SET-UP USED:
These are the best sounding headphones I ever put on my head. Period.
I’m wearing them as I’m writing my review.
There is perfect balance in all frequencies and nothing is ever drowned out. Bass is ever so clean and fast and there’s zero bleeding to the other frequencies. I can’t say that for any other headphones I tried. This is what defines zero bleeding. I love the low end grunt of the SR80e. The SR60e has great detail too but the lack of low end definition takes out some of the excitement. The mids! Need I elaborate more? The best mids I’ve ever heard. Exceptional clarity and there’s a naturalness to the sound that I really love. Treble has great detail and extension. As a matter of fact, everything has great detail and extension.
Imaging and separation is top notch. What’s incredible is it doesn’t have much width on its soundstage but there isn’t any congestion at all. There is perfect space between everything, and perfect positioning too.
It is a genre master in a sense that all genres I fed into them sounded as engaging and entertaining. They pull you in to the music. You just can’t ignore a Grado, much less ignore the SR80e.
Grado is truly the last samurai of the headphones world. There is a certain katana sharpness, a certain accuracy to which it cuts through music that is unmatched by any other brand. The SR80e is no exception. It’s energetic, it’s fast, it’s lean, it’s the most engaging listen out of any headphones I ever tried north of $500. And no, I did not own or bought headphones costing more than a Benjamin. Just tested them, some quite extensively. With this kind of performance, it reaffirmed my belief that I don’t need to spend more. I just need to listen more.
CONCLUSION AND FAREWELL NOTE
The SR80e is one of the best value, if not THE best value headphones in the world today and in many years to come, unless Grado surpasses their own by evolving it into another yet exceptional product.
Try as I may, this would be my last review for a very long time to come. Probably when it’s time for me to change my worn out gear again. I’m retiring as an audiophile. There are some changes in life now that I need to prioritize more than anything else.
I would like to thank Head-fi for the opportunity of enjoying this hobby of ours. I would like to thank every audio company who ever considered or accepted me as one of the reviewers for a world tour of their upcoming products. I would like to thank every audiophile and music lover who ever commented on my reviews, humble as they may be. I would like to thank every audiophile and music lover who ever answered my questions about audio gear and helped me in my decisions in purchasing.
Needless to say that this is one of the best, if not THE best forum in the world, regardless of type. Thank you very much!
I’ll always be an audiophile fan.
I always end my reviews with a single phrase. And to my surprise, it gave me goosebumps when I opened the box of the SR80e and read the closing phrase of the Grados to all music lovers…
HAPPY LISTENING!
Happy listening, everyone!
Until we cross paths again...
I enjoyed my Superlux HD-330 for several months. I always had a closed pair, an open pair, and earbuds at any given situation to cover all my needs – isolated listening, awareness of surroundings, and extreme portability for the commute home respectively. However, when I sold my portable amps and relied solely on my smartphone (Lenovo K4 Note with Wolfson 8281 Audio Hub) for all my listening needs, I found the need to crank up the volume a little bit more (70% or higher) due to the higher impedance (150 ohms). So it’s time for a change. And since I’ve been eyeing to purchase at least one legendary pair before I retire from the hobby, I decided to go for the sole sword master of the headphones world, Grado.
This is a finale review. And as such, I will do my best to provide as much as a complete review as possible and include sections that I haven’t included before. Let’s begin.
ABOUT ME
I listen to almost all genres of music but my favorites are rock, blues, and jazz.
I am a music lover, not an audiophile. I need to veer away from the audiophile persona from now on. I love music more than the equipment to play music with. I recognize that decent equipment is important but decent is good enough. Expensive is not necessary. I’m not willing to go past the $100 mark for any reason. I firmly believe in the law of diminishing returns.
I believe in burn-in but it depends on the headphones. Some do not need much. Some do not need any at all.
I believe in measurements but I never relied on them. I solely rely on my ears.
I believe that blind test is the only real test, without any visual influence or biases, without placebo.
Audio nirvana for me is a state of mind, not a state of equipment.
Regardless of my beliefs, I respect all audiophiles and music lovers for their passion and dedication.
PACKAGING
Here are the pictures of the basic packaging and the headphones themselves. As simple as it is, I like the vintage feel of the overall package. It’s retro and you feel like being part of the Grado heritage:
SPECS AND FEATURES
For complete specs and features, please check here - http://www.gradolabs.com/headphones/prestige-series/item/1-sr80e
BUILD QUALITY, DESIGN, AND COMFORT
Build quality feels light but durable. I would’ve liked a click adjustment on the headbands and more stable earcups (as they freely rotate and can sometimes cause cable tangling) but this is part of the Grado design philosophy where most is invested to sound so this is a minor gripe for me.
Comfort is average for the on-ear design. The typical feeling of something pressing on your ears is there. It’s not a deal breaker but the HD-330 is more comfortable.
Design is really retro and classic that it almost takes you back to the 1960s. I really like it. It’s refreshing to see this type of design with today’s overly fashionable and science fiction looking headphones.
SOUND
Burn-in: Not Applicable (Yes, you read it right. It’s not applicable.)
SET-UP USED:
- Lenovo K4 Note Smartphone (with Wolfson 8281 Audio Hub)
- Dolby Atmos engaged (gives a more accurate perception of soundstage)
- Stellio music player EQ is off
These are the best sounding headphones I ever put on my head. Period.
I’m wearing them as I’m writing my review.
There is perfect balance in all frequencies and nothing is ever drowned out. Bass is ever so clean and fast and there’s zero bleeding to the other frequencies. I can’t say that for any other headphones I tried. This is what defines zero bleeding. I love the low end grunt of the SR80e. The SR60e has great detail too but the lack of low end definition takes out some of the excitement. The mids! Need I elaborate more? The best mids I’ve ever heard. Exceptional clarity and there’s a naturalness to the sound that I really love. Treble has great detail and extension. As a matter of fact, everything has great detail and extension.
Imaging and separation is top notch. What’s incredible is it doesn’t have much width on its soundstage but there isn’t any congestion at all. There is perfect space between everything, and perfect positioning too.
It is a genre master in a sense that all genres I fed into them sounded as engaging and entertaining. They pull you in to the music. You just can’t ignore a Grado, much less ignore the SR80e.
Grado is truly the last samurai of the headphones world. There is a certain katana sharpness, a certain accuracy to which it cuts through music that is unmatched by any other brand. The SR80e is no exception. It’s energetic, it’s fast, it’s lean, it’s the most engaging listen out of any headphones I ever tried north of $500. And no, I did not own or bought headphones costing more than a Benjamin. Just tested them, some quite extensively. With this kind of performance, it reaffirmed my belief that I don’t need to spend more. I just need to listen more.
CONCLUSION AND FAREWELL NOTE
The SR80e is one of the best value, if not THE best value headphones in the world today and in many years to come, unless Grado surpasses their own by evolving it into another yet exceptional product.
Try as I may, this would be my last review for a very long time to come. Probably when it’s time for me to change my worn out gear again. I’m retiring as an audiophile. There are some changes in life now that I need to prioritize more than anything else.
I would like to thank Head-fi for the opportunity of enjoying this hobby of ours. I would like to thank every audio company who ever considered or accepted me as one of the reviewers for a world tour of their upcoming products. I would like to thank every audiophile and music lover who ever commented on my reviews, humble as they may be. I would like to thank every audiophile and music lover who ever answered my questions about audio gear and helped me in my decisions in purchasing.
Needless to say that this is one of the best, if not THE best forum in the world, regardless of type. Thank you very much!
I’ll always be an audiophile fan.
I always end my reviews with a single phrase. And to my surprise, it gave me goosebumps when I opened the box of the SR80e and read the closing phrase of the Grados to all music lovers…
HAPPY LISTENING!
Happy listening, everyone!
Until we cross paths again...
Onny Izwan
@audiophilefan thanks dude!
spwath
What are people saying??? This is a terrible review. Just overpraising the headphones. It cuts through the music? More like cuts through your eardrums!
Sigh....
Sigh....
audiophilefan
@spwath - Hey man, I imagine you enjoy a warmer sound signature. You could be treble sensitive. I'm not. Yes, you could call it overpraising but that's how I felt. I enjoy them immensely every time I listen to them. I respect your opinion, bro. Hope you could find the perfect match for you. 
Jeff Y
I have the same SR80E model but I've got no problems with it.
In fact, many people mod Grados, including myself, which probably means it is capable of taking punishment like that. Sorry to hear what happened to you but you might want to get it checked out by your dealer or something. Seems unusual to me... hth
In fact, many people mod Grados, including myself, which probably means it is capable of taking punishment like that. Sorry to hear what happened to you but you might want to get it checked out by your dealer or something. Seems unusual to me... hth
raybone0566
sorry you has issues. I've had mine for a year and they are still in great shape. you should see if your warranty covers that.
xylin6
if you had a faulty pair you should have sent them back for repair or replacement,i own three pairs of Grados (SR60i,SR80i,PS500e) and have never in the six years since i began purchasing Grado headphones experienced any trouble with the frame coming apart.it sounds like what you're describing is the rubber cap at the top of the rod popping off,if that was the case its easy enough to put the rubber top back over the top of the rod and glue it if need be,unless you are describing the actual headphone popping out of the gimbal but that would take some serious force as they are held in pretty tight,though even in that case it would be easy to pop it right back in .
as for the rattle you got from the right diaphram that is known as 'grattle' (Grado+rattle) and comes from the diaphram becoming misshapen by being overdriven via loud volumes or over amping, when it occurs the fix is as simple as can be,you remove the ear cushion put your mouth directly over the driver and very gently suck until you hear the diaphragm 'pop' back into shape, then put your ear cushion back on and voila! no more grattle, it has occurred with all my Grados here and there though usually stops happening after the burn in period.either way both of your issues are easily fixable and if not grado warranties their products for a year after purchase and are quick about getting your headphones back to you (i.e. after 4 years i finally had abused my SR60i enough that the cord began to cut out intermediately,even tho they were far past warranty it was only $25 to repair and they had them recabled and back to me in less than 8 days.) i hope you'll give them another chance cause they really are the best sounding cans you can get for under $100
as for the rattle you got from the right diaphram that is known as 'grattle' (Grado+rattle) and comes from the diaphram becoming misshapen by being overdriven via loud volumes or over amping, when it occurs the fix is as simple as can be,you remove the ear cushion put your mouth directly over the driver and very gently suck until you hear the diaphragm 'pop' back into shape, then put your ear cushion back on and voila! no more grattle, it has occurred with all my Grados here and there though usually stops happening after the burn in period.either way both of your issues are easily fixable and if not grado warranties their products for a year after purchase and are quick about getting your headphones back to you (i.e. after 4 years i finally had abused my SR60i enough that the cord began to cut out intermediately,even tho they were far past warranty it was only $25 to repair and they had them recabled and back to me in less than 8 days.) i hope you'll give them another chance cause they really are the best sounding cans you can get for under $100
I had never owned a pair of on ear headphones before. I constantly keep reading posts in forums and people kept referring to Grados. I didn't want to spend a bunch of money and there was a lot of hype about the old model. I spotted them on amazon for 99 bucks and bought them. These things really impress me with the sound that they put out. when I opened the box I thought they looked cheap and flimsy, but they are made very well actually. sound, the soundstage is impressive not huge, but not tiny either. the detail is where they shine, you can hear every instrument clearly. I was also impressed with the bass these little things put out. Their not bass monsters but it is definitely present. The only flaw I really noticed was that they can be a little treble harsh on certain recordings. But after going back and forth with my desktop setup modi/agard2, it really smoothed out. It was much more present on my portable setup I used x1/e11k. Anyone looking for an affordable on ear headphone with excellent detail and retro looks, should give these a listen.
shrisha
Thanks for the review. Short and informative, easy to get an idea about the headphones.
