Last Updated: December 15, 2018 (Refresh Now)
Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones
Last Updated: December 15, 2018 (Refresh Now)
8.5
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
738
Old Reviews
404
Unverified
86
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4 meters
SIZE
Review Analysis - 248 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Sound Quality
151hear, grado, classical, sr80e, bass
+96%
-4%
" ... I have seen it said you would have to double the price to get noticeably better sound, and I disagree: quadruple would be more like it and then we're only talking a slight smoother soundstage and more comfort. ... IMHO, for the majority of us wage slaves, this headphone, combined with the Nobsound NS-01E mini tube amp will give you a personal audio system you will have a sell a kidney or get a second mortgage on the house, to be able to afford to seriously improve. ... "
" ... Great sound, but the way the reasonating chamber is made, people around you can hear your music. ... But, the sound is clear and true. ... "
" ... These headphones are amazing, in sound quality they blow headphones that are 5x the price out of the water. ... "
" ... Was blown away by the sound once I received them. ... "
" ... These headphones are crazy clear. ... You will hear music the way it was intended. ... The audio is well balanced. ... "
" ... The quality of the sound has blown me away. ... "
" ... I was very impressed how well these sounded right out of the box. ... As good as the Grados sounded brand new I'm expecting them to live up to their reviews. ... "
" ... Sound in the middle of your head, crisp and clear notes, moderate bass with an amp. ... "
Comfort
78comfort, foam, cushions, pads, headband
+86%
-14%
" ... I find them comfortable and actually prefer them to my over the ear cans. ... "
" ... The ear cups are comfortable. ... "
" ... They're not the most comfortable for long periods. ... "
" ... Comfort is marginal. ... "
" ... As a bonus they are a lot more comfortable than the original SR-80. ... "
" ... like the sound is traveling through the air before it hits your ears. ... As with all headphones give it a few days and hours of listening for your brain and body to adjust. ... "
" ... Comfortable ear cushions that I can wear for a long time. ... Easily adjustable headband. ... "
" ... Fall in love with music again. ... "
Price
60price range, 100, grado, 99, 00
+97%
-3%
" ... Not just at this price level, but at any price level. ... "
" ... Best in the price range IMO. ... "
" ... Can't believe these cost only $99.00. ... "
" ... For the price it's great but if your iffy about build quality go get the higher end models or something else of your choosing but if you do get these take care of them. ... "
" ... Worth every dollar. ... "
" ... Trust me you won't find anything much better for the price. ... "
" ... Great headphones for the money. ... "
" ... I'm a musician and I hate not being able to EQ my headphones but these headphones are beautiful and great for the money. ... "
Bass
33highs, mids, jazz, vocals, grado
+97%
-3%
" ... The sound is so amazing especially for symphonic or pop music (compared with other Grados it has a powerful bass that makes it suitable for pop music as well). ... "
" ... As for the sound quality, the bass is good and dynamic, not as loud as some people might prefer it but I think this level of loudness is ideal for working with any kind of dialogue or narration. ... "
" ... My only beef was they needed more bass. ... "
" ... If you are looking for something that will emphasize bass, these are not headphones you want. ... The drivers are super clear, from the highs, mids, to bass everything is clear. ... "
" ... The openness, transparency, detail and bass definition go far beyond any other $75 to $100 headphones I’ve tried, and I’ve auditioned at least five lately. ... "
" ... Fine bass, clear, clean DETAILED sound. ... "
" ... The bass is very solid and not boomy. ... "
" ... Great base to clean and beautiful highs. ... "
Frequencies
25bass, vocals, mids, eq, treble
+96%
-4%
" ... High frequencies: This has great clarity in the higher ranges, although you might want to dial it back just a bit with your equalizer settings between 4-6k range as you can experience peaking during some listening sessions. ... Mid frequencies: Absolutely love the flat response in this area. ... "
" ... The drivers are super clear, from the highs, mids, to bass everything is clear. ... "
" ... These are great for classical music, soundtracks, jazz, Dylan, pop, rock, etc. ... "
" ... They produce neutral sound, which means there is no coloration. ... "
" ... Vocals come in very bright. ... "
" ... Especially in the mids and highs. ... "
" ... The fact that you have to significantly alter the EQ profile of your audio player to even have these cans reproduce a sound that is remotely like the original recording violates "high fidelity" by definition. ... "
" ... I wouldn't mind if the highs were a bit reduced and the lows a bit raised though. ... "
Build Quality
25metal, build quality, foam, padding, cushion
+56%
-44%
" ... The build like what I read from the other reviews say these headphones don't have the best build quality as I have also got the "grattle" but that's only if I run my them to high I recommend if running them do so don't turn it too high and as for the bass, it's much to be desired as for the mids it's really good with things like the piano, guitar, jazz, anything with a strong mid range as for the highs well I've had not much to compare the highs too but I'd say it's ok. ... For the price it's great but if your iffy about build quality go get the higher end models or something else of your choosing but if you do get these take care of them. ... "
" ... These earphones have the black cushion earpads completely cover the inner part, which might help with the comfort, but I don't really like them. ... "
" ... I've been looking at Grados for a couple of years now and finally bit the bullet on these. ... "
" ... Great for everyday use - these are amazing quality without breaking the bank ... "
" ... The feel of the ear pads are nice, but feels like a standard foam padding. ... "
" ... Easily adjustable headband. ... "
" ... However I agree with many other reviewers that they are not built to withstand much abuse. ... But if their higher end ones are built heavier and sound this good (or better!?) ... "
" ... Everything is as strong and thick as it needs to be, without being overdone. ... IF I was in a whiny mood, I might complain the foam on the earpads could improved, as it's a little rough. ... "
Product Reliability
20years ago, grado, grados, sr80, koss
+70%
-30%
" ... I've been looking at Grados for a couple of years now and finally bit the bullet on these. ... "
" ... I've had some good headphones over the years, for a lot of different uses. ... "
" ... They have been making high quality sound equipment for 53 years. ... "
" ... This are the best headphones I've had, period, the only negative thing I have to say is that thanks to Grado, I will never be able to buy another brand again on my entire life. ... "
" ... I can see why they have been highly rated for so many years. ... "
" ... (in fact just stop reading and Goole now and come back)……………. ... "
" ... I have been a fan of open backed headphones since my first Sennheiser purchase about 40 years ago. ... I am a fan for life. ... "
" ... These are really excellent headphones, probably the best I've owned in 40 years. ... "
Cables
18thick, jack, grado, cords, twisting
+50%
-50%
" ... The body construction is plastic and the cable is thick. ... "
" ... El cable es corto, aprox.1,6 m. El conector es de 3,5 mm. ... "
" ... The Grado has a MUCH better cord, too. ... The cord is thick and comes with an adapter to listed to an amp. ... I've had a lot of issues with headphone wiring going bad (even with $50-100 sets) simply because the cord was thin, and I generally take pretty good care of my headphones. ... I don't find this at all necessary and it causes the cords to get twisted up. ... "
" ... Two minor gripes: 1) cord is too long, and 2) can become uncomfortable after hours of wear. ... "
" ... Cable was a bit bent in a weird way when I opened it, but now it's back to normal. ... "
" ... Clumsy, overly heavy cables. ... "
" ... It does not appear that the cables are adequately strain releived. ... Freedom of each headphone to rotate also puts twists in the cable which may have also led to the failure. ... I will replace these with a different brand, preferably one that has a single, removable cable. ... "
Design
16retro, design, american, sr80, sound quality
+88%
-13%
" ... This open-ear retro design looks interesting and delivers a unique sound. ... "
" ... They don't look flashy, but if you're using these for work, appearance isn't really an issue. ... "
" ... They may not look like much but they are top notch. ... "
" ... No sleek European styling here. ... "
" ... styling is simple -- perhaps a little retro -- but also plasticky. ... "
" ... I am very happy with my purchase and the coolest retro look of these headphones, in addition to them being American made. ... "
" ... It's tough to describe, but the music seems to flow better rather than being congested in a closed back design. ... "
" ... Easy to adjust, very basic and light, flimsy yet practical, no flashy frills or metallic trim. ... "
Call quality
15listening, open back, people around, open, music
+93%
-7%
" ... The open design lets me hear outside sounds (like bandmates' voices at practice), and everything I need to hear is crystal clear. ... "
" ... They allow the user to hear people speaking. ... "
" ... I use these in my office and actually prefer the open back for it because I can easily hear my teammates when they call for me. ... "
" ... These are made so that you can enjoy and hear things you have never heard before from songs you listen to. ... "
" ... But yes, people around you will hear what you're listening to, also. ... "
" ... Clearly she heard it. ... "
" ... Great sound, but the way the reasonating chamber is made, people around you can hear your music. ... "
" ... I also love that when turned down low enough I can still hear my surroundings. ... "
Fit
13pads, months of use, head, fit well, fall
+69%
-31%
" ... Fall in love with music again. ... "
" ... I bought a Beyerdynamic clip on headpad (fits perfectly) and Sennheiser hd414 pads to improve comfort. ... "
" ... Maybe it's just how they seem to fit more naturally as they adjust to your head, but they are even better today than they were the first time I used them. ... "
" ... Pro: When new and in working order they sound excellent and fit very well. ... "
" ... They sound good and fit well. ... "
" ... Perfect fit and came earlier than expected. ... "
" ... The sound was great, but the fit was not for me. ... "
Volume
10volume, listening, distortion, volumes, music
+70%
-30%
" ... You can hear the intricacies of sound. ... "
" ... However, much better sound and “space” can be observed. ... "
" ... You will also hear noises from around you if not in a quiet room. ... "
" ... I also love that when turned down low enough I can still hear my surroundings. ... "
" ... It speaks volumes (hehe). ... "
" ... I can't stop listening to my music library. ... "
" ... They will absolutely change (for the better) the way you hear music. ... "
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Specifications
Body
Size: 4 meters