got my sr 80's today...

[LeftofCool]

My Grado SR 80's came today. They sound good, but not as good I expected from all the rave reviews out there. However, I've also read that they require a 30-40 hour break-in time before they show their true colors. How much validity is there to this statement? I bought the SR 80's over the 60's because of the improved bass performance, but from what I'm hearing, the bass is actually lacking in some of the jazz settings, such as in the Bela Fleck & the Flecktones' albums. Will these things open up or am I losing it?

[Wireworm5]

In my opinion you aren't going to hear the bass improvement you're hoping for. Headphones are a very subjective to personal taste. Reviews are good only in helping you to create a shortlist, auditioning them yourself is necassary with hp. Myself I like my Sony V-600, these are not harsh to my ears and they could handle low bass notes without breaking up. Traites that I experience with other hp I've used.
The reviews for these Sony cans are both pos. and neg., which ones are you to believe?
Also your receiver/amp can make a difference. When I used my friends Senns 570 on my Sony receiver they sounded best in Virtual Dolby mode. The Sony's when I demoded them in the store the receiver they let me use to test these couldn't power them, so I took a chance also in buying them. At home, my Yamaha powered these things without a problem and they really opened up to what they could do. With my receiver I can also adjust the treble and bass for HP, a handy feature.
If its not to late take em back! If so maybe you can find a good Yamaha receiver like mine to help improve em.

[markw]

Dunno what that means bit it seems to imply that they are adequate in other recordings. ...or is this in reference to some ofthe DSP modes on the receiver? In the case ofthe latter, that's more a function ofthe receiver as opposed to the headphones.

If you're talking about "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo", that's a natural difference. That sucka reverberates through the room, travels through the structure and rumbles walls and floors with speakers while with phones you loose all room interactions. The room makes the bass with this one.

One thing to keep in mind is that "headphone" bass is different from "loudspeaker" bass in htat it's not the viscreal feeling you get when your body "feels" the bass. With 'phones it's all transmitted through the ear canal.

Those 'phones more than hold their own with anything in their price range.


Merry Xmas

[LeftofCool]

Thanks, they already seem to be opening up, actually. I hooked them up to my iPod today and they sound great. I think the iPod supports it better than my walkman.

[JamezHill]

Yeah, I never cared for the bass in my Sr-80s. I ended up selling them and getting Senn 595s and have been in love ever since.

[N. Abstentia]

I very much preferred the Senn's also

I didn't like Grado phones at all.