iGrados + amp = :)

[htbyron]

I just got a pair of iGrados, and have only listened to them for less than 10 hours (they are used, but the previous owner said he put very little time on them, so they may not be fully broken in yet). So far, I like them but I don't love them, at least when plugged straight into the ipod HO. The bass seems a bit muddy (I haven't done the quarter mod yet, which may help), and the whole sound seems compressed. My points of immediate comparison are to Grado HF-1s and Koss KSC-75 -- I no longer have the SR-80s to compare.

But here's the thing. I bought these for portable use out of my 6G ipod classic, and I usually don't use an amp when I'm walking around.

But I went out of town for the weekend and took the iGrados with me, along with the ipod and my Portaphile V2 amp, for some relaxed listening. And man, the iGrados just seemed to open up and blossom when amped!

Much improved clarity and separation, tighter bass -- overall, just a cleaner sound. I was surprised, because the SR-80s did not exhibit much difference when amped (IIRC). Another source of the difference could be that I was using an LOD from the ipod instead of the HO -- I didn't have a mini-mini cable with me to test whether that could be it, but I will check that this week. But the nature of the difference seemed consistent with the cleaner sound I expect from an amp. I do not notice such a dramatic difference between ipod HO & LOD-amp with my KSC-75s. So it seems to me that the iGrados really improve with an amp, more so than I expected.

More listening to come, but I wanted to share that initial impression and see what other iGrado owners have experienced.

 

[BrookR1]

I believe there are two versions of the iGrados out there...glued and not glued. I actually have both (I bought one as a backup). I found that the sound sig changed between the two. The one that's not glued has more bass and is a little muddier sounding than the one that has glue. With the unglued one, you can actually mod them by removing the foam between the driver and silver screen. This actually improved the sound quite a bit. If you have the glued version, then the only mod you can do is the quarter mod. But, IMO, they don't really need modding because they sound good right out of the box. I use them as my workout cans through the normal headphone out. I have an iBasso T2, but that's for work with my SR-80s. I prefer the portability and simplicity when I'm on the go.

 

[physh]

How do they compare to the sr60's, and do they leak alot? (can you use them in a library?)

 

[htbyron]

Yep, I've read about the foam mod, but haven't yet sat down to investigate the possibilities with this pair. It's possible I got an older version, and if so, I will pull the foam as well as do the quarter mod.

physh: I have not tried the SR-60, so I can't say. I had the SR-80 for about a year, and liked it a lot. The SR-80 has much more of the signature Grado sound than the iGrado does -- more precise and defined. The iGrado is a compromise -- more portable (with a much thinner and lighter cord and housing/band), but at a cost of the sound. I think there is less sound leakage than with the SR-series, but I haven't done any tests or comparos. Others may have more to add.

 

[IPodPJ]

Dont feel bad htbyron,
If the iGrado is worse than the SR60, I can't even fathom it. The SR60 is unbearable to listen to for more than 2 minutes. I frankly don't understand how anyone likes them. Harsh, forceful, uncomfortable, fatiguing.... I know they are a budget headphone, but I think there are much better budget headphones out there.

I trust that the high-end Grados sound better, based on what I've read on Head-Fi. But if they sound anything remotely like the lower end Grados, I can't imagine why anyone would spend serious money on them when there are much better headphones available.

I'm not trying to be a Grado-basher, but it's just my strong opinion of them. I know they are aimed towards rock music, but they are just painful to listen to -- at least the lower end models are.

 

[BrookR1]

Take your hate somewhere else. Create your own thread. Start a petition to ban Grados. Do something. Be something.

Back to the thread...

A lot of people who have heard the SR-60s and the iGrados prefer the iGrados because they're a little more balanced...more emphasis on the bass.

 

[Drag0n]

For portable open cans,i love my IGrados.
For noisey areas i use UE Super.fi 3

I was using PMX100, but the Igrados are less muddy really.

I use an amp on a Zune most of the time.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrookR1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Take your hate somewhere else. Create your own thread. Start a petition to ban Grados. Do something. Be something. Back to the thread... A lot of people who have heard the SR-60s and the iGrados prefer the iGrados because they're a little more balanced...more emphasis on the bass.

Ditto, I liked the SR60 just fine, but for $20 less the iGrado sound more balanced, without having to Spend $200 for SR225 or higher. Certainly didn't hear anything worth bashing.

I keep going between the PMX100 and the iGrado - sometimes I want that balance and sometimes I want smooth and dark. In a similar fashion, I have the same options with my Livewires and my Shure SE530's.

 

[fuzydice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif If the iGrado is worse than the SR60, I can't even fathom it. The SR60 is unbearable to listen to for more than 2 minutes. [...] Harsh, forceful, uncomfortable, fatiguing....

I have to disagree, even on comfort (and I'm a beyer dt880 lover ). What sort of music were you listening to that brought you to this dismal conclusion on the venerable sr60's? I don't even see the sr60's in your previous owned list in your profile, so I assume you had some sort of brief encounter with them? If you could provide a little more context on your development of that opinion of them, that'd be nice

 

[Televator]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzydice /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have to disagree, even on comfort (and I'm a beyer dt880 lover ). What sort of music were you listening to that brought you to this dismal conclusion on the venerable sr60's? I don't even see the sr60's in your previous owned list in your profile, so I assume you had some sort of brief encounter with them? If you could provide a little more context on your development of that opinion of them, that'd be nice

don't worry about this... there are just some ppl that enjoy preaching grado-hate

"Rise To The Top" is another one like that... they don't need reasons or anything, their superior hearing/intellect has just determined that grados suck and they have made it their mission to spread that message all over the place

Too bad they don't realize that very few are actually interested in let alone persuaded by that immature bashing

 

[shooter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Dont feel bad htbyron, If the iGrado is worse than the SR60, I can't even fathom it. The SR60 is unbearable to listen to for more than 2 minutes. I frankly don't understand how anyone likes them. Harsh, forceful, uncomfortable, fatiguing.... I know they are a budget headphone, but I think there are much better budget headphones out there. I trust that the high-end Grados sound better, based on what I've read on Head-Fi. But if they sound anything remotely like the lower end Grados, I can't imagine why anyone would spend serious money on them when there are much better headphones available. I'm not trying to be a Grado-basher, but it's just my strong opinion of them. I know they are aimed towards rock music, but they are just painful to listen to -- at least the lower end models are.

iGrados sound a bit different - warmer with more powerful bass, really pleasently but it seems you just do not like Grado signature.

In my opinion amping iGrados does not make a big difference.