💊The TRUTH About Grado Headphones - The Answer May Surprise You!

[@metal571]

Wasn't even playing with EQ at the time I did the 80e but... 10 dB at 2k as rtings clearly shows? That's not defensible. It's offensively colored

[@antoinep9733]

metal571 But what do you really feel?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@antoinep9733 Dude: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nonMqGapnruZaZY I still laugh out loud at that part. XD

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yawp. :)

[@josepedro6451]

Nothing that is enjoyable to someone´s ears can be offensive whatsoever. If the world of headphones limited itself to flat response headphones, it would be so boring.... We can agree that vegetables and fruits are by far the healthier option, but from time to time it is very exciting to eat fried eggs and chips and a big sweet dessert with ice cream on top. As we say in Spanish, "Variety is the spice". I really like my 6xxs, and my AKG 702s, and my Hifiman Sundaras...but I will never ever leave my SR80es or the SR2is aside...If Grado did not exist, it should be created. Kind regards.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@josepedro6451 pbs.twimg.com/media/DiKP480VQAAuwq-.jpg XD

[@discoveryman59]

Bought mine in 2003 SR125's the great thing about Grado is you can send them back for repair and its a flat rate! So no matter whats wrong with them they repair the problem for the same price! 85 bucks for the 125's over 20 years I've needed two wire changes THAT'S ALL!

[@MrAhuraMazda]

I never realized why my Grados sounded off. But since watching this and EQing my 2k region down, I have to say, my Grados are some of the best headphones I own. That little adjustment made these headphones sound incredibly good.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

SHEEEEEEEEEEEIIII partner! Perfect! Maybe I'll get a 60e and EQ 2k down lol. I really love the headphone outside of that as mentioned in the video. Then when I get older, I'll re-EQ it back up XD

[@cjbsat]

@@HomeStudioBasics just tried your suggestion of EQing 2k down around 9db . It's like a different set of headphones . How can taking something away from the frequencies open up and add so much more and sounding more natural. Hats off to you sir 👌 ignore the haters and butt hurt grado fans . I'm now much looking forward to your reviews of the koss headphones especially the kph30i . I'm gonna hold fire on buying till I hear your view.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@cjbsat Thanks man! I'm always grateful for your continued support over these last couple of years. So cool you found that EQ'ing that area helped so much. As I've said many times, I don't hate Grado headphones. The 60e sounds great outside of 2k. The only real problem I have is of diminishing returns as you go up the line. That's all. And the fact that they mostly sound the same unless you swap pads. Thank you for your encouragement as well my friend! Can't wait for the Porta Pro/KPH30i/KSC75 shootout!

[@ChrisLee-jp3jn]

@@HomeStudioBasics how the hell do you EQ it down??

[@cjbsat]

@@ChrisLee-jp3jn I found an eq on software for my fiio DAC amp and just set the 2k frequency to minus 9db . Most Android phones also have equalizers as standard under sound quality etc. Should be easy enough to find the EQ there and modify the sound for a quick test if nothing else. It's surprising how lowering the 2k down seems to release more sounds that must have been masked before. I put off trying this for way too long. Hope you enjoy the sound improvement. I can't thank Stu enough for this one.

[@Snake20]

I must admit I was afraid to purchase a pair of Grado headphones, but I am so impressed by the SR60e that I returned my Shp9600 and Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. You can't find anything better in this price range.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey Mike! Yes! I have absolutely no problem with the 60e. In fact, outside of 2kHz I really think it's a great budget option and still have it in my Budget Kings Series. I do think it's going to be replaced by one of either Koss KPH30i, Porta Pro, or KSC75. But do check out the list! homestudiobasics.com/the-budget-kings-series/

[@kafkaworkshere]

I know exactly what you mean. I own the M40x and like it a lot because its pads and closed sound really give it a warm (though more analytical presentation than the M50x) and pleasant wall of sound. For a relatively cheap headphone, it's pretty good. But it doesn't have the sparkle or open feel of a Grado. It never will. Everything people say about Grado's tinny sound is some version of what they ended up saying about the HD800 - even to the point of lobbying Sennheiser to install a cork in the doughnut. So, now we're paying full freight for a black painted re-run with a resonator, and for what? Both the 800 and the 800s have the same problem: You can't have cans that open, with a driver that far from the ear, without losing a lot of bass. You either augment it or you cry about the tepid HD800 and invest in cans with big leather pads and veiled highs.

[@InstabilerStoff]

I got the 325e little over a year and i gotta say i have no complaints about the cushions. Indoors and outdoors. Totally in love with those headphones

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Nice!

[@joelmoskowitz5170]

I have both 80is and rs1s. If you can’t tell the difference between the soundstage between both models either you aren’t listening to music with a real soundstage, your amp is crap, or you just can’t tell. I love the big, wide, detailed soundstage. That’s why I love Grados. Some people don’t. That’s why there are more than one manufacturer of headphones. I do know that a lot of younger people who are listening to very contemporary pop music there is no soundstage the speak of to begin with, And the music itself is mixed for people listening with low end phone audio through wireless ear buds.

[@LEEKING2005]

Not really, the lowest grado i recommend would be Sr125, exactly because of the thick cables. Although it's kinda annoying as the jack is big and cable is heavy, but the one things that make a high efficient headphone sing is a good cable, even more so than the chamber. Also old people don't deteriote in 2k region (usually 9 to 15k), it's just you like to listening to your music way to loud. IMO the 2k region boost is exactly to make you so you can enjoy the music without high SPL but still get the opera house/orchestra feel( if you ever been to one). For a 1st pair of headphone you can't really go wrong with Grado headphone because their signature sound is way bigger than it's price tag and it complemented almost any genre that doesn't require heavy bass. Not to mention the ease of paring to almost any device due to being high efficient headphone. That being said, the comfortability level of their cushion, the bulkyness weight of the long cable and lack of angle jack (straight jack could damage your device because torque) could need some improvement, especially in higher priced model. I may be bias because I don't actually like the 6XX much. Being a low efficient headphone, it's high really lacking detail and mid are way too artificially muddy and forward. Given pairing with some warm and dark tone device it can sound ok with proper EQ. But it's way too much hassle and completely two type of tone approach in music, much like Wolfson vs ESS. Comparing Grado to HD6xx is like comparing guitar's steel-string high E vs nylon-string high E, completely different approach in sound and design IMO.

[@fbcpraise]

I've never agreed with anything you've posted. No different here. You're very consistent.

[@sonicelectronic57]

Right. Maybe his hearing is damaged? I can blind test the couple pairs I have 100% of the time.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@sonicelectronic57 The irony of suggesting my hearing is damaged after pointing out flaws in an overrated product is really rich. The problem with Grado fans is that they can never take an objective look at the company they worship and instead write walls of text trying to convince others to agree with them. Just scroll down for that. I've never seen anything like it, and it only happens when discussing anything Grado related. That's very telling. If you (in general) have to resort to wasting that much time trying to persuade someone that the headphones in question are that good, they probably aren't. If you want an *actual* good value and excellent sound profile without the ridiculous price tag, look to the HE400se which is probably the best in mid-fi at the moment. Heck, there are countless other, better options than buying a Grado. It's a complete waste of money. Grado headphones are quickly becoming an ancient relic and only relevant to those stuck in the past. However, stay tuned for the X series video as I'm sure that will be another barrel of laughs xD

[@aerotman2003]

​@@HomeStudioBasics The only complaint I ever had with the SR325 anniversary edition I bought almost 20 years ago is that I got a traffic ticket for wearing while driving. Cops reasoning was "how would you hear emergency vehicles?" Outside trying to explain what open faced phones were, he made it clear it's illegal to be deaf and drive. end of paragraph

[@josephpino07]

I also believe Grado headphones sound all the same. Another person and I tested an RS1e and an sr80e out of a Chord Mojo at my house and none of us could tell them apart. They kind of look nicer as you go up the line with whistles and bells such as metal, wood, leather, but that's about it. Sound is identical.

[@mikeg2491]

@@HomeStudioBasics my issue with the Grado haters is a lot of their criticism applies to a lot of manufacturers who never get heat for the same thing. For instance, you can’t tell me all the Sennheiser HD600 series don’t all sound the same but people slobber over them and are shelling out $700 for the same tired 20yo 600 driver in the 660s2 just because it has some more sub-bass, big whoop. They are also all made of molded plastic even going up to the hd800 series, but yet Grado’s wood cups get labeled cheap feeling? I mean wtf. Also I agree detachable cables would be nice but why does Grado never get praise for how quick & easy it is to pad swap while on most other headphone brands it is a chore and can easily lead to snapped off plastic bits or ripped pads if you’re not careful? Or manufactures like Focal being greedy and charging $250 for a new pad? It just seems like there is an innate bias across many HP reviewers for whatever reason. Also it’s hilarious you praise the He400 when Hifiman is the king of cheap shitty clear medical tube cables and their build quality is legendary for defects and other issues, same goes for their amps. There is also nothing Grado won’t fix outside of warranty for a modest price compared to some other manufacturers like Focal who will want $300-$500 to fix a broken headphone. Grado keeping the same design for years has allowed them to be able to pop open and fix their products for cheap.

[@borispradel1037]

I couldn't agree more with you. I've loved my 80e for 4-5 years now, and for under a hundred or so they're more than great. During that time I also bought the 325e, but, honestly I couldn't hear a $200 difference between them (if at all). I had the chance of testing the GS2000e and again, not much of a difference either. I'm in my 50s and I agree that Grado appeals to us more than a younger users. Today I use my 80e with a Sony NWWM 1A and eq them to my taste.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Nice Boris! Yeah someone was just telling me about the 2000e and there's like 2 more in the line!?!? UGH lol. Maybe a separate video heheh. I may get a 60e and EQ down 2k. Someone just told me that it completely changed his perception of the headphones as he couldn't tell what was wrong before. The problem is that they sound great at first but after awhile you can tell something is off. For me that manifests after about 2 minutes lol.

[@kafkaworkshere]

There isn't a $200 difference between the SR80 and the R325. It's a difference of pads (S pads versus L Pads), a daub of sound goo on the back of the driver and aluminum as a shell instead of plastic. Instead of a thicker plastic grill, you get a thinner metal grill, but Grado still screws you in two ways: First, it leaves that button in the center, which undermines the point of open-back design. Second, it installs the aluminum over a plastic tube that wraps the actual driver. This is like burying a tuning fork in a wad of chewed-up bubble gum. There's no way Grado makes these drivers. It has to outsource them. Otherwise, it wouldn't wrap a driver in plastic - even on their most expensive cans. If you'll pardon the sexual metaphor, this is sex while wearing a raincoat. It's a great idea but one that was never implemented, at least not with the 325, whose aluminum isn't even solid. Grado would get closer to actually delivering what it promised with much more expensive cans, like the PS1000, whose solid aluminum hammerhead ring actually contributes to that can's thump. I made the same purchase you made - buying the SR325 after owning the SR80 - and was similarly disappointed that the former didn't sound better than the latter. In fact, it sounded worse because the presentation felt hollower. Over time, I came to enjoy the 325 because it did have sparkle I didn't hear the 80, but without a decent amp to warm things up, it was a love/hate relationship. Once I had an amp that could warm up the LF, I saw what others saw in the 325. If you want the sparkle of a Grado, you should treat it the way people treat the HD800, as a headphone that's amp dependent. At 32 Ohms, it's so easy to run, you'd wonder why you'd ever need an amp, but Grados can't really shine without a bass bump from a decent AMP, DAC or EQ.

[@Antontoo]

I always use EQ to match gear to my preference (6XX, 4XX and GR80e running balanced dac and various balanced amps, cables etc.) . After watching this I took a look at my various eq tunings for Grado GR80e and in all of them I have 4k and 1k elevated a few DBs above 2k, so I guess that's a true shortcoming if you don't EQ. Having said that I probably wasted a lot of money on audio gear since trading in GR60e for GR80e about a decade ago. Other headphones I own are more resolving but clinically so and just don't match Grado's wide, silky-smooth, open, natural base and mids topped off with clarity in the highs. The built quality is very basic but they lasted just fine and are way more comfortable because they are smaller, lighter and don't get hot on your ears.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey Anton! Wait you EQ'd 1k and 4k + 9dB? Am I understanding you correctly? Lol.

[@Antontoo]

@@HomeStudioBasics No no, I said I always elevate 1k and 4k a few dBs over 2k. So for example on one setup I have [1k] +2, [2k] +0 and [4k] +3.

[@Antontoo]

One other interesting finding - on just about all of my 6XX and 4XX EQ adjustment 2k is elevated relative to 1k and 4k. So maybe there is something to Grado bumping up 2k, but they over cooked it.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Ahh nice! Yeah I have similar preferences actually. I think the 5k bump on the K240 is just magnificent esp. for older Rock.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Lol yeah. JUUUUST a bit. XD

[@blowfishes]

Plugging a 3.5mm jack from an open backed headphone into a mobile phone but finding the case prevents this, sounds like a phone case problem and nothing with the headphone.

[@kerc]

Ageism in a headphone review. Didn't expect that.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Ageism is defined as discrimination based on age, especially prejudice against the elderly. So pointing out that older folks can't hear as well and thus have no issues with Grado headphones is discriminatory and prejudice? No, my good sir, that's just a fact of life. Your hearing deteriorates as you age. I don't think you used that term in its proper context and also resorted to a strawman for good measure.

[@kerc]

@@HomeStudioBasics While true, you presented the information in a way that ridiculed older people, smirk and all. Also, ironically, you should work on your video's audio.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@kerc So I smirked? And? That got you upset? Perhaps you should re-evaluate what I said right after and the examples I used to back up my claim rather than cherry-pick a smile. Lighten up my dude, it's not that serious.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@kerc Point taken on the audio, although the setup has been re-configured and I'm also getting new gear soon. The Yeti is a great mic but where I placed it was probably not ideal. It's hard to get a good spot with it where I was. Thank you for the feedback.

[@sixstringbluesify]

I use Grado RS2e headphones while running a low pass signal from a tube preamp to a JM labs powered sub. I play the sub as I normally would, with the headphones on. Gives you an amazing live effect. And to feel the bass frequency with the headphones on is a pretty cool experience!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Nice! I may try Grado again in the future but if I do, I'll def be EQ'ing 2k down. A few people have told me they tried it as well and it worked wonders for them. :) I agree; Grado's do tend to have a live sound.

[@sixstringbluesify]

@@HomeStudioBasics They sure do. In my opinion, they're the closest sounding headphone to a horn loudspeaker (ex. Klipschorn or Lascala). Excellent for blues, jazz, some rock, soul. They just tend to really come alive when driven with tube gear, just as a horn loudspeaker would as well.

[@kafkaworkshere]

Now, you're talking. Grados are 32 ohm cans, which you can play right off your phone. But with the right amp, they definitely sound better.

[@TheWorldNowTV]

I don't want EQ to fix my headphones, I want my headphones to fix my EQ

[@HomeStudioBasics]

In any event, just forget about Grado. Lol.

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

Agree with a lot of what you say, but: I don't dislike the chunky cables. The thick S standard cushions are ok. I find the L cushions acceptable, (and cooler in hot weather.) Will look around for G cushions. It's a cinch to swap pads. 1 second. My gripe is no connectors on the cups, so when a cable goes you are in a fix. I'd pay a little extra for a couple of sockets and plugs to enable cable swapping. You can bang them around in a way I wouldn't with my other hphones. :-) And they are well built. They take it. Of course, Senns are another category of comfort and refinement. But I also like my Grados. :-) They are like a return to the basics. And I passed a test with them to discern lossy 320 vs non lossy flacs, and they were resolving enough to do it. There are hundreds of 'better' headphones, but I just had to have a 'real grado' hand made in Brooklyn in my mix. And they get used a lot. ;-) I don't like rap. ;-) Don't hate me for it. It takes all sorts to make a world.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! S-cushions tend to dig into my ears after awhile. No go. L-cushions are even worse. No idea what Grado was thinking. G-cushions are the best. Yes on the cable. What they need to do is make them detachable and a bit thinner for the headphone in question. If the headphone is bigger, fine, use a slightly chunkier cable. But it's very stiff and rigid, not malleable, and not good for extended sessions. Tends to get in the way and become a pain. A great example of a cable done right is the SHP9500 short detachable cable. Never have issues with it. Perfect size for the headphone. Banging them around. They can take it. Yeah my mind went somewhere else lol. Never a bad idea to have a 60e around. Anything more than that I would advise people to tread very carefully. I have a new Grado video coming out pretty soon :)

[@777galamian]

Wow, I wish I could unhear this.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

I know right? Truth hurts lol.

[@777galamian]

I was referring to your vapid commentary. Not sure why you'd love that.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@777galamian Oh, okay. I love any and all comments. Means I made an impression in some way and you took the time to share your thoughts. So thanks! 👊🙂

[@OkAIok]

@@HomeStudioBasics Keep doing what you are doing brother!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@OkAIok thanks man! Much appreciated 👊☺

[@re-gaming3913]

I think you flipped the two axis in yout diminishing returns graph. The graph suggests that the value increases with a higher price.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yes! Thank you :) My friend Arthur Crosby pointed that out, and I made a new graph. If you want you can check out the post. I'm going to make a new video with an updated graph as I added a lot more to it. yt3.ggpht.com/hhwTyhmfKpt2Gz-L3_haq0plZE-4P37lRwpKC8LnCvh_C9kEQ81OAfrjZSdq4t4sq7ZuIkqdeKd5kg=s2048-c-fcrop64=1,38000000c7ffffff-nd That's the image, the post is in the community tab but there's no separate link for it.

[@ironsienna]

@@HomeStudioBasics That one is wrong too... It mixes on the yAxis variables of sound quality and money related situations. Also what's the point of showing the linear green line?

[@damiengrief]

I agree Grado could stand to improve build quality. I like that they use quality wood/metal in the higher end ones and give you a real leather headband in the higher ones. But they should have detachable cables by now (I don't use them with my phone so the cable doesn't bug me much but it'd be nice to have choice and for reparability) and the little plastic blocks with the L and R on them holding the cups in place should be made of more than cheap plastic on the higher end ones ($500+). That said, I kinda disagree about the sound. I'm not buying Grado headphones for studio/reference quality sound. I'm buying it for Grado's house sound - which I like. I'm in my early 30's and my hearing is near perfect. The highs don't bother me except on like the SR-325. I have the PS500e, the SR-225, and just recently ordered the Hemp headphones. When I want super accurate musical reproduction, I go with my HD 6XX instead. I think you might like something like the PS500e or the RS2e. Those ones kind of pull back the Grado sound a bit.

[@bjrnsjohnsen1278]

Interesting, I’m also put off by the harshness of the 325. I thought the 225 would be the same, but they’re different?

[@armanddimeo6575]

It is true that Grado headphones tend to have the same sonic signature but this is true of other brands, such as Sennheiser, not to mention countless loudspeaker brands (Bowers and Wilkins, Focal, etc.). I would not rely too heavily on frequency response charts for headphones, since the fact that the drivers are placed so close to the ear makes them misleading. Show me a headphone that has a flat frequency response like the best loudspeakers. Speakers and headphones are two completely different animals and have different frequency response goals. Grado headphones sound natural but very alive to me. Grado headphones connect me to the music more than any other headphone brand I have tried. I find the SR225 to be the sweet spot of the line. The SR80 is the best option for those on a tight budget. The SR80 is worth the small price difference over the SR60 in my opinion. I agree there is not that much to be gained by going farther up the line but I am more of a speaker guy and find this to be true of other headphone brands as well. As for build quality, I have a Grado SR225 that is still going strong after almost 20 years.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

And I constantly mention in videos and articles how I like the 60e outside of 2kHz but Grado fanboys in their rage tend to ignore it. The 80e is the exact same headphone and def not worth the price increase but that's jmo. I agree with the first part about Sennheiser because yeah their line does sound very similar with subtle differences. The problem with Grado is that they charge exorbitantly high prices for the same sound packaged in a different headphone and they have a weird cult-like following to boot so there's no objectivity anywhere. If you don't like Grado but someone else does it's like you kicked their dog. That's always been my issue. The only negative comments I get nowadays are on 2-year-old Grado videos like this one and that to me speaks volumes about how touchy people are.

[@loonation2185]

had the sr60e for about 2 years now and I almost forgot how it sounds originally since I modded it too much to sound neutral and a bit dark, although iirc Im not really bothered much from the 2khz peak I think its tolerable in general, headphones with peaks from 4khz-8khz are the ones I cant listen to. Anyways the good thing about grados is the numerous modification you can do to it.

[@antoinep9733]

Choa Park Still using the original grado drivers?

[@loonation2185]

@@antoinep9733 yep of course, I just modified it heavily, changed pads, recabling, damping, vent holes, etc.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@loonation2185 Nice! That sounds interesting. Would love to see some images of it. What pads you got, what cables, etc. Maybe send it over for demo? Heh.

[@loonation2185]

@@HomeStudioBasics I have posted my modification in headfi here: www.head-fi.org/threads/post-your-grado-mods.119314/page-578#post-15050632 But I further modified it; swapped cable to single crystal copper (m.ja.aliexpress.com/item/4000124077059.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail) which in my ears renders better clarity, changed the foam dampener for smoother treble and covered some of my poked vent holes to reduces bass vibration, my final mod sounds good using the l-pads but the comfort is meh and I say no for g-cush pads it gives a very thin sizzling treble, also planning on installing other headband to avoid that twisting cable problems, but man, I dont think I cant send it to you for a demo due to enchanced lockdown in my country :(

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@loonation2185 Look man. Stop making me want to get a Grado lol.

[@andersanderson11]

An audiophile who listens to compressed files on his phone.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey Anders! Sorry to hear that. If you're looking for a good streaming service, I'd recommend Tidal Hi-Fi and Spotify Premium. I run both on my desktop and phone, but also used FLAC files from CD when I demoed the Grado e-line.

[@kafkaworkshere]

Right? When this guy start bitching that he can't listen to his Grados with his phone case on, I was wondering, "Is this guy for real? Is this some kind of anti-comedy thing where he's just screwing with us?" Of course, I sometimes listen to high res through the USBc port, running through a Mojo, so who am I to judge? But still.

[@ChrisTopher-xu4ef]

Totally enjoyed the video. I had a few Grados that I ended up selling. Recently, i purchased Grados again. I must admit, it has been a guilty pleasure for casual listening. I totally agree that Grados are colored. I am in my mid 30s and my hearing is not damaged, and is on par with my age. For actual studio and mastering work, I would suggest something more accurate than Grados. I own hd600s and dt1990s, however I repeat again, i have grown to enjoy the Grado sound for casual listening. I agree that if one does enjoy the Grado colored sound, only spend the money on the sr60s. It is not worth spending a bunch of money on the more expensive models. Thank you for the video.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man! The thing about them is I want to like them so badly, and they are likeable in many ways. It's like that girl who's really beautiful, has everything you want in a female, and you SHOULD technically want to be with her, but something is.. missing. You can't quite put your finger on it. I'm in a situation like that now actually. It's like you know you have some sort of feelings, but .. they're surface level. You know long term that it just isn't going to work out because your hearts not in it. That's how I feel about Grado's lol. TL;DR Grados = strange female. XD

[@josepedro6451]

@@HomeStudioBasics Dear Stu, for once I do not agree with you....for me the Grados are the opposite. It is like a "not very good-looking, not politically correct" girl, but she is very exciting, funny and energetic, and makes you feel alive. Even if you end up marrying a less exciting and somehow laid-back, quieter and safer Sennheiser 6xx girl.... ;-). With the advantage, that unlike in conventional marriages, in this case you can come back to the exciting girl from time to time without putting in risk the long-term relationship...LOL! :-). Kind regards.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@josepedro6451 Hey man! Yeah, well. YOU'RE WRONG!!! i.imgur.com/mSRzANL.jpg Haha jk XD Interesting theory on the Grados though!! But what about loudness? Grado girl is probably super opinionated and intense. She may even be *GASP* a feminist! Those are the worst.

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

@@HomeStudioBasics well I bought the hemp phones from a stoner girl and she is less of a feminist than you are who seems dummy thick dummy thick dummy thick

[@richardlaub889]

You speak the truth when you say "older people" would probably enjoy the Grado sound. I bought a pair of Grado SR 80's 10 years ago. I have hearing loss in the highs now that I am 58 yo. I now use these headphones everyday. I love them. I think it also matters what you listen to when using these headphones. I will also say I have tried most of the Grado models and they all seem to sound the same. I wonder if they use the same driver in all their headphones? When you move up the price ladder the only thing that changes are the pads and the housings (metal or wood). They found a sound and they figured out a way to make money on that sound.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

It's so funny that you comment because someone on this same video just got super upset about the fact that I pointed that out, yet here you are not getting mad at all. It just speaks to the fact that there are people out there who will nitpick and complain about anything; it doesn't really matter what you say. Contrary to what people may think as they conjure up stuff in their mind that's completely unreasonable, I 1) Do not hate Grado headphones. I've stated over and over and over that the 60e is pretty good, all things considered. And 2) As you point out, they all mostly sound the same with pad differences being the only real variable, as well as the housings. So glad you mentioned that. It's so funny that as someone who enjoys Grado, you're STILL able to look at them objectively. Most other people can't. Talking even semi-negatively about a Grado to a Grado fan is like punting their dog down the street. They get so triggered. They can't just accept the fact that it's a flawed sound, no matter how objectively you make it. I even made another video tying it all together, and someone still got mad earlier lol: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2maZoucjp6Whbs Just filter the newest comments to see it. I thank you for your thoughtful reply.

[@kafkaworkshere]

I'm in my 50s, got into Grado in my 30s, and more critical of Grados than I was when I was younger and still know why people like them. I pulled down an old pair of SR60s the other night, ran some high res through a Chord Mojo, tweaked it with EQ and had a fun time. It isn't my loss of mosquito tone sensibility. I've owned the LCD2, the LCD2c, the LCDx, the iSine and at least one other Audeze and I have to EQ those cans because I find the bass and clarity thrilling but the HF veiled. In the meantime, I totally get how the DT1990 has HF that would take the paint off your car, but I find its crazy edge appealing. It's all about finding the right tweak, the right balance, which is why I prefer the HD800 to the HD800S. I'd rather play with the knobs than have somebody do it for me.

[@martyp2138]

I bought the Hemps as I always wanted to try Grados and they look great. Really like them and can wear them for hours (compared to my LCD-Xs). Fancy trying the G-cushions on them though to make them over-ear.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! The hemps?

[@martyp2138]

@@HomeStudioBasics They are a special edition, www.grado.co.uk/hemp-headphones.html

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hmm. Interesting! I'd like to see the FR graph on them first to determine if they're just like all the others haha.

[@martyp2138]

@@HomeStudioBasics www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/grado/the-hemp-headphone

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@martyp2138 Lmao same exact BS from Grado. Why am I not surprised? Looks like not only did they double down on the absurd 9-10k peak @2k, but they added a few more dB! Lol. It's basically +13 now. Welp, time for another Grado video 😂 I respect the fact that you enjoy them personally, but I never could.

[@Master-Baiter]

Younger people have hearing issues too that can make you love grado, that is if you've been riding harleys since you were 15-16

[@antic4312]

I picked up a pair of SR60e’s recently because everyone just kept talking about the Grado sound as this inefable thing and... I get it. I think “very opinionated” is 100% the best way to describe these. Listening to Eric Clapton, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, these headphones just blew me away. But then I listened to something more modern and bass heavy, and they immediately fell apart. Grado’s will only let you listen to whatever they want to hear, but they will do it well. Definitely a fun side-headphone. I’ll stick to the Senn’s for everything else, though.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man that's also a good point. I could listen to a 60e and just fall in love with certain genres (mostly rock), and then listen to something else and it's like Jekyll and Hyde. I'd still EQ 2k down a lot, but I don't hate Grado headphones or anything. They're just very volatile and like you alluded to, Senn's aren't which is why I listen to them the majority of time I'm rocking out. :D Thanks for stopping by! Which Senn's do you have?

[@antic4312]

@@HomeStudioBasics I got a pair of the original HD598 in the beige with brown accents that I've had for almost 6 years, and at some point I picked up a used pair of HD558 for like $50, but I definitely prefer the 598. Still looking to get my hands on a pair of 6XX from Massdrop. I was reluctant to do it when they first came out, because I didn't think I had an amp good enough to drive them. Do you think an e10k can provide enough power to drive them properly?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@antic4312 Yeah man! E10K would be fine to start! I still have it, still use it, and still love it. I would go for the 6XX to be honest. You really can't go wrong. That's my #1 recommendation in the hobby actually. If you use my drop link in this vid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqSnY2V6mtpjj6c I do get a small kick back which helps the channel moving forward. Let me know! Sorry for the late reply. I mostly don't see follow ups unless I happen to go back through the videos later.

[@Ziyoblader]

if you love 6xx and want to get the hd800 and you love vocals and the ok bass on the 6xx you will be sorely disappointed the HD800s pulls away the vocals harder to hear and bass as well and you are left with highs light mids and biggest sound stage that is to the point considered fake if you want something at that price range get the Hifiman arya

[@HomeStudioBasics]

I love the Ananda and curious to see if the Arya is 2x better for the price.

[@Ziyoblader]

@@HomeStudioBasics I'm in a discord server with other people that have gotten into the high headphone market and many of them praise Ananda in the Ayra quite a few of them have said it's a good jump if you can get an arya for 1200 but definitely not the full price of the ayra lately though they have moved away from HiFi men and went to stax sr404 but from experience they sound different 404 being more clarity and precision but less soundstage so 404 might be good for '80s music and early '90s but as you go more modern songs in my opinion the Arya outshines the 404 in that department

[@kanib0yz]

I still have my Grado RS2 which I bought back in 2007. I agree with you about the build quality. I hate the cables, sliders and plastic mounts. For 2021, I had them modded to detachable mmcx cables. I still don’t like that the cups rotate and can twist my cables. I have changed to G-Cushion pads which are more comfortable and gives a better soundstage. The L-Cushions which they came with were not comfortable and I had hotspots at the tip of my ears. I recently bought S- and L pads from Misodiko and they are way better than the original Grado pads in terms of materials and comfort. Great insight and keep these videos rolling.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man!

[@sheanreal]

I'm 23 and i love Grado

[@HomeStudioBasics]

That's cool man! Which model do you have?

[@sheanreal]

@@HomeStudioBasics sr80e. Been using it since January

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Nice! What music?

[@sheanreal]

@@HomeStudioBasics for me it's a versatile headphone, although i sometimes bass boost it on some bassy music because it's kinda loose sometimes.

[@sheanreal]

It really shines on some Acoustic and Live music.

[@alchemistTi]

I think the SR225e's are worth the extra $100 over the SR80e's - I have both. I'd love to compare to an RS1e but $700 🤦

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Haha yeah. Thanks for your input man!

[@francoisrochette3808]

I used to owned the SR 80e and the RS2e. The difference in sound was nothing except for the woods and the pads. Do not spend your money on a RS1e you will regret it.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

THANK YOU. Finally someone with some sense around here. XD My videos average high 90's lol. So many upset Grado fans on this one. Grado headphones are not worth the price outside of a 60e or 80e.

[@khalid13wasi14]

I was thinking if one can listen sounds as if they are comming over the head in open back headphones. Like thunder, or rain sounds, as are advertised by dolby atmos enabled speakers.🤔

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey Khalid! Do you mean with the Grado's?

[@TheSteve57]

OK, I'm one of those " older guys" and been looking for the right headphones. Tried Sundara and 660s among others and found their vocals shite !!! Tried Phoenix which is just a jumbled mess !! SO, I listen MAINLY to older stuff, 60s/70s. I have Zen Dac/Can, I want punchy not bloated bass and slightly forward clear vocals. ANY IDEAS ???

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Looks like 702 is it for you. I linked you in the other comments :)

[@TheSteve57]

@@HomeStudioBasics I'm not so sure, I think Grado 325x or HD 600 or Ollo S4x is more me. Tight bass and clear vocals ?‽?

[@HavokR505]

I have 125e's which replaced a 10yr old set of AT M50s. they sound pretty good to me. I still prefer speakers like my totem Rainmakers though

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Nice!

[@HavokR505]

@@HomeStudioBasics this just comes back to the difference between measured and interpreted sound quality. which one is correct? not sure. the studies conducted at the NRC by Floyd O'toole in the 80s would point to trained listeners preferring a flat response curve but I cant help to wonder if there is a bias in how they "trained" consumers to interpret their preferences. I used to be in the "measure sound quality is absolute crowd" but as I age I find myself disagreeing with that to a certain extent.

[@peterhandford5215]

I bought a pair of the RS 1X. I really like the sound, but the build quality seems poor, especially in a unit costing £800. The head band is constantly becoming detached from the 2 ear units. It only seems to be held on by simple metal lugs, which have no obvious means of permanent fixing. I emailed them asking for advice, but they never replied, so it looks as though I will be dribbling in drops of superglue to solve the problem. Also alarmed that the cable doesn’t appear to be easily replaceable. These are issues which should be fixed at the design stage. Great sound is all very well, but these small practical matters are important too.

[@cadetsparklez3300]

main problem: your ears bleed after a few minutes with their pads

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Haha there's always that too lmao.

[@buxycat]

Re G-Cush pads on SR325s... not recommended by John Grado because those drivers are not meant to be that far away from your ears. I can personally vouch for this being true, lost a lot of bass. I reverted to the original foam pads. I did upgrade the headband, that helped a lot with comfort. I'm not sure how much I recommend Grado headphones. I do tend to run them through an Ear Studio ES100 bluetooth headphone amp (tiny thing!) with some EQ to my taste.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey cat! I don't recall saying I put G's on a 325e, let me know if/where I said that. I could have misspoken but I never have done that. Thanks for the sensible/level-headed reply to the video! Have you seen my updated one? I think it clarifies things better than this vid and takes a more holistic approach. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2maZoucjp6Whbs

[@buxycat]

@@HomeStudioBasics 4:17 is where you mention it. The G-cush are really comfortable. I got my "is" version around 2007, the top end was pretty harsh. I'm in my early 50s now, so If found your comment about older people liking them very interesting. I'm not sure if the taming of the top end is ageing ears, my ES100, or both. Something else in the negative column is: Grado claim that anything with a 3.5mm jack will work, this is simply not my experience with my SR325s, the only thing I've ever plugged them into that actually made them sound good is my new MB Air M1. I found your video because I was looking into *maybe* some Grado wireless, which I won't be looking into any further, I agree with most of what you say. One thing I do have to hand to Grado though... I barely used them for the first few years of ownership, thinking I needed a decent headphone amp behind them. When I was able to afford it, I bought a Musical Fidelity M1 HPA. Where's the bass? Amp manual suggested a cable issue. I thought my Grado large to small jack cable was just a loose fit. Whoever handles Grado warranty issues in the UK weren't interested. I contacted the US dealer they were bought from who said "no problem, I'll phone John Grado myself and sort it out," which, I thought at the time was BS. But it was true, I paid for shipping from UK to New York, Grado replaced the cable and shipped them back, free of charge, when I was well out of warranty. I don't bother with the M1 HPA anymore, that's how good the ES100 is. Sadly, I can't recommend Musical Fidelity, now they are no longer British made. My B1 integrated amp, Chartwell speakers and I were very happy for over twenty years, sigh.

[@chrisquay007]

I am looking for a great pair of headphones for mixing and mastering my music in general professional studio work. I heard some producers recommend these, but still on the fence I need to do some more research. Would you recommend grados for what I am doing?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! If you plan on definitely EQ'ing 2kHz down, then yeah the 60/80e would be a great option. I like the headphone for the most part. But most people don't want to do that. What kind of price range are you mostly wanting to stay in? And would you prefer open back over closed?

[@chrisquay007]

Home Studio Basics thanks for the reply I looking for open back mostly probably look at the 400 to 600 dollar price range

[@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797]

@@chrisquay007 here is an absolute steal: shure srh1840. They are 470 dollars on amazon, but sound like they are 870

[@mornnb]

Been trying out 80e - they are cheap so I just picked up them to see if the hype matches the reality. I don't really care about the build quality, put the money into the sound is the right approach IMHO. Although lack of replaceable cables really hurts longevity. While I think detail and clarity is impressive and does match the hype - I've felt the bass is rather weak on them in terms of volume and the highs are too exaggerated. They do sound off in this way. Yet aside from this, the detail and openness of the sound is such that it sounds closer to a live music sound than other headphones I've used. So I think I get the hype from this perspective, yet the issues with lows and highs bothers me enough to not use them often.

[@footßall]

The x series is way more balanced than the e series, reduced some of the overly sparkly high end and mids (still sparkly but not ear bleeding sparkly like on the e series) and it actually has some bass. If you don't agree with my opinion and just think I'm a Grado fan boy who can't believe someone would ever call a Grado out about having some issues that's not true, right now I'm just trying to spread my opinion that Grado has learned some stuff from the feedback about the previous generations and has made some improvements, they still aren't perfect I will say, but they have made a lot of improvements. Also, I would recommend either s pads (first pick) or maybe g pads (second pick) because the l pads are literally the crappiest pads they make and are useless.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

I've been looking forward to trying the X series and seeing if my impressions will change any!

[@footßall]

@@HomeStudioBasics Awesome, I would love to hear what you think about it.

[@upy0ur5]

I have an Sr80i and RS2i. I completely agree that the L Cushion hurts so bad. I notice a huge difference in both but not so much with the models above. I only got the RS2i because I wanted a wooden headphone and that was all that was available at the time I got it. It's almost twice as good as the Sr80i but that's a massive diminish in returns there. What headphone price do you find the most worth it before diminishing returns becomes too much?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! It's funny because the threshold of diminishing returns is actually getting smaller with headphones due to the minuscule prices of good cans nowadays. I'm thinking specifically of a 6XX. Just a few years ago you had to spend around $300-500 for mid-fi sound, whereas now you can sometimes get a 6XX for just under $200. So basically, that price. There are few headphones beyond a 6XX that I find are worth the price increase. The Utopia is still the best headphone I've ever heard but I don't think it's worth the original $4k asking price. Truth be told I've demoed just over 100 headphones and I may pay $800 for it. It's certainly a perfect sound signature, but is it really worth all that much more? Meh. In all honestly the jump from a 6XX to a Utopia represents maybe that missing 5-10%. I truly believe a 6XX is 95% of what the hobby is, with a good planar also filling in that gap. Something like an Ananda, LCD-2, etc.

[@upy0ur5]

@@HomeStudioBasics 5-10% increase is what I commonly felt too actually when comparing improvements from headphone upgrades of the same company. I own a Beyerdynamic T5p and a Custom One Pro but I feel like the improvement even with a good amp, is at most 15 percent from the custom one pros to the T5p. T5p are no doubt amazing but I would say it's worth like 400 and not the original asking price of 1100. My Sony MDR Z7 are in the same ballpark as the T5p in value. I thought it was just me. Glad to see you feel generally the same.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man I've demoed a lot of headphones so you kind of start to see the light after awhile lol. I think headphones are important but they're still kind of overblown when you really think about it. Still not as ridiculous as the Amp DAC wank fest though XD

[@upy0ur5]

@@HomeStudioBasics yeah, the amp and DAC world is like putting in a pool in your back yard. (or my case, front yard)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@upy0ur5 HAHAH! I kind of want a pool tho XD CRAP

[@mickeymice2004]

i've owned a boat load of headphones from cheap to more expensive (nothing at $1K). when i first got a set of grado's i hated them, i even took advil on a trip due to the volume creep my hand was doing from the change in sound signature making me feel it needed more volume. Before being stuck with only those for a few weeks, i hated them, but after my ear acclimated (took days)... i have never heard a better headphone anywhere. The grado sr60e is about 90-95% of the sound of the most expensive headphones they sell (minus the g-cush foam). And if you allow yourself to drop the graph nonsense (treble apparently sounds better at that peak) you will find no better headphones for classical, vocal, acoustic, rock - metal (asbolutely not EDM, Rap etc). And if it was just EQ you could tweak eq to make any set sound like any other set... IMHO nobody cares if the treble is peaked (though i hear people dislike the treble at sr80e to sr225e, and love it again at rs2e, and that's people holding them in their hands while reviewing). Grado has legions of loyalist. If you use them, get used to them (admittedly i had to take advil when i was stuck with just those headphones for a few weeks and the grado-sound was so strange to me) you will never want to be without them, just like tons of other people, i became a grado die-hard after that. And typically i agree with reviews by pros, from senn's sounding veiled at 650 down), to akg being analytical or trebly - though accurate from k712 down, to koss porta's being a great buy at 30, to sony mdr7506 being the best $100 monitor closed back type, to the audio's being great for edm etc.. so my ears seem to be absolutely typical... and again I HATED grado at first... now when they break.... i'm without that experience of enjoying music i never enjoyed, or haven't enjoyed in years. And you can not eq other headphones by kicking peaks around to sound the same, even with high end eq's you will not replicate that sound. The grado is designed to sound good eq'd as it is. It's on ear, or semi over open back with a specific design that makes that soundstage sound amazinggg (so the graph is pointless, nobody thinks these are mixing headphones). IMHO, but cool vid, peace. (oh and side-note, the sr60 breaks super easy as the driver will screw up after about a year esp if you crank them.. but they used to be cheap and that's long enough for a sound that great to most people, and the cable should be detachable). cool vid. OH and i've never tried a planar-magnet headphone, but am curious if anything improves.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey there! Check the most recent Grado video not sure if you've seen that one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2maZoucjp6Whbs

[@Jeremy-xe9vs]

I'm thoroughly convinced they all have the same drivers. I've tried the cheapest model all the way to the RS line and they all sound exactly the same.

[@michael_jay]

Wow! I have seen some really badly argumented ”audiophile” videos but this one takes the price. You can think what you want of build quality but Grado is just one of those companies who stuck with something that works and focuses on where it matters, ie. their focus is on sound. Again, think what you want but I think that is a great thing to focus as a audiophile-centric manufacturer. Secondly, if you claim all Grado headphones sound the same, you either have not listened to all of them or probably just hate them and base your opinion on that. I own/have owned most of Grado models uder 1000$ and can say they mostly sound different. Sure they do have similarities, especially due their house signature 2k spike (which btw is not a fault but a ”spice” to bring presence and liveliness). To say all Grado headphones sound the same is the same as to say all Sennheiser headphones sound the same. Lastly, the pads. They do suck tbh. Unfortunately they do have a great impact on the sound and you really cant exchange L-cushion for more comfortable S- or G-cushion without practically ruining the sound signature. Grados are not for everyone, that is for sure. However, if you happen to dislike them, do not preach it as the ”truth”, especially when you seem to be unable to see any other way.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! All due respect, I don't think you actually watched the entire video, or absorbed what I was saying perhaps as much as you thought - 2 of your claims are completely unfounded. I backed up what I said in the video. I have listened to them all. Plenty of times. On numerous occasions. The entire basis of my stance on the sound was just that, an exhaustive back and forth A/B of the entire e-line. So when you say things like "If you claim all Grado headphones sound the same, you either have not listened to all of them or probably just hate them and base your opinion on that", that's you getting triggered over my opinion and nothing more. Do you see what I'm saying? There's no justification for that. This is a piece of a reply to another fella that should clarify the sound portion. Obviously some of these responses aren't directed towards YOU, but you can get an idea of what I was conveying through time stamps and objectively looking at the content. /////// -(Bullet Point #4): Sound. @ 5:21 I say that they get most of the sound signature right outside of 2kHz, which is just awful. I go into how I enjoy the bass @ 5:30, and I also talk about how the treble isn't as bad as some Grado haters make it out to be @ 5:47, but the that mid-range is still really bad. There's no getting around that. How is a 9dB bump at 2kHz in any way ideal? I even included graphs to back up my sentiment. I'd love for you to answer me that one in an unbiased way. Definitely not "unfair." I can't think of one other headphone out of the 100+ I've demoed, that has such a blatant and jarring spike in the mids. Grado headphones are clearly geared towards older folks which is fine, but it doesn't sound good in any way regarding that particular ringing frequency. At 7:00 I say that it's not advisable to invest in anything more than a 60e or 80e, and I stand by that. That's not to say don't invest in a 60e. If you actually read the comments I still think a 60e is a fine investment if you plan on modding the headphone. @ 7:16 I clearly say that I would not PERSONALLY own one myself or listen to it, unless I were to EQ down that area, but I again say that the headphone is really good outside of that. Again, not sure how that's unfair or how it somehow means that "I must hate Grado headphones". Also no, the 9dB spike at 2kHz is not a "spice", it's offensively colored and a clear fault of the headphone. A spice is something you put on your food. XD All jokes aside.. /////// -(Bullet Point #5) At 7:50 I talk about the appeal to older folks*, and Tyll retiring because of a loss of hearing, which is most certainly true. I've had people like that come by here on the channel and tell me that they are older and can concede that they might enjoy a Grado for the very reason of: they lost some of their hearing, and the sound signature makes up for that loss in the all important presence region. Nothing wrong with that, and I appreciate them framing their response with respect rather than lash out because they disagree. Also, my personal opinion is to bypass the series (which I still stand by), but: @ 9:26 I said if you really want to try a Grado, go with the 60e because it sounds identical to an 80e but for less money. Did you forget that part? I even tell people to buy a 60e and "see if they like it" So I have no idea what you mean by "unfair." I also re-iterate that for ME, I would not, again.. *personally buy one. How exactly does that mean I must "hate" Grado headphones? /////// -(Bullet Point #6) I come full circle and answer the question in the title of my video of "The Truth About Grado Headphones" or: What is the truth? And that is that in my opinion, they all mostly sound the same from the cheapest to the most expensive going up the line. I mention that I believe the differences between them lie mostly in the pads, which can and will change the sound signature pretty radically. There was nothing deceptive about the relationship of the title to the content (i.e. click bait). It's actually an example of what's known as "simple enticement." The title, the image, and the text in the image all accurately reflected the content delivered. I planned and outlined everything that I was going to say in the video, why I took the stances that I did, and backed it up with many hours of exhaustive back and forth A/B testing of the products. The conclusion I came to might not be the same as yours, but that doesn't make it deceptive. It just means you didn't agree, which is totally fine. It's important to also note that the hobby can be very subjective, so it should come as no surprise that a Grado video would be fairly opinionated. You had to at least have some inkling that the content may be controversial based on the title and the Matrix thumbnail. That's why you clicked on it, right? You were curious as to what that truth was, according to me. It really has nothing to do with an objective definition of what "truth" actually is. That's playing semantics. Many of the people who watch this video will inevitably share that same truth, and others won't. That's what makes it so interesting! Thanks for stopping by..

[@xxpandathomasxx]

I had the 80e for 7 years till they broke, now I rock the 60e, its nice on my Asgard 2 since it dulls the highs ALOT. Rock the 6xx most days. Looking for something closed that sounds good. I am in a loud environment most of the time so id like to hear less of it and I can't use most iem's more than 4 hours.

[@nonenothing4412]

hd280 is what you need. make sure you get the new version

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah 280 is good liek Martin said, but may clamp rather hard. Amazing isolation though. Some of the best actually. The thing about the 280 though is that it's incredibly flat, almost dull sounding. Do you prefer that?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@nonenothing4412 Yeah I really liked the 280. Haven't heard once since about 2015 and that was the old model. Would love to re-visit that one.

[@nonenothing4412]

@@HomeStudioBasics it's nothing like original. I'd not say it's dull, maybe only from certain sources. but the good thing is that they are very dacampable and equalizable. i listen to 80s-90s metal mostly, so I wouldn't bear neither dull sound, nor sharp one. msr7 - sold, 1more tdoe - sold, dt770 - sold,shp9500 - sold, fidelio l2 - sold. judge yourself. not even interested in trying anything else at the moment. for me it's THE headphone. this and bl-03 made me happier for 115 bucks total.

[@xxpandathomasxx]

​@@HomeStudioBasics "Musical" AS long as it sounds good and the highs do't munch on my ears like my DT880's(still no OTL amp)

[@chaitanya.chibber]

I’m new to this and was planning on buying a pair of sub 100$ open backs. Saw a couple reviews saying grado sr60e 80e and the like are great. This video has me confused as to what i should go for... 😕

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey there! It's not that I don't like the 60e or 80e. I just think there are better options like the SHP9500 - which I think you should go for immediately. Check out my review. homestudiobasics.com/philips-shp9500-review-impressive/ You'll see it's part of the Budget Kings series and you'll also notice the 60e is 6th on the list. Do keep in mind that it will be replaced by one of the Koss KPH30i, KSC75 or Porta Pro. Haven't decided which yet as I'm demoing all of them right now. 🙂 The thing about Grado is that you'll love them at first, and then the mid-range issue will start to really bother you. Some people have reported to me that after EQ'ing down 2kHz the headphone is fantastic, but not everyone wants to do that.

[@chaitanya.chibber]

@@HomeStudioBasics I read your review. I think I’ll just go with the shp9500s for my first open backs. Thanks man!

[@seravenerdi]

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 !

[@HomeStudioBasics]

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.

[@dubdoodle7191]

@@HomeStudioBasics Yeah alot of dealers in Canada dropped Grado cause of so many product returns.

[@no_name2882]

Is it possible to use the equaliser function on Spotify or any phone to tone down the 2khz area?

[@socksumi]

I'm an older folk and I completely agree with you. i don't care for the aggressiveness of Grado phones. BTW most of us 60 somethings can clearly hear the peak at 2khz and some of us even the one at 10khz. I can still hear past 12 khz. I own a pair of vintage Yamaha HP-2 orthodynamics and they blow the Grados away. Much smoother, more resolute and way less distortion.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey wow I'm surprised. I've been getting a lot of push back from this video lately XD Have you ever heard a pair of original NS10's?

[@socksumi]

@@HomeStudioBasics Not fond of them for listening. While they have their usefulness, broad peaks in the response disqualify them from accurate pleasurable reproduction. I much like well designed electrostatics for their coherence, low distortion and low level detail without aggressiveness. I also like classic British loudspeakers for their listenability... Harbeth, Spendor, IMF, Rogers, Radford, B&W, Quad. Now I'm showing my age.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Heh. Yeah man! Never heard of any of those cept for B&W of course. I like your sensible approach to commenting. Yeah the NS10's are incredibly flat, almost to a fault. I've heard they are amazing for mixing accurately though. I was considering trying to buy them off my mom's friend to use for mixing hip-hop beats.

[@TiagrajI]

I have the rs2e and though they do add some colour I like their signature. I find myself changing and going back to them every so often. You are right on comfort. With the stock cushions on the rs2e it was so painful after hours of listening. Bought the larger cushions to be able to listen to the grados with my glasses. The Rs2e are good but they are the last grados I will buy I believe

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Nice! Yeah I liked the GS1000e's but still wouldn't ever pay that much for them. I think Grado headphones are kind of a rip off after the 60e/80e.

[@TiagrajI]

@@HomeStudioBasics I should have discovered your channel earlier. I listened to the grados and didn't know any better at the time. But I think also my tastes change. Now I appreciate the hifiman signature. Bought the hifiman sundaras yesterday. They are coming next week 😁

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@francoisrochette3808 Ah, so you have a lot of experience with the original i line. Any difference between those and the e line? I've demoed like 1 or 2 of the i.

[@valkyr989]

@@francoisrochette3808 I sold all my grados and I have the Sundara, Focal Clear and Beyerdynamic. Much better sound experience. My main pain (literally) with the Grado is it will make my ears red after 30m of listening and also you cannot turn the volume up to have more details from the Grados as the treble and harshness will drown the sound.

[@gtx2k842]

For watching movies, would you go for the sr60e or sr80e? Currently an M40X owner. I'm alright with EQ-ing. Thanks!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Just go with the 60e. Did you see my comparison? homestudiobasics.com/grado-sr60e-vs-sr80e-identical/

[@stevenholt5484]

This is a good video. I have the sr225e's. And you're right -- and you're not right. If you don't listen to high pitched music, and you don't crank the amp, the Grado can be absolutely wonderful. But if you listen to music otherwise, Grado can turn into shouty monsters and you have to be careful. They're still one of my favorite headphones, RIGHT NEXT TO MY KOSS KPH30i's!!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! Need to get those Koss' so I can do a shootout! KPH30i vs. Porta Pro vs. KSC75 :)

[@stevenholt5484]

@@HomeStudioBasics Try it, you'll like it!

[@CardinalsFanever]

Love my 60e and will never buy more expensive Gradosss. You are great, man!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man if you like it more power! Did you do anything about 2k or did you just kind of get used to it? Or: Do you not really care about the spike and it doesn't bother you? Let me know! And thanks for the compliment XD

[@CardinalsFanever]

@@HomeStudioBasics I even love this spike, man, and may be.. it's because I am woman 😁 (who loves Beethoven as well 👍)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@CardinalsFanever If you're a woman who loves Beethoven, maybe we should talk lol. I'm partial to Claude DeBussy myself. :) I see you REALLY like him though since your username is the same XD And sorry about the "Hey man" I just assume people who watch this channel are all male because my stats tell me that 0% women watch (it's like 0.3 or something) and I shouldn't assume! ;)

[@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797]

@@CardinalsFanever buy the grado sr125e, you will hear a difference

[@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797]

@@HomeStudioBasics true.

[@g.fortin3228]

Good observation that as we age we lose a little and these might be good for the older crowd. I think I may be "getting to that point" as I was unimpressed with some Bose I tried and I love my SR80x's ! I also love my older pair of Sennheiser HD590 , although a bit warmer and less detailed with some music.

[@HonkeyKongLive]

30 seconds in and hit with three meme film clips. Decided that was enough for me.

[@redwolf48845]

Same. You don't just quote No Country For Old Men, one of my favorite movies of all time, like it's no big deal for your shitty clickbait video.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

What about it was "shitty" exactly? And how was it clickbait? I'd like to genuinely get your thoughts.

[@TheWorldNowTV]

Called it shitty but no response towards a decent convo. People

[@재한이-z4d]

Hello i got much more sense about Grado as i see this vid. Recently i got really into Grado and i knew that some grado mania they are complaining about X models due to they lost their signiture Grado sound. I dont know whats going on tho lol😂. Anyway i want to get one from Grado and i need your recommendation. I like alternative rock. Pop.genres. Budget 400$ I hope i could get model which is discontinued but also want to know what would be the best among current selling lines. Thank you!!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

don't spend anything more than a 60e lol. See if you like the blown out mids lmao.

[@arthurcrosby5755]

Great information Stuart. I’ve often wondered about Grado’s, but haven’t been tempted. They seem to have a cult following so I guess they have something going for them. I don’t think I would enjoy a peak at 2kHz, but it must appeal to some. I don’t think it’s an age related hearing compensation. As we age the highest frequencies are attenuated first, so that older people can’t hear as well in the range 8 to 20 kHz normally. Attenuation of 2kHz and above would mean serious hearing loss. So I think it’s a matter of hearing taste; many people don’t like a flat response from 5 Hz to 20kHz, but prefer some colouration. However the Grado’s do seem a little extreme! It’s good information not to spend big dollars chasing a better sound! By the way I think you have the axes muxed ip in the diminishing returns graph. The quality asymptotically approaches a fixed level as price continues to rise.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks for the love! Re: the rest of it. Oh look, it's Arthur Crosby. Here to challenge me again. Thanks ARTHUR. Well you can't spell Arthur without Truth.. WAIT!! Your name is missing a T! HA! You're a fraud! Lol no. Good point. I still think it depends on how badly your ears were obliterated in your youth. I mentioned this to Antoine if you want to read that comment somewhere on here. I still think older people can have really badly damaged hearing (which can affect the mids) and 2k is STILL 9 dB elevated. NINE. Which you acknowledged. That's just absurd. Most folks in their 60's and 70's wouldn't think it's that big of a deal and that to me stems from hearing loss no matter how you slice it. On the axes: Are you saying sound quality and price should be flipped/switched?

[@arthurcrosby5755]

@Home Studio Basics: Ha Ha. I like the anagram. Pity about the missing T! Oh well, we can still get TRU which sounds right even without an E. I know some people have ruined their hearing working in very noisy environments, or clubbing with 110dB bands. However most older people tend to lose the higher frequencies first. They would have to have been unlucky to lose down to 2kHz. Anyway we’ll leave that discussion as one with divergent opinions. Maybe Grado are providing a hearing aid service to old audiofools. About the graph, yes you need to swap the axes around. The way it was you were getting large improvements in quality at small or no increase in cost. What you mean to represent is big improvements in quality for small increases in cost at the lower prices. At higher prices you need to pay big bucks for small improvements in quality. I think that is how it was drawn, but I only saw it for a short while. Forgive me if I’m wrong. Keep up the good work. I liked the film clips!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@arthurcrosby5755 Nah man, you were right, and i was wrong. I made it quickly and just never really looked at it closely enough. What would I do without you around?!! If we're never challenged we can never grow. Thank you for the inspiration. I'm going to make a post on this today. Should be very touching and all that. XD NO seriously I am. I will say one other chap pointed it out about a year or so ago but he didn't explain himself and I ended up forgetting about it again. You know what I was aiming for in my head and sometimes well, it just doesn't come out right lol. Could it be my dyslexia? Heh.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@arthurcrosby5755 Okay I made the post. I thought to myself: Better make it now before I get lazy lol.

[@stevenholt5484]

Excuse me while I lay down a burnt offering in front of my 225e's.

[@JoulesIglesias]

The plot is wrong! The price should be in x and quality in y!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Lol yes thank you. You're only like the hundredth person to comment on it. 😂 It will be fixed in the upcoming Grado video. :)

[@fidelfranco9234]

Steve Guttenberg loves Grado but this explains a lot

[@HomeStudioBasics]

What are Steven Guttenberg? XD Thanks for stopping by man! You ever consider purchasing a Grado?

[@fidelfranco9234]

@@HomeStudioBasics ive heard its great for rock and metal and thats my shit, probably later

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@fidelfranco9234 A 60e is good but make sure to EQ 2k down by A LOT. Lol. It's like 9dB over the target response. Keep me posted man!

[@Kylehudgins]

I love mine but I see how they're colored. I got my 325 when I was 22 but I wouldn't buy another pair with the current advancements in the industry

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@Kylehudgins Exactly man. I forgot to mention that, or maybe I did.. But with all the other headphones out now, there's no real reason to even buy a Grado anymore. There are so many better options out there.

[@bartholomewst.juniorstein8814]

Ive owned a few grados, including the ps1000e and an old pair of used gs1000 were my favorite. The sounstage was absolutely massive for some reason, unlike any other cans ive owned. Ive run like a $10k total setup with audeze lcd4 but they never got close to straight up trance them things put me in just straight out of my mac. But yah, heavy, uncumf, ridiculous cable, not a great graph. I think grados are meant for people who just take to “grado” signature sound.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Grado headphones generally seem to be for people who can't look at anything objectively. I've never encountered such a terrible fan base in all my life and have also never seen people get as triggered as Grado fans do over a simple difference of opinion. I mean seriously, go through the comments and read the never-ending walls of text from these people. It's embarrassing. If you have to try that hard to convince me your headphones are good, they probably aren't.

[@zaq9339]

Has anyone pointed out the price/quality graph is wrong? The axes should be the other way around. Besides love the content

[@petiot11]

You have to give the guy some credit; It seems that Grado has an Audiophile protective shield that exempt them from constructive criticism. The fact is that the hardware for even the most expensive Grado headphones, must be about 50$ all together. The design is proven, but there is nothing smart or elegant about it. And the headphone seems to be put together in a hurry by guys with mittens on. I get the "made in Brooklyn" thing, but 1000$ or even $500 gets you bits of foam and plastic and the same driver as on the 100$ model. This is just plain insulting. One more generation and the brand will run out of customers willing to get ripped off. They know that. That is probably why they started the made-in-china wireless product range!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Haha thanks man! Yeah, a lot of people get really upset when you talk negatively about Grado headphones even a little bit. It's like you kicked their dog. Just look at that beautiful like/dislike ratio. 😂 It is insulting. Most of what Grado does is like a slap in the face. Maybe that's a fetish that some people have lol. Oh yeah John Grado, slap me again with your overpriced trash. Oh yeah! LOL. I'm a little out of control right now.

[@benjiebarker]

replacing the pads with gs pads improves a lot

[@drewrushlow1820]

It’s weird how the 325s are $70 more than the 225s but have metal cups and a leather headband, which I assume are both more expensive which leads me to believe the 225s are overpriced.

[@20cent]

They do look questionable, the quality seems pretty bad, the construction seems filmsy, the cable doesn't feel very good....yet they sound awesome, they are super light, very comfortable and are very durable. High-tech or luxury looks are just...looks. Even a lot of very comfy looking ones feel unbearable after couple of hours wearing them. I've tried plenty of headphones and own quite a bit... One of my favorites is the Alessandro MS1 (made by Grado) I use it almost daily since the last 10 years....never had a single issue with them.. But hey, maybe I'm wrong and I should get an Apple earpod something at $600 or maybe something that looks big to go along with my anime avatar (why these Moe lovers always use pairs of k712 or HD800?)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thank you for not getting offended! I like Grado cans outside of 2kHz. LOL. I still think the 60e is worth a listen for people who haven't tried any of their line.

[@akulinamackenzie4492]

cables are no-buy, and when I bought their first bth, it broke physically almost on every part, threw them away. no discussion worth with producers like that.....and soooo many people buy this.....🤡🤣

[@Taco_Thief]

The cable of my grado headphones started cutting out after a month which is stupid for 100 dollar headphones. Sure it's and easy fix but I shouldn't have to fix it

[@StraightEdgeAlexxx31]

I had the sr60e and i liked it a lot. I have audeze, zmf and campfire headphones which are all technically better, but the characteristics of the sr60e are unique. The design of grados make for the most open sound ive ever heard from a headphone. Its the most "in the room" experience i have found. Its great for delicate music. If i want to listen to thrice or something, i wont do it with the sr60e... Basically, i recommend grados for audiophiles that already have too much audio equipment lol it would be weird to me if it was my only headphone

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man for sure lol. It's not one of those jack of all trades cans like a 6XX. Very specific. I found I really liked it with Hip-Hop and Classic Rock, but I'm sure those more delicate genres are great as well due to how clear and articulate the headphone is. Also I agree about openness. For whatever reason there are others who don't think that at all about Grado's and I just never understood why. To me, not only are they open but they also have great Soundstage esp. for an On-Ear. Very underrated trait of imo. The problem is I just can't listen for that long without getting annoyed hence I would have to def tone down 2k. I think with that tweak it's a great can. Still wouldn't invest in anything more than a 60e though.

[@m4nc1n1]

How do you compare the 58x to the 6xx? (i bought the 58x and i love them but never heard the 6xx)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! I haven't actually heard the 58X but I would love to demo it and do a shootout with the others. Would you be willing to send it over at some point? What I heard is that it's a bit less refined of a sound, more bass impact than the 6XX, but maybe not as clear? That's really the extend of my research so take it with a giant grain of salt. I heard the 58X is actually better with some sort of mod, but out of the box it's not as good as the 6XX. What do you think?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

That looks awesome man! Where do you work? Was it you that told me about the Emotiva? I had heard good things.

[@kakalkon]

Every human is very individual, 40-fold difference in brain fields. I can only speak for myself. I've been listening headphones as: Utopia, HE-1000, HD800, Stax SRM-323A + Stax SR-404 - They have a character like wow, but it goes very quickly.Yeah, the quality is very cool, but...but... in my life no such thing as BASS, for me exists, musical instruments. BASS such as double bass which has a finished size and other instruments, violin etc. When I was looking for headphones, I asked myself if I would stay with these headphones for life. I said yes to only one headphone Grado RS2e they give me the emotion from listening to the music. Sorry for my English. P.S. Be sure to replace L cushion pads with G cushion

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thank you for your gentle reply and stance my friend! So glad you're enjoying those RS2e's. And yeah I do mention in the video how I prefer either the G's or the S's. The L-cushions are awful and inexcusable haha. What did you think about the Utopia? It's still the best sounding headphone I've ever heard. There's literally nothing I could say bad about it sound wise. It's perfection.

[@kakalkon]

@@HomeStudioBasics Focal Utopia, most expensive headphones. I've been listening to them for about three days. Quality everything's insanely gooood. But then again, I don't like the sound of them. The more expensive the headphones, the larger the wow effect... wow effect that goes very fast, and after a while, that effect disappears. What do we have for $3,990~ 1) High resolution 2) Excellent upper frequencies 3) Someone's gonna love BASS in them. And that's where the double bass is bigger than it is in life. 4) Slightly screwed up the middle 5) And let's say a big 3D effect. Personally, I wouldn't keep them.)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@kakalkon Interesting man! every time I go back to a Utopia, I fall in love all over again and it makes me realize that nothing I've heard really comes close. I'm sure there is better sound out there in terms of Electrostats and all. My friend Luke told me some Stax headphone he heard was so good that it made him sort of believe in higher priced gear. Like he said it was mind blowing how good it was. I can't remember which model though. I'll have to ask him. Also $3,990 is retail but the Utopia goes for less nowadays. What's screwed up about the middle? It's basically a perfect sound signature imo. I guess some people may take exception with the roll off after 1k, but I think I also like it because it reminds me of the Audeze house sound and I love the way their headphones portray music.

[@kakalkon]

​@@HomeStudioBasics Well, you're welcome to listen. If you like the sound, listen. Personally, I don't like him, in STAX the sound is interesting but there's a problem that different sounds come from somewhere. Interesting headphones is HE-1000 - you can listen to them endlessly. There wasn't enough emotion in all the headphones. I want the music to give emotion, not the headphones. I'm talking about my hearing))) My setup Grado RS2e + Chord Mojo It's 900$ setup and I'm very happy with it.)) ( hang out in the open ) P.S. there's also Chord Hugo TT2 + Chord M Scaler + Grado GH4

[@davidbcg286]

I know it’s venturing out of the studio but I’d love to hear you on the Koss Porta Pro... Kinda iconic! Another pair headphones that caught my attention recently are the AKG K371. They are setting a new standard, some say. Would love to hear your opinion on that. Great channel!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah dude def coming up I think! I did a bit of research and it looks like both Z and another reviewer did a shootout of the Porta Pro/KSC75 and/or Pro4AA and KPH30i. Would you still want to see a shootout like that? That's what I was going for.

[@davidbcg286]

Home Studio Basics JDM WAAAT did a nice review of Koss headphones. Metal571 too :-). In general I just like to hear your opinion haha. What do you think of these and how to drive them, any EQ? I got SHP9500 after your convincing review and it rocks. You earned my trust lol. In a way let’s say that Koss Headphones ought to be called “budget King” headphones but maybe not for studio use?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@davidbcg286 Yeah I've heard so many great things about the Porta Pro's that they will likely replace the 60e on Budget Kings for sure. Thanks so much for the vote of confidence! Guess what I'm listening to now actually? That's right, the 9500 lol. Man you REALLY ought to consider trying it with the Creative SoundBlasterX G6. I think the 2 compliment each other nicely. I'm not a huge proponent of "Synergy" but man the G6 kind of helps tame the 9500's sometimes essy upper mids/low treble, and I think it has to do with the 1 Ohm output impedance. The G6 isn't entirely neutral and I think that really helps with the sterility of the 9500. Woo!! I really haven't gotten any sibliance out of it here in the last couple days listening. Voices don't really get essy like they do with a cleaner sounding amp. It's just more relaxing but still retains the detail. But yeah, be on the lookout for a G6 video and article. I'm working on the article now but need some more time to plan the video. What are you listening to the 9500 through?

[@davidbcg286]

Home Studio Basics just a FiiO BTR5 (I like that it does Bluetooth DAC and USB PC DAC). My ear are not really well trained, but I surely love what I’m getting out of the 9500 in terms of separation, details. I also have a Topping D50s which is said to be more “clinical” and I paired it with my powered speakers (Hivi Swan M200MKIII) which are on the warmer side. So I understand the sense of “complementing” parts since I felt that the Topping D50s DAC brought the detail and clarity to the M200.

[@eriktomas9194]

Grados are an empty canvas but if you've never heard SR80e without the mesh filters removed from the grills you've never actually heard them. The equipment makes the accuracy. I'm using a Music Hall CD-25, RX-V1900 as preamp, plugged in to a Kenwood Basic M1. Under 400 bucks. I'm sorry but this headphone is glorious.

[@MrAhuraMazda]

Stu Da Gawd. I have Grados, the SR60e, which I like for certain genres, but I wish I got the 80e for a touch more warmth. But anyhow, I think in retrospect the Made in BK factor and the reteo look was the charm. Pure sound, I think id recommend the Creative Aurvana Live for a sparkly, bassless headphone to use with acoustic, jazz and classic rock. I dont own them, but Ive heard sound demos on Oluvs page and they seems super resolving for their price. If someone was into Grados I'd probably say get the CALs. But the real budget winner is the Koss KPH30i. I use mine more than my SHP9500, I swear. The KPH is suuuch a great headphone. (Maybe the Porta Pro is a little better but ive never tried it). Check it out theyre like $30

[@HomeStudioBasics]

SHEEEEEEI. You're hitting on all of the things.. 1) Def love the CAL and agree. I added it to the Budget Kings, replacing the 40x. They simply outshine the 40x in every way. Like a super hot but unassuming non flamboyant nerdy girl. homestudiobasics.com/the-budget-kings-series/ 2) Def want to do a shootout of the KPH30i, Porta Pro, and KSC75. Heard great things!

[@MrAhuraMazda]

@@HomeStudioBasics the Kph30i is an astounding headphone for the money. I use it for listening to all my youtube vids/podcasts cause its easy to grab and have grown to use it for music. I just love the sound signature. Its just a very pleasant headphone.

[@MrAhuraMazda]

@@HomeStudioBasics id own a CAL myself but i just dont want to blow too much cash on these entry level options. Anyhow I hear theyre a fantastic value for money and kinda offer a lot of the beneefits of Grado in terms of genre pairing, except theyre better overall. Grados do notoriously pair well with high end tube amps. I could see a Bottleneck Crack being a cool retro looking setup. As far as my own situation, right now im pretty happy but deciding on 6xx, Sundara, Deva or M570 if I go another route. But i think I'll buckle and go 6xx. If I do so I'll use your affiliate link. My endgame are those Fostex wood series (Purpleheart, Ebony etc). Based off the demos on Oluvs page, I feel like they're good like the Elex but slam harder. Like a super X2. The Elex or $500 Massdrop Dan Clark Aeon look cool too

[@hifihillbilly4843]

I bought the 80 and thought they sounded very good especially with guitar on classic rock but... had to send them home cause they smushed my ears so bad that after about 30-45 mins my ears started throbbing but if it hadn’t been for that they would have been keepers. Maybe they sounded good cause I am pushing 50 idk?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

That could be the case man. That's interesting. You had the S-cushions on them right? Out of the 3, I think those pads are the best but they can still hurt/dig into the ears after awhile which I forgot to mention in this review. I suppose I'm more forgiving in that regard. I used to mix on the 7506 and M50 and both of those headphones can be horribly uncomfortable after awhile.

[@kafkaworkshere]

Grado should have done what Beyerdynamic did. There is no reason the front of the headphone has to be that small. Their pads are based on a one-size-fits-all form factor, which was based on cans that are on-ear. Beyerdynamic went wider and came up with pads that could be truly circumaural and fit against the sides of your head.

[@SheDreamtSheWas]

As a owner of the 325e im not suprised you don't get challenged on them. They are disappointing for the price. For reference Im 34 and been using Grados for 20 years. The GW100 are my top tier Grados. I would buy nothing above them. You have to be using bluetooth though if not just get 60s or 80s.

[@NormDPlume-mc5dh]

Like the Alessandro MS2 which is based on the 325.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Are you saying you like the MS2?

[@NormDPlume-mc5dh]

Yes. I like the Alessandro MS2. If interested in Grados try the MS2. If you decide they have no redeeming qualities then Grados probably aren't your cup of tea. Wouldn't spend further up the line otherwise.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@NormDPlume-mc5dh I had heard good things about those in the past on Head-Fi a few years back. May try them out!

[@bjrnsjohnsen1278]

I also own the MS2, compared to the harsh 325 these are much more pleasing to the human ear. Maybe Alessandro demanded it.

[@darensweeney5925]

I've owned 2 pairs of Grados and sold them both. The Y cable on both started to twist until it was stuck under my chin like a chinstrap on a helmet. The pads are scratchy and hot. And the treble on all of them is obscenely harsh.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Haha that made me laugh out loud. The cable on a Grado is one of it's worst qualities. Way too thick for a headphone of that stature.

[@CKT1138]

It's weird how Grado's production philosophy of selling the same thing at multiple price points, with only the "quality" of the components being (allegedly) better. The cheapest and most expensive Grado headphones sound the same, as is the case with their turntable styli. What the hell is the point of buying an expensive Grado?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

There is no point, and people must know. For me it's a clear deception while hiding under a guise of "Handmade." If you say something like that, it kind of disarms people. It's like, well.. "Oh. So they make them their selves in a family owned factory and they're really well respected." Well that's pretty cool! We'll excuse the fact that they aren't that great and keep buying more XD. That's how I look at it anyway. Maybe I'm completely wrong and there's more to it that we don't know about. Probably not though. I rarely make this analogy because it's horribly overdone (like your mom's meatloaf), but buying a Grado is like lighting money on fire, and then throwing gasoline on top to add insult to injury. By the way: How's it going man! I feel like you disappeared for awhile there. Was getting concerned.

[@CKT1138]

@@HomeStudioBasics oh I'm doing just fine, life's been complicated, but it's not bad haha

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@CKT1138 Good to hear my friend. Don't be a stranger!

[@bernamej]

Wow you’ve improved a lot !!!! Excellent !

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man long time no talk! Means a lot that you came back and commented. Check out my latest! I think you will be shocked at the difference between 2018 and now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXy4foSDjKmanqc It's also cool that the video you had originally commented on was indeed the Sundara review back when I first heard it. I did like this Grado video, but it was more of a discussion. The 9500/HD600 comparison I just did is good as well. Talk soon!

[@bernamej]

Home Studio Basics The style is natural, never boring, always on point, no bullshit, yes there’s no comparaison with the previous one I saw. Keep it up ! Congratulations for being one of those who keep evolving.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Much appreciated my friend. Keep in touch! Don't hesitate to reach out whenever on whatever video. :) I have a great Ananda vs. Sundara comparison coming Saturday so stay tuned and subscribe as well if you haven't!

[@FritzBrew]

I had pair of the SR80s and the foam ear pads were always disintegrating and have to be replaced at least once a year. .Plus the disintegrated bits and crumbs get stick in your ears. I like the sound but they are so cheaply made.Finally one channel quite and I opted for another brand as a replacement.

[@scottlowell493]

Not to be simplistic- but Grado is one in an ocean of audio products that has incremental improvements for large jumps in price. B&w for example. The 705s2- are slightly better than the cheaper 607. The $6000 805d are just slightly better than the $3000 705.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey Scott! I agree to an extent, although I've always felt like the glaring elephant in the room was how the Grado sound doesn't really get better *at all* once you move up the line, plus comfort is horrid. I tested the e-line extensively with super expensive equipment at Audio Advice and there were literally almost no sound differences save for pad discrepancies. I will say that any increase in price past the mid-fi range is rarely warranted. The Audeze sound is kind of the general exception, though I'd probably never buy one because I have neck issues. Even an Ananda isn't quite worth $1000 despite being a true upgrade from a Sundara. It has since come down to $700 which I think is pretty fair. A Utopia is still the best headphone I've heard, but I wouldn't pay the original $4k for it.

[@scottlowell493]

@@HomeStudioBasics I WAS considering the gs1000e, but this was the nail in the coffin. If my 2020 sundara don't cut it...focal clears.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Wasn't a huge fan of the Clear or Elear especially for the price. Kind of grainy sounding, but I heard Elex fixed those issues. I think you'll love the Sundara. There was just something really off about the Elear specifically. The Clear sounded a bit better to me, but it's hard to explain. I actually have some notes from 2017.

[@Magnulus76]

2K spike = listener fatigue

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Absolutely man. No getting around it.

[@VeeHausen]

I'm just here for your outro bro...shiit is dope!!!! :))) xoxo

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man thanks! I really love rapping. Would you be interested in hearing some of my raps if I uploaded them?

[@VeeHausen]

@@HomeStudioBasics book it bro, let's go!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@VeeHausen Haha yes! You were the one who commented on the outro. I'm starting to get really mixed up here lately XD

[@VeeHausen]

@@HomeStudioBasics haha.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@VeeHausen Yeah so I'll start thinking about uploading actual rap songs. I was wondering if anyone would like/listen to those and now I have my answer! Pretty cool. :) The outro will likely stay the same for awhile longer until it's time to change it. I prefer to switch it up organically, but: I think you'll really like some of my raps in the meantime.

[@chethammer]

If you try the Grado 80e's with the pads that look like tires that is all the mod you'll need. No EQ, no nothing. You won't believe your ears. I love them with the original pads, but with the tire pads they become special and for $100 bucks. Plus, they are way easier to drive than my HD6XXs.

[@alanburnham9832]

My 325e headphones are the best I have owned, Stax, HiFiMan, Koss, and many more. Many reviews including What HiFi, Absolute Sound would disagree!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! That's awesome. Good for you. Glad you like them! There's this thing called differing opinions. I don't really like the majority of Grado headphones outside of the 60/80e, and I spent the entire video outlining why lol. What HiFi isn't a source I really trust all that much. Their "reviews" span like 500 words and don't tell me much about the products at all. I stopped going there a couple of years ago. Thanks for stopping by!

[@keesketsers5866]

I love my Grado's. I compare it to listening to vintage audio equipment, it's very fun and refreshing but in no way precise or perfect. Like driving a classic car, it cannot be compared to a modern design. Not everyone likes classic cars, but if you do they are heaven. Same with Grado, if you like it, you love it. Otherwise just stick with something modern and objectively better.

[@MrJabinho]

Great Review !

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! Shocker though considering some of the comments I get on this one 😂

[@MrJabinho]

@@HomeStudioBasics kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqqYdKKgnbF6n6c

[@arthurdebarros]

At 1:40 you labeled your axis wrong. The way you put it, these are increasing returns. Cheers

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Lol yes I've been told many times. Thank you! I have a new graph in the works that is much better all around :)

[@johnlepkowski3831]

Really need a eq with any open cans. Open headphones are like horn loaded speakers and both need to be tuned to your listing environment and ears along with the equipment you are using. A lot of folks like the middle line sound that come from Bose (no highs, no lows...must be Bose) or beats. Horns and open cans are a very different listening experience. If you like heritage klipsch ( heresy, Cornwall, lascalla, klipschorns) will like grado. If you hate the sound of heritage klipsch, buy something else

[@HomeStudioBasics]

👍

[@TypoDiabetes]

Glad I watched this before upgrading

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks for the comment man!

[@mthomps56]

I watched most of your video and while I respect your opinion (everyone's got one) I am in the "you don't know what you're talking about" camp You've heard all their cans but probably have 50 hrs or less on them combined. I like their headphones because of the reason you hate it. They don't scoop out the natural mid range build ups in human hearing like others do. Theres a sound stage there you lose without it.. They just tell it like it is, ugly or not. Which to me is beautiful! Have a good one

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey thanks for being respectful about it, and I also respect your opinion! But maybe watch the whole video first before commenting next time as I actually tell people, if you want to try a Grado, get a 60e. I also say that the headphone does mostly everything right outside of the 2kHz area. A 9dB bump is in no way natural to the human ear, not by a long shot. I do like the Soundstage and bass especially, as I think people who say Grado's have no Soundstage don't know what they're talking about/don't know what Soundstage is. Lastly, you don't need hundreds of hours on a headphone to know what it sounds like, especially if you've demoed over 100 of them like I have. Plus, it's hard to listen to a Grado for very long because of the mids. I wouldn't have a problem owning a 60e as long as I could EQ that area down (and I can). I think the people who disliked this video didn't actually watch it fully and digest what I was actually saying. There's another post on here you can read in which I go through the entire video as a rebuttal to someone else if you'd like to read it. He claimed he watched the entire video but it was clear from his responses that he didn't, so I time stamped everything I said just to be even more clear about where I was coming from. Thanks for stopping by man!

[@mthomps56]

@@HomeStudioBasics Yeah, again you just don't know what you are talking about! Humans evolved to hear what you discredit. Its in the details, it shapes the soundstage, and you treat it as an "old person button" cause you just don't know. You just like loudness. The ability to turn up the volume without hearing what's goin on in there!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@mthomps56 You're desperately clinging to the Grado sound and narrative, and that's perfectly fine man. Just know that other people have differing opinions. In my personal opinion, I would never buy an overpriced Grado when I could just get a much better performing planar magnetic instead. Something like a Sundara, DEVA, etc. Better instrument Timbre, better clarity, and detail, more natural and realistic portrayal of music. Grado headphones with huge 2k spikes are in no way ideal or appropriate for the modern listener. They're outdated and that's quickly becoming more apparent with each passing day. There's really no reason to invest in one now given how many better options are out there.

[@classicalthrasher]

Maybe very old. Most 80 years old will hear 2k just fine. I do not blame only you, it's an ageist, common "cool audiophile" thing to state, but is quite offensive-and I say so as a 48 year old that still hears 15k. I recommend to stop the "cool hating" on the elderly by stating that certain "bright" models are only for the "hard of hearing." Younger people can have problems with higher frequencies as well for many reasons. It's just silly and uncalled for. But I am sure you won't care-you do you, but remember not everyone will take kindly to your comments. The 2k spike used in Grado and a few other headphones/earphones can sound very musical-indeed, because most music is based in the midrange. And some people do love that emphasis, because it can sound quite special at times. Definitely not for everyone, of course (but again, has nothing to do with age;more with taste, background, etc.) Not mean to offend, but more to defend those who may prefer things you do not like. Enjoy your music as you wish-and let others enjoy it as *they* wish, "bad taste" and all. Happy Holidays, if you celebrate. 👍

[@jeanninesandmayer2926]

There are some valid points being made here, but....and this is almost elitist in a sense and I was fortunate enough to work in high-end audio for many years to say - Go and audition a PS2000e - Nice DAC, great amplifier and put on a vinyl version of Eric Clapton's Unplugged. Call me when you fall off your chair. They're not perfect, that's the idea.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey thank you for the shout out and for recognizing that. Most people who disliked this video probably got the wrong idea or didn't watch the entire thing. It's not that I don't like Grado headphones; The 60e and 80e are pretty good. Beyond that I would never pay the price for the higher end stuff, but: I will most certainly check out the PS2000e given your nice comment and response to the vid. Thank you!

[@XpeHushka]

They hated him becase he told them truth.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

LOL. Yup. Think about it like this. My channel has around 90% average like/dislike. Out of about 150 reviews on this channel, only 2 have a like/dislike ratio below 65%. Can you guess which ones they are? I'll give you a hint; both have Grado in the title. 😂 I wish that people would preface their comment by just admitting they're mad. Something like, "I'm really mad that you don't like Grado headphones and I do. Like, big mad. Just wanted to get that out of the way before I write this gigantic wall of text slop that you probably won't read." LOL. It would make things so much easier.

[@cirotube74]

with the same pads, 225e has a sound and rs2e instead is magnificent, I have never felt more stupid than these ... all the degrees sound the same !!!! absurd.

[@kafkaworkshere]

I totally get it when people say the Grado product line is crazy segmented beyond any reasonable distinction between cans, but the SR225 is clearly better than anything under it, and possibly better than the 325. The size of the shells is not as great as the size of the pads, but the 225 uses a metal grill that is clearer than the plastic grills and center-buttoned cans below it.

[@martinaston1715]

Ruined ur review by the annoying attempts at humour sound clips

[@The_Taco_Thief]

Personally I've never even noticed the spike

[@docgify]

Thanks for your truthful review all the best mate “ hole” lol

[@HomeStudioBasics]

xD Welcome man!

[@universeman657]

I remember z reviews saying that the sr60e with the gs1000e pads was pretty much identical to the gs1000e. Maybe sometime I’ll just get that.

[@loonation2185]

Never trust that guy, sr60e with g-cush pads sounds dark with sizzling treble, if thats how gs1000e sounds then it sucks big time.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

I haven't actually tried that but I probably can once Audio Advice opens back up. I think they've been closed because of the virus.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@loonation2185 GS1000e was actually quite airy and open sounding. Surely bright, but I did enjoy it. Keep in mind I haven't heard one in quite awhile. I did a favorable review of it but in no way is it worth $1k. I wouldn't even pay $600-700. If I had to value it, it's probably like not that much more than a 60e or 80e. $200 tops? Somewhere in there.

[@L0nkero]

@@HomeStudioBasics Lol, Sr80e costs nearly $200 here in Finland... I just checked GS1000e - 1390€/$1500, OMFG!!!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@L0nkero LOL. Yeah no.

[@jonfairway8235]

wow ... HD600 has one of the best Mids ever in all headphones...

[@antoinep9733]

I thought age-related hearing loss was in the highest frequencies, not the “mid-range”? I can’t hear above 14k (probably due to live concerts and motorcycles), but don’t feel like I’m missing out on much. Peaky or elevated treble is still unbearable 🤮

[@jjpablo]

Antoine P I can hear up to 19k but im not super treble sensitive. My fav headphones are the dt1990

[@HomeStudioBasics]

I mean some people's ears are fried to the point where they can't hear much past 3k. Sure, that's mostly REALLY older folks but that's precisely who we're talking about right? A person in their 60's and 70's still probably won't think 2k is that forward, even despite it being elevated 9 or so dB. 50's it's sort of a toss up, but: I don't think we can just make a blanket statement like "It only manifests in the treble." Not saying you are claiming that btw. I think it really depends on how badly you obliterated your ears when you were younger. Myself? I've only been to 1 REALLY loud metal concert (Russian Circles) and I will never do that again. The aftermath was simply jarring. I mean yeah it was a lot of fun, but never again lol.

[@antoinep9733]

Home Studio Basics Metal will do that to you 🎸