SR80i and X-Can Arrived this morning

[Jason36]

Well my Grado SR80i's and X-Can arrived at the same today

I havent connected the X-Can to the amplifier yet as I am at work but I have plugged the SR80's directly into my Laptop and all I can say is WOW!!

These sound so much more open and solid than my in ear sennhieser CX300II's I have been using (but then again there is £80.00 price difference). I was worried the Grado's would have no bass, but how wrong I was.....i'm not a fan of in your face bass, but the Grado's have just the right amount of oomph....they seem to be very detailed and I have been wearing them for the last 40 minutes whilst working at my laptop with no comfort issues either.

Initial impressions are they deliver on exactly what I was looking for from a pair of Headphones and cant wait to get them connected to the Caspian tonight via the X-Can and have a really good listening session.

Also just as an aside...I was very impressed with these headphone connected directly into my Laptop Headphone output, but in all honesty I think I have now decided to buy a Fiio e7 to utilise the DAC and cant wait to hear how this improves the sounds.

For anyone who is considering the SR60i's I would definately say that the 80's are worth the slight increase in outlay.

A very happy Bunny

 

[caesar44]

Awesome..i like grados for rock and guitars music.

Are you planning to make some tweaks on your V2 btw?

 

[idc]

I auditioned the SR60 ans 80 side by side and the extra £30 or so is worth it for the 80s IMO as well. Enjoy!

 

[DIB]

Nice one Jason.

I bought mine at the Manchester Show last year from the Grado stand, their demo used a X-Can/Denon all-in-one set-up. Sounded great so bought them for the 10% discount that was on offer at the show. Nice surprise a month later when then the C/C statement came through, instead of charging me £96 they had inadvertently charged me £86!

.

 

[Jason36]

Awesome..i like grados for rock and guitars music.

Are you planning to make some tweaks on your V2 btw?

Most definately Casesar44,

I'm gonna keep it as standard for a couple of weeks or so to get used to the standard X-Can sound, and then I will be undertaking surgery on the amplifier by way of the Rock Grotto upgrade...changing the resistors and capacitors...I also plan n changing the valves to some Russian Valves again from Rock Grotto.

Which from what I have read from a few people does drastically improve the sound of the amplifier.

Also gonna change the potentiometer to a newer longer armed one and then change the volume control to a nice chrome one to match the front of the amplifier.

I love the design of these older style X-Cans

 

[Jason36]

Nice one Jason.

I bought mine at the Manchester Show last year from the Grado stand, their demo used a X-Can/Denon all-in-one set-up. Sounded great so bought them for the 10% discount that was on offer at the show. Nice surprise a month later when then the C/C statement came through, instead of charging me £96 they had inadvertently charged me £86!

.

Bargain DIB's

Well I have been listening to the Grado's all day at work directly into my laptop. However now they are connected direct;y to the Caspian Pre Amp and I have Pink Floyd Meddle spinning on the Turntable...all I can Say is wow, wow, WOW.

Ok you loose the soundstaging you get with speakers, but the extra detail you get, totally makes up for it.

And I tell you what, these H/P are certainly not bass shy....just the right level there for me listening to Meddle. However I also believe the Rock Grotto mods will improve the bass extension even further.

I will report back again in a few more days after proper extended listening.

 

[Sizzers]

They are rather good aren't they! Glad you like them, and still a steal even if you'd paid full price IMO.

 

[Jason36]

Well as promised here's the update on my opinions of the Grado SR80i now I have had a chance to have an extended listen to them.

The overall opinion is they are excellent.

I know that opinion on the Grado's is divided, but having listened to then extensively ove the weekend both directly from my laptop and via the X-can I love them.

I find them to be excellently detailed, especially with accoustic guitar and female vocals. I was a litte bit worried as some people have said they lack bass, but I have found them to be completely the opposite for my tastes. I think they give an honest representation of the music being listened to, with a good bass response when its there.

On Saturday evening I was listening through them for about 2.5 hours and could have carried on for longer, I didnt find them tiresome or uncomfrtable to wear.

All in All and excellent purchase that I am very very happy with.

Next on the list is a Firestone Fubar DAC / Headphone Amplifier for listening via my laptop