Amazingly initimate clarity, light weight, theft-deterring design :)

Flimsy build quality (left ear keeps detaching from headband , and cushion rings always fall off), the high price of the headphone to mini adaptor, and the way the phones can spin and twist the cables.

A colleague of mine had a pair of SR80's at work and i was very impressed. I went to a little shop in HK and was bait and switched into the SR125s (they pressed some button on the headphone amp to distort the cheaper SR80s!). I eventually picked up the SR125s and after an initial harsh-sounding 2 day break-in period, I spent my afternoons and evenings relistening to every one of my CDs. It was like all of my music became new: more sophisticated, complex and brilliant. There were a few exceptions where I was disappointed in the recording quality, but the headphones definitely shone!

Now, 6 months or so later, the headphones still sound great, but the commuting has done some damage: I bring them back and forth to work every day, and my backpack is not that gentle on them. The left ear keeps detaching from the headband and the cushions rings keep falling off.

Still, when I get a new CD, I consider the headphones my only chance of accurately representing the originial recording. They sound great on my Panasonic portable CD player, my laptop and my NAD integrated amp.

These headphones can bring audiophile newbies to a new level of musical appreciation for a fraction (and I mean 1/20th) of what a comparably potent hifi system would cost.

Hopefully Grado will read the posts here (why no web site grado?!) and address some of the flimsy build quality issues. Personally I love the old-style design, which I think Grado produces without a trace of irony.

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Beyerdynamics at half the price.

Wonderful sound. Very very accurage in detail. Best bang for the buck!

No so comfortable design.

I have spent a lot of time researching and trying out different headphones. From open air to closed types, I have tried headphones on to a point where sales associate at the store was getting annoyed. This is probably my 3rd pair of headphones I had purchased and I am very happy for what it can provide in terms of audio clarity. I have never listen to a pair that provides such balance sound.

Please remember that sound is pretty much a preference, like a good pizza, people like different style.
Here is what I thought of the headphones i had tried on/owned.

Sony (forgot the model) headphones in general make the best cheap headphones ($50 or less), but it does not perform that well in the upper $100 dollar range. Most of the open air types I have tested has lots of Bass, they are comfortable, and have okay clarity.

Sensheiser (500 series) has good bass, comfortable to wear, but they are a bit on the bright side. The mids are warm but doesn't reproduce the clarity the Grado 125 can do. One thing though, the stereo seperation on these are better than the Grados and Sony. After listening to these for an half an hour of different type of music, i realize that these are the best for Classical music. Grados, I think are the best general listening.

To come close the Grados 125, the new Sony open air type ($225) may come close but doesn't have the same controled sound like the Grados do.

So if you don't care for looks, Grados prestige series are best for your money, great sound and clarity. If you like strong bass, cool looks, Sony are the way to go. Classical Music is your thing, then you might want to try the Sens.

I hope this review saves you time in shopping for a pair.

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Sony, Senheiser, koss, Denon

It is not often that I come across a product that I think is absolutely, mind numbingly amazing. The Grado SR125's that I purchased last week are one of the few, and believe me, they are awesome.
I must admit that I really bought these based on what I'd read, rather than undertaking a complex auditioning process. I knew that I wanted a low impedence headphone with high sensivity that had very high quality sound. The Grados are a very easy drive; they're 32 ohms, which means that you can use nearly any source to run them.

I did listen to these headphones in the shop before I bought them, and they sounded very good. But the showroom was very crowded and since these are open back 'phones, their performance was severly impaired by the numerous children having screaming competitions nearby.

I bought them and connected them straight up to my cd player when I got home. The sound was very good, but not quite what I was expecting. The bass seemed woolly and the treble was very quiet and rolled off sounding. The sonic picture didn't quite come together properly. Following advice from other Grado owners, I left these headphones running for a couple of nights on some quite loud music.

Now when I listen to these headphones, it is something of a revelation. It is as though, one day everything suddenly clicked into place. I just remember noticing one day how great these cans really are.

Firstly there is a distinct soundstage created by these headphones. Sometimes you have instruments surrounding you, and the effect can create some strong emotions with certain music. I was listening to a song called Bingo Bango by Basement Jaxx, and the atmosphere of the club comes through perfectly with these Grados. They really make you want to get up and dance.

The midrange quality of these cans is astounding. Things just sound so 'right' and with well recorded compact discs, the sound is very real. And the bass is surprisingly extended and powerful, much more so than any headphones I've ever heard before. It is just like listening to really good full range speakers, except that you have to get used to not being able to feel the bass. The treble is quite rolled off, as somebody else mentioned, and it took me a while to get used to this. If you are used to bright sound, then the Grados seem somewhat dark. But once you are used to the sound, it is very rewarding. The treble is not lacking at all, in fact it's very detailed. It is just a different type of sound from my B&W main speakers. The main bonus of a slightly rolled off treble is the complete absence of listener fatigue.

I think that the Grado SR125's greatest asset is its musicallity. They really are supremely musical headphones. It is as though they have just the right sound balance to provide accuracy, but still allow you to enjoy your music fully. I should mention that you can easily tell a bad recording through these headphones - in fact you can hear the different production sound of each and every cd. But even on bad sources, the Grados never fail to involve and make listening to your music a fantastic pleasure.

By the way, I listen to all types of music including electronic, classical, rock, pop, and the Grados sound fantastic on all of it.

And comfort. I found these headphones extremely uncomfortable when I first started using them, but you get used to them, and if you adjust the headband correctly, you can virtually eliminate any problems.

These headphones are the best buy I have ever made in my life. They are so resonably priced, and the sound is simply unbelievable. I mean that; sometimes I am sitting there simply not believing how good the sound is. I can't recommend these enough.

I'd love to hear some more about other SR125 owners' experiences (anything at all), and I'd be happy to answer any questions anybody has about this review. So feel free to email me.

Shambles.

Exciting and involving. They are sooo musical.

These $200CDN cans make my $1800CDN Speaker/Cable combo sound bad in comparison ...

These headphones, driven by the headphone output of my NAD L40 (cheap) are magical in level of musicality and involvement they provide. They are rich (a bit dark) and highly textured, rythmic, dnyamic and exciting. I find that they are wonderful on all types of music, especially music which can show off their rich, powerful and detailed bass.

I auditioned only the Grado line, since that's all my local store carried. I fell in love with them. The '60's sound dull and bland in comparison. The 125' full you right into the music, allowing you to hear each musical line equally in a coherent and highly involving manner.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to find their equal in a pair of loudspeakers. I started out listening to the Mirage frx series, then on to Paradigm Reference20, B&W 602S2 & Celestion SL6. The Celestion SL6 was very similar in tonality, but at 83db, they are not dynamic at all (my amp is 20watts). The speakers I bought were Monitor Audio SIlver5i's with AQ Crystal BiWire cable, which sounded good at the store, but not at home. They might sound good if I had never heard the 125's, but I have. They just don't match up. If any of you know what amp/cable/speaker combo can sound like the 125's, please let me know. I'm beginning to wonder if they can be equaled by ANY such combo ...

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Grado 60, 80, 275

Great clarity, well-rounded sound

Not for bass-lovers, more of a rock headphone

I've had these great headphones for about 6 months now and have never regretted purchasing them. I found it worthwhile to spend and extra $50 for the 125's instead of the 80's. These cans sound great listening to virtually any type of music, but I have noticed that if you crave the deep bass present in rap/hip hop recordings, don't buy these headphones. The bass isn't terribly bad, but I feel if you shell out the dough for a great reference headphone, you should be able to hear the mix the way the artist created it.

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AKG 240M

I've compared these to the Sennheiser HD580 and find both headphones to be good at different kinds of music. The HD580 has a more subdued sound and has great differentiation among the different layers in orchestral music. The SR125 on the other hand blends the music more and has a more "vibrant" sound which is excellent for pop, rock, dance, R&B, and anything with vocals.

There are open headphones, meaning that the sound escapes into the air. However, you can't imagine just how much escapes...they sound like very soft speakers when I listen to them at moderate levels. It would definitely be audible in an office setting, or to your roomate.
In terms of comfort, I loosened the headband by bending it back. The more I use it, the more comfortable it gets and now I don't mind keeping it on for extended periods (=2 hours).

If you have about $150, these are a good buy. I have not compared them to the SR80s though so I don't know if the extra $50 is worth the difference in sound. If you're budget is more around $70, check out the SR60s which have received excellent reviews.

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Sennheiser HD580

Every thing sound-wise

Gets very uncomfortable

I pretty much bought these becasue they were in my price range and I neede a headphone for travelling and in the vening when my college dorm floor is asleep. I bought these also with the help of audioreview. com.The sound is the best I've heard in headphones. I also agree with a reviewer down below, somtimes sounding better then some full-range speaker systems. Detail was incrdible, midrange was very resolved, and bass was tight, fast, and punchy: althought sometimes distortion at very low pipe-organ tunes(VERY rare however). It became quite a bit uncomfortable after about an hour, but I sitll kept listening: mslal price to pay for the incredible sound: maybe Grado can do something about drawing the ear away from the driver, which I concluded was the problem. I very highly recommend them
Happy Listening

Perfection - a sound that has to be heard

Can become uncomfortable if used alot

Where to start. . .

First, these headphones need a good week of overnight use (I used pink noise, Kind of Blue, Bruckner's 9th and Rutter's Requiem) to blossom. And what a difference that week made. Now, I play them (too much, probably) and just enjoy the sweet ripening of their heavenly sound.

Second, the detail is incredible. With the right recording, it's enough to bring tears to your eyes. And, I'm not talking false detail, overbright and out in front. Just the truth of the recording.

Third, the bass is wonderfully extended and free. Never out of control, always perfectly proportional to the music playing.

Last, the midrange has a liquidity to revel in. Ambrosia for the ears.

The entire package is sublime, sweet and musical, a blissful listen every time I plug them in.

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SR60