AzN1337c0d3r
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2004
- Posts
- 302
- Likes
- 11
Sorry guys, I don't have any other Grados here to compare them to. These are my first Grado cans.
I do own several other cans near this tier level though: HD650, D2000, SE530. The HD650 is driven by the LDMk3. I feel that the D2000 and SE530 do not improve (besides adding a tube sound) with the amp. So this first impression is based in comparison to these other cans. I've scored all of the headphones on a rough out of 10 scale, but I am not reviewing the other phones.
Where do I begin? Comfort is probably the most important issue to me, so I'm going to start here.
I recieved these cans Tuesday evening and have been wearing them about 3-4 hours each day.
On the first day I wore these I had a wicked headache from these cans clamping my head. I had never experienced something like this before, even with my unstretched HD650s when they were brand new. Furthermore the pads (bowls I believe they call it) are fairly uncomfortable. They almost feel like 600 grit sandpaper. The only other headphones I've owned which are more uncomfortable than these are the iBuds.
The slight headache feeling is still here 3 days later but slightly lessened, and the pads are not so hard anymore, although still sorta rough on my skin. Barely tolerable now. We'll see if additional wearing in will make them better.
HD650: 10/10 (Perfect)
SE530: 9/10 (Canals get irritated if I try to wear these for a long time)
D2000: 9/10 (Ears get hot after long session)
SR225i: 6/10
Bass:
The very lowest octave is missing compared to the HD650, which means it's missing another .5 octave compared to the D2000/SE530.
Texturally though, whatever it does manage to put out is quite accurate and neutral, although it doesn't have that same feeling of decay that the HD650 and SE530 do.
HD650: 9.5/10 (Missing that last .5 octave, maybe I need a more powerful amp)
SE530: 9.5/10 (If only I could get these but with an impact available in full-sized phones)
D2000: 9/10. (Little overdone in mid-upper bass)
SR225i: 8.5/10.
Mids:
SR225i, HD650, and SE530 are all equally good here. I feel that the SE530 is the most timbrally accurate on average, but the HD650 does especially well with female vocals (at least in the trance/pop/rock I listen to), and the SR225i excels with guitars (both acoustic and electric). Strangely enough, I prefer string quartets and violin solos on the SR225i over the HD650. But the HD650 is still king when it comes to orchestral classical. D2000 has really recessed midrange that is not good on anything but punk and rap imo.
9.5/10 SR225i
9.5/10 HD650
9.5/10 SE530
8/10 D2000
Highs:
These surprised me, after dealing with the Denon's grating highs I thought that I would hate these headphones after reading thread after thread about Grado's highs. Nope, I love these. The only explanation I can offer to these is that the Denons may have a treble spike somewhere that is not well suited to my ear's geometry.
Now it has become apparent to me why people claim the Senns have a "veil". It does sorta sound like with Grados you are next to the band/singers whereas with the HD650 you're out with the audience. But the HD650 is by no means missing detail. Sometimes I just prefer to be out there chilling out in the back instead of rocking out up front.
SR225i: 9.5/10
HD650: 9.5/10
SE530: 9/10
D2000: 7/10 (Grating highs to my ears)
Will I be keeping these? If they become comfortable enough to wear for 4 hours a day without causing a headache.
I do own several other cans near this tier level though: HD650, D2000, SE530. The HD650 is driven by the LDMk3. I feel that the D2000 and SE530 do not improve (besides adding a tube sound) with the amp. So this first impression is based in comparison to these other cans. I've scored all of the headphones on a rough out of 10 scale, but I am not reviewing the other phones.
Where do I begin? Comfort is probably the most important issue to me, so I'm going to start here.
I recieved these cans Tuesday evening and have been wearing them about 3-4 hours each day.
On the first day I wore these I had a wicked headache from these cans clamping my head. I had never experienced something like this before, even with my unstretched HD650s when they were brand new. Furthermore the pads (bowls I believe they call it) are fairly uncomfortable. They almost feel like 600 grit sandpaper. The only other headphones I've owned which are more uncomfortable than these are the iBuds.
The slight headache feeling is still here 3 days later but slightly lessened, and the pads are not so hard anymore, although still sorta rough on my skin. Barely tolerable now. We'll see if additional wearing in will make them better.
HD650: 10/10 (Perfect)
SE530: 9/10 (Canals get irritated if I try to wear these for a long time)
D2000: 9/10 (Ears get hot after long session)
SR225i: 6/10
Bass:
The very lowest octave is missing compared to the HD650, which means it's missing another .5 octave compared to the D2000/SE530.
Texturally though, whatever it does manage to put out is quite accurate and neutral, although it doesn't have that same feeling of decay that the HD650 and SE530 do.
HD650: 9.5/10 (Missing that last .5 octave, maybe I need a more powerful amp)
SE530: 9.5/10 (If only I could get these but with an impact available in full-sized phones)
D2000: 9/10. (Little overdone in mid-upper bass)
SR225i: 8.5/10.
Mids:
SR225i, HD650, and SE530 are all equally good here. I feel that the SE530 is the most timbrally accurate on average, but the HD650 does especially well with female vocals (at least in the trance/pop/rock I listen to), and the SR225i excels with guitars (both acoustic and electric). Strangely enough, I prefer string quartets and violin solos on the SR225i over the HD650. But the HD650 is still king when it comes to orchestral classical. D2000 has really recessed midrange that is not good on anything but punk and rap imo.
9.5/10 SR225i
9.5/10 HD650
9.5/10 SE530
8/10 D2000
Highs:
These surprised me, after dealing with the Denon's grating highs I thought that I would hate these headphones after reading thread after thread about Grado's highs. Nope, I love these. The only explanation I can offer to these is that the Denons may have a treble spike somewhere that is not well suited to my ear's geometry.
Now it has become apparent to me why people claim the Senns have a "veil". It does sorta sound like with Grados you are next to the band/singers whereas with the HD650 you're out with the audience. But the HD650 is by no means missing detail. Sometimes I just prefer to be out there chilling out in the back instead of rocking out up front.
SR225i: 9.5/10
HD650: 9.5/10
SE530: 9/10
D2000: 7/10 (Grating highs to my ears)
Will I be keeping these? If they become comfortable enough to wear for 4 hours a day without causing a headache.
