Found Grados in Malaysia!!
I inquired about 80i and 125i, and they are kind enough to invite me to pay a visit to their show room for listening as well.
Very good impression. I had a chat with their consultant Simon. He is very knowledgeable and I can see that he has done nice mods to his equipments in demo room. He's also very active in a couple forums (Simon if this forum is one of it please PM me. C'mon how can you not be active in Head-Fi
).
So they let me try their break-in 60i and a brand new 80i on a set of C.E.C high-fi equipment. I have listen to lots of music such as:
Yo-Yo Ma essentials. (My own CD)
Beethoven Symphony No 5 (my own CD)
Tchaikovsky Violin concerto by Itzhak Perlman
Etc , mainly orchestra pieces.
Sr-60i
Holly **** I'm poisoned!! This headphone review the details and some recording limits that I have never managed to observed after listening to my own CD for at least 20~30 times? Not sure if this is due to the Hi-Fi or the headphone - but I'm swamped with the music awesomeness!!!
Very nice and settled bass. Full. The percussion are well presented, but not bloated (which I love). Double bass stands out and are very pleasant. Brass is very clear as well.
Perfect highs and probably mid highs. SWEET. The highs are so refined it’s like I have never heard before. The vocal range is very colorful, and forward. The amazing part is they although they stand out, it’s not excessively bright and not piercing at all. And I enjoy to vocal A LOT.
However it seems to be a bit lacking on mid strings and low woodwind range. (Cello, or lower viola). This is further confirmed when I listen to the YoYo-Ma CD. I'm not sure if this is consider recessed since I'm don't listen to a lot of headphones. There are noticeable "weaker" but still present.
SR-80i
The 80 reveals even more detail, and even more refined on the high and mid highs right out the box. Bass is however, noticeably harsh. I think bass will be much better after some break-in. If I have a choice I will definitely get the SR-80i comparing the 2.
I can notice an improvement Depth and Sound stage on this over the 60 as well.
Side note:
They are nice for me to listen out their speakers as well - Same amp, same player, just on speaker. The speakers have much better soundstage and depth. On pieces with solo or few instruments they beat the headphones hands down. However, this is a bit weird that when come to orchestra pieces I somehow feel that it’s kind of muffled on some frequency range like that are not able to present everything – not sure if it’s revealing the recording’s true sound, or some other limitations. I know it may be contradict my statement of better soundstage and depth but this is weird…. If that’s is true then I kind of understand why some people say a lot more investment on speakers (and AMP, and room acoustic), in order to review the same detail as a good pair of headphones.
One of my best listening experiences.
Back to Grados – if you listen to a lot of solo pieces for violins and vocal, or even pop and such, I think it’s a no brainer decision – I would buy them hands down. I can only imagine how Maria Callas sound on Grados. I think Jazz would be nice too since double bass sounds perfect on Grados.
However, if you are listening to orchestra pieces… I think a more lay back / balance headphone will do a better job. Since orchestra pieces tend to have emphasis on every frequency range.
I’m looking for a classical headphone for my first. If I decide to have headphones for different signature Grados is definitely one of them!
Also they don't look as big as last time I saw them. Hmm... And surprisingly comfortable.
But they do leak.
By the way, the Grados’ price is considered reasonable. (Not cheaper than US hahaha but hey what you expect in Malaysia – but its close enough). I would recommend getting from them; unless you can find any other shop servicing your pair of Grados. And perhaps Simon can help you with some mods it.
But that might mean voiding your warranty!!
If you are in Malaysia and want to try out Grados, seek out Simon or Esther out on
Adress:
MUSIC BY DESIGN SDN. BHD
J-33-1, 1ST FLOOR, BLOCK J, JAYA ONE, NO. 72A,
JAKAN UNIVERSITI, PETALING JAYA / KUALA LUMPUR
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN 46200
Tel: +60 3 7954 2818
Fax: +60 3 7954 2919
Website:
Russound Distributed Audio-Video and Multiroom Entertainment Systems
email:
apkkl@streamyx.com
And no I don't own that shop.
P.S. If you read this, Siman and Esther, thank you and you 2 rock!
