[Necrolic]

I want to pick up some Grados for use directly out of my iPod Touch 2G (16GB). At what point would I stop seeing worthwhile improvements out of the iPod for my money? By that I mean how high up in the Grado chain should I go?

 

[kunalraiker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necrolic /img/forum/go_quote.gif I want to pick up some Grados for use directly out of my iPod Touch 2G (16GB). At what point would I stop seeing worthwhile improvements out of the iPod for my money? By that I mean how high up in the Grado chain should I go?

What do you mean by portable, where are you going to use it. We need to establish that first.

 

[K_19]

Well, only Grados created that were MEANT to be used as a true portable are the iGrado and the GR8 IEM's. You won't have too much trouble using any of the Grados up to RS1 with the ipod as efficiency is concerned, it's just that you may look a little ridiculous and noisy doing so (as they leak quite a lot; iGrados leak as well, but not as much).

 

[limpidglitch]

RS1, I'd say.

Although buying them solely for portable use seems a little silly. Personally I settled on the SR225, a good compromise between small size and sweet sound

 

[Necrolic]

Well that's the thing I am debating between saving for something like RS1i's and using em for home and portable and looking a bit silly when I walk around, or going with something like SR225i or lower and using them for portable only so they don't look stupid and sticking to my D5000s at home.

The RS1i wouldn't be much of an improvement over let's say SR225i straight out of an iPod would it? Same thing for SR225i over SR60 or 80?

 

[stang]

Don't use Grado's for portable use, they are open and you will have to turn them up really loud to hear the music and other people will be able to hear it too.

 

[fatcat28037]

Full size phones, 225is, $ worth 80is, however IMO iGrado at $50 is a great portable.

 

[protest]

personally im not completely concerned with how much it leaks, you have to be within a short distance to be able to hear them. however the lack of isolation is quite bothersome. also, the long cord can get in the way, though it may only be a minor inconvenience depending on what you're doing.

 

[jjinh]

the lack of isolation from outside noise in public spaces will lead to you turning up the volume and then hearing loss. if you really like the grado sound, and although i havent heard them, maybe go for the igrados as suggested above

 

[Head_case]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_19 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, only Grados created that were MEANT to be used as a true portable are the iGrado and the GR8 IEM's. You won't have too much trouble using any of the Grados up to RS1 with the ipod as efficiency is concerned, it's just that you may look a little ridiculous and noisy doing so (as they leak quite a lot; iGrados leak as well, but not as much).

I don't think so. I just received my pair of Grado SR125s.

They don't drive at all well without an amp. On classical music, violins are thin and reedy with the overall soundscape being very lean. Female vocals take a hammering, and rock, metal and alt. hardcore music really becomes messy.

They are very portable and delightful to wear being light and open. Once a portable amp is added, then you might get going. In no measure are they as good as the Senn HD25s for all rounder portable use though.

 

[jjinh]

i've used my ms1s as a portable, but only around the house; have to wrap the cable around my neck to avoid trampling on it.

 

[iponderous]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Head_case /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't think so. I just received my pair of Grado SR125s. They don't drive at all well without an amp. On classical music, violins are thin and reedy with the overall soundscape being very lean. Female vocals take a hammering, and rock, metal and alt. hardcore music really becomes messy. They are very portable and delightful to wear being light and open. Once a portable amp is added, then you might get going. In no measure are they as good as the Senn HD25s for all rounder portable use though.

No, I don't think so. It's generally accepted around here that Grado's are very efficient phones that are easily driven without an amp. I also have the SR125 and it sounds fine direct from an ipod or a laptop. Yes, you can optimise its performance by coupling it with an amp but it's not a necessity.

The SR125 or any other Grado with the exception of the iGrado and the GR8, are not a good choice for portable use because they don't provide noise attenuation. They let sound in and leak it out. This means that you have to increase the volume if you want to hear your music properly when outside, and this is not advisable if you value your hearing. It can also be a source of irritation to the people around you, who may not share your taste in music. All in my opinion of course.

 

[swmtnbiker]

IMO full-sized Grados are a fairly poor choice for portable use for two reasons:

1) Open design. Show some consideration for those around you and get a headphone that doesn't leak sound. Better yet, get IEMs.

2) They fall off of your head too easily. Grados are not known for their, um, ergonomics. All I've ever had to do to separate a pair I'm wearing from my head is lean forward. They slip right off because of the way they're designed and the very low clamping force. IMO a portable headphone isn't very portable if it's constantly landing in your lap or on the floor.

Just my .2K.

 

[limpidglitch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpippel /img/forum/go_quote.gif IMO full-sized Grados are a fairly poor choice for portable use for two reasons: 1) Open design. Show some consideration for those around you and get a headphone that doesn't leak sound. Better yet, get IEMs. 2) They fall off of your head too easily. Grados are not known for their, um, ergonomics. All I've ever had to do to separate a pair I'm wearing from my head is lean forward. They slip right off because of the way they're designed and the very low clamping force. IMO a portable headphone isn't very portable if it's constantly landing in your lap or on the floor. Just my .2K.

It depends on what you mean with 'portable' and in what sort of environment you live in.

When I step outside my door in downtown Bergen I don't get immediately hammered with noises, most of the time it's rather quiet actually. I have a twenty minute walk to most of my lectures in this environment, some bikes, cars and other pedestrians, but little noise. If a car or a bike should come up on me from behind the open design of the Grados enables me to hear it.
Easiest way to mend the ergonomics is to buy a pair of HD414 pads, quarter mod and reverse. To me at least they're a lot more comfortable than the stock bowls, so much more comfortable that I can bend the headband slightly so they fit more tightly.
I wear my 225s for hours, but in the same time they fit snug enough for me to stand on my hands without them falling off.
For public transportation and places where silence is highly appreciated, however, I use my HD25-1.

 

[Head_case]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iponderous /img/forum/go_quote.gif No, I don't think so..... Yes, you can optimise its performance by coupling it with an amp but it's not a necessity.

Nothing to do with headphones is a necessity. Many put up with in-ear phones costing £2.50

The Grado 125s are just way to thin and frail without a portable amp, to ever make it as anyone's solo headphones on the go. For the undiscriminating, I'm sure they're fine without a portable amp with Frank Sinatra or something... They aren't as easy to drive as the Sennheiser HD25 Mark IIs; their bass is flat and uninvolving without an amp playing a wide spectrum of music; they fall of my head when jogging, and they do leak very much in quiet environments: all non-portable qualities.

Stillm I like my Grado 125s for what I paid for them. They are very lightweight, and they are perfect headphones for falling asleep on - they're more comfortable than the HD25 Mark IIs in that respect. Yes - with a JMoney headband, they still fall off but they can be put back on easily

The SR125 or any other Grado with the exception of the iGrado and the GR8, are not a good choice for portable use because they don't provide noise attenuation. They let sound in and leak it out. This means that you have to increase the volume if you want to hear your music properly when outside, and this is not advisable if you value your hearing. It can also be a source of irritation to the people around you, who may not share your taste in music. All in my opinion of course.[/QUOTE]