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 enlarge | Brand: Grado
Category: CE
Buy Used: $54.96
New (5) from $69.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  112 reviews
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 8 x 8 x 2
The SR60 has gained LEGENDARY status. The SR60 has received rave reviews from around the world and is the most commonly recommended headphone on the market today.
MPN: SR60
Model: 60
UPC: 182092000011
EAN: 0182092000011
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 The Best Under $200 for under $100 November 14, 2004
32 out of 35 found this review helpful
I have in fact listened to nearly every headphone under $250. I have heard high end AKG, Bose, Sennheiser, Sony. These headphones sound better than any of them. The only competition for these Grados are other Grados. The previous reviewer mentioned that he did not have good quality equipment to utilize these headphones. Yes, poor quality equipment gives poor quality sound. These headphones would be a bargain at $150.
Perfect for portable mp3 and CD players February 13, 2006
28 out of 28 found this review helpful
The Grado SR-60s are fantastic! I listen mainly to classical music, and I have found that these headphones offer incredibly accurate sound with clear highs and sufficient, but not overpowering, lows.** The detail in sound is phenomenal. The listener will enjoy very subtle differences in tone color and dynamic level, and the sound always comes across naturally.
The SR-60s (and SR-80s) are perfect for portable listening devices, such as iPods, because the headphones present the best sound possible for players that lack an amplifier or a powerful driver. More expensive headphones with more power, detail, and precision are just wasted (and in some cases, don't even sounds as good) on portable devices.
On the downside, I find that my SR-60s cease being comfortable after about an hour or so because they apply pressure to my ears. But I think this is a very small price to pay given the quality of sound and the price. (And sadly I rarely have much more than an hour at a time to listen anyway.) Plus, these cans are incredibly durable. I've used mine consistently for six years now, and they've held up perfectly.
Just a word of caution: Grado headphones are "open air." While this contributes to their fantastic sound, be aware that people sitting near you will hear your music. These may not be the best headphones for people on the go. Besides, they are not the most portable headphones anyway.***
The bottom line: (1) If you are an audiophile who primarily listens to your music on a portable device, these headphones, or perhaps the SR-80s, are the best on the market. Your iPod doesn't even allow you to fully enjoy these cans, let alone more expensive ones. (2) If you primarily listen on more powerful systems, these cans are still incredible, and highly recommendable for the price. But if you have extra cash and are looking for something even higher end, you might want to consider Grado's other products.
**When I compared these headphones to the SR-80s, the only real difference I could identify is that the SR-80s provide more powerful bass output. For that reason, I actually prefer the SR-60s for classical music, but that is obviously a personal preference.
***For those looking for a more portable option, I highly recommend the Sennheiser PX100 headphones. They are light and comfortable and fold nicely to fit into a small carrying case. They do not sound quite as warm and refined as the Grado SR-60s, but the sound quality is very, very close. And considering how portable and durable they are, they are absolutely worth the $50. They are also "open air," but much less sound seems to leak out of these smaller headphones.
I think the hype is justified - outstanding - with just a few footnotes February 6, 2007
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
I finally caved in and sprung for a pair of these headphones over the weekend. After a few days, I can say that I am truly impressed.
I have bought and returned many a pair of headphones after being dissatisfied. I will not be doing so with these. Accordingly, I'll try to write some comments that could help other people with their purchase. There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting headphones. It's also important to keep in mind that with any headphones, sound quality depends on the quality of the medium to which you are listening, as well as the ability of the device to drive the headphones.
My immediate impression of the SR60'swas that bass was a bit weak (matching a few other comments on here) AND that high-end treble was a bit subdued as well - but after a few days of trying different kinds of music and listening on different players, I have decided that neither is weak at all; sounds are simply much more accurately reproduced than with most of the headphones I'd previously experienced. Very significant: these headphones maintain almost identical tonal balance regardless of listening volume. I've never encountered that before, and was used to headphones that sound more "bright" or "warm" as volume increases.
I believe that most budget headphones, if they aren't completely lacking in bass, tend to exaggerate certain frequencies beyond what you'd hear in a live performance. Here's my logic:
I tried listening to a few different tracks with the SR60s, all high-bitrate MP3s:
-- Pride & Prejudice Soundtrack (2005) - Dario Marianelli - "Liz On Top Of The World" - (Orchestral, dominated by piano and strings) - Any concerns about weak bass were blown out the door within 30 seconds. It honestly sounded like a *real piano* was sitting in my living room. And who knew that a string section could have so much ambiance? I used to appreciate this track for its music; the notes carry a lot of emotion. I now understand what people mean about appreciating a particular *performance* as well.
-- Alison Krauss & Union Station - "The Lucky One" - (Vocal, bluegrass) - You can clearly discern *specific* guitar picks, the streaking noises made by musicians' fingers as they slide up and down the strings... And Alison Krauss' crystal clear voice just shines. It sounds like a live performance.
-- Max Graham feat. Jessica Jacobs - "I Know You re Gone" (Original Mix) - (Vocal Trance) - I've much ballyhooed this track as one of the all time best examples of vocal trance. It was also a good sound testing song, since it's based on a throbbing bass line and bouncy rhythms, but breaks down into a section where it's just Jessica's voice, piano, and strings. I must have listened to this song 200 times in the last year, and yet I picked up several new nuances on the first listen with these headphones.
A few negatives about these headphones, now that I've played with them:
-- Yes, they are bulky. You probably won't want to use them at the gym. I was able to tolerate them on the treadmill, but for actually lifting weights or otherwise doing things requiring changes in posture, I'll probably stick with my Koss KSC75's (an awesome bargain themselves at less than $20, though now that I've tried the Grados, the Koss bass seems a bit artificially inflated).
-- These *really* leak sound. On a whim, I spun the headphones and put them on so that the outside was on my ears, with the foam pads facing outward. They actually sounded louder that way (if muffled) than with the drivers properly facing my ears. The open air design has it's advantages - I think it's partly how these headphones create the illusion of sitting among the musicians - but people around you may think you are blasting your music even if it isn't really that loud to you.
-- These headphones *will* expose flaws in the source media, and possibly your playback device as well. I can't stomach 128kbps MP3s anymore. When your headphones get this accurate, such music seems to have had the life flattened out of it. I tried listening to a few Beatles songs, and there were certain frequencies missing. It sounded like I was listening to a reel-to-reel tape. Oh wait, the songs were probably mastered on reel-to-reel.
My overall impression is extremely favorable. Sure, sound quality is a somewhat subjective matter, but if your goal is life-like sound, and you want to come closer to what the studio recording sounded like, these headphones are an awesome effort for the price.
 A heavenly experience...... January 4, 2005
23 out of 26 found this review helpful
I just received my Grado SR-60s and am currently burning them in. I havent even had 40 minutes in them and I am already very impressed. I HEAR EVERYTHING. Every little detail. I can hear the fingers of the guitar player move from fret to fret between chords, heretofore unheard stuff in the mix like background vocals and effects.
Unfortunately, MP3 compression errors are also more evident. For example, some complex tonal passages sound distorted especially those that are at the high end of the dynamic range (LOUD), and if you lower the volume, the distortion continues. I conclude that the distortion is in the track, not due to the hardware. This appears to be the fault of iTunes ripping software. This happens quite often. I have re-ripped all my stuff with Windows Media Player using MP3 with a sample rate of 320 kbps with better results. The Apple software basically sucks at ripping stuff
Later on I conducted my tests with a little Jet, Modest Mouse, Linkin Park, Thievery Corporation, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi by the London Symphony Orchestra for good measure and finished off with Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. I am almost teary eyed with joy.
The bass is sufficient. It is whole and robust. You can almost caress it with your hands. It is not booming by any measure. It is accurate. I prefer to listen to flat sound and this is just the way I like things. No added bass, treble, X-bass, loudness, BBE or any of that other junk that can be added to the music. I would rather increase the SPL to hear the detail than mess with the sound. It is here where the SR-60s shine. You dont need a lot of volume to hear the detail. I can't say it enough, "everything is there" or "more than you use to know".
The only downside I have experienced so far is that the db/watt seems lacking. They are sufficiently loud but they seem to be giving the iPod a hard time when I crank it up to rock concert levels. If you are the type with a couple of 12 inch subs in your car, or cant get any satisfaction with a pair of decent stand up speakers (B&Ws?), these may not be for you. The wires are a bit long too.
I am extremely happy with these entry level phones. However, if you intend to use it on an iPod, I think this is the only Grado headphone that can be driven to satisfaction by a portable.
NOTE: Out of the box, they'll suck. Break them in properly with a nice selection of booming hip-hop and high pitch guitar riffs at reasonably high levels. You dont have to be wearing them to do this. Then you'll start hearing the bass start taking form after 30 or so minutes.
UPDDATE: My dog jumped on me while on walk and ripped the phones of my head. Tore one of the cans clear of the headband. And they pretty scuffed up too. I sent them to GRADO and for a $ 25.00 charge they fixed the phones, actually I think they sent me new ones. Thumbs up to GRADO!
Amazing February 5, 2005
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
I have had these headphones for one day now, and i hate them. They are so good, that i can hear the static in mp3 recordings, something i have never heard, not over a 500 dollar klipsch system, or a 1000 dollar car system. Actually, i love the headphones, but they are almost too good. For 65 dollars, you should not get sound this good. They are exceedingly comfortable, and while they are not the lightest headphones out there, they are comfortable for extended listening. Their sound is very smooth, and never harsh. The bass is the best i've ever heard from headphones, and the high ends are clear, not dull of anything, and while these are my first pair of botique headphones, i think they are excellent. They may look a bit cheep or dated, (Someone said they looked like the headphones worn by soviet submariners) but what they lack in looks, they make up for in sound. I chose this pair because out of the Grado line up, they are the only ones which can be driven by the iPod, without an amp. If you have money or an amp, or are not using them with an iPod, i would recomend the higher end models, but for the price, these cans are unbeatable.
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