Grado SR60i Headphone

By Che

Grado headphones? Me likey. So when I got the chance to review the Grado SR60i headphones, the cans with rave reviews and tags like, “legendary,” and “product/accessory/budget/etc. of the year,” I was intrigued and excited to experience Grado’s newest headset for myself. The SR60i’s are full size headphones with an open ear design, that are said to be an improvement on the SR60’s (hence the “i”).

The Good
Although I could not entirely discern a marked difference between the SR60 and SR60i, the sound was definitely a little warmer. Highs were slightly less tinny, lows were slightly fuller and more defined, and the mid-range flowed more seamlessly into both. Say whaaaa? In other words, the sound was a slight improvement on the previous model, and a thoroughly enjoyable experience that had me feeling quite giddy. As with many headphones, the more musical music genres sounded far better: classical and jazz, acoustic songs, light rock and alternative. However, pop, rap, metal, etc. still sounded fantastic. These headphones are perfect for their purpose – boosting the sound of music with portable music players, portable DVD players, computers, and other recreational listening devices. For this price range you’ll be hard pressed to find something better. Just make sure your expectations are accurate.

The Bad
Keep in mind that these headphones cost less than a hundred bucks, but their sound is worth far more. These are not luxury headphones. They are very uncomfortable, and tend to fall apart with continued use. Luckily, you can easily replace the ear pads for about ten bucks (which you will not have to do more than once a year). So what they look a little loved – it’s just the headphones molding to your head. In addition, as with all open-ear headphones, the sound leaks out, so if you’re in a quiet setting you might want to listen to non-embarrassing music or keep the volume down, or it might defeat the purpose.

The Ugly
Well, other than the fact that the headphones are pretty ugly (sorry Grado – a valiant effort with the whole retro look, but not executed as well as your other cans), they‘re uncomfortable. My ears have been permanently welded to my head. Granted, they belong there…all the better to listen to headphones with, but still! In all seriousness, it takes a long time to wear them in, and they still do not feel great with continued use.

The Verdict
All great relationships involve seeing the good in someone (or something), despite his/her/its flaws. No, they are not perfect, but I don’t buy my headphones for appearance or fit. I buy them for sound, and these puppies sound beautiful, and I can afford to buy more music because of their awesome price.

This headphone 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. The SR60 was the Stereophile’s “PRODUCT OF THE YEAR” in two categories, “The Accessory of Year” and the more prestigious “Budget Component of Year”. Sound: good bass, excellent resolution, very smooth sound.