Better investment: Grado 60 or Stax 001?

[TheMarchingMule]

Yah yah, hold up: I know the SQ diff is three nights and two days (something like that

), but I just wish to try out different sound sigs. I have heard the 001 compared to a Senn 600 on the dead 'Stax-001 appreciation' thread, which I guess is understandable. Yet I want to try out the Grado sound...

If you saw them on the street, about to get crushed by a steam roller and had time to only grab one without thinking, which one would you save, and why? I guess that's what I'm trying to ask

 

[[AK]Zip]

I'd save the STAX SR-001. Even if I could save both I would leave the Grado's there to die.

-Alex-

 

[TheMarchingMule]

^ N.O. (no offense), but have you even listened to the Stax 001 before, or the SR-60? I'm just curious.

 

[jagorev]

Um...wouldn't it make more sense to compare it to SR-225 or SR-325i instead?

(I would save the SR-001, because it seems so unique and special.)

 

[[AK]Zip]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtheisticFreedom ^ N.O. (no offense), but have you even listened to the Stax 001 before, or the SR-60? I'm just curious.

I have owned every Grado out there including the RS1, HP1, and PS1. The only Grado I haven't owned is the new GS1000. As far the Stax system I listed to it and I liked it. I am currently looking to buy that very setup myself.

I agree with jagorev. The SR60's vs the SR-001 isn't a very fair fight.

-Alex-

 

[eduj]

the thing is SR001 are very picky with the source.They want a good open detailed and dynamic source to really sing.Otherwise they may sound mediocre/boring/bad.SR60 on the other hand are not such divas and they sound fun and enjoyable out of almost anything.You can plug them on a portable and just rock

.With my ipod i prefer MS-1 over the Stax for rock .
Of course the baby Stax is a better investment (i.e. when you buy a better source )

 

[catscratch]

Different systems, different applications, and different performance levels. The SR-60 is really as high as one needs to go for an unamped mp3 player to sound good. It's relatively forgiving with sources and amplification and yet sounds good enough to not make you wish for more. I didn't have a lot of time to spend with the SR-60, but I definitely liked it when I heard it.

The SR-001 is in a different league altogether, and it has very different requirements, too. Forget about compressed music and mp3 players; you can certainly use the 001 out of them, but to get at it's real performance, you need a high resolution source and some AC power. It's not as portable - though this is a 'stat, so it's actually miraculously portable all things considered - as the SR-60, and I'd use it as more of a transportable system with a portable DAC rather than something that can be driven out-of-pocket.

In terms of sound signature - the SR-001 is actually a good bit more forward than the Senns. But, it doesn't have the SR-60's hyped-up treble. In fact, it has quite the opposite. You'd think that this would make the SR-001 more forgiving but... no

It's a Stax through and through.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

^ Excellent. Thanks for that crucial info. I am planning to get both eventually, but...save up and get the Stax, or get the Grado, restart and save up to the Stax?

 

[nelda]

I guess you need to take comfort into consideration too.
SR-001 is not that comfortable. I'm not sure about SR-60 though.

They say SR-001 need time to get used too. well, that's mean i need to keep using it until i get used to the 'pain' then.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Hmmm...been reading up about the 001, and it seems it has a treble roll-off problem, but it seems to be contributed to its amp.

 

[[AK]Zip]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelda I guess you need to take comfort into consideration too. SR-001 is not that comfortable. I'm not sure about SR-60 though. They say SR-001 need time to get used too. well, that's mean i need to keep using it until i get used to the 'pain' then.

Grado isn't comfortable at all. They hurt pretty much everyone I know after an hour or 2.

-Alex-

 

[dhp]

well, I wouldn't say the Grados hurt, at least for me. It's just that you don't forget that they're on you're head, they're always there.

 

[catscratch]

The 001 isn't very comfortable, true. The main problem is that there is a lot of pressure that's applied to two small earpads resting on the ear canal (when the system is used with the headband). The solution is to bend the headband outwards to reduce the pressure. This won't make them comfortable, but it will make them a lot less uncomfortable. There are also different size pads available, and bigger pads are usually more comfortable, but in my experience, they reduce the amount of bass.

There is some treble roll-off, and it is contributed to by both the headphones and the amp. Today I just got my SR-003, which I'm using with the SRM-313. While it's still not burned in, I can finally pinpoint the deficiencies in the SRM-001, and there are plenty. It rolls off the treble, restricts dynamic range, and in general sounds mushy and a bit unresolved. The SRM-313/SR-003 combo sounds crisp and punchy, yet still retains the SR-003's warm tonal balance. Treble is a lot more extended than the SRM-001, as is the bass, but treble extension is still lacking, especially next to the SR-404. Out of an AC adapter, the SRM-001 improves considerably, however, and is a lot closer to the SRM-313 than under battery power. It becomes a lot more open and dynamic, and extension improves on both ends. But, there is some background AC hum, and the sound is still not as punchy, open, or dynamic as the SRM-313.

Anyway, this is all really out of perspective, since we're comparing a battery-powered $100 amp to a full-time class-A $500 amplifier. The SRM-001 doesn't sound that great under battery power, but the whole system still sounds good, especially for a portable. Under AC power, it can get close to a full-size amp, but of course it doesn't go all the way.

If you want advice on what to get - SR-60 or SR-001: if your intended use is portable and with an mp3 player, the SR-60 would be better. If your intended use is stationary out of a good source, then the SR-005a system would probably be better. If you need something that can be used both portably and transportably/stationarily, then the SR-001 is what you need.