Grado SR60 | Audio | Mac|Life

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Reviews

Grado SR60

Posted 02/12/2009 at 4:39:00am | by Ray Aguilera

image of Grado headphones
They may not look impressive, but it’s the sound that counts.

Aside from a gargantuan hard drive to hold all of our tunes (and movies), our favorite iPod accessory is a good pair of headphones. More than anything else, decent cans give us the most bang for our buck in terms of increasing our enjoyment of our media collection. For commuting, we prefer in-ear models for their small size and ability to block out external noise, but we reach for larger headphones for when we’re sitting at a desk or even relaxing next to the stereo at home. Serious audiophiles have been known to drop hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars on a good pair of headphones. Grado’s entry-level SR60 ’phones represent a good balance between audio quality and affordability.

Grado is known for high-end headphones and cartridges for your turntable. Fortunately for Joe Consumer, they’ve put a lot of the same tech and experience from years of hand-building high-end ’phones into the SR60s. While they lack the mahogany or aluminum air chambers and premium wiring of their more expensive siblings, the sound quality is impressive. Higher-end models sport leather headbands and metal or wood chambers, but the SR60s use much more affordable vinyl and black plastic. While they don’t look particularly slick, we found the build quality excellent. The cable ends in a standard stereo mini-jack, perfect for your iPod or MacBook, and Grado includes a 1/4-inch adapter for use with home stereos. Our SR60s have put up with heavy daily use for months and don’t look any worse for wear. The open-air design makes them great for use in environments where you still need to hear things going on around you—but it also means that people nearby will hear snippets of whatever you happen to be playing, even at medium volume levels. Consider that before indulging in your secret Air Supply obsession.

We listened to everything from reggaetón to classical to straight-ahead rock and were impressed with the SR60’s consistency. While other ’phones tend to accentuate the high or low end—and coat everything else in sonic mud—we discovered that these Grados offer accurate sound reproduction across the spectrum. We wish these headphones were more comfortable to wear for extended periods, but for the price, the quality is hard to beat.

If you’re not quite ready for the price tags normally associated with audiophile gear, Grado’s SR60 headphones represent a huge leap in quality for not that much cash.

COMPANY: Grado
CONTACT: www.gradolabs.com
PRICE: $69
REQUIREMENTS: Audio device with 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch jack

Great sound quality. Open design allows you to hear outside sounds.

Not very cool looking. Can be uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time. At anything beyond low volume, everyone else hears your music too.

COMMENTS: 6

TAGS: Grado

COMMENTS

Great cans at a great price!
Submitted by MacGeorgeHB on Thu, 2009-02-12 05:54

The Grado SR60's are a terrific value. I concur in all points with Ray Aguilera's review. The sound is an awakening for those who have never used Grados. Very clear and responsive, and renders bass very well. The open design avoids the boominess of closed designs, important in bass-heavy music. Way back when I read a review by Corey Greenberg in the June '94 issue of Stereophile, which prompted me to go to my local stereo store and pick up a pair. I have never had cause to regret the purchase. While the cans have a really retro look, their performance has always been just superb. Not mentioned in the review is the 6-foot length and large diameter of the cord, so it's not one of your cheapo outfits, and the jack has a 1/4" adapter over a 1/8" jack, so it's usable on nearly all boxes.The soft foam earpads do disintegrate over time, but replacements are available by mail from Grado in Brooklyn. (Yes, the Grados are made here in the USA.) The earpads do last a while, even though they may discolor. I have bought just one set in the 15 years since I bought them. For this end of their line (Grado cans can be quite pricey) Grado does not offer a carrying case, so it's up to the end user to figure out how to stow them when traveling; I use my iPod bag, something I picked up in the camera department of Target. For the price, the Grado SR60's are worth trying. I highly recommend them.

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Just bought a pair of SR60s
Submitted by chevyorange on Thu, 2009-02-12 20:31

As a music nut I've had my fair share of headphones. I can say definitively now that they do make a difference.

Do yourself a favor if you listen to your music with headphones... these are wonderfully clear at all volume levels. I've found myself listening at lower levels because even at "1" instead of "10" the music is clear as a bell.

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You need a new proofreader!
Submitted by jblocher on Fri, 2009-02-13 19:36

This is not the first time I have commented on a spelling error on the MacLife website. The company name is GRADO, NOT GARDO! If I recall correctly it's named for its founder, Joe Grado. I have used a Grado phono cartridge on my Technics turntable for nearly thirty years.

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Spelling corrected
Submitted by Ray Aguilera on Mon, 2009-02-16 14:23

Good catch! We do our best, but every now and then a typo gets through. That's how you know Mac|Life is created by actual humans, rather than just a bunch of clever robots.
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Thanks...
Submitted by jblocher on Mon, 2009-02-16 17:48

...for correcting the boo-boo. I teach graphic design, and have had a compulsion to proofread absolutely everything for decades.

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