The ultimate high-end headphones for those without deep pockets. You may never let them out of your sight.
Very few products survive the test of time. They are
replaced with the next new thing even before the consumer can sit and open the
box. The thrill is gone before you get the product to work. We live in the era
of “pump and dump”—seduced by the dark forces of not-to-clever advertising
sound bites, which are only effective because we are bombarded with them and we
acquiesce just to make it go away.
A real exception to the rule are the Grado SR60 headphones.
Truly.
For the better part of ten years, they have been
consistently great. For the money, there is nothing better under $100. Combined
with a decent portable headphone amplifier such as the Headroom Total Bithead,
and the iPod (lossless only please), orgasmic audio is possible.
Grado Labs has been building headphones a very specific way
for many years, and just like Di Fara Pizza (another Brooklyn
institution), it is all about getting the basics right. The SR60s do not use
the most expensive parts available, something Grado chooses to implement in its
more expensive RS1, RS2, and GS 1000 headphones, but there is something unique about
the SR60s that has always made it one of the most satisfying purchases in audio
la-la-land. My first pair lasted almost eight years before the ex-wife used it
as a doorstop. I should preface that with “angrily” as I was still wearing them
at the time.
And I thought nothing could break the headband…
All of the Grado models have a vented diaphragm that uses a
large air chamber. As a result, the diaphragm is not plagued by an excessive
level of distortion, leaving the listener with a clean and detailed
presentation. Another benefit of the design is that Grado headphones reproduce
punchy bass that is clean sounding, taut, and resolute considering the size of
the driver. The influence of Grado’s fine line of moving coil and moving magnet
phono cartridges can be heard in the midrange, where vocals are incredibly
coherent and full of body. There is some excess warmth, but I would rather have
that than a totally neutral and analytical sounding presentation. Soul over
razor sharp accuracy any day of the week.
The SR60s also use a copper voice coil wire and copper
connecting cord terminated for use with a 3.5mm stereo jack. Grado supplies a
mini plug with a ¼” adaptor for listeners who want to plug their headphones
into the larger sockets found on receivers, integrated amplifiers, and
dedicated headphone amplifiers.
The black retro look has not deviated from its inception,
including the thin steel spring strap covered with quasi-leather (it is
plastic) that makes up the headband. The headphones slide up and down and
swivel on a very simple post, which makes them easy to position on your head.
The SR60s are also easy to fold and place inside a notebook bag or duffel.
The foam pads that sit on top of the outer ear will
eventually require replacement, but they work. The most recent pair that I
tried seemed to be more comfortable than the older model that I owned, which is
a step in the right direction. Prolonged listening sessions with the SR60s are
far more enjoyable than they used to be.
One of the obvious benefits of the iPod revolution is that
people are buying headphones in tremendous quantities. A recent walk through
the Rutgers campus, which surrounds our corporate offices here in New Brunswick, was very
educational to say the least. Three out of every 10 students we observed were
wearing some style of headphones connected to a portable music player. Not
surprisingly, a majority were wearing the Apple ear buds. Needless to say, we
did not see too many people walking around with a pair of full-sized open
headphones like the SR60s, or the Sennheiser PX 100s. Expensive in-ear-monitors
from Etymotic, Shure, or Ultimate Ears were nowhere to be seen. Well, not with
the people we asked.
We let a few people try the SR60s and the overall reaction
was very positive. Everyone preferred them to the ear buds, especially when we
mentioned that they were only $69.00. The Total Bithead was also quite popular
due to its dual function as a USB DAC. After we explained what a “USB DAC” is. One
comedian asked if he could “borrow” it for the night.
New Jersey.
Portishead’s “Glory Box” from their Dummy release is a personal favorite of onheadphones.com staffer,
J. Kastner, and after one listen through the SR60s, we figured out why.
Shivers all around. Yes, we are repressed. Well, perhaps not
all of us.
The SR60s reproduce a very spacious soundstage inside your
head, but it is not their main selling point. The fundamental reason to buy
these is the superb job they do reproducing the human voice.
For $69, the midrange quality of the SR60s is really quite
extraordinary. There is an openness to the sound that you just do not hear on
headphones at this price point, or frankly, under one hundred and fifty
dollars. The SR60s main competitor, the Sennheiser PX 100 sounds far more
colored in my opinion in the midrange. It lacks the detail or clarity that
makes the Grado so good.
Jerry Garcia and David Grisman’s The Pizza Tapes is a wonderful example of how important, chemistry
is between two musicians. The guitar playing just flows effortlessly throughout
the recording and it is a very rewarding listen. The resolution of the
recording pushes most high-end systems and exposes any of their warts. The
SR60s faired very well, but it did expose one weakness; a slightly edgy and hot
top end when pushed. The Grado are not the last word in headphones if you are
looking for something with a velvety smooth treble. They have some bite. It is
not the kind of excessive treble that makes the overall presentation too
forward sounding, but make no mistake – the Grado are not laid back sounding
when pushed.
What originally sold me on the SR60s when I first bought them
was their bass response. Most inexpensive headphones have mediocre to terrible
bass. Manufacturers think in terms of “quantity” versus “quality”. That unfortunately
often means a bloated mess that is incredibly fatiguing to listen to and at the
expense of the rest of the sound. The SR60s are very well balanced; the bass
compliments rather than drowns out the rest of the sound. For the lack of a
better word, the Grado SR60s are focused.
Focus is a good thing.
Especially, if you are still listening to MP3s.
Heretics.
The SR60s are much better with lossless. With vinyl and a
good headphone amp? Crazy good.
Sort of like pizza with more than one piece of fresh
mozzarella and real sausage.
The real deal. Do not walk. Run and buy them.
The Verdict
