Owned the sr60e for a few years now, its one of those headphones that will benefit from burn-in, I still remember how awful and grainy it sounded ootb I almost returned it. Still, its one of my most beloved headphones because of how much time Ive spent modding this thing from its aethetics to sound quality, the value you get out of it by self-tuning is better than buying their expensive ones, its only a matter of poking holes to reduce to 2khz peak and treble spikes, adding dynamat or foams to driver for snappier low end response, removing the cables for convenience, pad change, etc...however the driver itself have its limits maybe technically slightly below or equal to shp9500, it wont compete to other gears I have atm but this was my gateway drug to the hobby. I understand if most people despise the grados, but for some people who can diy, this headphone is a modders delight.
Love the video, the only problem I have is calling the look dated. Because that’s the point. They are supposed to keep the classic look they’ve had since the 90s. I don’t mind people calling them ugly because opinions, I personally love it.
I have the RS2e's and they're pretty good, especially for rock/midrangy stuff (getting the G pads instead of the stock ones solved most of the [dis]comfort issues). I agree though that, in terms of price/performance ratio, Grados are not worth it for most people. I think of my Grados as a temperamental Italian sports car I don't drive to work but use for fun every now and then. For driving to work, I use either my überprecise German Mercedes (HD800S) or the American muscle car (LCD-X)
Great analogy man! My dad found out about temperamental foreign cars first hand when he bought an Aston Martin DB9. Fantastic car, but 1) He doesn't drive it all the time (like you alluded to) and 2) it's given him quite a bit of headache. He's had to fix a lot of things with it and it's hard to find parts for obvious reasons. Plus it's a bit tricky to work on yourself, so he has to outsource the labor.
makes everything so live...like you are in the sound studio mixing the audio. got the VEVER replacement earpads for gs1000 and solved comfort as well as give full bass. ordered another foam pad - waiting for the Voarmaks bowl shape over ear pads how can different pads change the sound ? could you do video comparing them all. L cups, foam for other grado higher priced headphones?
The 2k bump in the k702s, although "not shouty and not in your face", can become fatiguing after a while, unlike the hd 650, which NEVER becomes fatiguing; it actually lulls you to sleep.
I personally don't find that bump fatiguing at all, but yeah the 702 is my daily driver and I def agree about 650. I think it's strange though; if it's not shouty and not in your face, how exactly is it fatiguing for you? (Genuinely curious).
@@necrodh Yes! Well, I will say the K240 tends to dig into my lobes because of the shallow cups, but other than that I have zero complaints, comfort-wise or sound-wise. The K702 is just about a perfect headphone aside from some really minor nitpicks.
I owned the 60 and the 80, the 80 has deeper more accurate bass and little more dynamics so its better to start your way up with the 80, if your source is not high end dont waste your money upgrading because then it will all sound the same. Currently I own the GS1000, I plug them to ahigh quality mp3 player, sounds like ahigh end set up.
Not at all. My Grados have incredibly balanced bass, mid and treble. Definitely not too much treble and a wonderfully defined very rich bass too. I use mainly the gw100 but my sr80e sounds even better, with high quality imput of course.
Excuse me, I really mean no offense, but you must be a little off, dude. I was curious about buying a Grado headphone because of the legendary "best for rock" comments about the brand, and stumbled upon this video, and bought the Koss KPH30i instead. IT'S AWFUL! What are those bloated mids? They even hiss, man 😬 I mean, they're so grainy sounding it sounds like hiss. I returned my pair and got another one for the risk of having had a malfunctioning unit, and the results were the same. Bloated, hissing thing. Returned them again and got a Grado SR 60X this time. MUCH BETTER. No, really. It has its flaws, of course, but still waaaaay better than that Koss piece of junk. "Aaah, but the Koss costs only around $30, what did you expect" - and so does the Monoprice 8323 and the Superlux HD 681 and the Samson SR850 that are much better 🤦🏽♂️
Stu do you have any experiences with the non 'e' versions (e.g. SR80 or SR80i)? Any discernible differences between those models compared to the updated 'e' models?
Gosh I'm trying to remember if Audio Advice carried them. I know they had the RS2i for quite awhile, but I don't think they ever had the i versions for the 60e and 80e. I really need to go back there and check out what they have now. I haven't been in quite some time.
Question is, *is Grados a good, second headphones?* I own ATHM50x and ATHM50X-BT. One is used for my studio work while the other is my daily driver. I want an open back headphones because of the sound stage. Does the open back of Grados provide that against my M50Xs or does the on ear design prevent it from being noticeable?
Grados would be a good secondary headphone if you want soundstage, would be great for movies! You may want to consider the superlux HD668B though, which is my daily driver at the moment. Its 30$ (in the USA) and is a clone of the AKG K240 in its chassis, BUT its sound signature is trying to replicate the dt990 pro from beyerdynamic, and if you look at the graphs side by side at rtings they're pretty bang on! The K240 used to be my daily driver and I absolutely loved it! It's soundstage is wide but the semi open design makes it nice for studio use since you can record and direct monitor without sound leaking out the sides of your head like a maniac. And they're crazy comfortable with the headband adjustment, just slap them on your head and you're ready to go! I got the HD668B to replace my AKG K240 because I wanted something similar, and not even because they broke or anything, they're just painful to mix on due to their severe lack of sub-bass. The HD668B stock was less enjoyable than a stock K240, and it could be compared to the grado sound. It's not offending in the mid treble but it's definitely overly sparkly for my tastes. But if you apply oratory's EQ preset to it, it sounds absolutely phenomenal for all genres, which is perfect since I don't take these headphones away from my computer so I never need to use them EQless. The soundstage on the HD668B isn't as wide as a k240, but the difference is very subtle. Overall, all I gotta say is check out superlux lol they even got a HD-25 clone and a MDR-7506 clone also in the 30$ range, its crazy!
I decided to wait on the Grados for a bit and buy the SHP9500 instead as it's flat and famously know for soundstage to cost ratio. I plan on buying Grados in the future as it's been one of my must try headphones for a few years now. I just hope by 2 or 3 years from now, Grados will still be around. Originally was going to panic buy it as the information that covid could shut down the company was to me problematic.
@@AnickYT good to know! cant go wrong with shp9500s and its definitely worth trying out the grado line. Grado is a smaller company so they couldve been hit by covid pretty hard, but luckily their popularity could be increasing thanks to youtubers like dankpods, which could keep them around for a while
@@KirbyCurbwhy Yeah I hope so. I'm on a tight budget as most of my money is going to my retirement plan. I recently graduated highschool and working to get into the military. I had total $100 for free spending and decided to buy the $60 on the SHP9500. Rest money is going to collage or retirement plan.
I bought expensive Grado RS-1X headphones and love them for what they are. Listening is pure pleasure, and that's what music is all about. I suspect that my hearing has issues and that makes these an especially good fit for me. The woodwork is beautiful. I like and respect the company and their commitment to local employees. No regrets whatsoever.
KPH30i needs softer rubber in those grommet pieces that attach the cups to the headband so it articulates better. I find it a little clampy, even with Yaxi pads. You couldn’t wish for better sound under $100 though, the definition of non-fatiguing.
Thank you, Antoine. 30i will be replacing 9500 on Budget Kings for #1. Don't tell anyone! Either that or the Porta Pro when I buy one. KSC75 is good but perhaps not on the same level. 60e is going bye bye! LOL 😂
@@HomeStudioBasics KSC75 on the PortaPro headband is my favourite, but I enjoy all three. I can forgive a lack of resolution if the tonal balance is to my liking and there’s no glaring faults with the little Koss’.
What is the best non-chinese, open back Bluetooth headset for under 300. I just bought the GW100 v2 but I may return em if I can find something better.
Very good discussion. Grado is such a polarizing brand. I am in the camp where I really appreciate the clarity and brightness.Grados are definitely old-school, I have had issues with the long cable cutting audio out in one ear and being frustrated that the cables weren’t easily user replaceable. Sound quality wise, they are clear and bright and pristine, I love the way they sound. I have a 17 year old SR125. It still holds up really really well against other headphones in its price range. Then I upgraded to the SR 325E which adds weighty sub bass and greater efficiency to the sound, it is a great purchase, even though they are a little heavy. Then I bought the RS2e, which adds a pinch of warmth and refinement to the 325e. That’s as high as I plan to go in the Grado line. I hear that the updated Grado GW 100 sounds amazing, but I can’t speak for it, I’ve never tried it. I also have a Hifiman Ananda, which is on a whole ‘Nother’ level, sounds so big and so grand and so lifelike! I also love my HD600, It is probably better than the Ananda in terms of it being more neutral, but the Ananda is just so enjoyable The RS2e is probably the best headphone I own that can be plugged right into a phone. I alternate it with my Sennheiser Momentum wired 2.0 and the Vmoda Crossfade 2 wireless with the wireless
Hey man, thank you for sharing your experiences without attacking me over mine. LOL. Anywho, that's awesome! Yeah, as mentioned in the video some people have told me the same as you have about the build. Others say they break down quite easily. *shrug* I guess it just depends. I've heard the Grado GW100 and wasn't impressed. I think I have a First Impressions video here somewhere on the channel. I just never bothered to review it because I didn't care, lol. It had the same exact issues as the others and I wanted to throw it. It's ugly asf too. I will say the e line of headphones looks gorgeous. Gah, Ananda is one of my all-time favorite headphones. I'd rank them 1. Utopia 2. Ananda. 3. Dan Clark Aeon Flow Closed 4. LCD-2 5. HD6XX That's about right. The Ananda to me is nearly a perfect headphone; the only thing that holds it back is its sometimes bitey/essy treble. It's slight though - a minor nitpick, really. Grand and life-like are perfect terms to describe it. Just sublime in every way. Yeah, I've had my HD600 since 2016. I will probably never get rid of it. I may pick up a 6XX, I may not. Just depends. My 600's do need some new pads though and I want to get a set or 2 of balanced cables - one XLR for THX and one 4.4 for all the iFi stuff I have here..
Hey man! You're probably looking at a 58X or 6XX at the very least. I think the 6XX would be a true upgrade. Check this article out: homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/
I am a Grado fan but would agree that the point of diminishing return begins after the SR 225. But this is true for other brands after this price point as well. As with other audio components, some people are willing to spend a lot of money for small improvements. Maybe we all hear things differently but I do not find the Grado sound to be especially colored. The bump around 2 kilohertz is necessary because of the gain factors of the human ear. Remember that headphones are not speakers! Many would consider a bump between 2 and 4 kilohertz as a neutral frequency response for headphones, although there are no universally agreed upon standards for headphones as there are for speakers. If you look at the frequency response curves for other headphones, you will find that many or most brands have a bump in this region. It is not limited to Grado. Grado's bump may be slightly more than some other manufacturers but the general trend is the same. Interestingly, one brand that generally does not have a bump in this region is Sennheiser but some of their headphones sound veiled to me. As for build quality, I have a Grado SR 225 headphone that is more than 20 years old and still going strong. It developed a problem with one of the channels cutting out. Grado repaired it for $40 and got back to me right away when I emailed them about what to do. Try this with a larger company. Grado headphones are indeed still relevant today. The current version of the SR 80 for a little more than a hundred bucks is the best value out there. I beg to differ but the SR 80 is significantly better than the SR 60 for about $20 more. There is bit more competition in the extreme high end headphone market but no other headphones in the $200 and under market come close to Grado in my opinion.
hello, im from argentina, a friend go to usa and i cant decide if i buy the mdr 7506 or grados sr80x, i listend prog jazz (soft machine), the residents, the fall, other postpunk and classical (violin sonatas), can you help me??? poor country only one chance. Thanks!
I would personally go with the 7506 man! Check out this article: homestudiobasics.com/sony-mdr-7506-review-2/ For classical I may steer you away from the 7506, but for most genres it will be really good. Why not consider an open back? When you click that article you'll see it's part of a series. I'd check out the 30i and 9500 as well :)
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks duderino, i live in a poor country, got son nad amps, psb and tannoy speakers, but now is imposible. Great channel dude, first heat it, now love it.
@@HomeStudioBasics dude! my friend cant find the 7506, what do you think of buy the hd25??? i gues would be easy to find, i see your video of them today, are better than the 7506? thanks duderino.
have you seen the new updated X series? apparently they have the 38ohm hemp drivers in them which ive heard good things about on top of actually having padding on the tops im really debating checking out the 60x
This could very well be a case of shiny object syndrome and the headphones are the exact same. If they improved them fine, but I'm like 95% sure it's going to be the exact same crap in a new shiny package for the ignorant Grado masses. Now, if they improved the product, I will certainly give credit where it's due.
@@HomeStudioBasics yeah ive tried to do research on them they're so new I cant really find anyone who's tried them let alone compare the e vs x versions it might be worth getting them and having one of the first videos about them id like to see someone whos not fanboying talk about the possible improvements before I actually buy another pair of headphones let alone grados lol but they are more expensive than the e version so they better sound good
@@HomeStudioBasics well I ordered a pair of sr80x and grabbed a pair of koss KPH30i with the g cushions, apparently they definitely have wayy more bass and less shouty highs ill let you know if I think its really worth the extra 100 bucks over the koss especially with the g cushions on both if I hate them im blaming dankpods
@@HomeStudioBasics honestly dude im super happy with the sr80x idk if its because its so different from everything else I own or what and I wonder what I would've thought of the 80e maybe I just like a ton of tremble but I have yet to find someone coming from the e series or honestly anyone who's bought them that hasn't had something good to say and they're definitely not as sharp as the dt990s and actually seem to have bass and while the kph30i are crazy for the money I really think these are worth it for what you get sound wise especially if you dont listen to a lot of pop/rap/edm but thats most of what I listen to and I dont mind them for that but damn other genres sound good I assume the more expensive ones have better competition though
I’m an ‘offensively bright audio’ enjoyer. I own HD600 and Grado SR225X, and I enjoy the music more on the 225X. They go all in on their sound signature, it’s okay if they’re not reference headphones or not for everyone.
Would like differentiation between large-mouth bass and small-mouth bass next time. Some newbies think they're the same fish, but they're quite different.
Haha! Great idea, man! Gonna do that in future videos lmao. "Greetings smallmouth bass head and welcome aboard!" 😂 or: Greetings, largemouth bass head.. hahah. I will also do a little differentiation.
Love the graphs, love the graphics.. always love the sharp insights and clever inquisition in total. Detailed. Thorough. > How about a graphic at the end of each comparison video displaying your current rankings of the products so we can see the hierarchy and fully visualize where they stand in your opinion? So.. are the Sennheiser HD650 still the best? Thats what Im rockin. And the free AKG in-ear buds that came with the Samsung Note are surprisingly sufficient for most music.
Thanks, man! Always great to hear from you. Yeah, 650 is awesome! I've owned an HD600 since 2016. I do think the 6XX strikes a perfect balance between the too forward mids on the 600 and the too laid-back sound of the 650. It's a nice middle ground between them. You may try it out sometime. I will be coming out with another 600 and 6XX vid as well so stay tuned for that. Great idea though thank you. I will work on implementing something like that moving forward.
@@SLUMSON Yeah man! Thank you! Snag a pair from this article and it will help me out! (Drop Link is in there) homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/ I hope you enjoy the read as well. Feel free to comment on the blog too if you want. :) Stay in touch and keep me posted. -Stu
@@HomeStudioBasics I thought the 6xx was the MassDrop version of the 650? Like no difference besides the color and styling... but you're saying they actually sound different? Is that correct? Thanks for the info!
@@SLUMSON Yeah man. People have been parroting that for a while but it's just not true and rtings just came out with a graph that proved my point. Check out my 6xx video and the pinned comment:
KPH30i completely changed my perspective on the audiophile BS snake oil we get fed all of the time. I find myself using it even over my Sundara and X00 a lot of the time, because I like having something light, wide open, and a little heavier on the bass. I tried to Grado pad mod too, but I think I prefer stock. Of course, the KPH30i isn't "better" than either the Sundara or the X00, but the point is I paid $20, and the difference in sound quality is probably 10-20%, despite costing more than 15 times as much. It's easy to get caught up in blowing money on mostly imagined differences, and forgetting that we're supposed to be pursuing this hobby only so we can enjoy our music more.
Hey man! Shoot, I'd say the gap is a bit smaller than that even! I find the 30i a perfect sound signature which is just flabbergasting. It has no business sounding that good. I find flaws with nearly every headphone I listen to. There's nothing about the 30i that irritates me. I would go out on a limb and say it actually is better than a lot of what we're spoon fed. I may run with this lol.
@@HomeStudioBasics My first big "shock" was actually the Sony MH750 earbuds. If you can find a genuine pair, they're even cheaper than the Koss stuff (got mine for $11 on eBay). I thought maybe it was just a fluke, but then I get the KPH30i on sale and it happened again. Then I knew it wasn't a fluke. I just had to accept that I fell for the BS before. Once a minimum quality threshold is met it just seems to come down to the signature we prefer, and it's just really damn hard to find a complaint about the KPH30i's signature. I haven't found a complaint yet, at least, and I've been listening to everything on it for weeks. I ordered Drop's Porta Pro and KSC75, and should get them this weekend. If they're even close to the KPH30i, I don't see much point in bothering with anything else. I'm definitely not recommending anything more expensive to anyone anymore.
@@NotTheOnlyMattAround Hi Matt! Im cosidering to get the grado sr60 or the koss kph30i. I would like to test it with the grado xl pads. Have you compared them? I also have the Portapro with yaxi pads. What do you prefer of them?
@@cuchucabrera I have tested them, and greatly prefer the yaxi pads on the KPH30i. That's what I keep on mine. That being said, you can't go wrong with the new Grados. I have an old sr80e I've done a lot of modding to. Changed the cups to wood, replaced the headband with leather, added the g cups (the xl pads you're referring to). They sound pretty good, and the aftermarket g pads do improve that grado sizzle a bit. With the sr80x, the only modding I've done is put my old f pads on it (the ones that come on the hemp, otherwise know as the TTVJ deluxe pads) and bend out the headband a bit. These are now one of my favorite sounding headphones. However, for the money, a KPH30i with yaxi pads just can't be beat. If Made in the USA vs China matters to you, consider that too.
@@NotTheOnlyMattAround Thanks for your advise. I think Im going to test both, the grado sr60 and the kph30i. I can get a cheap second hand pair of the grados, and a new pair of the kph30i. I love this kind of cheap audio products that sounds so damm good. Cheers!
just listen to the grade gw100, the best Bluetooth headphones I’ve ever owned, and I own plenty, like drop pandas thx, apple AirPods 2, Sony xm3 and xm4, Samsung buds pro, etc etc… not only do these beat everything else, but it’s by such a large margin, they’re not even in the same league. best 200-250 I ever spent.
Every little bead of sweat. Feel it running down my neck. When you look at me like that. Feelin' like we can't go back. If I become a pillar of salt. I'll know that it was all my fault. Every little bead of sweat. Every little bead of sweat. Man I'm getting hot and bothered again, runner. You're just a bottomless pit, of hunger. YOU LISTEN RIGHT NOW! open.spotify.com/track/2FLW1FnWZxGUuiDgsLDGOG?si=ywx5np0eSz6Sa5j_YSn70w Haha. Re: Grado HEMP. Maybe. mAYBE!! xD
what about allesandro and from what ive heard from a few people, of course their opinion, and ironically the GW100 is the best headphone they got and it's bluetooth. Probably dsp F's off the house sound
NO! NO! NO! You put those allesandro's DOWN! Lol. Jk I haven't heard that one. GW100 was pretty awful to me and suffered from the same problems as the e line. I looked at a graph of the hemp and I have to say I'd be more interested in listening to that one as the bump doesn't look quite as bad.
@@HomeStudioBasics wouldn't doubt it for a second. I never tried it, but you try to have wishful thinking. Never seen the measurements on it. Allesandros are made by grado from my understanding and it's the same thing. But just as you mentioned they suggest buying that one over the 600 dollar version. Also look identical to the 60 or 80. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Pretty good on never owning grados. love the video though LOL
Grado Labs is the biggest nickel & dime brand in existence. If something falls on the floor and gets crap on it, they'll just wipe it off and still package it as new. In Canada, Grado's using a guy out of his own measly house where inventory is stored in a humid basement ! If you buy anything Grado in Canada, big chance you're gonna get something previously used or repaired !
Great graphics on this video. You should market the diminishing returns one to all audio reviewers. And all the effort for the graphic of the different lines of Grado headphones with the shadows. There is a thin line between love and hate. haha
Yeah man, thank you! I actually went back and fixed the graph. You may recall the axis' were off and I got everyone and their grandma pointing it out haha. So yeah, I think I'm going to do an updated Diminishing returns video if that's what you meant. I also need to clean it up some more and adjust a couple of things. The graph looks good but there's something that will make it look much better and I have yet to figure out what it is. It just needs some tweaking.
I ain’t gonna lie I only like Grados because they looking fucking cool and I’ll put up with the flimsy construction and discomfort in the name of pretty AF headphones :dab:
I owned a pair of Grado sr125, more or less I managed to correct them using ApoEQ through hours and hours of listening sessions and looking at measurements, now they do not sound like the HD600 (that I own) but very close. But definitely at that price point, Philips SHP9500 are the game changer!
Yeah man, thank you! Check this out: th-cam.com/video/7O-CnSL0q58/w-d-xo.html Also the Budget Kings series: homestudiobasics.com/the-budget-kings-series/
Not surprised; Grado headphones never sounded smooth and neutral to my ears. I could always hear some peakiness in the upper mids (presence region) plus a bit of abrasiveness and listening fatigue... probably the result of peaks and ringing in the presence region. In addition they were one of the most uncomfortable phones I were wore.
I would rather a detacheable cable than a THICC heavy undetacheable cable. 😟 I bought the SR80e just to try out their sound signature. I think since I've heard one, I've heard it all. FYI, I did try SR60e, 125,225, 325. 325 is the best sounding of those I've tried but it's not worth the money in my opinion.
Hey man! Yeah. THICC is not always a good thing. Most of the time it is ;) But in the case of Grah-do, not really. It just ends up being a hassle. It's like sloppy THICC. Dummy thicc good. sloppy thicc no good. LOL.
I like how you say "bass" like it's the fish. I mean those bass fish are pretty quiet so if you can pick up their little mouth movements that's a quality headphone!
I started with a SR60 over 15 years ago, then moved on to the SR80e and now own a SR325X I must say that for me there's no other headphone that comes close performance wise to either of those (in their pricerange and even in a much higher prices range then the 325X) I guess how one experience sound is personal, so it's hard to say that this or that headphone is better, but I just love the Grade headphones. They are simple (retro if you like) and last a long time. I still own my SR60 and, except for some new pads, it's still functioning perfectly well.
@@danieleturrin5625 I've got no experience with ;listening to HipHop over the 325x, but more Progressive rock, Jazz and sometimes symphonic rock. The sound of my 325x for these types of music is just an eyeopener.
@@bertgroeneveld57 thank you! I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 560s, they're good for good mastered genres but also boring on bad recorded tracks. I was looking for an headphone that is capable of doing well on every kind of record and these grado's are the right choice, i guess.
This was a pretty balanced look at these I think. Everyone needs to be aware of the sound signature they're getting themselves into with these. I think the Grado pad type itself actually accounts for most of the sound signature differences. Tyll did an article on the "tape mod" and measuring it, turns out 2k is directly affected because the exact diameter of the flat pads of the entry level models happens to set up a resonance at that frequency if I remember right. Pretty crazy. PS i did get your email, going to send out that k371 this week if possible
Grados sound signature seems to work best for guitar emulator software. They make them so poorly that they keep on breaking though. I was going to go up the line when I saw this,I won't bother now.
I did really enjoy the humor in this video as well as the objectivity and every complaint in this Video is probably legitimate, however I'll count myself as a Grado apologist. I just kindof like them. Full disclosure though, after 5 years of running a sound board for live concerts and 20 years in the Army I've got a fair amount of herring loss. This actually becomes interesting when one considers that most fans of Grado's sound tend to be older.
Unless you need portability, in which case an IEM is probably on your radar, on a budget I’d probably opt for a Hifiman HE400se or Sennheiser HD560s or a closed back like the M40x. Headphone ranking lists like Crinacle’s give the Grado SR60 a C minus, and the PortaPros a C. Both have tons of fans but I’d keep looking. That said, KPH30i look crazy comfortable.
Perhaps Crinacle didn’t listened to well-burned SR60. I didn’t listened to it for few years. Today out of the sudden, I wore it on. Man…. My first ever audiophile headphone still surprise me with impactful bass in Rock music. Also very comfortable over my head than my Ath Ad700, b&o headphone. Now I am wanting that Grado wireless for its light weight it’s all matters to me. Also the pads upgrade is lower cost as well. And no more pressing ears issue after hours of listening which I found from many models. For over a decade auditioning many types of headphones. Grado is stealing back my heart again.
I have Sennheiser HD 25 and had the Fostex TH909. Was the sound quality of the TH909 £1300 more than the former? EF NO!! This clip makes a very solid statement on headphone quality vs selling your ass. Bye Felicia aka TH909.
Fostex headphones are strictly for hardcore modders. They should state that clearly in their ad copy. "Buy these if your right hand is a soldering iron, and your left hand is a CNC machine. Also, you should probably have stock in Dekoni." You know, honest advertising.
I just want my headphones made in the us. I wish Koss brought their manufacturing here, they have good options but all made over seas. Grado is the only one still making em here.
the grado hemp is the best headphone ever created. it hass all the greatness of the grado sound, and additionally amazing detailed and natural bass response and no bothering trebble peak of the other grados. it sounds like real life music like no other headphone, not even the hd800s
Hey man, everything you say, you are so right. What you say about the hipsters lol. You have a clear view on everything. Thanks for giving this honest information. Keep on going and you will be fine. Greetings from the netherlands
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey man!, do not worry, yeah man we have a cool friendship. I am thinking about videocalling with you, you can see my ugly hahaha face, no do not worry.. Yeah, as soon as the future will make it possible you are the first I will visit. We are fucked because of the corona shit, but we have to keep hope. Maybe the videocalling can help, it's a more private way of communication. Hmmm I have to have a decent webcam.
Thanks for the video bro. I just saw that the white grados are out at nearly $1k. Ahhh seriously!!?? And I can read overly sweet reviews on them. The grado white headphones use the same chassis as the sr80e, etc. 😅😅
Haha just kidding. I don't know man. I wouldn't recommend you listen to the SR60. LOL. Nah, probably a solid state. Tube amps are built specifically for high impedance headphones.
I collect mostly 80s portable Sonys, which, if they are in good condition of course, obliterate 95% of today's headphones. Now I plan to buy some recent stuff and I chose Grado, but this video makes me think if they worth it and would not be just another investment in vain next to my Sonys. Interesting. Edit: I am also considering an AKG K702 according to this video. Will do more research but it seems awesome.
@@HomeStudioBasics some people are just so deaf they need certain frequency's drilling into their head. If they will defend a turd till death then just give them an affiliate Amazon link and show them the direction.
I have grado 80s, I really don't like them at all. I rather go with 7506s or 770s, different design philosophy but way higher fidelity. Koss utility actually are better to haha, i wouldn't call them audiophile but it's a nice chill on couch headphone.
I remember trying the SR 60i, 80i, 125i (and beyond on the Prestige line) with my own audio source (iPod 4th gen, the monochrome one with the click wheel, great sounding device by the way). I could clearly tell the difference (and improvement) up to the 125i, then I couldn't notice anything "new" with the 225i and 325i. I think that $150 for the SR 125i is worth it, I really enjoyed the extra clarity and "openess" (is than even a word?) compared to the SR 80i. By the way, as far as I remember, 60i and 80i sounded pritty similar but the jump with 125i was easily noticeable. Not sure if you would consider me a "fanboy" for that 🤭
My Grados have incredibly balanced bass, mid and treble. Definitely not too much treble and a wonderfully defined very rich bass too. I use mainly the gw100 but my sr80e sounds even better, with high quality input of course. I don't believe any other brand sounds better. But I'm open to find out. Has to have open back though, definitely.
dude WTF? you know nothing about sound if you only have peasant grade headphones, for real to talk about sound you need to try serious gear not garbage
wow grado hatin.. arent the 702s much more money? and REALLY need a headphone amp to shine AT ALL... but hey LOVE your hair extensions though.. :) and reviews
Haha thanks, man! Isn't it fab? 😂 The 702's price fluctuates quite a bit, so that's hard to answer with any certainty. I paid under $200 and they're quickly becoming my deserted island headphone. Sure, they need an Amp, but it's no different than most other audiophile headphones. The whole "power-hungry" BS that was parroted (and is still parroted) by everyone and their Grandma for years are completely overblown. They really don't need too much to get going.
@@HomeStudioBasics yeah, i owned the 701s which i loved at first but realized they did need a quality amp to get them up and running that would add at least 4 bills... where the grados to me were meant to just stick it in an enjoy..... lets just call them a cheap date that gives you your moneys worth..... :) keep up the great work my bro!!
i threw the hair extensions out there because you were showing a few pics of you all with short hair and then back to the review and WHAMMMM Keanu Reeves IN THE HOUSE ladies and gentlemen!! Im thinkin John Wick Audio Basics with a huge gun collection on the back wall may be a cool new look??
@@HomeStudioBasics you might hate grado but at least you're not switching the cushiona off of 1400$ grados and then complain about how the sr80e sounds better than them. That youtuber was obnoxious at least your videos are watchable. Also, trye the Hemp. You'll be surprised. The 2k peak is not as big too
It wouldn't affect the sound whatsoever as the Sr60x's require less power to run than apple earpods by about 4ohms. And if you can afford to shell out some more money the Fiio Btr5 is a Bluetooth adapter for headphones that also work as a power amp and a DAC (digital-audio converter) allowing you to run most headphones through your phone with and actual boost in sound quality.
Another great headphone video review by Stuart! Completely agree with everything here. Grado headphones simply don't offer either the sound quality OR the comfort for what you pay vs. the competition. For the newbies reading this, I too had a highly-rated pair of Grados a couple years ago, the RS2e ($500) A few months later though, I decided that there were better options out there. So I too switched to the AKG K702, and never looked back! Here I had headphones that were way more comfortable, came with a DETACHABLE cable, sounded better (which DOESN'T need EQ'ing! 😁👍 The RS2e kinda did on the treble.), looked cooler, and all for less than HALF the price ($170)! I STILL use my K702 regularly. After having owned and tried out several headphones over the last 7 years, I can comfortably say I finally found what I was looking for!! 👌👌
Thank you! And dude yes. K702 is quickly becoming my deserted island headphone. Video on that soon, but for now: homestudiobasics.com/before-you-buy-an-akg-k702-read-this/
@@HomeStudioBasics You are very welcome! I'm glad you're starting to enjoy your K702 more & more as time goes on. Just read over that article. Like the K702 itself, it's a very DETAILED & HONEST review! Job well done my friend!! Well I DEF look forward to that! I'll make sure to look out for the notification then.
Of course it should be noted that that K702 are significantly more expensive than the SR80. Up near $400, I’m probably going to be considering Planar Magnetics.
I disagree and love my 80e. Sound is different than 60e. 60e has harsher treb and slightly recessed mids compared to 80s. My 80s are perfect for rock and metal. Guitar solos are fantastic. My only complaint is the comfort of on ear pads
Got my SR 80's a few weeks ago, they are the best sounding headphones I have, I have the hifiman4xx and the 58X, I like them better than both of them..they make guitar music sing.
I doubt Basic Home Studio knows anything about audiophile sounds given that he listens to streaming digital music from his phone with Koss headphones in his mom's basement. She might be proud but I'm not impressed.
bro I was team Grado for awhile and Im sorry for that 🤦♂ one must grow in experience to correctly recognize quality of product and sound itself, Grado is maybe good for pure amateurs without cash but those expensive Grado models are just a scam, people are paying tons of money to that thief John Grado just to get poor quality build and sound that is not full spectrum
Haha normally the comments on these GradOH! videos are people writing walls of text trying to convince me that they're good xD. They're not. Still haven't heard the X series but I'm pretty sure it's the exact same bullshit.
Owned the sr60e for a few years now, its one of those headphones that will benefit from burn-in, I still remember how awful and grainy it sounded ootb I almost returned it. Still, its one of my most beloved headphones because of how much time Ive spent modding this thing from its aethetics to sound quality, the value you get out of it by self-tuning is better than buying their expensive ones, its only a matter of poking holes to reduce to 2khz peak and treble spikes, adding dynamat or foams to driver for snappier low end response, removing the cables for convenience, pad change, etc...however the driver itself have its limits maybe technically slightly below or equal to shp9500, it wont compete to other gears I have atm but this was my gateway drug to the hobby. I understand if most people despise the grados, but for some people who can diy, this headphone is a modders delight.
I have lower end Grados. They sound beautiful. I will never use another brand.
did anyone else hear him switch accents at the beginning? that tripped me out so hard
Love the video, the only problem I have is calling the look dated. Because that’s the point. They are supposed to keep the classic look they’ve had since the 90s. I don’t mind people calling them ugly because opinions, I personally love it.
Yeah man no worries!
Since the 50’s
I have the RS2e's and they're pretty good, especially for rock/midrangy stuff (getting the G pads instead of the stock ones solved most of the [dis]comfort issues). I agree though that, in terms of price/performance ratio, Grados are not worth it for most people. I think of my Grados as a temperamental Italian sports car I don't drive to work but use for fun every now and then. For driving to work, I use either my überprecise German Mercedes (HD800S) or the American muscle car (LCD-X)
Great analogy man! My dad found out about temperamental foreign cars first hand when he bought an Aston Martin DB9. Fantastic car, but 1) He doesn't drive it all the time (like you alluded to) and 2) it's given him quite a bit of headache. He's had to fix a lot of things with it and it's hard to find parts for obvious reasons. Plus it's a bit tricky to work on yourself, so he has to outsource the labor.
makes everything so live...like you are in the sound studio mixing the audio. got the VEVER replacement earpads for gs1000 and solved comfort as well as give full bass.
ordered another foam pad - waiting for the Voarmaks bowl shape over ear pads
how can different pads change the sound ? could you do video comparing them all. L cups, foam for other grado higher priced headphones?
The 2k bump in the k702s, although "not shouty and not in your face", can become fatiguing after a while, unlike the hd 650, which NEVER becomes fatiguing; it actually lulls you to sleep.
I personally don't find that bump fatiguing at all, but yeah the 702 is my daily driver and I def agree about 650. I think it's strange though; if it's not shouty and not in your face, how exactly is it fatiguing for you? (Genuinely curious).
i been using AKG for over 10 years and never find any ear fatigue, (k240s, k701, k702, k712)
@@necrodh Yes! Well, I will say the K240 tends to dig into my lobes because of the shallow cups, but other than that I have zero complaints, comfort-wise or sound-wise. The K702 is just about a perfect headphone aside from some really minor nitpicks.
60e is a beast for adding something totally different for cheap. Oddly enough theyre my go to for podcasts i don't know why. G cushion is the way
I owned the 60 and the 80, the 80 has deeper more accurate bass and little more dynamics so its better to start your way up with the 80, if your source is not high end dont waste your money upgrading because then it will all sound the same. Currently I own the GS1000, I plug them to ahigh quality mp3 player, sounds like ahigh end set up.
Nice!
Never heard "bass" pronounced literally as it's spelled before. Might start doing that to throw people off.
Grado just seems like audiophile beats by dre that boosts treble instead of bass
Lol that's not too far off.
Not at all. My Grados have incredibly balanced bass, mid and treble. Definitely not too much treble and a wonderfully defined very rich bass too. I use mainly the gw100 but my sr80e sounds even better, with high quality imput of course.
Lol you never even try grado man if you think it's alll about treble
Sr60x are incredibly comfortable. I do not understand why you think them as uncomfortable?
Excuse me, I really mean no offense, but you must be a little off, dude. I was curious about buying a Grado headphone because of the legendary "best for rock" comments about the brand, and stumbled upon this video, and bought the Koss KPH30i instead. IT'S AWFUL! What are those bloated mids? They even hiss, man 😬 I mean, they're so grainy sounding it sounds like hiss. I returned my pair and got another one for the risk of having had a malfunctioning unit, and the results were the same. Bloated, hissing thing. Returned them again and got a Grado SR 60X this time. MUCH BETTER. No, really. It has its flaws, of course, but still waaaaay better than that Koss piece of junk. "Aaah, but the Koss costs only around $30, what did you expect" - and so does the Monoprice 8323 and the Superlux HD 681 and the Samson SR850 that are much better 🤦🏽♂️
Stu do you have any experiences with the non 'e' versions (e.g. SR80 or SR80i)? Any discernible differences between those models compared to the updated 'e' models?
Gosh I'm trying to remember if Audio Advice carried them. I know they had the RS2i for quite awhile, but I don't think they ever had the i versions for the 60e and 80e. I really need to go back there and check out what they have now. I haven't been in quite some time.
Question is, *is Grados a good, second headphones?* I own ATHM50x and ATHM50X-BT.
One is used for my studio work while the other is my daily driver. I want an open back headphones because of the sound stage. Does the open back of Grados provide that against my M50Xs or does the on ear design prevent it from being noticeable?
Yeah man Grado headphones have very good Soundstage, can't complain about that. I just wouldn't buy one unless I were to EQ 2kHz down by a lot.
Grados would be a good secondary headphone if you want soundstage, would be great for movies! You may want to consider the superlux HD668B though, which is my daily driver at the moment. Its 30$ (in the USA) and is a clone of the AKG K240 in its chassis, BUT its sound signature is trying to replicate the dt990 pro from beyerdynamic, and if you look at the graphs side by side at rtings they're pretty bang on! The K240 used to be my daily driver and I absolutely loved it! It's soundstage is wide but the semi open design makes it nice for studio use since you can record and direct monitor without sound leaking out the sides of your head like a maniac. And they're crazy comfortable with the headband adjustment, just slap them on your head and you're ready to go! I got the HD668B to replace my AKG K240 because I wanted something similar, and not even because they broke or anything, they're just painful to mix on due to their severe lack of sub-bass. The HD668B stock was less enjoyable than a stock K240, and it could be compared to the grado sound. It's not offending in the mid treble but it's definitely overly sparkly for my tastes. But if you apply oratory's EQ preset to it, it sounds absolutely phenomenal for all genres, which is perfect since I don't take these headphones away from my computer so I never need to use them EQless. The soundstage on the HD668B isn't as wide as a k240, but the difference is very subtle.
Overall, all I gotta say is check out superlux lol
they even got a HD-25 clone and a MDR-7506 clone also in the 30$ range, its crazy!
I decided to wait on the Grados for a bit and buy the SHP9500 instead as it's flat and famously know for soundstage to cost ratio.
I plan on buying Grados in the future as it's been one of my must try headphones for a few years now. I just hope by 2 or 3 years from now, Grados will still be around.
Originally was going to panic buy it as the information that covid could shut down the company was to me problematic.
@@AnickYT good to know! cant go wrong with shp9500s and its definitely worth trying out the grado line.
Grado is a smaller company so they couldve been hit by covid pretty hard, but luckily their popularity could be increasing thanks to youtubers like dankpods, which could keep them around for a while
@@KirbyCurbwhy Yeah I hope so. I'm on a tight budget as most of my money is going to my retirement plan. I recently graduated highschool and working to get into the military.
I had total $100 for free spending and decided to buy the $60 on the SHP9500. Rest money is going to collage or retirement plan.
I bought expensive Grado RS-1X headphones and love them for what they are. Listening is pure pleasure, and that's what music is all about. I suspect that my hearing has issues and that makes these an especially good fit for me. The woodwork is beautiful. I like and respect the company and their commitment to local employees. No regrets whatsoever.
KPH30i needs softer rubber in those grommet pieces that attach the cups to the headband so it articulates better. I find it a little clampy, even with Yaxi pads.
You couldn’t wish for better sound under $100 though, the definition of non-fatiguing.
Thank you, Antoine. 30i will be replacing 9500 on Budget Kings for #1. Don't tell anyone! Either that or the Porta Pro when I buy one. KSC75 is good but perhaps not on the same level. 60e is going bye bye! LOL 😂
@@HomeStudioBasics KSC75 on the PortaPro headband is my favourite, but I enjoy all three. I can forgive a lack of resolution if the tonal balance is to my liking and there’s no glaring faults with the little Koss’.
What is the best non-chinese, open back Bluetooth headset for under 300. I just bought the GW100 v2 but I may return em if I can find something better.
Amiron wireless
@@johnpierce1323 haha. Thanks, buts it's too late. I got the Grados. They've developed a slight rattle but all in all I'm happy with them.
Very good discussion. Grado is such a polarizing brand. I am in the camp where I really appreciate the clarity and brightness.Grados are definitely old-school, I have had issues with the long cable cutting audio out in one ear and being frustrated that the cables weren’t easily user replaceable.
Sound quality wise, they are clear and bright and pristine, I love the way they sound. I have a 17 year old SR125. It still holds up really really well against other headphones in its price range. Then I upgraded to the SR 325E which adds weighty sub bass and greater efficiency to the sound, it is a great purchase, even though they are a little heavy.
Then I bought the RS2e, which adds a pinch of warmth and refinement to the 325e. That’s as high as I plan to go in the Grado line.
I hear that the updated Grado GW 100 sounds amazing, but I can’t speak for it, I’ve never tried it.
I also have a Hifiman Ananda, which is on a whole ‘Nother’ level, sounds so big and so grand and so lifelike!
I also love my HD600, It is probably better than the Ananda in terms of it being more neutral, but the Ananda is just so enjoyable
The RS2e is probably the best headphone I own that can be plugged right into a phone. I alternate it with my Sennheiser Momentum wired 2.0 and the Vmoda Crossfade 2 wireless with the wireless
Hey man, thank you for sharing your experiences without attacking me over mine. LOL. Anywho, that's awesome! Yeah, as mentioned in the video some people have told me the same as you have about the build. Others say they break down quite easily. *shrug* I guess it just depends.
I've heard the Grado GW100 and wasn't impressed. I think I have a First Impressions video here somewhere on the channel. I just never bothered to review it because I didn't care, lol. It had the same exact issues as the others and I wanted to throw it. It's ugly asf too. I will say the e line of headphones looks gorgeous.
Gah, Ananda is one of my all-time favorite headphones. I'd rank them 1. Utopia 2. Ananda. 3. Dan Clark Aeon Flow Closed 4. LCD-2 5. HD6XX That's about right. The Ananda to me is nearly a perfect headphone; the only thing that holds it back is its sometimes bitey/essy treble. It's slight though - a minor nitpick, really. Grand and life-like are perfect terms to describe it. Just sublime in every way.
Yeah, I've had my HD600 since 2016. I will probably never get rid of it. I may pick up a 6XX, I may not. Just depends. My 600's do need some new pads though and I want to get a set or 2 of balanced cables - one XLR for THX and one 4.4 for all the iFi stuff I have here..
I got the kph30i which are amazing... but do you have any recommendations to what would be an upgrade from them?
Hey man! You're probably looking at a 58X or 6XX at the very least. I think the 6XX would be a true upgrade. Check this article out: homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/
SR60x
Did you say "bass" like the fish? I can't tell if you're joking or not.
I am a Grado fan but would agree that the point of diminishing return begins after the SR 225. But this is true for other brands after this price point as well. As with other audio components, some people are willing to spend a lot of money for small improvements. Maybe we all hear things differently but I do not find the Grado sound to be especially colored. The bump around 2 kilohertz is necessary because of the gain factors of the human ear. Remember that headphones are not speakers! Many would consider a bump between 2 and 4 kilohertz as a neutral frequency response for headphones, although there are no universally agreed upon standards for headphones as there are for speakers. If you look at the frequency response curves for other headphones, you will find that many or most brands have a bump in this region. It is not limited to Grado. Grado's bump may be slightly more than some other manufacturers but the general trend is the same. Interestingly, one brand that generally does not have a bump in this region is Sennheiser but some of their headphones sound veiled to me. As for build quality, I have a Grado SR 225 headphone that is more than 20 years old and still going strong. It developed a problem with one of the channels cutting out. Grado repaired it for $40 and got back to me right away when I emailed them about what to do. Try this with a larger company. Grado headphones are indeed still relevant today. The current version of the SR 80 for a little more than a hundred bucks is the best value out there. I beg to differ but the SR 80 is significantly better than the SR 60 for about $20 more. There is bit more competition in the extreme high end headphone market but no other headphones in the $200 and under market come close to Grado in my opinion.
There's sr60x and sr80x now though have you heard and compared them?
Hey man I will once Audio Advice gets them in. I was there on Saturday and they haven't yet.
Do you prefer Grado Sr80 or AKG K701 for every genre except so much of electronic? I have a Dac and an amp. Thanks
hello, im from argentina, a friend go to usa and i cant decide if i buy the mdr 7506 or grados sr80x, i listend prog jazz (soft machine), the residents, the fall, other postpunk and classical (violin sonatas), can you help me??? poor country only one chance. Thanks!
I would personally go with the 7506 man! Check out this article: homestudiobasics.com/sony-mdr-7506-review-2/ For classical I may steer you away from the 7506, but for most genres it will be really good. Why not consider an open back? When you click that article you'll see it's part of a series. I'd check out the 30i and 9500 as well :)
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks duderino, i live in a poor country, got son nad amps, psb and tannoy speakers, but now is imposible. Great channel dude, first heat it, now love it.
Keep me posted on everything and if I can help out further!
@@HomeStudioBasics dude! my friend cant find the 7506, what do you think of buy the hd25??? i gues would be easy to find, i see your video of them today, are better than the 7506? thanks duderino.
Bass is pronounced base, bass is what you call a fish
have you seen the new updated X series? apparently they have the 38ohm hemp drivers in them which ive heard good things about on top of actually having padding on the tops im really debating checking out the 60x
Hey man I'll see if Audio Advice has them.
This could very well be a case of shiny object syndrome and the headphones are the exact same. If they improved them fine, but I'm like 95% sure it's going to be the exact same crap in a new shiny package for the ignorant Grado masses. Now, if they improved the product, I will certainly give credit where it's due.
@@HomeStudioBasics yeah ive tried to do research on them they're so new I cant really find anyone who's tried them let alone compare the e vs x versions it might be worth getting them and having one of the first videos about them id like to see someone whos not fanboying talk about the possible improvements before I actually buy another pair of headphones let alone grados lol but they are more expensive than the e version so they better sound good
@@HomeStudioBasics well I ordered a pair of sr80x and grabbed a pair of koss KPH30i with the g cushions, apparently they definitely have wayy more bass and less shouty highs ill let you know if I think its really worth the extra 100 bucks over the koss especially with the g cushions on both if I hate them im blaming dankpods
@@HomeStudioBasics honestly dude im super happy with the sr80x idk if its because its so different from everything else I own or what and I wonder what I would've thought of the 80e maybe I just like a ton of tremble but I have yet to find someone coming from the e series or honestly anyone who's bought them that hasn't had something good to say and they're definitely not as sharp as the dt990s and actually seem to have bass and while the kph30i are crazy for the money I really think these are worth it for what you get sound wise especially if you dont listen to a lot of pop/rap/edm but thats most of what I listen to and I dont mind them for that but damn other genres sound good I assume the more expensive ones have better competition though
I’m an ‘offensively bright audio’ enjoyer. I own HD600 and Grado SR225X, and I enjoy the music more on the 225X. They go all in on their sound signature, it’s okay if they’re not reference headphones or not for everyone.
Would like differentiation between large-mouth bass and small-mouth bass next time. Some newbies think they're the same fish, but they're quite different.
Haha! Great idea, man! Gonna do that in future videos lmao. "Greetings smallmouth bass head and welcome aboard!" 😂 or: Greetings, largemouth bass head.. hahah. I will also do a little differentiation.
@@HomeStudioBasics In my mind I see largemouth bass as sub-bass and smallmouth bass as mid-bass. Bass head either way. lol
If your after freshwater fish, you want cats or trouts... don't eat bass.
Love the graphs, love the graphics.. always love the sharp insights and clever inquisition in total. Detailed. Thorough.
> How about a graphic at the end of each comparison video displaying your current rankings of the products so we can see the hierarchy and fully visualize where they stand in your opinion?
So.. are the Sennheiser HD650 still the best? Thats what Im rockin. And the free AKG in-ear buds that came with the Samsung Note are surprisingly sufficient for most music.
Thanks, man! Always great to hear from you. Yeah, 650 is awesome! I've owned an HD600 since 2016. I do think the 6XX strikes a perfect balance between the too forward mids on the 600 and the too laid-back sound of the 650. It's a nice middle ground between them. You may try it out sometime. I will be coming out with another 600 and 6XX vid as well so stay tuned for that. Great idea though thank you. I will work on implementing something like that moving forward.
@@HomeStudioBasics Right on.. i agree the 650 is somewhat uneventful. Ill pick up a pair of the 6XX and try them out. Good work bro.
@@SLUMSON Yeah man! Thank you! Snag a pair from this article and it will help me out! (Drop Link is in there) homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/ I hope you enjoy the read as well. Feel free to comment on the blog too if you want. :) Stay in touch and keep me posted. -Stu
@@HomeStudioBasics I thought the 6xx was the MassDrop version of the 650? Like no difference besides the color and styling... but you're saying they actually sound different? Is that correct? Thanks for the info!
@@SLUMSON Yeah man. People have been parroting that for a while but it's just not true and rtings just came out with a graph that proved my point. Check out my 6xx video and the pinned comment:
KPH30i completely changed my perspective on the audiophile BS snake oil we get fed all of the time. I find myself using it even over my Sundara and X00 a lot of the time, because I like having something light, wide open, and a little heavier on the bass. I tried to Grado pad mod too, but I think I prefer stock. Of course, the KPH30i isn't "better" than either the Sundara or the X00, but the point is I paid $20, and the difference in sound quality is probably 10-20%, despite costing more than 15 times as much. It's easy to get caught up in blowing money on mostly imagined differences, and forgetting that we're supposed to be pursuing this hobby only so we can enjoy our music more.
Hey man! Shoot, I'd say the gap is a bit smaller than that even! I find the 30i a perfect sound signature which is just flabbergasting. It has no business sounding that good. I find flaws with nearly every headphone I listen to. There's nothing about the 30i that irritates me. I would go out on a limb and say it actually is better than a lot of what we're spoon fed. I may run with this lol.
@@HomeStudioBasics My first big "shock" was actually the Sony MH750 earbuds. If you can find a genuine pair, they're even cheaper than the Koss stuff (got mine for $11 on eBay). I thought maybe it was just a fluke, but then I get the KPH30i on sale and it happened again. Then I knew it wasn't a fluke. I just had to accept that I fell for the BS before. Once a minimum quality threshold is met it just seems to come down to the signature we prefer, and it's just really damn hard to find a complaint about the KPH30i's signature. I haven't found a complaint yet, at least, and I've been listening to everything on it for weeks.
I ordered Drop's Porta Pro and KSC75, and should get them this weekend. If they're even close to the KPH30i, I don't see much point in bothering with anything else. I'm definitely not recommending anything more expensive to anyone anymore.
@@NotTheOnlyMattAround Hi Matt! Im cosidering to get the grado sr60 or the koss kph30i. I would like to test it with the grado xl pads. Have you compared them? I also have the Portapro with yaxi pads. What do you prefer of them?
@@cuchucabrera I have tested them, and greatly prefer the yaxi pads on the KPH30i. That's what I keep on mine. That being said, you can't go wrong with the new Grados. I have an old sr80e I've done a lot of modding to. Changed the cups to wood, replaced the headband with leather, added the g cups (the xl pads you're referring to). They sound pretty good, and the aftermarket g pads do improve that grado sizzle a bit.
With the sr80x, the only modding I've done is put my old f pads on it (the ones that come on the hemp, otherwise know as the TTVJ deluxe pads) and bend out the headband a bit. These are now one of my favorite sounding headphones. However, for the money, a KPH30i with yaxi pads just can't be beat.
If Made in the USA vs China matters to you, consider that too.
@@NotTheOnlyMattAround Thanks for your advise. I think Im going to test both, the grado sr60 and the kph30i. I can get a cheap second hand pair of the grados, and a new pair of the kph30i. I love this kind of cheap audio products that sounds so damm good. Cheers!
What are the better options out there?
Have you tested Grado Alessandro MS1 ? Is it similar to SR60 ?
just listen to the grade gw100, the best Bluetooth headphones I’ve ever owned, and I own plenty, like drop pandas thx, apple AirPods 2, Sony xm3 and xm4, Samsung buds pro, etc etc… not only do these beat everything else, but it’s by such a large margin, they’re not even in the same league. best 200-250 I ever spent.
super
do you plan on getting the Grado HEMP
Every little bead of sweat.
Feel it running down my neck.
When you look at me like that.
Feelin' like we can't go back.
If I become a pillar of salt.
I'll know that it was all my fault.
Every little bead of sweat.
Every little bead of sweat.
Man I'm getting hot and bothered again, runner. You're just a bottomless pit, of hunger. YOU LISTEN RIGHT NOW! open.spotify.com/track/2FLW1FnWZxGUuiDgsLDGOG?si=ywx5np0eSz6Sa5j_YSn70w
Haha. Re: Grado HEMP. Maybe. mAYBE!! xD
@@HomeStudioBasics listen I will. Ight bet
Shp9500 or grado SR60e?
I think you know the answer to that one my friend. :) homestudiobasics.com/is-the-philips-shp9500-worth-buying/
what about allesandro and from what ive heard from a few people, of course their opinion, and ironically the GW100 is the best headphone they got and it's bluetooth. Probably dsp F's off the house sound
NO! NO! NO! You put those allesandro's DOWN! Lol. Jk I haven't heard that one. GW100 was pretty awful to me and suffered from the same problems as the e line. I looked at a graph of the hemp and I have to say I'd be more interested in listening to that one as the bump doesn't look quite as bad.
@@HomeStudioBasics wouldn't doubt it for a second. I never tried it, but you try to have wishful thinking. Never seen the measurements on it.
Allesandros are made by grado from my understanding and it's the same thing. But just as you mentioned they suggest buying that one over the 600 dollar version. Also look identical to the 60 or 80.
Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Pretty good on never owning grados. love the video though LOL
Grado Labs is the biggest nickel & dime brand in existence. If something falls on the floor and gets crap on it, they'll just wipe it off and still package it as new. In Canada, Grado's using a guy out of his own measly house where inventory is stored in a humid basement ! If you buy anything Grado in Canada, big chance you're gonna get something previously used or repaired !
Hahaha I've heard something similar to that per a friend (with actual sources) and I'm going to be making a video on it once I demo the X line.
Great graphics on this video. You should market the diminishing returns one to all audio reviewers. And all the effort for the graphic of the different lines of Grado headphones with the shadows. There is a thin line between love and hate. haha
Yeah man, thank you! I actually went back and fixed the graph. You may recall the axis' were off and I got everyone and their grandma pointing it out haha. So yeah, I think I'm going to do an updated Diminishing returns video if that's what you meant. I also need to clean it up some more and adjust a couple of things. The graph looks good but there's something that will make it look much better and I have yet to figure out what it is. It just needs some tweaking.
I ain’t gonna lie I only like Grados because they looking fucking cool and I’ll put up with the flimsy construction and discomfort in the name of pretty AF headphones :dab:
Heh.
I owned a pair of Grado sr125, more or less I managed to correct them using ApoEQ through hours and hours of listening sessions and looking at measurements, now they do not sound like the HD600 (that I own) but very close.
But definitely at that price point, Philips SHP9500 are the game changer!
Nice! Yeah the 9500 is still a relevant headphone to me even despite loads and loads of products flooding the market.
Nice video... do you have a a video for best budget headphones?
Yeah man, thank you! Check this out: th-cam.com/video/7O-CnSL0q58/w-d-xo.html Also the Budget Kings series: homestudiobasics.com/the-budget-kings-series/
Not surprised; Grado headphones never sounded smooth and neutral to my ears. I could always hear some peakiness in the upper mids (presence region) plus a bit of abrasiveness and listening fatigue... probably the result of peaks and ringing in the presence region. In addition they were one of the most uncomfortable phones I were wore.
I would rather a detacheable cable than a THICC heavy undetacheable cable. 😟 I bought the SR80e just to try out their sound signature. I think since I've heard one, I've heard it all. FYI, I did try SR60e, 125,225, 325. 325 is the best sounding of those I've tried but it's not worth the money in my opinion.
Hey man! Yeah. THICC is not always a good thing. Most of the time it is ;) But in the case of Grah-do, not really. It just ends up being a hassle. It's like sloppy THICC. Dummy thicc good. sloppy thicc no good. LOL.
I like how you say "bass" like it's the fish. I mean those bass fish are pretty quiet so if you can pick up their little mouth movements that's a quality headphone!
I started with a SR60 over 15 years ago, then moved on to the SR80e and now own a SR325X I must say that for me there's no other headphone that comes close performance wise to either of those (in their pricerange and even in a much higher prices range then the 325X) I guess how one experience sound is personal, so it's hard to say that this or that headphone is better, but I just love the Grade headphones. They are simple (retro if you like) and last a long time. I still own my SR60 and, except for some new pads, it's still functioning perfectly well.
Hi, can you describe the 325x more? I want to buy them for hiphop and fun listening sessions
@@danieleturrin5625 I've got no experience with ;listening to HipHop over the 325x, but more Progressive rock, Jazz and sometimes symphonic rock. The sound of my 325x for these types of music is just an eyeopener.
@@bertgroeneveld57 thank you! I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 560s, they're good for good mastered genres but also boring on bad recorded tracks. I was looking for an headphone that is capable of doing well on every kind of record and these grado's are the right choice, i guess.
Hey, mate! What do YOU think about Grado headphones? Let me know, but try to be civil, yeah?
Those L pad look like pumice stones! With so many choices out there now which are great values; I just think Grado's don't bring enough to the table.
@@fadedlogic1 Absolutely, mate! Spot on. Brace yourself for the oncoming sh** storm. 😂
This was a pretty balanced look at these I think. Everyone needs to be aware of the sound signature they're getting themselves into with these. I think the Grado pad type itself actually accounts for most of the sound signature differences. Tyll did an article on the "tape mod" and measuring it, turns out 2k is directly affected because the exact diameter of the flat pads of the entry level models happens to set up a resonance at that frequency if I remember right. Pretty crazy.
PS i did get your email, going to send out that k371 this week if possible
The Grado cans I want to buy are sr80e and hemp. I'd also like to own a gs3000e and ps2000e but they are way out of my budget
@@metal571 Grado needs to sort the peaks out if they want to become more mainstream
So am I better going off with the 80x vs the 125x? Great video.
Hey man thanks! And yeah. Haven't demoed the x line yet but I'd lean yes if they are mostly the same as the e line.
¡Hi bro!
I would like to know in your experience ¿What kind of cheap closed back headphones that you could recommend me?
Hey man! Hmm. Cheap closed backs. MDR-7506! homestudiobasics.com/the-sony-mdr-7506-will-change-your-life/ Let me know what you think :)
@@HomeStudioBasics Thanks dude 😃
The SR60's have a natural and open sound and are worth the money.
The "baaaahs" (notes)?
Grados sound signature seems to work best for guitar emulator software. They make them so poorly that they keep on breaking though. I was going to go up the line when I saw this,I won't bother now.
I did really enjoy the humor in this video as well as the objectivity and every complaint in this Video is probably legitimate, however I'll count myself as a Grado apologist. I just kindof like them. Full disclosure though, after 5 years of running a sound board for live concerts and 20 years in the Army I've got a fair amount of herring loss. This actually becomes interesting when one considers that most fans of Grado's sound tend to be older.
Dummy thicc !!!! Have you tried the ksc75 ? If yes do you like them more the porta pro ?
Yeah man bought a pair of KSC75's! They're real good! I like the 30i better. Haven't bought a Porta Pro yet :) That shootout is coming soon though!
Unless you need portability, in which case an IEM is probably on your radar, on a budget I’d probably opt for a Hifiman HE400se or Sennheiser HD560s or a closed back like the M40x. Headphone ranking lists like Crinacle’s give the Grado SR60 a C minus, and the PortaPros a C. Both have tons of fans but I’d keep looking. That said, KPH30i look crazy comfortable.
hey man yeah both ratings are about right although porta pro could be like b-
@@HomeStudioBasics Yeah some of his rankings are absurdly low. Just picked up the KHP30i, they are wonderful
Perhaps Crinacle didn’t listened to well-burned SR60. I didn’t listened to it for few years. Today out of the sudden, I wore it on. Man…. My first ever audiophile headphone still surprise me with impactful bass in Rock music. Also very comfortable over my head than my Ath Ad700, b&o headphone. Now I am wanting that Grado wireless for its light weight it’s all matters to me.
Also the pads upgrade is lower cost as well. And no more pressing ears issue after hours of listening which I found from many models. For over a decade auditioning many types of headphones. Grado is stealing back my heart again.
I have Sennheiser HD 25 and had the Fostex TH909. Was the sound quality of the TH909 £1300 more than the former? EF NO!! This clip makes a very solid statement on headphone quality vs selling your ass. Bye Felicia aka TH909.
Fostex headphones are strictly for hardcore modders. They should state that clearly in their ad copy. "Buy these if your right hand is a soldering iron, and your left hand is a CNC machine. Also, you should probably have stock in Dekoni." You know, honest advertising.
@@JeradBenge haha yeah especially when it comes to the T... RP range
1:41 this where i hadda subscribe
I just want my headphones made in the us. I wish Koss brought their manufacturing here, they have good options but all made over seas. Grado is the only one still making em here.
Need to learn how to say bass
What do you mean?
the grado hemp is the best headphone ever created. it hass all the greatness of the grado sound, and additionally amazing detailed and natural bass response and no bothering trebble peak of the other grados. it sounds like real life music like no other headphone, not even the hd800s
Lol I'll keep this in mind for when I demo it.
Lol I read that in a Napoleon Dynamite voice. "It's pretty much my favorite headphone"
@@HomeStudioBasics 🤣🤣🤣
I reduced the spike and increased bass by a bit
Hey man, everything you say, you are so right. What you say about the hipsters lol. You have a clear view on everything. Thanks for giving this honest information. Keep on going and you will be fine. Greetings from the netherlands
My man! Don't ever stop talking to me! I really am grateful for your friendship. I hope we can hang out someday.
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey man!, do not worry, yeah man we have a cool friendship. I am thinking about videocalling with you, you can see my ugly hahaha face, no do not worry.. Yeah, as soon as the future will make it possible you are the first I will visit. We are fucked because of the corona shit, but we have to keep hope. Maybe the videocalling can help, it's a more private way of communication. Hmmm I have to have a decent webcam.
Thanks for the video bro. I just saw that the white grados are out at nearly $1k. Ahhh seriously!!?? And I can read overly sweet reviews on them. The grado white headphones use the same chassis as the sr80e, etc. 😅😅
Oh yay another Grado headphone. Just what I've always dreamed of. 😂
Would you recommend tube/hybrid or solid state amp for SR60?
I don't know for sure but tube amps generally are more noisy and grados are extremely sensitive to noise
Yes.
Haha just kidding. I don't know man. I wouldn't recommend you listen to the SR60. LOL. Nah, probably a solid state. Tube amps are built specifically for high impedance headphones.
I collect mostly 80s portable Sonys, which, if they are in good condition of course, obliterate 95% of today's headphones. Now I plan to buy some recent stuff and I chose Grado, but this video makes me think if they worth it and would not be just another investment in vain next to my Sonys. Interesting.
Edit: I am also considering an AKG K702 according to this video. Will do more research but it seems awesome.
Try iems
@@EpicMinecraftFail not my stuff. Classic earbuds are cool, iems are not for me.
Bass as in the fish?
NO AS IN THE BASS!!! xD
Kph30i have a cloudy sound !
Lol I actually found it to be mostly sunny with a chance of awesome. 😂
@@HomeStudioBasics some people are just so deaf they need certain frequency's drilling into their head. If they will defend a turd till death then just give them an affiliate Amazon link and show them the direction.
@Stephen Tolley 😂👌
“Bounce...Bounce!”😂😂😂😂😂
Hahah! I really tried to capture that Jay-Z voice but it was super hard 😂 I may incorporate that in future videos. It's so fun!
Love that deep, fishy bass
Was I just flashed for a few seconds with looney tunes furry pron?
Nah man I think that was just your imagination :)
Grado produces the best headphones if you can handle on ear design.
no I cant handle it xD its bullshit design from past epoch, sound is also outdated like John Grado himself
xD Grado is trash
@@HomeStudioBasics lol
@@michaelsi6770 🤣
I dont think youre taking this bullshit seriously, sir.
Uh oh. I smell an upset Graddooo fan. 😂
Make a man bun like that sensei in kill Bill in the next video. Your hair is long enough for that. 😂
I heard man buns are a no-go LOL. I will put it up if I'm dancing around in my apartment naked, but other than that it stays down.
nice video :D
Haha thanks man!
man, I missed you so much ;-)
Hey man! I missed you too! Hadn't seen you around lately :)
@@HomeStudioBasics true, because I am busy.... listening to the music rather than talking about it ;-)
@@zyghom ladies and gents we have a winner here 🏆
@@HomeStudioBasics ;-)
i have them all. GW 100's are the best of all of them
cool! 👍
I have grado 80s, I really don't like them at all. I rather go with 7506s or 770s, different design philosophy but way higher fidelity.
Koss utility actually are better to haha, i wouldn't call them audiophile but it's a nice chill on couch headphone.
I remember trying the SR 60i, 80i, 125i (and beyond on the Prestige line) with my own audio source (iPod 4th gen, the monochrome one with the click wheel, great sounding device by the way).
I could clearly tell the difference (and improvement) up to the 125i, then I couldn't notice anything "new" with the 225i and 325i.
I think that $150 for the SR 125i is worth it, I really enjoyed the extra clarity and "openess" (is than even a word?) compared to the SR 80i. By the way, as far as I remember, 60i and 80i sounded pritty similar but the jump with 125i was easily noticeable.
Not sure if you would consider me a "fanboy" for that 🤭
Nah man I think you're a sensible chap!
My Grados have incredibly balanced bass, mid and treble. Definitely not too much treble and a wonderfully defined very rich bass too. I use mainly the gw100 but my sr80e sounds even better, with high quality input of course.
I don't believe any other brand sounds better. But I'm open to find out. Has to have open back though, definitely.
dude WTF? you know nothing about sound if you only have peasant grade headphones, for real to talk about sound you need to try serious gear not garbage
Hallelujah! Jesus is back😱
Lmao not even close, BUD. But thank you? Lol.
wow grado hatin.. arent the 702s much more money? and REALLY need a headphone amp to shine AT ALL... but hey LOVE your hair extensions though.. :) and reviews
Haha thanks, man! Isn't it fab? 😂 The 702's price fluctuates quite a bit, so that's hard to answer with any certainty. I paid under $200 and they're quickly becoming my deserted island headphone. Sure, they need an Amp, but it's no different than most other audiophile headphones. The whole "power-hungry" BS that was parroted (and is still parroted) by everyone and their Grandma for years are completely overblown. They really don't need too much to get going.
@@HomeStudioBasics yeah, i owned the 701s which i loved at first but realized they did need a quality amp to get them up and running that would add at least 4 bills... where the grados to me were meant to just stick it in an enjoy..... lets just call them a cheap date that gives you your moneys worth..... :) keep up the great work my bro!!
i threw the hair extensions out there because you were showing a few pics of you all with short hair and then back to the review and WHAMMMM Keanu Reeves IN THE HOUSE ladies and gentlemen!! Im thinkin John Wick Audio Basics with a huge gun collection on the back wall may be a cool new look??
@@HomeStudioBasics you might hate grado but at least you're not switching the cushiona off of 1400$ grados and then complain about how the sr80e sounds better than them. That youtuber was obnoxious at least your videos are watchable. Also, trye the Hemp. You'll be surprised. The 2k peak is not as big too
@@HomeStudioBasics also, isn't the fact we enjoy grado by itself a good point for the "they're not for everyone" argument ?
Bro, what about your grandchildren?
Pd: i like mi grado sr80e 😃
They are well, man! And you take that back! No one should like or be satisfied with what they have!! 😂
@@HomeStudioBasics lol 😂
Refreshing
Thanks, man!
How badly would the sound be affected if plugged into an iPhone XR using the lightning adapter?
Hey man not sure as I haven't tried that.
It wouldn't affect the sound whatsoever as the Sr60x's require less power to run than apple earpods by about 4ohms. And if you can afford to shell out some more money the Fiio Btr5 is a Bluetooth adapter for headphones that also work as a power amp and a DAC (digital-audio converter) allowing you to run most headphones through your phone with and actual boost in sound quality.
i dont care wat u talking about am here for amusement
LOOL. So you're sayin' I'm funny?😂
@@HomeStudioBasics yes you are a clown
@@AKBAAR_ I'm funny like I'm a clown? I'm here to amuse you? I'm here to make you laugh? 😂
Another great headphone video review by Stuart!
Completely agree with everything here. Grado headphones simply don't offer either the sound quality OR the comfort for what you pay vs. the competition.
For the newbies reading this, I too had a highly-rated pair of Grados a couple years ago, the RS2e ($500)
A few months later though, I decided that there were better options out there. So I too switched to the AKG K702, and never looked back! Here I had headphones that were way more comfortable, came with a DETACHABLE cable, sounded better (which DOESN'T need EQ'ing! 😁👍 The RS2e kinda did on the treble.), looked cooler, and all for less than HALF the price ($170)!
I STILL use my K702 regularly. After having owned and tried out several headphones over the last 7 years, I can comfortably say I finally found what I was looking for!! 👌👌
Thank you! And dude yes. K702 is quickly becoming my deserted island headphone. Video on that soon, but for now: homestudiobasics.com/before-you-buy-an-akg-k702-read-this/
@@HomeStudioBasics You are very welcome!
I'm glad you're starting to enjoy your K702 more & more as time goes on.
Just read over that article. Like the K702 itself, it's a very DETAILED & HONEST review! Job well done my friend!!
Well I DEF look forward to that! I'll make sure to look out for the notification then.
Of course it should be noted that that K702 are significantly more expensive than the SR80. Up near $400, I’m probably going to be considering Planar Magnetics.
Semantic!
SHEEEEEEI
I disagree and love my 80e. Sound is different than 60e. 60e has harsher treb and slightly recessed mids compared to 80s. My 80s are perfect for rock and metal. Guitar solos are fantastic. My only complaint is the comfort of on ear pads
I loved your impression of the "whiny grado fan"
Some people like mid bumps.
Hey man! Yeah if done right, lol. K702 is a good example. Any Grado headphone = horrific example. 😂
What's barse?
Hoooo…. Drugs are bad, m’kay? 🤣🤣
The GH 4 are the best Grado's.
Got my SR 80's a few weeks ago, they are the best sounding headphones I have, I have the hifiman4xx and the 58X, I like them better than both of them..they make guitar music sing.
I doubt Basic Home Studio knows anything about audiophile sounds given that he listens to streaming digital music from his phone with Koss headphones in his mom's basement. She might be proud but I'm not impressed.
th-cam.com/video/37OWL7AzvHo/w-d-xo.html
So sad I cannot dislike this video multiple times....
No, you can! Just dislike then un-dislike, then dislike a few times and it's almost the same thing! 😂
@@HomeStudioBasics I've tried it and i gotta say it does feel better. Thanks for the advice!
Now kiss!
"Bass" is pronounced BASE
It's actually bass, as in the fish.
bro I was team Grado for awhile and Im sorry for that 🤦♂ one must grow in experience to correctly recognize quality of product and sound itself, Grado is maybe good for pure amateurs without cash but those expensive Grado models are just a scam, people are paying tons of money to that thief John Grado just to get poor quality build and sound that is not full spectrum
Haha normally the comments on these GradOH! videos are people writing walls of text trying to convince me that they're good xD. They're not. Still haven't heard the X series but I'm pretty sure it's the exact same bullshit.
Ps500 awesome
Great I dont know why YT algorith decided that I would benefit from a stoner's advice on headphones when I have no interest in spending money on them.