Grado headphones - 80i
Discussion
Having finally got around to replacing some cheap, and 20 year old, Panasonic 'phones I settled on a pair of 80i Grados. This decision was based largely on the reviews that lavish superlative after superlative on this model and indeed the whole range.
Whilst I am very impressed by the sound quality, I'm amazed that no review picks up on the utterly dire quality of their construction. The plastics used are unbelievably cheap and poorly moulded, they use bare foam covers which are uncomfortable to use, the cables are baggy and look quite fragile, and the head band is covered in cheap vinyl and adjusted by bending some thick wire. Contrast this with my old Panny's, which cost the equivalent of about 30 quid, and have high quality mouldings soft padding and a general air of quality about them.
In essence the Grados look like they were made by Ross or Alba and cost ten quid. Whilst I've always been subscriber to the ethos of function over form when it comes down to cost, and I appreciate that the grados will use much better quality internals, I'm quite shocked at how poorly these phones seem to be made. Are they all this bad, or do the £200-300+ phones get a better quality build?
Whilst I am very impressed by the sound quality, I'm amazed that no review picks up on the utterly dire quality of their construction. The plastics used are unbelievably cheap and poorly moulded, they use bare foam covers which are uncomfortable to use, the cables are baggy and look quite fragile, and the head band is covered in cheap vinyl and adjusted by bending some thick wire. Contrast this with my old Panny's, which cost the equivalent of about 30 quid, and have high quality mouldings soft padding and a general air of quality about them.
In essence the Grados look like they were made by Ross or Alba and cost ten quid. Whilst I've always been subscriber to the ethos of function over form when it comes down to cost, and I appreciate that the grados will use much better quality internals, I'm quite shocked at how poorly these phones seem to be made. Are they all this bad, or do the £200-300+ phones get a better quality build?
Parabola said:
I understand what you mean, some people think they look cheap. The box they come in is naff too.
Thing is, they sound absolutely amazing,. Deep and clear, can wear them for ages without any fatigue.
I've had mune a year and knocked them around a bit, they're still working fine and look brand new.
Something to bear in mind.. they're open backed, so piss out sound. Fine at home, but maybe not so good for in the library on an a train.
Consider getting a little headphone amp too. Mine really sing using a FiiO E5 . £15 bargin!
Thanks for that advice. I did a bit of reading based on your recommendation and opted for the E11 and one of those cables that bypasses the Apple (apparently crappy) internal amp so I can use them with my Ipod.Thing is, they sound absolutely amazing,. Deep and clear, can wear them for ages without any fatigue.
I've had mune a year and knocked them around a bit, they're still working fine and look brand new.
Something to bear in mind.. they're open backed, so piss out sound. Fine at home, but maybe not so good for in the library on an a train.
Consider getting a little headphone amp too. Mine really sing using a FiiO E5 . £15 bargin!
This is the first time I've spent money on hi-fi accessories (expensive cable / interconnects / etc.) that have made a real, obviously noticeable, improvement to the sound. It's not night and day different, but the recording feels more intimate - like you're in the middle of the recording and the everything sounds slightly warmer / richer. A good recommendation that.
Edited by rhinochopig on Thursday 24th November 09:50
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