CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

  • December 31, 2015, 09:15:02 AM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: A padless SR-60  (Read 3822 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

ultrabike

  • Burritous Supremus (and Mexican Ewok)
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +4226/-2
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2384
  • I consider myself "normal"
A padless SR-60
« on: September 24, 2013, 08:47:49 AM »
So, a friend of mine (same that lent me his M50s) lent me his SR-60s. I believe these were his first serious cans, and has had them around for quite some time. So long in fact, that the pads are pretty much history... literally:



Sound

These sound fairly similar to my KSC-75. However, the sound is more hollow. The fact that the pads are pretty much gone might have contributed to that. Something is definitively going on with the high mids. Perhaps distortion. To me, these sound a little more artificial than my KSC-75s, though less bright and with about the same amount of punch. Likewise, these roll of in the sub-bass region.

Comfort

The lack of pads make this headphone a wonderful penance tool to cleanse your sins.

Presentation

These look retro to me... and I like that. Very practical design.

Price

I would say, get the KSC-75s, and save your money for something bettar. Some others would say these are plenty good, so that is that.

Overall

OK sound. OK look.

Measurements

Frequency response:


SR-60 (red) vs KSC-75 (yellow) - right channel frequency response:


Other stuff attached below (quite a bit of ringing and distortion around 4kHz)
« Last Edit: September 24, 2013, 09:24:29 AM by ultrabike »
Logged

shipsupt

  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +160/-4
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1687
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2013, 10:38:54 AM »
Pads will definitely make a big change in presentation/sound, not to mention comfort!   ;D

The 60's and 80's were the gateway drug for many of us.  What are these going for these days, $100 new?
Logged
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

OJneg

  • Audio Ayatollah / Wow and Fluster
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +120/-3
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1245
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2013, 03:20:42 PM »
These don't look that bad actually. I might grab a pair sometime if I want something to play with.
Logged

ultrabike

  • Burritous Supremus (and Mexican Ewok)
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +4226/-2
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2384
  • I consider myself "normal"
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2013, 03:30:18 PM »
Quote from: shipsupt on September 24, 2013, 10:38:54 AM
Pads will definitely make a big change in presentation/sound, not to mention comfort!   ;D

The 60's and 80's were the gateway drug for many of us.  What are these going for these days, $100 new?

Always been curious about these given their classic entry level decent audio status. Other than the problems I heard in the upper mid-range these are quite good. Not sure if there are product variations tho.

Quote from: OJneg on September 24, 2013, 03:20:42 PM
These don't look that bad actually. I might grab a pair sometime if I want something to play with.

I like the frequency response balance of these particular set. It could change for better or worse with newer pads.
Logged

Thujone

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +10/-1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 261
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2013, 03:45:51 PM »
A warm Grado...

It's odd because my buddy owns the MS1 which is what got me into this hobby in the first place. I quickly bought a pair of MS1's and found that my pair was drastically different from his (we both have the MS1i FYI). His are much more laid back and warm while mine were incredibly bright with no bass at all. Needless to say, I got to modding. I fell upon the MS1000 thread and I went for it. Now, they are by far some of the best cans I've ever listened to.

Anyway, the point is that Grado may have some inconsistencies with their lower end cans. I'd be interested to see a second measurement from a different SR60 just for shits and giggles. Overall though, I dig the FR of this pair.

EDIT: If those are the L Cush pads, try wrapping a piece of electrical tape around the outside of the pad and measure again. This is supposed to increase bass response significantly. I'd like to see what it does if you don't mind! If you need pics, just search "Grado tape bass mod" in google.
Logged

ultrabike

  • Burritous Supremus (and Mexican Ewok)
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +4226/-2
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2384
  • I consider myself "normal"
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2013, 04:07:22 PM »
Quote from: Thujone on September 24, 2013, 03:45:51 PM
A warm Grado...

Yup, relatively speaking, it seems so. I could send it Marv's way to check it out, if he is interested... I don't think my friend would mind at all.
Logged

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2013, 04:14:02 PM »
Yes. I've measured Grados with squished pads before, but that Grado you have there is very interesting. Very interesting.
Logged

Ringingears

  • He had a Dream
  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +27/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 541
  • I'm a true Pyrate! I just can't find my hat!
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2013, 01:38:38 AM »
My Grado 60's are so old I had hair when I bought them.  :-0  I pulled them out after reading comments here. The pads crumbled onto the floor when I put them on, and then I spent a few minutes with a Q-tip to get the foam residue out of my ears.  :gross:

The sound without the pads was thin, completely lacking bass and the treble was like a needle in my ear not to mention they hurt like hell.  I pulled them off in just 2 or 3 minutes.

I was shocked as these were my "gateway drug" to good headphones (back before the Internet, smartphones and HD TV).  I tried the pads from my SR-325's. Some improvement, but  not acceptable. Oh well, it was a fun experiment. Don't think that the Grado sound does it for me anymore.
Logged

funkmeister

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +15/-1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 286
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2013, 03:26:32 AM »
So my first foray into headphilia was with Sony's, then AKG's, then Grado's. The distortion of the Grado's was so intriguing to me with stringed instruments but I eventually settled on a more realistic resonance with some AKG's. I do want to sometimes take a step back to Grado's but not the SR225 that I first experienced. I think I'd be fine with the SR60's.

Anyway, go with either the TTVJ flat pads or the L-CUSH. I second the tape mod if you get the latter.
Logged

AstralStorm

  • Speculation and Speculums
  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +250/-164
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 559
  • Warning: causes nearby electronics to go haywire
Re: A padless SR-60
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2013, 08:17:17 PM »
Beautiful quadruple penetrator ringing for sure. Actually 2x2: 4 + 8k and 5 + 15k.
Please use 1/16th octave smoothing, 1/8th hides sharp high end notches way too much.
Logged
For sale: Hifiman HE-500; Paradox; Brainwavz B2. PM me if you would like to buy them.
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »