Sennheiser HD595 / Grado SR80

[admin_exported]

Hi, im looking at getting a pair of either of these. Just wondering what peoples opinions are on them? Will be mainly used at home with my HiFi but also will be used when travelling etc with my iPod. Was originally looking at the Senn HD650s but as they need so much power an iPod wouldn't be any good for them. The HD595s are 50ohms and the SR80s are 32ohms, would these be ok when used with an iPod? Im going to be buying a headphone amp so the home listening isn't the problem I just want to make sure they'll be fine when out and about.

Thanks alot.

 

[Messiah]

What I can tell you is they are Open-Back designs that will leak sound. This may bother you (but more likely others!) when out using the iPod.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmm yeh I noticed that, could be a problem! Anything similar that isnt "open back"?!

 

[Messiah]

What about getting a pair of headphones for at home and a separate pair for out-and-about with the iPod??

 

[Anonymous]

I think Messiah is right.

If you are planning to get an amp at home I'd just run the costly cans off thatÿand get a good pair of in-ear headphones to use on the road.

In my experience circumaural headphones (Grados in particular) get wrecked very easily in transit.

 

[Anonymous]

Grados get funny looks outside!

Amazing cans, but you'd be better with some Senn PX series if you like headband phones for outdoor use.

Kep the quality at home with an amp.

 

[lonely boy]

SAP7:Grados get funny looks outside!

I love walking around with my 125's on, you certainly get noticed!

 

[matts]

Personally I'd go for neither the HD595's or the Grado's. Buy a pair of Alessandro MS-1 headphones, which we in the UK can buy for around £65 shipped! I spoke to a member of staff at Alessandro and they class the MS-1 as somewhere between the Grado SR80 and SR125. Bargain to be had!

 

[bemahler1]

Matt. Agree with everything you have said. I have been telling members for ages to buy Alessandro rather than Grado( have both )but I think the main problem is that you can't see or test Alessandro headphones in the UK, as there are no dealers for them, even the team on this site can't get hold of a pair to review..Anyway we both took the plunge and are very happy.

 

[matts]

bemahler1:Matt. Agree with everything you have said. I have been telling members for ages to buy Alessandro rather than Grado( have both )but I think the main problem is that you can't see or test Alessandro headphones in the UK, as there are no dealers for them, even the team on this site can't get hold of a pair to review..Anyway we both took the plunge and are very happy.

Hands up. I've never tested the Alessandro MS-1, however I do feel that in Europe as a whole, we pay through the nose for Grado products. In the U.S. Grado SR60 'Retail' for $69, over here they go for .... £89.99, that's

89.99 GBP
=
134.582 USD
That's madness! If you hunt around, you might find a pair of SR60 for around the £70 mark, but the MS-1's come between the SR80 and SR125's I was told by the Alessandro Rep.

 

[Anonymous]

I have had a pair of MS-1's for about a year now and I have to admit that they are stunning headphones and a bargain when I got them from the US.

I would agree though that these are really better suited to home use. I have tried them with the ipod Classic and found that they played a bit too quiet - i.e. needed more power to drive them. You could of course go down the portable headphone amp route which would give the extra power required.ÿI use the i-grados myself for the ipod, I tried out some Shure 110's recently in a head to head but went back to the igrados.

ÿ

ÿ

 

[Big Aura]

I have some Sennheiser HD 280 Pro on order (due end of the week) - they're closed back. I have, and love, my Shure SE110 (in ear) for iPod on the move, and they were only £17.99 (limited, and expired, offer).