richpjr
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2002
- Posts
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- 32
The shopping experience of a newbie:
After months of browsing around here reading the endless debates about various headphones, I am finally getting close to picking something up (actually I had picked up some PortaPros to tide me over – these things are great for the money!). It was time to audition some better phones.
From my endless searches and reviews of threads I had narrowed my choices down to the Grado 225/325 or the Sennheiser 590/600s, with the SR325 being the early favorite. Unfortunately I could not find a store in San Diego that carries both to do a quick A/B on them, so I had to go to 2 different stores, bringing 3 cds that I am very familiar with (jazz, rock, and acoustic).
The first stop had the Grados 225s (alas – they were out of 325s). I compared them to SR80s just for kicks. The first thing I noticed was that they were much lighter than I was expecting. I also thought the foam rubber seemed awful cheesy looking and they kind of itched my big ears. The 225s sounded bright, aggressive, punchy and very detailed – just like everyone has described them! The SR80s had similar characteristics, but seemed a little muddier and less detailed. I was impressed with the Grado sound.
I hopped in the car and went the next store that had the Sennheiser 590 and 600s along with some SR60s and SR80s. They explained that the reason that they don’t carry anything over the SR80s was because whenever anyone started going up in price they almost always went with the Senns - their words! They did say that could order any Grado for me.
I first tried the 590s and was extremely impressed by how comfortable they were! (I had actually bought a pair of these for about a week early in my search, but brought them back because I got busy at work and couldn’t spend much time playing with them). The sound didn’t seem quite as bright as the Grados – a little mellower and more refined. I love the having a cord only on one side. I then popped on the 600s and they seemed almost as comfortable as the 590s, but the sound… very smooth. Warmer than the Grados. More refined than the 590s. Whoa! I then switched back and forth between the 590s and the 600s and quickly realized that though the difference between the two wasn’t nearly as much as I was expecting from reading some posts here, that the HD600 was a pretty clear step above the 590s. Not that I didn’t think the 590s sounded good – they did. The 600s just sounded significantly better to me.
They also had a pair of 570s there. I have heard some pretty uncomplimentary opinions of them and after about 10 seconds I could see why. They sounded like the 590s, but with cotton balls stuck in my ears - blecch!
I then switched between the SR80s and the 600s to compare the Grado vs Senn sound. I realize that these headphones are not comparable, but it was all they had. The first thing that struck me was – boy, these Grados are uncomfortable compared to the Senns. I didn’t notice it as being bad in the first store – as I said, just kind of itchy. But after putting on the Senns, I just cannot imagine living with the Grados, no matter what I thought of the sound!
So, my final decision was actually pretty easy – the 600s all the way! Comfortable, best sound - I was impressed. I could have looked harder at trying to compare the 325s with the 600s, but now I really don’t see the point. Too bad the store was selling the 600s for $449 – yikes! I've seen them online for half that!
Now, time to order online and onto headphone amp research…
Thanks for all the informative posts!
And thanks in advance for all the questions I will be asking about amps and replacement cables!
Rich
P.S. Yes, my wallet will soon be very sorry!
After months of browsing around here reading the endless debates about various headphones, I am finally getting close to picking something up (actually I had picked up some PortaPros to tide me over – these things are great for the money!). It was time to audition some better phones.
From my endless searches and reviews of threads I had narrowed my choices down to the Grado 225/325 or the Sennheiser 590/600s, with the SR325 being the early favorite. Unfortunately I could not find a store in San Diego that carries both to do a quick A/B on them, so I had to go to 2 different stores, bringing 3 cds that I am very familiar with (jazz, rock, and acoustic).
The first stop had the Grados 225s (alas – they were out of 325s). I compared them to SR80s just for kicks. The first thing I noticed was that they were much lighter than I was expecting. I also thought the foam rubber seemed awful cheesy looking and they kind of itched my big ears. The 225s sounded bright, aggressive, punchy and very detailed – just like everyone has described them! The SR80s had similar characteristics, but seemed a little muddier and less detailed. I was impressed with the Grado sound.
I hopped in the car and went the next store that had the Sennheiser 590 and 600s along with some SR60s and SR80s. They explained that the reason that they don’t carry anything over the SR80s was because whenever anyone started going up in price they almost always went with the Senns - their words! They did say that could order any Grado for me.
I first tried the 590s and was extremely impressed by how comfortable they were! (I had actually bought a pair of these for about a week early in my search, but brought them back because I got busy at work and couldn’t spend much time playing with them). The sound didn’t seem quite as bright as the Grados – a little mellower and more refined. I love the having a cord only on one side. I then popped on the 600s and they seemed almost as comfortable as the 590s, but the sound… very smooth. Warmer than the Grados. More refined than the 590s. Whoa! I then switched back and forth between the 590s and the 600s and quickly realized that though the difference between the two wasn’t nearly as much as I was expecting from reading some posts here, that the HD600 was a pretty clear step above the 590s. Not that I didn’t think the 590s sounded good – they did. The 600s just sounded significantly better to me.
They also had a pair of 570s there. I have heard some pretty uncomplimentary opinions of them and after about 10 seconds I could see why. They sounded like the 590s, but with cotton balls stuck in my ears - blecch!
I then switched between the SR80s and the 600s to compare the Grado vs Senn sound. I realize that these headphones are not comparable, but it was all they had. The first thing that struck me was – boy, these Grados are uncomfortable compared to the Senns. I didn’t notice it as being bad in the first store – as I said, just kind of itchy. But after putting on the Senns, I just cannot imagine living with the Grados, no matter what I thought of the sound!
So, my final decision was actually pretty easy – the 600s all the way! Comfortable, best sound - I was impressed. I could have looked harder at trying to compare the 325s with the 600s, but now I really don’t see the point. Too bad the store was selling the 600s for $449 – yikes! I've seen them online for half that!
Now, time to order online and onto headphone amp research…
Thanks for all the informative posts!
And thanks in advance for all the questions I will be asking about amps and replacement cables!
Rich
P.S. Yes, my wallet will soon be very sorry!
