Grado Build Quality?

[bangraman]

The build quality is on the whole workmanlike. They are reasonably well built as far as their design will allow the builder to do so. The unaccomplished design (especially on the upper-range models) is the main problem for me.


Looking at Grados from a professional point of view as an industrial designer, they are not so much "room for improvement" but rather "where the hell do I start?". Needs work... Needs a lot of work.

 

[blipblop]

I am shocked to see some descriptions of these Grados. "Built like a tank"? You've got to be kidding me. Although I've only had experience with the sr60 and sr80, they are clearly built too cheaply and with not-the-best material. The headband is pathetic - why'd the even bother to cover the metal, if its with not much more than a plastic sheath? The cables can be jammed into the driver housing, and the Y cable is overcrimped and tends to twist like hell. And the driver housing, as some modders will attest to, can come apart with a strong twist.
Perhaps, this is how Grado gets the prices down to where they are, but I don't see how anyone can say, apart from a serious case of cognitive dissonance (which, incidentally is a huge epidemic on this board), that their build quality is "top notch".

 

[Zanth]

Quote:

Originally posted by blipblop I am shocked to see some descriptions of these Grados. "Built like a tank"? You've got to be kidding me. Although I've only had experience with the sr60 and sr80, they are clearly built too cheaply and with not-the-best material.

No I am not kidding you and obviously you need to see the HP-1000's before criticizing. They are the best built headphones out there.

 

[realityclouded]

So far, I've been pretty disappointed with Grado's build quality. My first RS-1 was very sloppily assembled - extra glue around the earcups, handwritten numbers on the earcups, the little wooden discs on the outside of the earcups were not properly centered, and the leather band was scratched. All this on $700 headphones. See pictures here.

My replacement pair (one month later) is even worse. The black cylinders that contain the speakers aren't flush with the wooden earcups. In addition to the extra glue, there's some missing in a few spots. I've given up on finding a decently assembled pair. Sound, on the other hand, is awesome.

Some people may say I'm nitpicking, but no one ever thinks "resale value". What happens when/if Grado gets their act together and actually starts putting out properly assembled phones? This drives down the resale value of my sloppy phones. I don't plan on ever selling them, but it could happen.

Anyways, enough about that. I also own an SR-80. On my first pair, one of the earcups would not swivel at all, because one of the holes that held it in place was drilled too high. My replacement pair is properly assembled and sounds beautiful.

So.. Build quality? What build quality? Grado is seriously lacking in their QA dept, if they even have one. If ordering your headphones online, be prepared to spend additional money on possible returns/exchanges due to build defects.

My Senn HD650, on the other hand, is perfect in every way on the first order.

 

[blipblop]

Wow, its even worse than I thought.

 

[lindrone]

Quote:

Originally posted by Zanth No I am not kidding you and obviously you need to see the HP-1000's before criticizing. They are the best built headphones out there.

LMAO... compare HP1000 in the other headphones that's in the same class.. it's easily the most cheaply built out of them. Think about it, how much is the HP1000 now?

If you compare HP1000 to say, the build quality of the SR-225 or something, yeah.. of course it's way better. Even comparing to a HD580 though, I would say HD580 has arguably the same level or better build quality. Not much to say for that premium price...

CD3000, A900, CD780 all has better build quality... and all at lower price than the HP1000.

 

[Rizumu]

Yikes! I've never had any problems like that with my Grados. Some people have all the luck I guess, lol

But if the headphones work fine and you don't have any problems with the build, I see little reason to complain about it. Some people want their headphones to look as nice as they sound, well, okay. That does come with a cost though...and Grados are pretty much the best value headphones out there. (IMO

)

I mean, you can not like the design of Grado headphones (i.e. the headband, how the cables go in the drivers, the Y connector, etc.) but that doesn't mean the build quality is bad and the headphones aren't going to hold up to abuse or last.

 

[realityclouded]

I like the Grado sound too much to avoid them simply because of a little extra glue and some handwritten numbers that normally go unseen.

I figure if they last the warranty period without auditory problems, they'll last forever as long as they're not abused.

 

[blipblop]

Its not about aesthetic appeal, though. In fact, I think the retrostyling of the Grado series is pretty damn cool. I just can't get past the fact that when I peer in to the driver, I see a soldering job worse than on my first CMOY. I can't *imagine* those cables lasting a decent, accidental tug, and I sure as h*ll wouldn't feel comfortable enough to put the grados in a bag and take them places.

I mean, doesn't it scare you that such a thing as the "Grado grattle" exists? Apparently common enough to warrant the coinage of a term?!

 

[Zanth]

Quote:

Originally posted by lindrone LMAO... compare HP1000 in the other headphones that's in the same class.. it's easily the most cheaply built out of them. Think about it, how much is the HP1000 now? If you compare HP1000 to say, the build quality of the SR-225 or something, yeah.. of course it's way better. Even comparing to a HD580 though, I would say HD580 has arguably the same level or better build quality. Not much to say for that premium price... CD3000, A900, CD780 all has better build quality... and all at lower price than the HP1000.

*Sigh* The ignorance of the young...

You have obviously NEVER seen the HP-1000's else you would not be making these uninformed statements. Or maybe you just think cheap plastic is naturally stronger than metal? CD3000, A900, CD780 please step on any of them. They will shatter. Now, step on some HP-1000's and you will have nice antenna through your foot. Better ergonomic design? Better decore? That is personal preference. Better build quality? Nothing tops the HP-1000.

 

[blipblop]

Zanth, even if that is the case, you are clinging to ONE model in a complete series of Cans! What about all the rest?! How many people actually spend the money on HP-1000s? I'm willing to bet there are more sr60s or 80s or 125s in circulation than Hp-1000s.

 

[Zanth]

I have already stated that my 6 grados I have owned they have been top quality. Jude has posted that his brother, a destructive force, has abused his sr80s and after 3 years they still stand. I have owned the SR60's and used them exclusively as portable phones in the chilly Canadian outdoors and they still work perfectly fine after being bashed around in my school bag, being dragged through the mountains of the Domincan Republic and he Rockies in Alaska. What more do you want? As for the HP-1000 comments in particular, lindrone commented on how what I stated was somehow moronic given a comparison with other high-priced cans. My point? I've had the opportunity to sample the best the headphone world has had to offer except for the AT L3000's, the Stax Omega I's and II's and the Sennheiser Orpheii. I would contend that given those who own the stax and the hp-1000's they would still say the HP-1000's smoke them in build quality and the R10's don't hold a candle to the durability of the HP-1000's.

I'm sure there are cases from each company that at certain times there have been problems in quality. I'm not contesting the problems with Grados though I myself have never experienced any with the ones I've owned and as I've stated I have owned 6 grados from across their line from across their entire headphone making era. I've also listened to +20 other grados from the entire either at shops or from head-fiers/friends and again, I have never encountered any quality issues.

Grados may not look the part but they are built well. Could the lower models use better parts? Sure but then the price will go up. It is a trade off. As for HP-1000's if they were to be sold today the price would be close to 1300 I once read because of the high build quality. Maybe more.

 

[wolfen68]

I've had 60's and 225's. The build quality is OK...and I don't mind the look.

What really bothers me is the overcrimped "Y" as described.....and even worse, the drivers spin all the way around, eventually kinking the cable with no hope of figuring out how to get them straight again. I've been trying to figure out a mod with a black rubber band (or something) to keep them from spinning 'round and 'round.

The vinyl headband really bothers me also. Comfort-wise it's OK, but seems really cheesy. If I ever found a leather band for $20 or less...I think I'd buy it.

 

[Zanth]

Contact Hirsch, he was able to find this REALLY cool leather headband from WWII I think on Ebay for $5. It wraps around the Grados without modding them directly. He says it is very comfy.

 

[blipblop]

Zanth, it looks like you do have much more experience than me, so I won't contest your findings.

Quote:

Could the lower models use better parts? Sure but then the price will go up. It is a trade off.

This is what I thought too, however, I would be willing to pay more for better parts. I got out of the Grado series because, apart from a sonic signature I didn't like too much, they felt so frail. But seeing as you've taken them to the Rockies and all that, I guess I'm wrong...