My SR-80s – come with some shocking sibilance!

[kez1]

I have just received my Grado SR-80s by post.

From my first listen, I was impressed by the clarity, but shocked at the harsh sibilance of the sound. (Most obviously heard in the vocals). It was fatiguing, and at higher volumes bordered on painful.

After about an hour of listening, they SEEM to have softened significantly, but to be honest, I don't know if that's just my ears "getting used to" the sound. (Or my hearing going numb!)

As a test, I ran them through my Fireface 800 Audio Interface, and the sibilance softened slightly, but the sound was muddier overall. I actually found that my iphone gave the best detail out of the tests between my imac, iphone, and fireface 800.

Prior to buying the SR-80s, I tested some SR-60s in a store which I didn't find as sibilant (although background store noise made it harder to analyze). I've read comments about the SR-80s being a brighter headphone. Is this really the case? I've come up with three possible options for me:

a) Downgrading to the SR-60s ?
b) giving the SR-80s more time to "burn in" ?
c) looking at other options?

I felt that the SR-60s had a flatter sound (and in my opinion, this is a good thing) While the SR-80s have great detail, but a bit of a "scooped" sound, and a 7khz bump which is fatiguing.

What are the Head-Fi communities opinions? To throw something else in to the mix, I've read that the harshness goes when the phones are properly amped. I can't be fussed carrying a portable amp with my iphone, but is this comment generally true?

Cheers, Kez

 

[rjp]

I'd give it some break-in time before making the final decision. If it's still too bright, the SR60 would be a good way to go - or put the SR60-type "comfies" onto the 80.

Note: I've never tried the 80s - I started out with (and still use) the 60s. They sound downright sweet whether I'm running them from my E-MU 0404 or out of my Sansa portable.

Once the upgrade bug finally does bite me, I'll have to audition before deciding, but I'd have to decide between the 225, 325i, RS-2, or RS-1. Based on user reviews, the 225 and the RS-1 are the top contenders for me. Pray for my wallet, because it's likely going to be a "straight to the top" move. Of course, that's assuming I don't blow the money on recording gear instead...

 

[kez1]

Hello rjp. I did put some unmodded yellow 414 pads on in order to emulate the comfies. The sound was slightly less sibilant, but also generally more muffled above 9khz, which is an undesirable sound effect.
I just looked at some graphs on headroom.
Notice the massive 7-8khz spike on the SR-125s and the SR-225 compared with the Koss Porta Pros (for example)

Anyone got a frequency graph for the SR-60s?
Listening to fatiguing headphones is actually potentially damaging to your hearing, no?

 

[sacd lover]

Mod you senn pads so they look like the pics below. You will need to cut a slightly bigger hole .... I use a half dollar. Then tuck the excess behind the lip on the outside of the housing so the driver face is fuly open. This greatly reduces sibilance and makes the whole treble regoin more linear. The signature Grado bass impact, speed and smooth midrange remain unharmed.

 

[.coco]

It seems that all of the SR line up are very bright before burn in. 1 hour does not really qualify as burn in, try leaving them playing for a few days. My 325i's shrieked for a few of its first days, but not they sound great.

 

[ka24altima]

My 225's mellowed a lot after about a week.

 

[kez1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ka24altima /img/forum/go_quote.gif My 225's mellowed a lot after about a week.

Are you sure that's not your hearing going?

 

[ka24altima]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kez1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are you sure that's not your hearing going?

I would imagine the opposite would occur when the tinnitus kicked in. That high pitched ringing would only add to the treble

 

[olblueyez]

In headphone speak this means one thing, "Neeeeext".

 

[1Time]

I had the same problems as the OP with my SR80 even after plenty of burn in and then sold it. No one should subject their hearing to such torture. If the Grados sound unacceptable with the associated equipment and music, A) change the associated equipment and/or music to see if that helps, or B) get different headphones.

 

[my.self]

this is kinda off topic, but how do i post a poll? i click on the checkbox for the poll, but when i click on preview post, nothing shows up.

 

[solessthanthree]

This was the same reason why I probably will not purchase another Grado headphone again in the future. I find them far too bright and aggressive for my taste. Like someone mentioned, I want to keep my hearing XD But don't fret, there are pleeeenty of other choices out there :]

 

[maddin]

When I received my SR80 I was surprised as well. What I heard did not fit with all the praise I read here. They sounded bright. For some CDs (Tom Waits for example) it was as if the music was falling into pieces. For others ( Howe Gelb - The listener) it was good because this is mostly an accoustic CD and well recorded with not too much tremble in it.
But things changed a lot with the burn in. I have to admit the SR80 are for me the first HPs, where I hear the burn in and follow it. Byt now they sound VERY nice with Tom Waits as well. Not too bright at all anymore.
But I guess you can see with some of the other posts that it all depends if you like the grado sound. Me, I like it a lot and I have by now the SR325i burning in.

 

[pdelagar]

I've had my SR80s for three years. They sounded very bright at the beginning, so I gave them about three days of break-in and they sounded great after that. Now I enjoy them a lot.