[Eagle_Driver]

Well, of all the headphones that I currently own, I'm finding that some of them don't sound quite right on the music that I listen to most - rock music, especially classic rock and vintage rock. I've tried almost everything - Sony V700DJ, Sony V6/7506, Sennheiser HD 280Pro, Sennheiser HD 600, and even the lower-end Grados (SR-60 and SR-80). The Sennheiser HD 600 sounded best with classical and jazz - but with rock, it sounded like something was missing (HEY! Where's the impact?). The V700 sounded muddy even with rock, and the V6/7506 sounded abrasive. And the HD 280Pro sounded thin and honky. The lower-end Grados (SR-60 and SR-80) sounded okay, but I wished for a bit more bass and impact than either of those 'phones provide.

So, earlier today I headed out to Decibel Audio (1407 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago) - and auditioned the range of Grado headphones there (yep, Decibel Audio is a full-line Grado dealer). Too bad Decibel had only the SR-40 through the SR-225 available for auditioning. The SR-40 ($34.95) sounded a bit muffled, and one channel wasn't working (but I think that 'phone had been abused at the shop). The SR-60 ($64.95) and SR-80 ($85.00) were what I had expected (I own both of those), but the SR-125 ($129.00) didn't sound all that much better than the SR-80. Only after I listened to the SR-225 ($169.00) did I notice significant improvements in detail and bass. All of the auditioning was done off of a 1989-generation low-end Sony home CD player. And on that CDP, the SR-225 made all of the lower-end Grados sound grainy in comparison. I then inquired about the SR-325 ($259.95), the RS-2 ($425.99) and the RS-1 ($595.00) - but then the salesperson talked me out of the higher-end 'phones (based on the equipment that I currently own - mostly portables and low-end consumer home components); the SR-325 is better, but not $90.95 better, than the SR-225 - more like $10 better! Not worth it, in my opinion. So I walked out of the store with my purchase of the SR-225 plus a Grado mini adaptor cable ($14.95).

I'm currently listening to Disc Two of The Who's compilation CD The Ultimate Collection on my Sony D-EJ721 PCDP, connected via its line-out to my Headroom Total Airhead portable headphone amp, and finally through my new SR-225 headphones. All I can say is WOW!

And the sound will only get better after running the SR-225 in for about 40 hours. No wonder why Headroom thought of the SR-225 as the 'best headphones for rock music'.

With this purchase, I am about to become a FULL-fledged (and not just semi-pledged) member of Team Grado! And to think that I've dissed the SR-225 after hearing it at the Headroom World Of Headphones tour, it's the amp that was to blame, not the 'phones!

 

[Matthew-Spaltro]

I have a total different point of view. The SR 225 for most rock music out of a meta42 amp sounds somewhat distant and shrill in the highs. It might just be the amp and cans don't mesh well but I doubt it. They do sound great with the very good sounding recordings but I don't have too many of those. I could count them on one hand.

 

[DarkWolf]

I got to try the SR-60 at that mini-meet, and I really wanted to like it, but it was justa little too harsh and unrefined. Plus it wasn't nearly as comfy as the Senns. I ultimatly decided on the HD590s, but I really want to hear some more Grados. I'm told that as you move up they get a little warmer and less harsh, but gain detail and body. That was other main complaint about the SR-60, they seemed to have gaps between the three main ranges, as well as having muffled vocals. If it werent for these tings, which weren't quite as bad as I make them sound, I would be a big Grado fan.

 

[austonia]

I think SR80's are about the best bang for the buck ($75) but I was considering picking up a 325 in the f/s forums (~$200) for the deeper bass that the aluminum cups can provide. The bass is full and punchy on the SR80s but I could always use more. heh. good to hear you like the 225s, grados are awesome but not for everyone. DW, there are ways to mod the pads a little and greatly increase the comfort. Mine are comfy for exteneded periods now. I wish grado would take note of this - I'd like to see ANY heaphone company make some memory-foam pads, that would be perfect. I have some foam myself but no idea how to cut it into a bowl shape. You can get a free sample of it from foamorder.com

 

[Matthew-Spaltro]

they are very detailed. I will admit to that.

 

[bangraman]

I had the SR325 and the SR60. I didn't like them very much. I can see what people would like about them, and I can see the hype that's grown up around them (the company, the retro looks, etc) but they weren't for me. I suspect a lot of people buy into it as well and want to remain convinced.
Case in point is a friend of mine, a long-term Gradophile. I lent him the ATH-A900 and the A1000 for a day. He's selling up

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Listening now, I'm beginning to dislike all of my closed headphones. All of them (at least those that I own or have heard) sound either muddy or tinny - and that puts me off. And I briefly heard the AT's (the higher-end models), with the very same tinny ringing, to my ears.

 

[Pepsione1]

Quote:

Originally posted by Eagle_Driver Listening now, I'm beginning to dislike all of my closed headphones. All of them (at least those that I own or have heard) sound either muddy or tinny - and that puts me off. And I briefly heard the AT's (the higher-end models), with the very same tinny ringing, to my ears.

Funny you mentioned that, I have quite the opposite opinion about closed phones. I find closed phones to be contained (in a good way) and you are more surrounded by the music therefore the listener is more involved into the music. I look forward to upgrade to some better closed phones like the AT W1000 instead of getting higher end grados.

 

[Apoptygma]

Eagle_Driver,

which of SR80 and SR225 is shriller to your ears?

 

[KR...]

Quote:

the SR-325 is better, but not $90.95 better, than the SR-225 - more like $10 better! Not worth it, in my opinion.

Well, on a high end system the differences are much more pronounce, but on your system the 325 would have been overkill, so you made the right choice.

 

[sTaTIx]

Eagle Driver, interesting that you say you couldn't hear much difference going up from SR-80 to 125, and 225 to 325. What kind of differences in the sound did you hear going from the 125 to the 225?

 

[Audio-Me]

shrill is not a word I would associate with the Grado SR-225, any sharp harshness is due to be caused by the source (including the recording). It's a decent headphone, has nice bass (lacks extension), but its flaws is lack of body and inherent brightness. The 325 on the otherhand is unbearable to me.

I'd love to hear the Alessandro Music Series Pro (a tamed RS-1?), but $700 is an absurd pricetag, the RS-1 is quite disturbingly expensive as well, but man is it sweet.

I hate closed headphones, but they make hell of a lot more sense than open ones do, seeing as open ones don't really make any sense to me, but I prefer them.

 

[Zanth]

If all Alessandro products have the same design philosophy...then the Pros would not "tame" anything about the RS-1's. In fact...the sound would come closer to 325's. The sound would be more forward and the beautiful warmth of the RS-1's gone. I have heard other Alessandro products...but not the Pros.

 

[Audio-Me]

More forward!? That would sound horrific. BTW, read your friggin PMs Zanth!

 

[redshifter]

i recently had a chance to audition the sr60, 80, 125, 225, and 325 at magnolia hifi. the salesman took the cans out of the display for me so i could listen using an mzr50 md->cha47 amp. the music was stereolab's "abc music". only a few minutes was granted to each phone. the sr80 immediately impressed me, similar to the v6 but with less metallic treble. the sr125 was indeed like the sr80, but i could now hear the finger-plucks on the bass guitar, and the treble had a more liquid quality. again, like the v6 except better. the sr225 was nice but too shrill, and the sr325 (at least from an amped portable) sounded a tad mushy compared to the sr125. perhaps from a better amp + source it would come alive.