[roker]

How can you guys justify the price difference?

I'm not saying this to defend my purchase, but I got to audition the 60,80,125, and 225 and I noticed a dramatic difference when I went from 80 to 125, but from 125 to 225 it was hardly there.

Just to be sure I wasn't crazy, I handed them over to my girlfriend and she came up with the same assessment (she didn't know the price difference at all). At the same time I'm doing this, another man was trying the 125s and 80s, so he also took a stab at the 225s and couldn't see a difference.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Do I need robot ears?

 

[UglyJoe]

That's interesting. I don't know about the "i"s, but the older models seemed to be the other way around... not a gigantic difference between 80 and 125, but a big jump between 125 and 225, particularly in a punchier base. If what your saying is true then one might assume that the 125 benefited the most going to the "i" series...

 

[roker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by UglyJoe /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's interesting. I don't know about the "i"s, but the older models seemed to be the other way around... not a gigantic difference between 80 and 125, but a big jump between 125 and 225, particularly in a punchier base. If what your saying is true then one might assume that the 125 benefited the most going to the "i" series...

unless I read this wrong from http://www.gradolabs.com/frameset_main.htm :

Quote:

What does the i stand for in the new SR225i from Grado? Improved, that’s what! Features are the same as the SR125i, new driver, cable and housing designs, but this headphone has an increased rear air flow, utilizes Grado’s larger ear cushion and has closer matched drivers. Air flow is increased by 50% which is achieved through an improved rear metal screen. The use of closer matched drivers and the larger cushions results in an enlarged soundstage, while the improved rear screen frees the headphone from colorations.

I was seriously expecting a night a day difference but I only found that between the 80s and 125s (punchier bass).

 

[kontai69]

The 225's use better matched drivers and has a metal outer grill (vs the 125's plastic). Whether this is worth the extra $50 can be debated, but since you can't hear the difference, consider it money saved.

 

[roker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kontai69 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The 225's use better matched drivers and has a metal outer grill (vs the 125's plastic). Whether this is worth the extra $50 can be debated, but since you can't hear the difference, consider it money saved.

I actually walked in to buy the 80s, but they were out and when I auditioned all the sets, I landed on the 125s anyway. I had the extra 50 for the 225s and I almost bought it blindly after I found out the 80s were out (I'm impatient). Now I can use it toward some new IEMs.

 

[fjrabon]

actually a lot of people think that all the SR series use the same drivers.

 

[Beagle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by roker /img/forum/go_quote.gif I got to audition the 60,80,125, and 225 and I noticed a dramatic difference when I went from 80 to 125, but from 125 to 225 it was hardly there.

There's a significant sonic difference between the 125 and 225. But if you don't hear any, go for the 125.

 

[unlimited]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagle /img/forum/go_quote.gif There's a significant sonic difference between the 125 and 225. But if you don't hear any, go for the 125.

i totally agree, but maybe you need more time to listen to it.
it's not difference like a day and a night..

 

[Uncle Erik]

I don't know what Grado does, but I suspect that there's a great deal of similarity between Grado drivers.

If you'd like some insight into how the drivers are probably used, go read the Grado literature about their phono cartridges. They will tell you that many of them are identical, except for tolerance, matching, etc.

Go read it, then ask yourself if they might be doing the same thing with their drivers.

 

[roker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlimited /img/forum/go_quote.gif it's not difference like a day and a night..

then it can't really be significant can it?

anyway, I thought for a second I was going crazy after reading the opinions of people here. I know, I know, we should always rely on our own ears and tastes, but then again, I wouldn't have known about grados if it weren't for this place and I'd say for the most part, people are spot on and fair.

 

[tintin47]

Quote:

Originally Posted by roker /img/forum/go_quote.gif then it can't really be significant can it? anyway, I thought for a second I was going crazy after reading the opinions of people here. I know, I know, we should always rely on our own ears and tastes, but then again, I wouldn't have known about grados if it weren't for this place and I'd say for the most part, people are spot on and fair.

Of course it can be significant. Once you are into the higher end of things, everything is about very small differences. Many times you come to notice qualities over time that you weren't listening for/didn't jump out at you when you auditioned. If you bought both the 225 and the 125 and listened to them for a few weeks, I can almost assure you that there would be a clear difference.

On top of that, if you are just getting into even mid fi audio stuff, your ears might just not know what to look for/notice. With better phones, you just sort of notice over time how good they are.

 

[Deathwish238]

Interesting experience. Roker, what is your experience as an audiophile?

 

[roker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin47 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Of course it can be significant. Once you are into the higher end of things, everything is about very small differences. Many times you come to notice qualities over time that you weren't listening for/didn't jump out at you when you auditioned. If you bought both the 225 and the 125 and listened to them for a few weeks, I can almost assure you that there would be a clear difference. On top of that, if you are just getting into even mid fi audio stuff, your ears might just not know what to look for/notice. With better phones, you just sort of notice over time how good they are.

I'll take your word for it. I'm sure there is a difference. When I make a jump to the next headphones I'll make sure it's to hi-fi. It's probably better to start out small then move up. I see you've moved to the RS-1s at this point. I'll make that jump someday, but when I do, I'll make sure I'm ready (and packing some dollars).

 

[roker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deathwish238 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Interesting experience. Roker, what is your experience as an audiophile?

got into this from a small hifi store in my hometown of Flint, MI (Front Row Audio). Found what I was missing from audio when they played a TT for me (classical music). Then I got a decent hookup and had a TT for a while, until I moved around too much to take it with me.

Then I didn't get back into it until one of my friends showed me his NHT M-OOs (terrific sounding speakers) running FLAC from his squeezebox. Then little by little I started trying out nice IEMs, cans, and listening to other speakers. I know I'm not quite "hi-fi", but I know good music when I hear it and crap when I hear it.

Bought the M-00s, got a sufficient dac/amp combo (fubar III), and started with senns (not for me) and then went to grados. I'm not going to deny that the pricier stuff is better, but sometimes it's minuscule and the "jump" we heard once (like I did with the M-00s and the McIntosh setup) are not always as obvious as night and day. I'm also fortunate to have friends that are into those pricier things so I can compare and contrast.

 

[Deathwish238]

Good to know. I generally don't care for higher end grados(past the 125), they serve their niche but that's about it imo. At the $200-$300 price range you'll have many many more options to choose from when looking for nicer hi-fi headphones.