Headphones
Grado SR 60i
Widely regarded as the best sub-$100 headphone for decades, the Grado SR60i is a superb headphone for anyone looking for high-performance on a budget. The look of these headphones may be retro, but the performance of these little open-back cans is right up to date for those looking for cheerful and balanced sound on both portable and home gear.
Product Features:
- A classic among audiophiles for very good sound at a budget price.
- Excellent efficiency and sound quality; well suited for portable players.
- Good build quality and replaceable ear-pads for long use life.
- Biggest seller in the entire Grado line.
- Proudly made in the USA.
What's In The Box:
- screw-on 1/4" (6.3 mm) adapter
Applications:
Long considered the headphone to beat in the 'Under-$100' category, stiff competition has recently put the SR60i back into a good race for "Best Sounding Inexpensive Headphones". These mid-sized, open-earcup supra-aural cans will deliver a liquid-sounding midrange, present bright detail resolution in the upper mids/highs, and a cleanly focused bass response. The only possible detraction is a mild discontinuity in the treble ranges which gives it a somewhat "sparkly" sound rather than the ultra-smooth top end of extremely well-extended (and MUCH pricier!) headphones. Some customers express that the supra-aural foam mesh earpad comfort can be a fit issue, but gently bending the headband to conform more closely to the top of the head can help alleviate that problem for most wearers. The whole style thing is another matter altogether; use an SR-60i with an uber-hipster iPod and you'll certainly be busted by the vigilant Fashionista Police. All kidding aside, this is actually a really enjoyable headphone that almost every listener could appreciate and the price sure is right.
Like all Grado headphones, the SR-60i is an 'open' design offering little or no isolation from outside noise. Also, others nearby might hear "leakage" from open-back cans when listening loudly in quiet places or when someone's sitting right next to you (i.e, libraries, workplace cubicles, bed etc.)
A study in effective minimalist design, the Grado SR-60i has a very basic, flexible vinyl headband with simple metal height adjusters that connect the earpieces to the headband, thus allowing for up and down adjustment plus complete 360 degree earpiece rotation. This feature is ideal for laying the headphones down flat--perfect for packing them in a briefcase. The SR-60i are very efficient & well-driven by most portable players or even inexpensive home equipment. The straight-type headphone connection cable measures roughly 7.5ft from the earcups to the plug tip and is attached to both earcups in a "Y" design. It comes terminated to a 1/8" (3.5mm) mini-plug and a snap-on 1/4" adapter handily comes provided on the SR-60i cord. 1-year SR-60 product warranty is handled by Grado Labs, the manufacturer, located in Brooklyn, NY USA.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer Warranty: 1 Year
- Sensitivity: 98 dB/mV
- Coupler Size: Medium
- Weight: 4.4
- Cord Type: Straight Y
- Cord Length: 7 ft. (2 m)
- Microphone: No
- Detachable Cable: No
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Isolation: 0
- Connector Type: 1/8" with 1/4" adaptor
- Ear Coupler Type: Earpad
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 32
- Wireless: No
- Noise Cancelling: No
- Headphone Type: Earpad
- Warranty: 6 Months
- Acoustic Seal: Open
Additional Resources:
- Manufacturer's Website
- http://www.gradolabs.com/
- Product Reviews
- Army Times Rob Colenso
- Cool Tech Zone Gundeep Hora Sept. 2005
- Playlist Review
- pcrules.com Adam Faight
- Terry Kok February 2001
- Soundtage! Greg Smith April 1997
- GoodSound! January 2003
- IGN September 2001
- Stereophile Corey Greenburg June 1994
- PC World geek tech Tom Mainelli, November 2006
Average Customer Rating: by reydequeso from OH on 2010-01-14
Pros: Great value, excellent sound quality, addictive
Cons: No isolation (open), hit-or-miss comfort
Would you recommend this product: Yes
I had used Sennheiser EH-150s for over a year before I finally decided to upgrade. I considered the HD280 Pros for a while, then the HD555s, until I finally stumbled on a review of this guy. The reviewer waxed poetic about its audiophile qualities, so I decided to take a risk and buy from the mysterious Grado company. And was it ever the right move. Now I can't stop. I went to great lengths re-ripping audio in higher quality mp3 and flac and setting up a bit-perfect PC playback. Before this pair of headphones, I thought $100 in audio equipment was more than enough. Now I'm seriously considering an RS1 and couple-hundred dollar DAC/AMP.
I won't go into too much detail in the sound quality, because it's all too subjective anyway. The highs are bright (which I like but others might fight annoying) and very detailed. The mids are accented, clear, and energetic. The bass has a great punch to it, although it's light. The soundstage is nothing to speak of, but better than low-end closed phones. The biggest strength of the sound is the feeling it gives off. The phones have a perfect combination of mids, speed, bass, and detail balance which makes them come to life on the head. Rock has never sounded rougher, jazz has never sounded smoother, and even techno benefits from the bass punch and treble if not the volume.
Comfort works for me, and they're almost invisible on my head. The headband has no padding and the earpads are rough, but its light construction ensures they won't fly off during headbanging sessions even with light clamping. The look is retro, and made worse by the i version's bulky cups, so you really don't want to walk down the street with them on (though I have and the quality is so worth the sideways glances of passerbys). Their durability is holding up great so far, though the letters can rub off with time and the pads get dirty but are easily washed.
The review sounds more negative than it really is. The phones really have to be heard to be appreciated. Bright audio haters and baby-eared comfort-lovers need not apply. Anyone else who is a fan of rock and can't seem to find an excuse to tap feet anymore owe it to themselves to sample a Grado. My audio collection has doubled in the six months I've owned these, and I'll need new floorboards soon.
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by Rocket Richard from San Diego, CA on 2010-01-21
Pros: comfortable, good sound, funky style
Would you recommend this product: Yes
These were my first good headphones, bought on the recommendation of this site and Consumer Reports magazine. I had been chronically dissatisfied with the headphones I had or tried out in stores, so when these arrived I felt good about the sound quality I was getting for the first time. After two years I started to want more than these provided, and chose the DENON D2000s which have been great, but they cost about 4 times the price. These headphones of course are open, unlike the Denons which are closed, so it's nice to have both styles for different listening environments. The GRADO SR60s work well with the Total Bithead amp which I have.
The sound quality rating is relative to the price.
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by Petara from Great Falls, MT on 2010-02-07
Pros: Excellent value, very efficient, perfect gift
Cons: A little uncomfortable after extended periods of use
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Simply the best bang for your buck in headphones. Period. Given to me as a gift, they sparked my interest immensely into the world of headphones. Since then, I've upgraded a few times, but sometimes find myself plugging these babies back in for a nice romp in reminiscence.
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by jchandler3 from Ashland, OH on 2010-02-08
Pros: Great sound (for price), fun sound, I love the look!
Cons: I have some issues with SQ, uncomfortable, no isolation
Would you recommend this product: Yes
The Grado SR60i is a great choice for under-$100 headphones. They're fun.
These have pretty great sound quality, for the price. I think it handles bass and low-mids very well. Nothing in that range is overpowering, nor lacking. I feel as though the upper-mids are slightly too aggressive and the highs are just a little shrill at times (yes, they have PLENTY of break-in time at this point, probably around 100 hours).
I feel as though they have some trouble with sound staging. They never really envelop me with the sound, rather, it sounds like I have two small speakers stuck on either ear (BY GEORGE, I DO!). But seriously, the sound is a little two-dimensional.
While I'm on the bad, these open-back headphones have (obviously) very little isolation. They're essentially like small computer speakers to other people around me.
The SR60i is a little too tight on my ears, being on-ear headphones and all. When I'm wearing my glasses, I have to put the Grados on first, then rest my glasses on top of the headphones instead of on top of my ears.
Wow, this review sounded rather negative. Truthfully, these cans have their problems but hey, we can't have it all. The sound is tight, punchy, and fantastic for rock and the like, though a little shrill at times. I'd definitely recommend buying these if you want to spend under $100. However, I'd much more readily recommend you spend a bit more and get the Denon AH-D1001. Those are fantastic and well worth the upgrade.
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by LD from on 2010-02-08
Pros: Crystal clear sound, No need for Headphone Amp, Relatively Inexpensive
Cons: Leaks Sound
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Just plug these into any computer or ipod and you will experience purity of sound like you have never heard. The sound is so pure, accurate, balanced and not the least, musical.
The trade-off for this kind of sound quality is the fact that the sound does not only go into your ears but out the other ends. Grados not good for public transport or the library.
They are comfortable on my head for at least an hour of listening. They are fairly delicate but as long as you don't throw them around they shoud last years. And they will enrich these years like not too many headphones at this price can.
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by st.even from montpelier, oh on 2010-02-07
Pros: very comfy, good sounding, Made in the USA
Cons: plastic headband that is not real leather big cords not portable.
Would you recommend this product: Yes
I love these headphones is one of my prize procession and I'm so glad I've brought these. I had them since October 2009 and I'm still using them. awesome buy best headphones under $100 can't go wrong with these.
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by A HeadRoom Fan from washington, dc on 2010-02-03
Would you recommend this product: Yes
I am with the legions of users who find these to be one of the best values in headphones. The sound is crisp, clear, energetic and upfront, they are fairly comfortable for a Grado headphone, given that they come with the "comfie" pads, and you get all the major qualities of the Grado sound without paying a fortune. Plus, they are suitable for portable use (where an open headphone is acceptable). Highly recommended.
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by Doctor Detail from Northern New Jersey on 2010-02-03
Pros: price, sound quality, sensitivity
Cons: appearance
Would you recommend this product: Yes
These are great phones for listening at your PC or to an Ipod when not moving around too much. They are kind of funny / old school looking. Great "round" sound that lends itself to rock as opposed to super-detailed recordings.
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by Rei Yano from Clovis, CA on 2010-01-27
Pros: amazing sound, great price, very basic and simple design
Cons: a bit uncomfortable, long and thick wire, not the most stylish
Would you recommend this product: Yes
I loved my Grados while they lasted. I had to unfortunately sell them but while they were around they sounded amazing. I remember how blown away I was for they were my first foray into high quality headphones. Shortly after that I bought Alessandro ms2is and was even more impressed with the Grado design. Grado is an amazing company and you owe it to yourself to at least give them a shot. Grado sr60s are a nice step up from cheap earbuds/clips etc. If you are a newbie to the world of audio just get these. you will not find a better deal.
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by MadFiend from Knoxville, TN on 2010-01-21
Pros: Light, great sounding, and comfortable
Cons: durability
Would you recommend this product: Yes
These are great headphones for the price. Sound is rich and it was hard to stop listening to music due to the quality. The only problem I had was the durability. The ear pieces would come off the metal band. I ended up super gluing them to keep them in place. Other wise, this is a great product and I would recommend it.
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by Trurl7 from on 2010-01-18
Pros: Great sound, cheap price, comfortable ear pieces
Cons: Slightly uncomfortable head strap
Would you recommend this product: Yes
The sound quality on the Grado SR 60i head phones is phenomenal, especially when you consider the $80 price tag. I was especially happy at how powerful the bass is. These are great headphones for playing games with, since the explosions sound real with the excellent low frequency response. Rock music also sounds especially good on these. I don't listen to classical music, so I can't comment on how they perform with less bass heavy music.
These are the best headphones I've ever purchased.
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by aramg83 from New York, NY on 2010-01-18
Pros: Lightweight, plush, good bargain
Cons: Pins over sliding bar fall off easily, pads fall off
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Bought these for home use and they sound great. They create no seal around the ears and sound can be heard from a good few feet away at average volume. Very comfortable--can wear these for hours. Biggest gripe is when pads fall out they are difficult to put back on securely.
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by rockyraccoon67 from Woodland, CA on 2010-01-18
Pros: great value, retro look, great sound
Cons: plastic feels a little unsturdy
Would you recommend this product: Yes
this was my first serious headphone purchase and i was not disappointed. great sound for the price and a great first buy!
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by warpdrive from Ontario, Canada on 2010-01-17
Pros: Great sound, great price
Cons: Comfort may be lacking, build quality
Would you recommend this product: Yes
If you haven't heard a Grado headphone, this is the first headphone you should buy. This is one of the headphone that redefines what can be done for about $60. It provides excellent detail, superb highs, and a generally very competent sound that reminds you of many much more expensive models, including Grado's own models. Soundstage is a bit collapsed because of the forwardness of the sound, but on a whole, these headphones have little fault.
The weaknesses are in its build quality, most Grados are hand assembled and sometimes looks it, the paint may not be evenly applied, you can see that the glue may have been too generously applied, and the headphone has a cheap feel, but in the end for this price you can't complain, this headphone has a big forward sound that gives you a pristine treble, great mids. The bass drops off a bit too early, but in the end, you are still tapping your toes.
If you find these headphones clamp too tight, don't despair, you can bend the headband a little to loosen them on your ears....that should eliminate most comfort complaints. I have a big head so that helped a lot.
These headphones are easy to drive, you don't need an amp, but an amp can help deal with its lower impedance which starves some DAPs headphone circuit, but on a whole, just plug them into your iPod and enjoy. The cable is a bit long and not that suitable for portable walk around use, and they leak sound like crazy, just keep that in mind.
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by dwf_n_ca from Mountain View, CA on 2010-01-17
Pros: Great sound for not much cash
Cons: Not so pretty
Would you recommend this product: Yes
If you need some good sounding head phones on a budget these are what you want.
The sound great and are comfortable.
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by rcguru from O'fallon MO on 2010-01-17
Pros: Amazing sound, Great price, THE MIDRANGE!
Cons: Look very...uh...Retro, Slightly uncomfortable, Lots and lots of cord (maybe not a con for some)
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Whoa Baby!! Those were the words I said the first time I heard my Grado SR60i's. I literally sat in awe as I listened to my 'Favorites" playlist, I just sat there and listened and listened and listened, and before i knew it my iPhone had gone completely dead. I sat there in my room for nearly 3 hours after i opened that Grado box, and to tell you the truth, I don't think any headphone I will ever hear will bring that same feeling to me again. Yes yes, i own a few much more expensive 'phones, they probably sound a bit better too. But these Grados sound this good for only 80 bucks!!! Now, lets get to the nitty-gritty. 1. Yes...the Grados do look a bit funky. 2. They do leak oodles of sound (but thats to be expected from the "open-back" form factor.) 3. THE MIDRANGE!! Oh wow! when it comes down to pure clarity of the midrange, not even my Sennheiser HD 595's can match the amazing soundfield these produce (and for $180 less.) The SR60s can be driven perfectly fine by nearly any audio source, but some people may prefer a bit more bass, and I can agree...to an extent. For this, i recommend a dedicated headphone amp such as any of the ones sold here on Headroom. But for those of us on a budget I definitely recommend the Fiio E5 portable amp, it can be bought online for under $30. An amp will only do so much though, these 'phones are made for clarity and detailed music, not for bass-heads. Comfort is also another concern, some people think the SR60s are very comfortable, then there are some who cant stand to have them on for more than a few minutes. It all comes down to personal preference, you can, however, ever so gently bend the headband to reduce the squeezing pressure on the ears. In the end these are truly the best headphones in their price range, and a great introduction into the world of high-end audio. Happy Listening!
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by Zogdaddy from Ann Arbor, MI on 2010-01-16
Pros: Great sound, comfortable
Cons: Feels cheaply made, plastic cord ripping after 1 year use
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Great sound for the price. I mainly use them at home because I'm concerned that they will break due to what I consider to be cheap materials. But, in their defense, I have a friend who wears his daily both indoors and out and says they hold up beautifully.
They do leak sound and I've had my kids tell me to turn the volume down because they can hear my music.
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by AudioJunkie from Salt Lake City, UT on 2010-01-16
Pros: Great overall sound reproduction
Cons: Aesthetics, Cheaply made
Would you recommend this product: Yes
These are hands down the best headphones I have ever heard in the sub-$100 range.
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by Etherel90 from Bay Area, CA on 2010-01-16
Pros: Good fit, fairly comfortable, decent bass.
Cons: Cord is rather thick and can become unmanageable at times.
Would you recommend this product: Yes
This is my first pair of headphones. I bought these when purchasing my first ipod. When comparing these to the stock ipod earbuds you can immediately tell the difference. Good sound quality and a nice bass quality.
From the picture the side panels look thinner than they look in person, but they still aren't as large as some other ones out there.
Seeing as these are only $79, however, they don't stand up to some of the more expensive brands. For instance, I tried out a friend's $100 pair of Bose earbuds and the bass quality seemed rather impressive compared to these.
All in all a good quality for the price.
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by Arejay 244 from Grapevine, Tx. on 2010-01-16
Pros: great sound, great price
Cons: they're big and bulky....home use is best
Would you recommend this product: Yes
My first Headroom purchase....several years ago...HOWEVER, over time I've found that quality in headphones can be "Timeless' as it were. These STILL are likely the best buy for the money for daily home use.
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by treelogger from Los Gatos, CA on 2010-01-15
Pros: Very clear reproduction. Light and comfortable.
Cons: Too bright, nearly ringing.
Would you recommend this product: Yes
I bought these headphones for my sister; she is a freelance recording engineer for voice recordings (radio reporting), and her previous SR60 had been destroyed by her kids. When it arrived at my house, I obviously had to try it, against my gold standard (Sennheiser HD600), and a few others that are floating around (in particular the closed Sennheiser 280pro).
My sister said that the reason she likes the SR60 is that it is great for checking recordings, because it is so open and clear in its reproduction. I can agree with that characterization. And that it is comfortable to wear, even for a professional who uses it for 10-12 hour stretches when working on a deadline.
However, I am a classical (mostly orchestral) music and jazz person, and I found the SR60 unpleasant to listen to. Even though it is capable of reproducing bass (Rheinberger organ concerto proves that, as does thundering bass in piano recordings), it is quite peaky in the high register. For voice, that gives it the clarity; for my kind of music, it makes it bright and shrill; nearly like a ringing. I can see how a person interested in a different style of music might prefer the Grado though. But just like the HD600, the reproduction is very clear, not muddy and distorted. In small ensembles, you hear the empty space between the instruments. This is unlike the HD280pro, which has very powerful bass, but everything is obscured by the muddy bass reproduction.
I will rate it highly, just not for the my personal use. My sister (who is a trained professional in her field) swears by it. And I won't bother rating look and feel (question of taste), nor durability (I didn't use it long enough, and anything can be destroyed by inquisitive kids).
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by Ccdrums from Provo, UT on 2010-01-15
Pros: Value, responsive bass, good overall sound
Cons: Kind of a funky look
Would you recommend this product: Yes
For the price, these have to be the best headphones I've ever listened through. The overall sound has the feeling of being at a concert, especially in the punchy and responsive lower-end. If you are into rock, metal and rap, check these out.
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by sterb1969 from Long Island, NY on 2010-01-15
Pros: dirt cheap - honest sound
Cons: makes your ears hot - bass extension lacking
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Super 'phones. For under $100 you can't beat them. Had the luxury once upon a time of using original RS-1s as monitors when field recording live to two track stuff. Can't afford the high end 'phones for my own nightstand system, but these are great sounding and reasonably comfortable. Mids are great - lacking last little sparkle/smoothness at the top and the serious bass extension the big closed back cans can give. My iPod touch even manages to drive them nicely, but not as well as my Project Head Box II.
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by Steve from Washington, D.C. on 2010-01-15
Pros: Good sound
Cons: Standard earpad comfort
Would you recommend this product: Yes
You simply cannot do better for the price. They are very efficient so you can drive them from your portable player and they will sound immensely better than whatever came with the device. The sound does clean up a lot with a quality source, whether it be a dedicated headphone amp or upgraded sound card. My old laptop that I used these a lot with had a very noise internal sound card, and I noticed a marked improvement when switching to an external sound card. The comfort is not the best with the stock pads. The larger replacement pads come highly recommended.
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by Plarocks from Dumfries, VA on 2010-01-15
Pros: Fantastic rich balanced sound
Cons: They don't work well in a studio environment
Would you recommend this product: Yes
These are a great set of headphones to buy if you are looking for a set for your portable music player, or even a nice budget pair to plug into your home stereo system. They are terminated with a small stereo plug and a ¼” stereo adapter is included. I actually had a pair of the older SR60's. The SR60I's improved the low end, and they actually have a richer, deeper sound than its predecessor. They do not work well if you are using them in the studio. They will feed back into your microphone, and they do not block out the sounds around you. For that function, you have to spend a little more and purchase an "over the ear" type of headphone. But for lying in bed and listening to some tunes, these are the perfect choice. Makes you want to throw your cheap pair of "bud phones" that came with your player away.
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by JollyRancor from Austin, TX on 2010-01-15
Pros: Quality-to-price ratio
Cons: Minor design flaws
Would you recommend this product: Yes
The Grado SR 60i headphones are among the best headphones in the under $100 price range. The sound quality for such a cheap pair of headphones is pretty amazing, and the visual style of the headphones is offbeat and retro -- which can be a pro or a con depending on your taste. However, these headphones are meant for stationary use, and seem to fit less securely than most other headphones. They are still comfortable -- just be careful that you are not buying these with the intent of walking around or doing physical tasks while wearing them. If you don't mind using a closed headphone, I would direct you towards the DENON AH-D1001K or AH-D1001S for better build quality and a similar sound quality. Overall though, the Grado-SR 60i are the best performing open headphones in this price range.
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by curmudgeon from Fresno, CA on 2010-01-15
Pros: Exgfdmely comfortable, clear sound,
Cons: NONE
Would you recommend this product: Yes
First time I have purchased headphones without trying them. Based on a friends recommendation (a professional recording engineer) and product evaluations.
It has satisfied all my expectations and more.
Wonderful product.
Hearoom ordering, shipping etc. all first class
Thanks
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