[ericinmd]

Hi all, been lurking for a little while and decided to post.

Being a new first time apartment dweller and an insomniac who's sleep schedule differs totally from my wifes, I have become totally dependant on headphones for all my music. I don't game or watch much tv.

I have been trying to learn what I can so I can hopefully make an educated decision on purchasing a new set of headphones. Right now I just have a 2G iPod Nano and hope to be purchasing a Classic or Touch soon as well.

I started out with the stock OEM buds which never bothered me (ignorance is bliss lol) but stumbled upon the forum here and quickly wanted something better. I read a lot about the Koss KSC-75's here and decided to try them since they were so affordable. This was a few months ago.

Well, the Koss were no less than 10x superior to the iPod's OEM buds to my novice ears. It took my listening enjoyment to a whole other level. Saying I've gotten my $12 out of them is an understatement. However, I don't really care for the clip-on style enough to want to use them all the time and I'm wanting something different. I do not care for anything more intrusive than the stock buds. I just plain don't like anything shoved in my ears. Am I a sissy? I just don't care for it. I have some ear problems from sinus issues with pressure and pain and I just can't use anything that goes in the ear hole. LOL

I listen to a lot of Radiohead, Muse, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Led Zep, Queens Of The Stone Age, RATM, just about anything that falls under the Rock umbrella in one form or another. Have also recently been introduced to some Jazz and while I really have enjoyed what little I've been exposed to, I would never buy phones specifically for Jazz (yet anyway). I'm looking for some good Rock phones.

I have read so much about Grado on this forum. Seems like the majority of you enjoy the sound. Some of you enjoy to the extent I feel like I haven't lived until I try it for myself. There are no stereo shops near me and I am disabled and don't get out much so going to a meet isn't likely. In other words this is going to be a blind buy and if I like them great, if I don't it's not like I haven't ebayed stuff before. It's not life or death. At the same time I'd really like to make the right choice.

The forementioned unamped 2G iPod Nano (and hopefully soon a classic) will be my only source. I'm not against buying a amp of some sort in the future but I can't right now. A few questions:

1.) So I figured unamped is going to limit me to the SR80i or below in the Grado line, correct?

2.) SR80i is a step up from the original SR80 correct? That may be a stupid quetion but other than Grado's site I really haven't heard anyone post that they are any better (or worse) than the originals. I'm not sure if the originals are even still available new. I prefer to buy new.

3.) If anyone thinks I could do better than the SR80i for my unamped iPod please give me your recommendations. I'm very new to this and know just enough to be dangerous (to myself). I would like to stay under $200.

thanks,
eric

 

[chud]

why iPod?

 

[xkRoWx]

I would suggest you to go all out on your budget ($200), and get the SR225 (used). To many Head-Fiers, the SR225 have the "perfect" balance between bass and treble. Some thinks the SR125 to be all over the place in the bass department, and the SR325 shrilling (or ear-piercing).

The thing about Grado, is that you either go stingy and buy the entry level SR60 to hear what the sound is all about (it will still top your Koss by miles), or you go for the RS1 for aural bliss. If you can't afford the RS1, but want something better than the SR60, go for the SR225 or SR325 (depending on your budget, the SR325 can sound better if amped), anything else is not quite worth it.

Many also complained about the comfort of Grado, but this really only applies to the ones equipped with the "bowl" pads that sits on your ear, included in the SR125i and up in the current line; the comfies included in the SR60 (and now the SR80i) are actually quite comfortable, and many Head-Fiers cut a quarter sized hole in the middle of the pad (dubbed the quarter mod) to open up the sound (the foam covering the transducer muffles the sound). A quick fix to ease the discomfort of bowl pads is to stretch out the headband so the pads sit lightly on your ear. That, or you can wash the pads with shampoo or hand soap with conditioner to make the pads more soft to the ear.

If you're planning to use the Grado, keep in mind that the sound leaks as much as it goes into your ear. Might not be the perfect candidate for bedside listening, your wife might not appreciate it. Grado sounds better at higher volume.

Grado have a great resale value here, you can almost get rid of it for about as much as you pay for them (minus shipping, of course). So don't be afraid to experiment! The journey to discovering your taste in hi-fi (or rather, head-fi) is, in my opinion, the fun part of this hobby.

Happy listening! Sorry 'bout your wallet!

 

[ericinmd]

I'll have to think about the 225's then. Thanks a lot for the help! My only concern about the 225's is like I said, I'm using an unamped iPod and will be unable to buy an amp anytime soon. Will they work okay unamped??

 

[falis]

They'll work fine unamped, and better amped when you get to that point.

- Ed

 

[wallace]

What ! No mention of MS-1's? They sound better than my 80i's and my 325i's unamped,and the cheapest,over here(UK).

 

[ericinmd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by falis /img/forum/go_quote.gif They'll work fine unamped, and better amped when you get to that point. - Ed

ROCK ON THEN!

I have to convince the old lady that I need to spend $200-$225 on phones when I barely had her convinced I needed to spend $99. I'm not beyond whining and whimpering if I really want them though LOL!

I'll have to pay back our savings acct. for the phones and then I'll purchase an amp if need be. I'm 40 but due to being disabled I have a more of a 12 yr olds budget. Plus my wife is an accountant and there's no sneaking a dime past her.

I really want to purchase them new. Is there a cheaper/better place for me to buy them new than directly from amazon? They are $225 there...

 

[ericinmd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallace /img/forum/go_quote.gif What ! No mention of MS-1's? They sound better than my 80i's and my 325i's unamped,and the cheapest,over here(UK).

I had thought about the MS-1's also. I've read about so many phones now they are running together in my mind. If I become as compulsive about this as I am my past hobbies I will likely buy them all before it over, hehe.

I'd really like to try and get away with the SR80i's for now because I can afford them a little easier. Then again, I want to be able to make them last and not want something better in 30 days so the 225's might suit me better.

The only single thing I dislike about the sound of my KSC75's is that at times certain high frequencies on certain songs have been really harsh at my normal listening levels. To the point of being annoying/painful. Kind of worries me about making a blind buy on the Grados in general, but I know I wouldn't lose much on the SR80i's if I had to ebay them. Hearing the 225's are smoother makes me think they might be a better choice.

It's a toss up. I plan on ordering by tomorrow night. Don't hold back if anyone has any additional comments.

thanks guys!

 

[xkRoWx]

Theres a for sale forum here, and occasionally you'll find a deal here or there. Take patience, you can post a "want to buy" thread and hopefully someone will let one of theirs go. But it'll be harder for you because you don't have a feedback here on this site, but sometimes, even eBay feedback will do.

Don't worry about buying them used, Head-Fiers tend to baby their headphones, unless otherwise stated (ie, beater buds/headphones). Plus, buying them used will save you money, and help out other Head-Fiers to fund for their next headphones.

 

[ericinmd]

While I don't disagree that buying used is a great way to save money, I've been burnt a few times with my other hobbies and it's left a permanent bad taste in my mouth.

Sorry I couldn't help a fellow headfier buying used, but I did manage to help a forum sponser when I bought a new pair of Grado's today from Headroom.

After much debate I decided to order the SR80i's today. It probably was not the right choice. I probably should have bought the 225's and the 1/4 to 1/8 adapter they would have needed but they were literally twice the price and considering I haven't had anything better than KSC75's yet I figured any Grado would have been an upgrade.

The bonus to going this route was that I can have them paid off in 2 or 3 weeks and go ahead and get an amp/dac that I can use with my laptop and my ipod. If I like the Grado sound I can get the 225's after the amp is paid for. I can tell this is going to be an expensive hobby, LOL. All of my hobbies have been thus far...

Thanks for the help and I'll let you know what I think of the SR80i when they arrive.

 

[Dinan]

As mentioned above, take a close look at the MS1 for $100 delivered. I was looking for the perfect pair of Grados that I could easily use with an unamplified iPod and that is what I picked. I have them burning in right now on my iPod and listened for about an hour and was pretty impressed with them straight out of the box. They are not a GS1000 but amazing for 1/10th the price!

I am waiting for the parts to do the MS1000 conversion but that is a totally different disease for those with nothing better to do and will double the cost of the phones. It is supposed to make them the cat's meow in easy to drive cans...we will see soon!

BTW, Both the MS1 and MS1i use the SR125 transducer and have some other tweaks. The MS1i adds a slightly better cable and an improved rear can for another $10 and probably well worth it is you intend to leave them stock.

 

[Justin Uthadude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericinmd /img/forum/go_quote.gif ..... I bought a new pair of Grado's today from Headroom....

Congratulations, Eric.
Enjoy the SR80s and don't look back. The world is full of shoulda, coulda , wouldas. Besides, if you decide later you want 225s, Headroom will gladly sell some of those too. Please let us know how you like them.

 

[ericinmd]

Justin, thanks for the kind words, and I'll be sure to share my thoughts!

After I 2nd, 3rd, and 4th guessed myself I came full circle and feel like I made the right decision for me at this time under my current circumstances.

Getting them from Headroom was also a good choice I think. If I like them I'll keep them. If I don't, I'll return them, and maybe ordeer some MS-1's direct. I could even exchange them for the 225's or whatever else if the need surfaced. If I'm fortunate enough to like the SR80i's they will allow me to obtain other things I need a little quicker, and they don't have to be the end all, be all, because I imagine myself getting deep into this hobby.

I'm curious as to what to expect since I only have experience with the KSC-75 and some lesser buds. I'm thinking they are either going to rock my world, or I'll hate 'em! Doesn't seem like many people are on the fence once they hear the Grados.

 

[snakeeater69]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericinmd /img/forum/go_quote.gif While I don't disagree that buying used is a great way to save money, I've been burnt a few times with my other hobbies and it's left a permanent bad taste in my mouth. Sorry I couldn't help a fellow headfier buying used, but I did manage to help a forum sponser when I bought a new pair of Grado's today from Headroom. After much debate I decided to order the SR80i's today. It probably was not the right choice. I probably should have bought the 225's and the 1/4 to 1/8 adapter they would have needed but they were literally twice the price and considering I haven't had anything better than KSC75's yet I figured any Grado would have been an upgrade. The bonus to going this route was that I can have them paid off in 2 or 3 weeks and go ahead and get an amp/dac that I can use with my laptop and my ipod. If I like the Grado sound I can get the 225's after the amp is paid for. I can tell this is going to be an expensive hobby, LOL. All of my hobbies have been thus far... Thanks for the help and I'll let you know what I think of the SR80i when they arrive.

The SR-80i are good headphones. I had it before the my SR325is and like them very much. I think you should just stick with SR-80i be done with it unless you plan on upgrading your source and then getting a good headphone Amp and DAC too. You will benefit more if your source is loss-less. And also you shouldn't be expecting major difference or else you'll be disappointed. Just a suggestion from a n00bie, much like yourself.

If you do decide to get the SR225i, buy the 1/4 to 1/8 adapter from Sennheiser's site. They look just like Grado and perform the same for a way cheaper price. Plus you'll should be able to get the HD414 pads in case grado's bowls aren't comfortable to you.

 

[Budley007]

SR80s are a good choice. Spend a lot of time with them before you choose to upgrade. The "Grado Sound" had to grow on me, but since then I've upgraded 3 times already. If you don't want to spend anymore money anytime soon, then please do yourself a favor and avoid Head-Fi for awhile. Upgrading is like heroin around here.

Headroom - Great bunch of guys, you've chosen well.