[MarkBra]

Hello all !
 
I'm planning to upgrade my music gear. Did a lot of research about different Grado headphones, amp's, DAC's , FLAC vs Mp3 (between which I hear no difference) and so on. . . 
 
But before that all I need to ask this question:
 
I use YouTube alot, because music is easily available there as well as different live performance recordings. Now I know that many people don't like YouTube audio quality, but how bad it really is?
 
 
Is it worth buying headphones like Grado 225/325 if I am going to listen to YouTube with them?
Or should I go for the cheaper 60/80?
 
Same question goes for amp+dac like the FiiO E10 or Andes - will they add an improvement? 
 
Thanks, Mark.

 

[KG Jag]

There is no sense spending much money on cans if you are listening to crappy sources.  The 60 or 80 (or MS-1) present you the best value in this context.
 
Grados don't need an amp and one won't help when listening to the Tube.  A DAC may be something to consider if you are using a computer crappy on board audio.

 

[zunehdrocks]

Theres also the yamaha hph200

 

[MarkBra]

I see.
 
Now as for listening to Flac or 320kbpm Mp3 through a FiiO E10 - does the 225 worth the extra 100$? I'v read alot on the topic but there looks like there is no one opinion. . . (can't make a live test)
 
Thanks,
Mark.

 

[KG Jag]

For the "i" series the 225 was a significant improvement and considered by many to be the sweet spot of the SR line.  However, I have not yet heard anything above the 80 in the new "e" series, so I can't help on it.

 

[whirlwind]

For youtube as a source....I would just snag a sr60 or sr 80....60is 479.....80 is $99.....

 

[MarkBra]

Ok , as for YouTube I understood.
 
I started listening to FLAC files with Foobar. Yeh, took me long but I do hear difference between FLAC and low quality Mp3, and so turned out that for long I'v been listening to low quality music files since I moved from cd's/md's to Sony Ericsson and Nokia 5800.
 
For long had I suspected that the quality was different, but I contributed it to the music chip rather than to the file itself. Now I finally hear music in the quality I remembered as a child
 
 
So I got Foobar and downloading FLAC files. I'm planning to buy FiiO E10 DAC (because I clearly hear hiss with some headphones).
 
For such a set-up, will the 225i be better than the 80i? (I mainly listen to Surf Rock which has lots of cleans and highs)
 
Cheers,
Mark.

 

[KG Jag]

  Ok , as for YouTube I understood.
 
I started listening to FLAC files with Foobar. Yeh, took me long but I do hear difference between FLAC and low quality Mp3, and so turned out that for long I'v been listening to low quality music files since I moved from cd's/md's to Sony Ericsson and Nokia 5800.
 
For long had I suspected that the quality was different, but I contributed it to the music chip rather than to the file itself. Now I finally hear music in the quality I remembered as a child
 
 
So I got Foobar and downloading FLAC files. I'm planning to buy FiiO E10 DAC (because I clearly hear hiss with some headphones).
 
For such a set-up, will the 225i be better than the 80i? (I mainly listen to Surf Rock which has lots of cleans and highs)
 
Cheers,
Mark.

With a decent source and system to play it, the 225i will shine over the 80i.  Whether the price difference is worth it--that's up to you.