YES!...in answer to your purchase of the Senn. HD-600. Happy Tunes! |
I have both models, and although the Grados sound great, the Sennheisers are much more comfortable. They envelope the ear, whereas the Grados clamp down on the ear. It makes me feel like my head is in a vise. Also the Grado foam material earpads degrades after a couple or 3 years and has to be replaced. The HD580 has a very flimsy but long long cord. The Grado has a crystal clear midrange and somewhat elevated bass, while the HD580 is a little more recessed in the midrange, and still has good bass. To me, I listen 10X as much to the Sennheisers than Grados simply because of comfort. |
I've heard that you can improve your 225 by getting the much better pads they use on their entry level SR-60s. Supposedly about $10. |
Sennheiser -- you won't be sorry. |
The pads from the SR-60s deffinately help the Grados. I use them on RS-2s. -- The HD600s are worth the difference over the HD580s IMO. The lack of resonance from the carbon makes a difference. The also have considerably more bass. You really have to want to listen to Grados to put up with the discomfort level. The Sennheiser is a good choice. You can check out frequency response curves at the Headroom website -- http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=10 |
I have both the Grado 325s and the Sennheiser 600s, and I agree with the above. The Sennheisers are much more comfortable and I might even prefer the sound, though both are very good headphones. |
I own the HD600's, and they have better defined transient response than Grado RS-2's which I auditioned, probably because of less resonance. I also found the Grado's shaded too much toward the bass. Sennheisers win easy on comfort, but the 600's need a good partnering headphone amp if the sound is not to become fatiguing with their more difficult load. For the record, even driven with my quite capable Musical Fidelity X-Cans v.2 amp, I am ultimately still not satisfied that the 600's are as tonally nuetral as I would ideally want, but there may be nothing in the price range (or even at all?) that is. Headphones are a very personal choice, though, since everyone's ears and head (physically speaking) are different, so you really must audition some for yourself. |
I stepped up from the Grado 80 using the headphone jack on my Radio Shack Optimus CD-3400 to the Sennheiser 600. Everything got much better, although I might like a touch more bass. I am now using the Berning micro zotl and the sound is simply terrific. It is amazing what I can hear that is lost through any speakers. The Grado might be similarly capable, but if you can sit with the Grado on your head for two hours you are a better man than I. |
Just a technical note, Memeboy - what you say is lost through your speakers is actually lost due to the room. Happy listening! |
If you want to read more opinions, suggest you go to headfi.org or headwize.com and search their forums. My personal vote is for Grado. I use the "comfy pads" on my SR 80 and RS-2's, which come with the SR60 but can be purchased separately and I actually find them as comfortable if not more than the Sennheisers. The Grado's are much easier to drive. The only time I have heard Sennheisers sound better is thru a tube amp like the Earmax. The Grado's will sound good with a solid state amp and can even be used directly into some portable cd players with ok results. Headphones are a very personal choice as both sound quality and comfort come into play. A home audition is highly recommended. |
I think my SR-225 are comfortable. It is easy to alter the tightness against your head, if needed. FWIW, my hat size is 7 1/8. Maybe some of these guys have a big ol' head, or something.
[:)] Charlie |
HD600's over HD580's for sure. The 600's have crisper resolution, better frequency extension, and more natural, better integrated sound overall. |
The SR series are a little darker with way less rez than the RS series. If you are serious about headphone listening, I would suggest you have a listen to the RS 2. They are about the same list price as the Sen 600's, but IMO, have better rez, bass and truer to timbre.
However, if I was to choose between 225 or 580's it would be the 580's. But again, I would spend more and get the RS 2's. |
Depends on your taste of music my friend. If I were you I'd get the HD 600 since they're really a more "rounded" headphones meaning they can be for listening everything.
Be warned though! These headphones really shouldn't be listened unless you have at least a couple hundred dollar headphone amp + preferably new cables to replace the stock ones such as Clou cables, maybe the new cardas?
Note: http://home.t-online.de/home/meier-audio/
Here's a good place to buy HD600s as well, also see www.head-fi.com for more info on headphones in general. ;) |
Sennheiser has the better quality in sound. |
I'm listening to Grado SR-325's right now with the Grado RA-1 amp. Too amazing. The Senn 600's are also excellent (also driven by the RA-1 but with the knob cranked), but the Grado's seem to put me right into the music. If you don't mind things in your ears and can be isolated from your enviromment, Etymotic ER-4s canalphones are totally accurate and sound wonderful. |
