Just how good are the Grado SR60?

[wab]

I am considering ordering a pair of these. Every review I read is raving about them. But just how good are they?

I have owned the Sony CD1700 but didn't really like'em because of their overly warm midrange and not very tight bass. Now I'm thinking I might like the Grado-sound.. The SR60 seem to be the best deal out there, and the only ones I can (or want to) afford.
Are they still good bang-for-the-buck in european prices ($84)?

 

[coolvij]

were your cd1700s underpowered? what was your source and amp?

 

[wab]

Coolvij,
I don't think my CD1700s were underpowered. I was using a Marantz CD6000 as the source and the headphone-out on my Sony TA-FA3ES integrated amp. BUT on my dads dedicated (home-designed and built) headphone-amplifier I didn't like them either.
It was just the CD1700s laidback and warm character i didn't like. I like my music played with some more life and impact, and maybe a bit more neutral.

 

[coolvij]

Quote:

It was just the CD1700s laidback and warm character i didn't like. I like my music played with some more life and impact, and maybe a bit more neutral.

Well, grados probably would suit u - though i doubt they'd be MORE neutral.......AKGs probably are more neutral....Senns are too, tho they are colored in their own ways....

 

[blr]

To answer your question Wab, Grado SR60 are perhaps as good as it gets below 100USD IMO. Many people say that SR80 have far better bass and more detail, but to me it is more to the earpads you're using. In fact, I bought both and after a week returned the SR80 and kept the 60s. With Sennheiser foam pads with holes cut in the middle I could get SR60 to sound almost identical to SR80. The 50 USD (in Sweden) price difference wasn't worth it for me.
I may get enemies from team Grado here, but I just should say this, Everything between SR60 and SR225 is not worth the price. Mind I'm talking Europe here, i.e. expensive Grados and Cheap Senns, AKGs and Beyers. However, non of these have a good sounding model below 100 bucks. SR325 and up are also very expensive but for me they're cult phones, don't ask me why they're just... hm... adorable. I'm not a Grado fan in general, but only looking at this is a pleasure.

 

[thomas]

If you're in europe, you will probably find much better deals on sennheisers. Also, it seems like you don't like any colouration, in which case, grados are probably not for you. Sennheisers tend to be more neutral than Grados...

 

[artmusic247]

I am still impressed with my Grado SR60's. I mostly listen avant-garde classical music, sometimes a little rap and some hardcore metal. I find that these SR60's sound good playing all types of music. The only concern I have is the leakage from these headphones, not made to be listened to in a library.

 

[wab]

Coolvij, Thomas: It's not that I don't want any colouration at all but the 1700's are IMHO extremely coloured..

blr: That's what I was thinking. Several "professional" reviewers say the SR60 are simply the best bang-for-the-buck headphones out there. Some even like the SR60's better than the SR80's and SR125's, which appearently are a bit more harsh.

Thomas: I don't think there is a Sennheiser in this pricerange that would be better than the Grado's. The Senn HD570's and HD500's cost about as much but I don't like those at all.

artmusic247: I don't care about leakage, I have my Senn HD25 SP's and Sony MDR-EX70's for in the library and on the train.

 

[coolvij]

Well then, you reely should go for the 60s - seems like a good match...

 

[Voyager]

The 60s seem like they'd be a good phone for you. They have an somewhat bright treble, making them seem more forward, and aren't very warm like the cd1700s. Senns are more neutral, but they are really laid back.

 

[MessierObject]

I use SR60's at work, and SR325's at home. The 60's are efficient enough that the computer's CD player can drive them; the 325's would be an incredible waste in this context.

But, if we're talking bang-for-the-buck, the SR60 speaks recognizable Gradoish (clarity, open midrange and treble), even with the lousy source, and is more comfortable with the supplied pads.

 

[eric343]

Don't you mean Gradese?

 

[MessierObject]

Actually, I was thinking of Old High Gradoish, to distinguish it from Classical Gradese...

 

[eric343]

Well, I think that the old (x00 as opposed to x25) headphones spoke Old High Gradoish, and the x25s speak Classical Gradese, but the x0s definitely speak Modern Gradese. The RS-x, on the other hand, probably speak High Gradese.

 

[rickcr42]

Well I thought I was getting over when I purchased my MS-1s for $75 with free shipping and then sold my SR-60s for $50 ,gaining new cans for a net price of $25

WRONG !

The SR-60 was by far the best "grab and go " cans I ever had and I miss them dearly ,I still try to by them back

I am headed for the RS-1 and then I won't mind doin' the MS-1 as my main portable ,but I really don't know if I can bring myself to give them the "beatin'" that my '60s took , or what now my Optimus PRO '25s take

what you get with the 60 is the "Grado Sound" without too much pain (as in cash outlay)

and no matter what you plug them into you get enjoyable music

up the Grado ladder you gain incremental changes , bass/soundstage/air

But for all around cans tough to beat

Of course I am a charter member of TEAM GRADO so......................

shoulda kept 'em