Good Headphones? Any Suggestions

[Woochifer]

For the money, the Grado headphones are hard to beat for the performance that they deliver. The $70 SR-60 is one of the best purchases I've ever made in audio -- a bargain for the sound quality that you get. Just a great all-around performer that works equally well with portables and components. The $95 SR-80 has slightly more bass. The only drawbacks are that they look like WWII-vintage military hardware, and they're not the most comfortable cans you'll ever try out.

The Senns are a lot more comfortable and also well regarded, but I found out the hard way that they will tend to voice some of their headphones differently than others (I bought a pair of their now-discontinued HD500s -- abysmal sounding headphones that way overshot the bass and had a dark and depressing tone overall).

[L.J.]

For the money, the Grado headphones are hard to beat for the performance that they deliver. The $70 SR-60 is one of the best purchases I've ever made in audio -- a bargain for the sound quality that you get. Just a great all-around performer that works equally well with portables and components. The $95 SR-80 has slightly more bass. The only drawbacks are that they look like WWII-vintage military hardware, and they're not the most comfortable cans you'll ever try out.

The Senns are a lot more comfortable and also well regarded, but I found out the hard way that they will tend to voice some of their headphones differently than others (I bought a pair of their now-discontinued HD500s -- abysmal sounding headphones that way overshot the bass and had a dark and depressing tone overall).

Hey Woochifer,

Was the bass from the SR-80's overwhelming? Why did you choose the SR-60 vs the SR-80. Also where's a good place to take a look at em? I'm assumming it'll have to be online.

[Woochifer]

Hey Woochifer,

Was the bass from the SR-80's overwhelming? Why did you choose the SR-60 vs the SR-80. Also where's a good place to take a look at em? I'm assumming it'll have to be online.

It came down to price -- I don't listen thru headphones enough to justify paying more than I did. The SR-60 already has a pretty good amount of bass, so I went with them. I never had a chance to listen to the SR-80s -- people I've talked to who have listened to both indicate that the bass is the primary difference between the two models, since they share the same basic components.

The Grados are very easy to find at independent audio retailers, and among the chain stores, I know that Magnolia carries them (not sure about their Best Buy locations though, since they primarily carry home theater components).