Leaving Sennheiser for GRADO

[Usagi]

Well, not exactly leaving, but wanting to explore a little bit. Kind of like being married for awhile and yearning to sample...............well you know what I mean!

I decided to purchase a pair of Grados tomorrow morning. The SR60s sound interesting at the same time safe, in case I don't care for the sound signature very much. In contrast, does this somehow impede the potential success of the Grado line by starting out with their lower-end models? I currently use and love the HD600. I'm having thoughts of just spending a lot of money and getting the SR225s & or +100s.

What do you guys/girls think? Are there any other Senn<Grado defectors out there? If so, due share your thoughts on your conversion.

 

[Alexhifi]

Nope...I went from Grado to Sennheiser (SR225 -> HD600). For giggles, I also own HD590s and AKG501s.

-Alex

 

[iancraig10]

I tend to use my Grados more often than Senns. because their direct immediacy appeals to my analytical way of listening. The Grados get you up close. The Senns tend to make you feel as though you're in a concert hall.
My favourites are the sr225's.

 

[Tech2]

My first pair of headphones was the Senn 555. I bought a pair of Grado SR-60s and haven't used the Senns since (about 3 weeks now). I still like the Senn sound for more laid back stuff, but I mainly listen to rock. I think they compliment each other well.

In fact, I like the Grado sound so much, I'm thinking of getting another pair (225 or 325i or Alessandro MS-2).

 

[iancraig10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech2 In fact, I like the Grado sound so much, I'm thinking of getting another pair (225 or 325i or Alessandro MS-2).

It's a bit difficult isn't it? What are the real differences between 225 and 325i? I juggled with this and ended up giving my sr60's to my wife while I used some 80's, and then curiosity got the better of me and I got hold of some 225's.

I still wonder about SR1 though .....

 

[gratefulshrink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usagi Well, not exactly leaving, but wanting to explore a little bit. Kind of like being married for awhile and yearning to sample...............well you know what I mean! I decided to purchase a pair of Grados tomorrow morning. The SR60s sound interesting at the same time safe, in case I don't care for the sound signature very much. In contrast, does this somehow impede the potential success of the Grado line by starting out with their lower-end models? I currently use and love the HD600. I'm having thoughts of just spending a lot of money and getting the SR225s & or +100s. What do you guys/girls think? Are there any other Senn<Grado defectors out there? If so, due share your thoughts on your conversion.

I have the Senn px 200's and the 280 pro, and I have a pair of Grado sr-60's. I like the contrast between Senn and Grado. The SR-60 seems to be a good testing ground for whether you like the the Grado sound, so it is safe, as you suggest. If you hate it, you can sell it. If you love it, you can start to fantasize about a Grado upgrade (like I do .......)

 

[Usagi]

Has anyone tried both the SR60s & SR225s? If so, what was the difference? Is the cost worth the extra $150 to a novice Grado listener......,OR.....just get the SR60s and if I like them then then I could eventually move up to the upper echelon, the RS/PS line?

 

[iancraig10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usagi If so, what was the difference? Is the cost worth the extra $150 to a novice Grado listener......,OR.....just get the SR60s and if I like them then then I could eventually move up to the upper echelon, the RS/PS line?

The thousand dollar question - is the difference in price worth the upgrade? I wish that I had bought the sr225 first, then I wouldn't have considered the sr60. However, the difference in price is high and I'm not sure how much this much of a change in sound is worth.

I prefer the 225. However, I still like the sr60; they're just different. The 225 is a bit more refined but the difference of $150 is a difficult choice. From the 60's, I would tend to aim even higher to be sure of that extra refinement.

 

[Usagi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iancraig10 I prefer the 225. However, I still like the sr60; they're just different.

Please, elaborate more on this "difference".

 

[iancraig10]

To me, they seem to have a slightly more defined bass and they sound 'airier'. I don't feel that differences are massive, although hi-fi people would say they are. I equally find the 60 and 80's very similar in character but the difference in price isn't that wide.

There are lots of threads on this site about the sound of the phones.

I am in two minds about the price difference between the 225's and the 60's being worth an upgrade and wonder about going further up the ladder in order to save money in the long run.

 

[viper_45]

I had a pair of HD600s for a while but decided to get some 225s whilst waiting for my HD650+Zu. I think it all depends on whether or not the sound signature appeals to you. As stated, many times, the Grados are very upfront, which can benefit certain types of music. Rock, for example, is brilliant and much more engaging on the 225s.

However, I feel that the HD600s are technically a better headphone. Soundstage, instrument seperation and bass extension are far superior on the HD600s imo. With the 225s, I just get the sense that they are not completely *accurate*. The HD600s are a more balanced can and are probably more versitle (again imo). The 225s are unsuitable for types of music such as electronica, hip-hop and classical (in comparison to the HD600s). Whereas the HD600s do most types of music well... it's just that other cans may be slightly better.

 

[Jmmmmm]

I started out with the hd595's, but then decided to try the 325i's for a different sound. While both are great, I've found myself only listening to the 325i's. Since then, I've purchased some sr80's as a throw-around phone, and I'm selling my hd595's. I think I'm just more of a fan of the brighter grado sound.
Be careful usagi!

 

[hentai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmmmmm I started out with the hd595's, but then decided to try the 325i's for a different sound. While both are great, I've found myself only listening to the 325i's. Since then, I've purchased some sr80's as a throw-around phone, and I'm selling my hd595's. I think I'm just more of a fan of the brighter grado sound. Be careful usagi!

don sell the hd595 because you may need a more versatile phone for other kind of music

 

[iancraig10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper_45 With the 225s, I just get the sense that they are not completely *accurate*. The HD600s are a more balanced can and are probably more versitle (again imo). The 225s are unsuitable for types of music such as electronica, hip-hop and classical (in comparison to the HD600s). Whereas the HD600s do most types of music well... it's just that other cans may be slightly better.

The 'accuracy' claim is always worrying to me.

My work involves making recordings as a musician and when I listen to ALL phones, none of them represent 'accurately' what I thought it sounded like originally. (Even the engineers' phones)

I suppose most people would feel that my Senn 580's are more 'accurate' but I still wander to other phones for entertainment. In fact, the Senn 580 can sound really bland. However, my wife prefers the 580 when she practises on an electric piano and will not use anything else. (I keep trying to get them off her!!!)

I just feel for people going up the upgrade path with their expectations and the reality of what the differences actually are. I don't mind the Koss portapro with its little bass hump, but now I have something like 15 headphones, I wonder whether it would have been better to save the money and go for something 'accurate' and 'entertaining' at the same time .....

 

[viper_45]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iancraig10 The 'accuracy' claim is always worrying to me. My work involves making recordings as a musician and when I listen to ALL phones, none of them represent 'accurately' what I thought it sounded like originally. (Even the engineers' phones) I suppose most people would feel that my Senn 580's are more 'accurate' but I still wander to other phones for entertainment. In fact, the Senn 580 can sound really bland. However, my wife prefers the 580 when she practises on an electric piano and will not use anything else. (I keep trying to get them off her!!!) I just feel for people going up the upgrade path with their expectations and the reality of what the differences actually are. I don't mind the Koss portapro with its little bass hump, but now I have something like 15 headphones, I wonder whether it would have been better to save the money and go for something 'accurate' and 'entertaining' at the same time .....

I can understand what you mean by "bland". But IME, headphones that have more "wow" factor and that are initally more engaging, often become fatiguing after a while, whereas I never had that problem with my HD600s. I believe that the understated (and initally "not-so-special") sound its often a trait of higher end cans. If I still had my HD600s, I'd probably be grabbing them right now.