Grado SR80 On-Ear
Grado SR80 On-Ear
USER REVIEWS
[Aug 10, 2019]
arcana
Strength:
I've had my pair of SR80 now for about 7 years. While I don't think they're the best headphones in the world, I find myself falling in and out of love with it more than any other headphones I've ever had, though I've only ever used budget gear. (Personally, I don't believe in paying so much for gear -- I much prefer spending the bulk of my money on buying music rather than fetishizing over gear.) The reasons for falling in love with the SR80 have a lot to do with the sound: it's more or less flat, more trebly than bassy, narrow soundstage, but lively. It's definitely not neutral. And not super sharp. It's mellow, airy, somewhat lazy. And it favours certain genres of music more than others. That's if you're willing to invest some time with it. I remember that I was somewhat disappointed when I first got them. After reading all the rave reviews, I thought they just sounded thin. But it was only because I was more used to a V-shaped sound. Truly it wasn't until a few months listening and getting used to it that I finally appreciated its airy, open sound profile. It also really benefits from burn-in. But once it blooms, you get a sound from it that really is its own unique sonic world. And that SR80 sonic world I think works best for music that is more acoustic, quiet, minimal or mellow - things like folk, jazz, blues, ambient or chamber classical. Certain rock songs sound great on it too, like 70s prog, the swirly psychedelic stuff. Weakness:
Where the SR80 shows its weakness is when you ask it to reveal details of densely recorded music: things like metal, orchestral, EDM... then the magic just crumbles. It can't keep up with music that needs deep bass rumbles and a super wide soundstage. So, alas, the SR80 is not for everyone. Which is also why I don't use these every day. Some days I just need more bass, or more stage, or more fun, and so I use something else like a pair of nasty Chi-fi IEMs with a gazillion drivers. But I come back to the SR80 periodically... just to retune my ears. And it always requires a few listens before I get used to its peculiar sound. But every time it's the same: I fall in love with it... and after a while, it becomes too routive and then I feel like I need to listen to something else. The voice of God perhaps. Also, and other reviewers have talked about how dinky these things are made. It's true. They look like toys... but mind you, I've had mine for 7 years and they're still alright. The sponge looks like it's going to fall off any time now but they've lasted longer than the sponges on my Audio Technica ATH-M50x (which for me are even more uncomfortable than the SR80). So: to reiterate, the SR80s... they're not for everyone - especially bassheads and V-lovers. Also, they require some patience; you kinda have to stop expecting to be wowed and just grow into them. They're definitely not flashy... but they're super dependable. And if you're willing to give in a little bit, they'll give you back many years of pleasure. Price Paid: 100
Purchased: New
Model Year: 2012
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[Aug 11, 2014]
davidn
AudioPhile
Bought this many years back (~10 years) and have been listening to them on and off since. This is what I found over the years.
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[Jan 12, 2009]
Marcel5
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
- good built quality
Weakness:
- uncomfortable
I've bought these headphones in the local audio store after reading a lot of raving reviews. After using them daily for 2 months I've decided to sell them because I don't like the sound.
Similar Products Used: Beyerdynamic DT990
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[Aug 23, 2008]
Ed
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Unbelievable balance across all spectrums of music.
Weakness:
As many people have mentioned, wearing it over an hour can produce a lot of fatigue on your ears.
I normally listen to my music on train/bus rides, but I was in bad need of a decent headphone for work use and occasional home use. On the road i use a set of senn cx300's which get the job done, but I really hate to stick a set of IEM's for a whole day at the office. Thats when my hunt for a good set of inexpensive hifi headphones came in.
Similar Products Used: Bose Triport (yuck)
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[Jun 15, 2008]
Tom Samarati
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Mid-range sounds almost natural. Foward sounding sound stage.
Weakness:
Ergonomically terrible. The fit on my head is tortuous. No matter how I fiddle with the length on the head band, the 'phones are NOT comfortable. The foam ear rings have disintegrated. Grado SR-80. I've owned my pair since the late 1980's. I love the sound they produce. I hate to wear them for more than 30 minutes, they are so damn uncomfortable. Customer Service None ever sued. Similar Products Used: Sony mdr-6, 1994 vintage still made in Japan back then |
[Nov 21, 2007]
Phil Canard
AudioPhile
Strength:
Good for the price, but at the low end of the audiophile range.
Weakness:
Humped up midbass, lack of deep bass, exaggerated treble. Any good AKG model K301 XTRA, K401 XTRA, K501 would be preferred. SR60 actually has more deep bass, though a bit more muddy. Compared SR80 to SR60. Preferred the SR60. Customer Service Said that lack of deep bass would be resolved with break-in. It never happens. It's a brush-off to get you to get used to the headphones. Similar Products Used: SR60, SR200, AKG K601 |
[Nov 21, 2007]
Phil Canard
AudioPhile
Strength:
It has the Grado house sound. Humped up midbass, depressed low bass and slightly hot treble. A good phone for rock music. I prefer the AKG sound now.
Weakness:
The sound is a bit in your face. Good excitement for rock music, but a bit tiring after a while. Compared the SR80 to SR60. There was a slight difference between the two headphones, but I did not feel the SR80 was better. The SR60 was a better deal. Similar Products Used: AKG headphones |
[Oct 28, 2007]
rollingsphere
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
High range of flexibility no matter what your music tastes
Weakness:
I think the only downfall to these is the price! But in the end i honestly find them well worth it. It has changed how i listen to music! I have the Grado Labs GS1000 and i can attest to these being the best sounding headphones ive ever heard bar none! Whether i am listening to classical music to hard hitting rock these headphones deliver! I am using them with a CMOY type pocket sized amp and they seem to drive them great. Customer Service Headphones were received within a week. Similar Products Used: Grado SR80 |
[Jul 21, 2007]
bheights
Casual Listener
Strength:
Great sound quality. Good base (in my opinion, despite people saying otherwise).
Weakness:
Bulky. Clumsy. Not stylish, you get the picture.
I've used a good number of lower end headphones like most everyone else who has owned a walkman and more recently, ipod. I wasn't satisfied with the sound quality and after doing some intense research and trying out a bunch of $100-$200 level headphones I chose the Grados. Now I've been using them for about 3 years and I must say that they truly do change the way you listen to music. Before my Grados I didn't enjoy listening to live albums as much because a great deal of the "background noise" was simply that -- fuzzy noise. With the Grados that noise comes alive. You can hear what people are saying in the audience a lot of the time, and the more subtle aspects of music are brought out quite clearly.
Customer Service No experience. Similar Products Used: Sennheisers (various) |
[Jul 21, 2007]
Lucky Phones
Casual Listener
Strength:
Sound quality. Details. Bass (actually quite good, surprisingly).
Weakness:
Bulky. Bad for travel. Not stylish. Open, so you can hear everything that's going on in the room. Don't ever try biking with these things, or trying to use them in a noisy environment. Also, everyone can hear what you are listing to. The sound really projects, which I believe is one of the reasons the quality is so good. I've used a good number of lower end headphones like most everyone else who has owned a walkman and more recently, ipod. I wasn't satisfied with the sound quality and after doing some intense research and trying out a bunch of $100-$200 level headphones I chose the Grados. Now I've been using them for about 3 years and I must say that they truly do change the way you listen to music. Before my Grados I didn't enjoy listening to live albums as much because a great deal of the "background noise" was simply that -- fuzzy noise. With the Grados that noise comes alive. You can hear what people are saying in the audience a lot of the time, and the more subtle aspects of music are brought out quite clearly.
Customer Service Haven't had any experience with them. Similar Products Used: Sennheisers (various); ipod and sony buds |