prodj101 Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 ok, I'm getting a pair of headphones for my birthday, and my parents agreed to pay half. So, I'm basically conflicted on which of these headphones to get. Cost no issue, which do you think are better and why? which are worse and why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatManFever Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 Personally, I would go with the Grado 80 or 125. But I never listened to either one. Duhhhh! But I have been considering buying a Grado and have examined many reviews of them and these are the two models I would consider in the "budget" range. Of course, ho holds barred, I would consider the upper level models of Grado. But methinks I would be perfectly happy with the Grado 125. I would also consider the Koss ESP-950. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpg Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 I would get the Senns... I have the 580's and if the 600's sound better than these, then I'd DEFINETELY get them. I just built yet another amp for mine, and this one sounds much better than the others, but not totally what I want... so I am still designing my 'ultimate' headphone amp. I have never heard the Grado's, though, and supposedly they have a great rock and roll sound. The Senns are quoted as being laid back, but I think mine can fit any type of music to my tastes. So, really... if you could hear both and decide, you'd be better off. Otherwise, you will just get diehard Grado/Senn fans competing for a new purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted April 11, 2003 Author Share Posted April 11, 2003 CatManFever, the comparison is between the RS-1 and the Senn HD-600's, but thanks anyway. The RS-1's are somethin like 600 and the HD-600's are around 400. I have heard the RS-1's are the absolute best headphones around, and not that it's saying much, but they were also stereophiles product of the year 2 years in a row. I think the HD-600's have a more "neutral" sound, but than again, klipsch aren't exactly neutral and I love them. I guess I'll have to make a round down to the audio shop and check them both out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksdad Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 to begin with go to headroom.com, they can tell you sooo much, although it is only opinion, i have had both, and while the senns are more than respectical cans, the grados are by far the better can, it is like going from reference to heritage, i think what i am saying is that there is a measure of refinement that you just dont quite get with senn, the first time i really heard performers take breaths during songs was with my grados Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skonopa Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 This has got me interested. Some people just down the hall from my office had b1tched about my Tivoli Model Two radio being too loud (and I had the thing barely turned up - but it did turn a few heads ), so now I'll have to find a good set of headphones to plug in the provided headphone jack on the Tivoli (but after hours, I'll crank that thing up as loud as I want ). I figured either a set of the Grados or the Sennheisers would be nice. What I have to go through just to get some decent sound in my office (just don't want the typical Wally World cheap junk - think I got spoiled by my Klipsch setup ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invidiosulus Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 ---------------- On 4/11/2003 10:37:44 PM skonopa wrote: - think I go spoiled by my Klipsch setup ). ---------------- I feel that way even when I go into a thx certified movie theater Peace, Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted April 12, 2003 Share Posted April 12, 2003 Stereophile LOVES the HD600. Sound and Vision LOVES the HD600, and the 580 and the 580Jubilee. I tried both. Grado sounds great but UNCOMFORTABLE. I feel that the HD600's sound VERY much like Klipsch. Infact, I listen to the headphones and my heresy's at the same time because of their open design and how well they match up. try that out for size. talk about an experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpg Posted April 12, 2003 Share Posted April 12, 2003 ---------------- On 4/12/2003 12:46:30 AM justin_tx_16 wrote: Infact, I listen to the headphones and my heresy's at the same time because of their open design and how well they match up. try that out for size. talk about an experience! ---------------- I do that too sometimes. Mostly, though, I just listen through my computer (of all things...) because ti has a volume control. I fit so much crap into my amp box I couldn't fit a volume control in it. But it is no matter- I am working on a digital one now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkl Posted April 12, 2003 Share Posted April 12, 2003 "I tried both. Grado sounds great but UNCOMFORTABLE." On a lot of days, I wear my Grado sr125's for 4 hours before lunch, and 4 hours after lunch. When I first auditioned them, I thought they might not be as comfortable as other brands, however, when you own them and can play with them a little, you can find a configuration that feels perfect. The band on the Grados is metal and easily shaped. Big head? Just bend the band so you get the amount of tension you like. I rarely remember I'm even wearing mine anymore. Plus, I think the Grados have a much more in-your-face type sound. I thought they sounded much more like a Klipsch then the Senns. -MKL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen328 Posted April 12, 2003 Share Posted April 12, 2003 I hane never listened to the Grados, The senns sound pretty darn good to me. If i remember correctly, when you auditioned the senns vs the Grados you told me on aim that night that the Grados outpreformed by far. I would stick with your first opinion. I mean both are nice headphones, but it seemed to me you prefered the Grados. WHatever you decide, enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Garrison Posted April 12, 2003 Share Posted April 12, 2003 I own the Sennheiser Hd600s. I used to own a pair of Grados (the 125's, not the RS-1). When I wanted to upgrade, I ordered BOTH the RS-1 and the HD600 from Audio Advisor. I told the sales guy that I was going to order both, then return one of them under the 30 day money back policy. He said fine. In my opinion, with my system and my music and my ears, there was no comparison. The HD600s were far, far far superior to the Grados. Both the RS-1 and the 600 were way better than the 125's, but the HD600 were so much more communitive... best example of the difference - when using the Grado's, if I swapped out my Audio Alchemy DTIPro from betweent the DVD player and the Adcom GDA600 D/A, I thought I could hear a slight difference, but it was hard to tell whether there really was a difference or whether I just thought there was (sort of impossible to do a blind test like this - wife couldn't begin to hook up digital chain with/without DTIPro without my help), and I couldn't really articulate exactly wthat the difference was. With the HD600, the diffenece was clear and unambiguous. Also, while they both hdad deep bass, the pitch deliiation and articulation, and tonality of the bass was much better with the Sennheisers. The Sennheiser's also fit all the way around your ears, while the Grados sit on you ears. Whether you find one more comfortable than the other is a matter of personal preference. I like the around the ear version much better myself. Why not buy both from Audio Advisior, try them, and return the one you don't like as much? Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted April 12, 2003 Author Share Posted April 12, 2003 I agree the senn's are more comfy. the place I get my audio stuff from (some of it anyway) lets you try things for 10 days than return it free of charge. so maybe I'll get both than just bring back the ones I don't want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEAR Posted April 12, 2003 Share Posted April 12, 2003 Time for TheEAR who owns both to give his piece of mind As all newbs know the HD600 are a pleasure to wear after a few stretches and if you dont have a pompkin sized cranium(if you have then go see a good surgeon). The RS1 are by no means ViseGrip and can as far as my set goes are a great fit. Sound wise,both are world class performers.And both need a good quality headphone amp to really enjoy them to the fullest. The HD600 is more neutral,more revealing...more transparent.They are ruthless in extracting detail. WIth my Headroom MAX and driven from the Pioneer DVAX10 with well mastered CD's you cannot beat this level of transparency even with mega buck speakers in a fully treated room! The RS1 on the other side reward you will a more speaker like,"real" sound.Its hard to describe but they are more musical then the HD600.The RS1's should be called head speakers,not headphones.Still great detail and transparency abound.A delight to listen to Me I could not make my mind so...I purchased both LOL Ah life is so tough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksdad Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 i guess thats why you are called the ear, you said what i wanted to say, except i could only afford 1 pair, but since i went klipsch i havent listend to cans much lately, but for budget cans go grado rs 60's you really get alot for 70 bucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Just a little late: Moments before I showed up at the local thrift store this AM, someone had snagged-no joke- Stax SR-5 headphones and amp. Paid $2. I tried to make an offer, but she wouldn't even consider it. She didn't even know they were quality cans. Am I bummed? Uh, yeah... fini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpg Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH fini- that bums me out. I think I am gonna go cry now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 ---------------- On 4/14/2003 3:10:15 PM trespasser_guy wrote: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH fini- that bums me out. I think I am gonna go cry now... ---------------- give me a tissue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Happy ending: I was in the same thrift store today, and this same lady is there. She notices me and says "Do you want those headphones?" I said, "Uh, yeah!" She couldn't get them to work, and I said I was up to the challenge of repairing them . So, she gives them to me! On close inspection, there is a bit of funkiness going on with them (a few cracked/broken parts, some silicone caulking used for repair), but they DO work, and sound awesome (although the volume balance is way off. The Stax repair guy in So. CA thinks it may be the diaphragm going, or something in the SRD-X amp). There may not be replacement parts available, but for the price ($0), I can't complain! fini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonman Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 great to hear! You should post this little story over at the forums at head-fi.org It will bring joy to those headphone freaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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