Grado SR60i: $158
One of the elder statesmen of the group,
this can still teach the others a trick or two…
Details
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Origin: USA
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Type: open-back
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Weight: 125g
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Features: vented diaphragm
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Non resonant air chamber
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Copper voice coil wire
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Distributor: Armour Home
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Website: gradolabs.com
Grado has been producing its range of
distinctively styled, and arguably rather idiosyncratic headphones for a number
of years now, and the SR60i which itself has been around for quite a while – is
an updates of the even older SR60.
The
SR600i is an open-backed design that makes use of an unusual perforated plastic
side to the earpad that gives the drivers space to breathe
It is the least expensive of the full-size
Grado headphone range, but the basic features of the rest of the range features
of the rest of the range are here in embryonic form. The SR600i is an
open-backed design that makes use of an unusual perforated plastic side to the
earpad that gives the drivers space to breathe. This does mean that of all the
designs here, the Grado is the one that both leaks the most noise and is, in
turn, the most sensitive to outside noise. As a result, although they are the
smallest of the ‘home headphones, they are perhaps the least suited to use out
and about Something to remember, iPod kids!
Fit and finish of the Grado is extremely
good for the price, and it generally feels very solid and substantial. A minor
gripe is that the sprung tension of the headband is fairly high. This means
that although it tends to stay put on your head, those with larger heads may
find that it becomes a tad uncomfortable after a while. Still, at least the
foam earpads aren’t sweaty unlike the vinyl of some rivals here…
Sound quality
You will tend to ignore any discomfort for
as long as you can, because the Grado is a mightily fine listen. It required
relatively little amplifier power to reach the test level and then proceeded to
put in an extremely consistent performance across the four test pieces.
Grado
is a mightily fine listen
The most immediately apparent reason for
this, is the extremely even tonal balance from top to bottom. The SR60i put in
the best performance of the group with the difficult Kings of Leon track, and
extracted midrange detail in particular, that nothing else in the group could
find. When given something with rather better recording quality like the
Tilston and McCallum pieces, it simply digs deeper into the mix than the other
designs.
Voices are beautifully handled and packed
full of detail and emotion. Their relationship to their supporting instruments
is convincing as well, and the effect is never less than entirely believable.
Bass response is also a very happy balance of weight and agility and it nicely
complements the upper registers rather than competing with them.
With the complex low end of the Hybrid
piece, the SR60i finds the detail and relays all of it while keeping the whole
piece motoring along with a sense of timing and drive that is extremely
likeable. This timing is easily appreciated with livelier pieces, but avoids
adding any sense of relentlessness to more relaxed pieces.
It isn’t percent – the soundstage is
slightly confined compared to some of the other models here. It is cohesive and
makes good sense of the material and rarely sounds anything other than
accurate, but where the Audio-Technica manages to extend the sound beyond the
earpad, the Grado remains confined with them.
Despite being almost the least expensive
here, its build, design and sound are all absolutely top notch. There’s an
assurance and cohesion that’s rarely found at the price.
On test
Supra-aural
earpads help keep the SR60oi’s weight down to 228g, well below the group
average
Of only just below average sensitivity for
the group, the Grado should produce ample sound pressure level from any
headphone outlet it is used with. Capsule matching was second-worst in the
group at 
10.4dB, 40Hz to 10kHz, but the bass extension slightly bettered the
group average at 34Hz for -6dB ref 200Hz. Impedance variation from a minimum of
30.5 ohms to maximum of 38.5 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, results in a larger than
average, but still small, response error of 0.45dB with a source impedance of
10 ohms. Supra-aural earpads help keep the SR60oi’s weight down to 228g, well
below the group average. Diffuse-field correction of the frequency response
shows a gentle rise in output below 1kHz to a peak of about 5dB at 100Hz and
there is excess energy in the presence band, suggesting that there may be a
hint of boom and tizz to the SR6oi’s sound quality.
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Results at a
glance
§ Sensitivity:
0%
§ Impedance
variation: 0%
§ Capsule
matching: -23%
§ LF
extension: +5%
§ Weight:
-12%
Our verdict
§ Sound
quality: 5/5
§ Value
money: 5/5
§ Build
quality: 4.5/5
§ Sensitivity:
5/5
§ Like:
Excellent sound balance and detail retrieval; solid build
§ Dislike:
Considerable noise leakage
§ We
say: An excellent balance of sonic ability across all musical types combined
with solid construction
§ Overall:
5/5
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