LetItRut's Full Review: Grado SR80 Professional Headphones
Three months ago I bought a pair of Grado SR-80's, and had been running them in for close to 40 hours. I have never been more satisfied (for the price that I paid for them) in my life! Here is my review:
Some recent reviews on the SR-80's have stated that they came with the comfy pads, which muffle the sound. (My SR-60's came with those comfy pads, but I bought a pair of "bowl" pads for them.) But those comfy pads are NOT what Grado officially ships the SR-80's with; my SR-80's, which came in a factory-sealed box, came with the "bowl" pads. Also, while the SR-80's cord is as thick and bulky as my year-old pair of SR-60's, it isn't as stiff as my SR-60's. (Newer shipments of Grado headphones come with the less-stiff cord.)
THE SOUND: The SR-80's have less mid-bass but more upper bass than my year-old SR-60's (I tested both headphones with the "bowl" pads), though the low bass is about equal on both. As a result, the SR-80's sound less "boomy" than the cheaper SR-60's. And while both the SR-60's and the SR-80's deliver sparkling treble, the SR-60's upper midrange isn't as smooth or as balanced as that of the SR-80's, so that the SR-60's treble appears even more sparkling than that of the SR-80's (especially with good amplification).
Both of my Grado headphones are comfortable enough, but not quite as comfy as some other brands of full-sized headphones. The "bowl" pads are a bit abrasive, and a bit loose. On the other hand, I (unlike some other people) have no need to bend the headband in order for the Grados to fit comfortably on my head.
The Grado SR80 Headphone delivers more powerful sound and a unique design. They operate on a vented diaphragm design that incorporates a large air cha...More at J&R Music and Computer World
Built on the same features as the SR60, but utilizes a 4 conductor connecting cable and larger ear cushions, the result of which gives a more open sta...More at OneCall
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