Headphones that sound most like Grado's...but aren't

[tdockweiler]

My Koss Pro DJ 100 sounds like a SR-80 in many ways, but it has slightly rolled off highs. The mids are just as forward, maybe a little less on the DJ100.
It's hard to compare the bass. DJ 100 has far more, but less mid-bass.  I compared both side by side for a few hours one night and couldn't believe how similar some things were.
 
I compared the two drivers and they're almost identical, but the DJ 100 has a small round circle in the middle of the driver. The DJ100 has a titanium driver. NOT the same as the KSC75, but something new I guess.
Both also had the same driver design and 10 holes (covered up) surrounding them. SR-80 driver had two "vent" holes in the back, the Koss had only 1 and a blue marker dot instead of a red.
 
BTW you can actually fit the SR-80 driver inside the casing/shell of the Pro DJ 100!
 
Like the SR-80, the DJ100 also benefits a LOT from a good amp.
 
The DJ100 sounds more like the SR-80 then my k240. k240 mids are not as forward as those of my SR-80. k240 mids are slightly forward maybe, but not all that much. The mids of the dj100 definitely are, but not too bad. The DJ100 gives me kind of like the effect of where i'm close to the music, like with an IEM and i'm not really talking about the soundstage.

 

[KneelJung]

I think the comfort thing with Grado's is a bit overblown. I have a pair of SR60's and the stock comfies are not uncomfortable at all. I did experience some comfort issues with the bowls when I had my 225's.. The SR60's with the comfies though I could wear for hours. I had some Denon d2000's for a short time too, and those things were very comfortable, but IMO the SR60's are a better sounding phone. The d2000 has a lot more bass and is more detailed; and is technically a better headphone but the Grado's just sound better for ost of the stuff I listen too
 
Listening to Wish You Were Here at the moment

 

[tuanhung303]

however, you may lose the opened sound from grados. I think SA5000 maybe like grados

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

however, you may lose the opened sound from grados. I think SA5000 maybe like grados

Yeah, SA5000 has similar idea, but sound is still completely different. Sound is exciting and pronounced, but instead of being rather warmish in midrange like Grados the SA5000 is brutally detailed bringing out every detail out of the guitar overdrive. Sort of like cold studio monitors with some equalizing applied.
 
 
About Grado comfort, the headband of Grados is meant to be bent to fit your head. On stock they are brutally tight but after slight bending it rests lightly on your ears. Still not the most comfortable headphone out there and some people still have problems with them, but I can wear them for hours before earlobes start to give signs of sore. There are a ton of circumaular mods, but Grados are VERY sensitive to pad changes. You might lose the sound you like. Big example are flats vs bowls where flats turn Grados to bass monsters with tendency for muddying things up.

 

[DuxR]

I just received a pair of DR150's and initial impressions aren't so good (sound quite harsh at the top end), but I'm going to let them burn in for a day or so and review them then. 
 
In the meantime I was wondering, since the DR150's were so cheap I still have a good portion of my HP budget remaining, so do you think it would be a better idea to get another pair of headphones to go along with the DR150's, or invest in a dedicated headphone amp (I'm thinking of something like a Hifiman EF2) since I'm currently only using an integrated amp which is also driving my speakers? I know the DR150's don't need an amp themselves, but I was thinking it might be an idea for any higher-impedance phones I might buy in the future.