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Grado SR-125

sitheris

sitheris

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
1,787
I've narrowed my search for headphones down to this set I think. But I just wanted some input before I actually buy them. I've been reading reviews for them and have read nothing but good things.

I was thinking about either these, Senn HD-280s, or Sony V600s but I think I may be going with the Grado's, even if they are a little more expensive.

Any thoughts?
 
STAY AWAY FROM THE V600!!! They are utter crap. The V6's however are pretty good. Grado cans tend to be very bright and forward. Make sure you like this kind of brightness. Also the V6's are similar in that sense, but not as forward or bright. The HD280's have a great range, but not much punch too it. Most people find it lacking. What kind of music do you listen to? Another great alternative to the SR-125 are the Alessandro MS-1s. They can be ordered from http://www.alessandro-products.com/headphones.html. They are a bit cheaper, but just as good. The MS series was co-developed by Grado and Alessandro.
 
FaRKle0079 said:
STAY AWAY FROM THE V600!!! They are utter crap. The V6's however are pretty good. Grado cans tend to be very bright and forward. Make sure you like this kind of brightness. Also the V6's are similar in that sense, but not as forward or bright. The HD280's have a great range, but not much punch too it. Most people find it lacking. What kind of music do you listen to? Another great alternative to the SR-125 are the Alessandro MS-1s. They can be ordered from http://www.alessandro-products.com/headphones.html. They are a bit cheaper, but just as good. The MS series was co-developed by Grado and Alessandro.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the feedback. I like listening mostly to Metal, Rock, and Folk. I'll also be using the headphones for gaming (BF2, UT2k4, Fear, Q4, WoW, SWG, etc)
 
sitheris said:
Thanks for the feedback. I like listening mostly to Metal, Rock, and Folk. I'll also be using the headphones for gaming (BF2, UT2k4, Fear, Q4, WoW, SWG, etc)
Click to expand...

Grado's Achilles Heel (aside from their subpar QC and non-existent ergonomics) is thier soundfield positioning, which makes them highly unsuited for gaming. They do sound good for rock msuic esperically though. I'd get the HD280 or Audio Technica A500 (more comfortable) if you plan to do a lot of gaming. If that's not as important and you don't care about having open headphones, the Grados are very fun sounding.
 
Reason for my not getting some grados is b/c they are not suited for gaming :( too bad... I'll grab some later.. but anyways I ordered a pair of xd400's ( sony's) and we'll see how it goes.. but my vote goes for the sennheiser hd280's.. I had a much cheaper version ( HD202) my first set of real headphones.. they were great and gaming was good and Linkin Park was bumping on it :p but I wouldn't call LP totally rock hehe. Anyways... the HD280 sould be better in evryway.
 
FaRKle0079 said:
Another great alternative to the SR-125 are the Alessandro MS-1s. They can be ordered from http://www.alessandro-products.com/headphones.html. They are a bit cheaper, but just as good. The MS series was co-developed by Grado and Alessandro.
Click to expand...
Mmm....Alessandro MS series....it's a padded orgasm for your ears. Do yourself a favour, and get these.
My other recommendation would be the BeyerDynamic DT770(not Pro, closed design) or the DT990Pro(open design) if you're a fan of slightly more noticeable bass. Be warned, though, both of these sets pretty much require an external amp of some kind, so they're not really suitable for LANs.
 
Wow.... all three of the worst headphones I ever owned are mentioned here. :p
 
peacetilence said:
grado's are made for emo/hipster/gender role confused myspace douches.
Click to expand...

Lol I thought they were good for classic rock too (had SR225's, but couldn't take the comfort issue).
 
From the responses on this thread I may just go with my original plan of buying a set of 280s

To those of you who own 280s - what is a good amp to power them (is one even needed?)

Thanks
 
Well, I can tell you you need one, but not what's good. Yet. I'd guess a mint amp would be good for a start, and it'll probably be around $30 or so in parts.

 
I agree about the gaming performance of the 125s

For music they are pretty good phones though, despite some of their shortcomings (the bass rolloff is a bit high, the phones will accentuate any distortion at all).
 
Wow.... all three of the worst headphones I ever owned are mentioned here.
Click to expand...

V600
SR125
DT990
Click to expand...


Geez Mr. X just because you got some Sennheiser HD280 pro, HD580, HD600, HD650, PX200, HD201, HD25SP and Grado SR225.

Don't worry, they are all fine and good cans, except for the V600. Don't let Mr. X and his super collection scare you away. As you can see he's a Senn house fan. (like me, but I think grados are great.)

Information courtesy of www.head-fi.org

grado's are made for emo/hipster/gender role confused myspace douches.
Click to expand...

I sure hope you were being sarcastic. If not I wonder what kind of POS headphones you listen with. The Grado company does not endorse a specific type of music...
 
FaRKle0079 said:
Geez Mr. X just because you got some Sennheiser HD280 pro, HD580, HD600, HD650, PX200, HD201, HD25SP and Grado SR225.
Click to expand...

You left out the AKG K26-Ps
The Ety ER6i's
The PX100s
The Koss KSC35s
And you aols forgot the 150 or so other headphone that I have owned.


Don't let Mr. X and his super collection scare you away. As you can see he's a Senn house fan. (like me, but I think grados are great.)
Click to expand...

I think you would be well advised to keep your uneducated opinions about me to yourself. ;)
 
Mister X said:
What does that comment have to do with the topic here? :confused:



V600
SR125
DT990
;)
Click to expand...


Farkle answered what that means! It means your spoiled with your super duper high-end headphones!
 
peacetilence said:
grado's are made for emo/hipster/gender role confused myspace douches.
Click to expand...
shit, then the hundreds of people on Head-Fi who reccomend them are emo/hipster/gender role confused myspace douches? Shit, i think you should go there and ask them if they all are.
 
Ignore the troll.

If you don't play FPS games, or any game where pinpoint imaging is required, then the Grados rock.

I do play Doom3, Battlefield:vietnam, and Battlefield 2 just fine on my Grados, although I know there are better headphones for that type of gaming....I buy my headphones around music first though.


...and if I was to do it a second time, i would have probably went with the Allesanrd0 MS-2...but I had to be a stingy little beeyotch and only drop for the SR-125 :p
 
I own a pair of Sennheisser HD280 Pros, after carefully reading and doing in studio testing. They are a great buy, and worth the price tag. If they were $300, you would find some people still recommending them. I bought mine for $99, and you might find them for less now.

Problems:
1. They are sealed. This in itself isn't bad, especially for gaming. It closes you off to the rest of the world, unfortunately.

2. The cord was tightly wrapped, but now it is looser. They are about 10 months old.

3. The sound can be referenced as laid back, more subtle. Midrange is quite focused on Sennheisser HD280 pros. Bass is quite clean and enjoyable, and the highs follow the midrange well. People might scoff, because they are used to headphones that pump bass over midrange, so you can't hear Paul Mccartney breathing into his microphone during bass movements. If you are the kind of person that thinks 12' subs with no midrange and the cheap tweets make good sound in your car, don't bother. Get out of the mens table and go back to the Mcdonalds playground.

4. They are made of plastic, and are prone to breakage if you kick them around.

5. They bring out the worst in poorly recorded and encoded music. Those 128K Mp3's from 1998 will never sound good again, ever.

6. You will end up buying a headphone amp believing it will make them sound even better.. which it will.. slightly. Welcome to audiophile psychosis.


Good:
1. Accurate. Clean.

2. The soundstage is coherent. This means you can distinctly make out where the recording artist wanted that sound to go, which in cheaper headphones is lost because the speaker becomes overwhelmed reproducing other notes.

3. Cheap, very cheap for the output.

4. I didn't believe in warming up speakers. I used to honestly believe speakers were good from the factory and breaking them in is bullshit. Well... you can say I have realised differently now.

5. There is little gap between the midrange and bass frequency. If you are used to cheap Sony headphones, you will be tamed by the difference in sound.
 
Boltaction said:
I own a pair of Sennheisser HD280 Pros, after carefully reading and doing in studio testing. They are a great buy, and worth the price tag. If they were $300, you would find some people still recommending them. I bought mine for $99, and you might find them for less now.

Problems:
1. They are sealed. This in itself isn't bad, especially for gaming. It closes you off to the rest of the world, unfortunately.

2. The cord was tightly wrapped, but now it is looser. They are about 10 months old.

3. The sound can be referenced as laid back, more subtle. Midrange is quite focused on Sennheisser HD280 pros. Bass is quite clean and enjoyable, and the highs follow the midrange well. People might scoff, because they are used to headphones that pump bass over midrange, so you can't hear Paul Mccartney breathing into his microphone during bass movements. If you are the kind of person that thinks 12' subs with no midrange and the cheap tweets make good sound in your car, don't bother. Get out of the mens table and go back to the Mcdonalds playground.

4. They are made of plastic, and are prone to breakage if you kick them around.

5. They bring out the worst in poorly recorded and encoded music. Those 128K Mp3's from 1998 will never sound good again, ever.

6. You will end up buying a headphone amp believing it will make them sound even better.. which it will.. slightly. Welcome to audiophile psychosis.


Good:
1. Accurate. Clean.

2. The soundstage is coherent. This means you can distinctly make out where the recording artist wanted that sound to go, which in cheaper headphones is lost because the speaker becomes overwhelmed reproducing other notes.

3. Cheap, very cheap for the output.

4. I didn't believe in warming up speakers. I used to honestly believe speakers were good from the factory and breaking them in is bullshit. Well... you can say I have realised differently now.

5. There is little gap between the midrange and bass frequency. If you are used to cheap Sony headphones, you will be tamed by the difference in sound.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much, you have no idea how much I appreciate that in-depth and honest opinion. I'm now really leaning towards the HD280pros :)
 
Dude you forgot this:

Problem: You try the 650's, and everything else sounds like crap now. :)
 
I've noticed a bit of lacking performance in gaming, but I'm not overly picky when it comes to that, but I LOVE my grados for music reproduction. I don't have an issue with the comfort of them at all, especially after having them for a few months.

I have sr225s, which are very very similar to 125s, just better bass response and more closely matched drivers.
 
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