SR60x Prestige Series Wired Open-Back Headphones – Dynamic Over-Ear Headphones with 44mm Drivers, Lightweight Build, Hand-Assembled in Brooklyn – Audiophile Sound for Home & Studio

God I love these. I first bought these in the early 2000’s and lost them during a move recently. I just bought another pair with the fear they cheapened them, just cuz. Nope, they are still comfortable, light and portable, excellent clarity, and works well for my needs. Incredible sound. NOT noise-cancelling if that’s what you’re looking for.

Like everyone else, I saw these on DankPods and had to see for myself. I have a pair of really nice bookshelf speakers I leave on my desk, and these headphones sound like they are playing when I put them on. It's uncanny how good they sound. I use the speakers for everyday use, and I love them, but sometimes, I can't play loud music/content/games (like late at night). These are perfect for those times. Alternatively, I use them when there is other stuff going on so I don't annoy the family, yet can still hear when something needs my attention. Sound stage is massive, details are beautifully clear. You would be surprised how much you are missing. Ever hear the high-hats rattle in a song when the drummer strikes them? Now you can. Another thing I use them for is gaming when I need better spatial awareness. The raid in Fallout 76 for instance, these let me hear the ultracite miner running through the tunnels, so I can track where he is. Very helpful. Bass isn't as heavy as you would get from, say, skullcandy, but it's still really good. Plus, you can always crank up the bass on your EQ if you think it's lacking. If I had a criticism, it would be the cable. It's nice, and I like the woven sheath, but it is quite thick and fairly stiff. I'd rather they use a thinner cord that can be removed from the cans. Small complaint, and not nearly enough for me to steer someone away from them.

Let me preface this, I do not leave reviews typically. So imagine my surprise when I'm binging on youtube and find several videos telling me about how sound produced on most earbuds and headsets isn't what you necessarily think. Queue the next video showing off a pair of Grado SR60 e's, these headphones are deceptively nice. They're incredibly comfortable on my much larger than normal head (I can't wear most headphones or even generic helmets.) The padding is enough that it clamps down on the skull but not even close to cause discomfort. The build quality is cheaper than others in the Grado lineup, but this is also their budget model in comparison to what they offer. Now these headphones offer something that almost every pair of headphones chooses to shy away from, open back headphones. You can hear everything as if the music was just part of the environment. This said sound does spill out so don't use these to keep your music taste private or in an attempt to be polite in close quarters. This all said the sound produced by Grado Labs has ruined every single pair of headphones and earbuds I have ever used up to this point. It's almost as if you walked into your grandad's garage and hooked up his old stereo system. I won't go into detail but this is genuinely a religious experience if you thought you loved music before. This all said there's one vital piece to the puzzle that is NOT provided. A DAC. The audio out of the box is already superb and I was definitely happy with it, HOWEVER a DAC is the key to unlocking the true potential of these headphones. You don't need anything expensive to make these sound better, a cheap usb-c or lightning to 3.5mm audio DAC is perfectly fine to get started! Overall I cannot recommend these enough to everyone!

These have such a unique sound that I personally fell in love with and they made me sit on my couch and just listen to music for the first time in years. But there are a few things that hold me back from making this a blind buy suggestion. >An attached cable at this price point just seems strange, made even worse since it seems like it's always slightly twisted coming out of the cups no matter how you position them. >The attached cable is very long, alright for a desktop setup but once you try using them for anything close-ish to you it starts to become an annoyance dealing with all the slack. >These honestly are just not comfortable with glasses. Out of the box I could go maybe like 40 minutes before I had to take them off due to the top of my ears being smashed against the arm of my glasses. Bending the headband can alleviate some of this but the pressure is always there. >Music sounds beautifully unique on these but gaming can definitely highlight the rather mainstream-defiant tuning. For example collecting rings in sonic is an exercise in how much sibilance one person can take. >These kinda feel a little chintzy. I adore the retro look but the earcups start to creak when spun once they're on your head, there was a little click in my right earcup whenever the cable moved a certain way, and overall the build just does not reflect the price. I think if one goes into purchasing grados with the knowledge that they aren't daily drivers that you'll use for hours on end and can't be your main way of listening to audio then I believe you'll be incredibly satisfied with them.

As headphones for wearing for long periods of time, it's a 5/5 hands down. Compared to the other headphones I own like the Samson 850's, Sony MDR-7506's and the Sony WH1000-XM3's, I use the Grado's most often because of the conformable metal headband. You can bend it to shape so that the earmuffs barely press against the ears. As far as sound is concerned, they are bright with a notable emphasis placed on higher frequencies. Mids are acceptable for my taste. Sub-bass does not even register in these. They are not suitable for bringing onto a train or bus as they have no active or passive noise canceling. With regards to soundstage, to my ears they don't sound like speakers, per se, but more like an auditory hallucination. Since I adjusted the headband so that the ear muffs barely press against the ear, the sound of a knocking door in the headphones sounds as though it came from the environment. 5 stars for style and comfort. 4 stars if sturdiness matters most. 3 stars if you're looking for critical listening headphones. 2 stars if isolation's what you're after.

Addendum 2024: I have had these headphones for years now. Unfortunately, I have to dock a star and retract my comments on build quality - these simply have not held up over the three years I’ve had them. The pads fall off constantly, the hinges are creaky, the earcups won’t stay in place, and the headband is tearing and falling off. These headphones have stayed at my desk almost the entire time I’ve used them. They still sound phenomenal and for the price they’re great, but unfortunately at this price point you do sacrifice a lot in build quality to get that sound. Still a recommended buy as an entry level headphone pair. Otherwise, buy something nicer. 4/5 Addendum 2024 II: Audio was cutting out in one ear completely and intermittently. Had to purchase a soldering iron and resolder the connections to the drivers. On the inside, the only “strain relief” for the wires that come from the cable is a single zip tie, cinched tightly around the cable. Headphones were extremely difficult to open and put back together, and seeing as it is that I’m relatively handy, I would imagine this kind of repair would verge on impossible for your average Joe to do without hopelessly breaking. Again: These have sat on my desk, and only my desk, for years. This level of construction is unacceptable, even at this price point. 3/5. ORIGINAL REVIEW: ——————/—————— SOUND QUALITY: Phenomenal. Great resolution, soundstage is /meh/ but at $100 you’re still getting more than what you pay for. Has the “Grado sound” of sparkly treble, but I found that after a little break-in period the treble really lends itself to critical-ish listening of jazz, pop, vocal music, movies, etc. CONSTRUCTION QUALITY: Mostly plastic and some metal in the headband, but it’s not the chintzy dollar store plastic that creaks in your hands - solid-feeling molded plastic that maintains integrity without the weight. Headphone cables are hilariously overbuilt and mean these are probably completely bomb-proof. Loses points for no detachable cable. NOISE CANCELLATION/BLOCKING: Haha, no. WHAT THESE ARE: Good headphones for home or (quiet) office use, for those who appreciate high-quality sound at a very impressive price. Did I mention they’re made in the USA? WHAT THESE AREN’T: Workout headphones or going-around-town headphones. These stay plugged into an amp or computer and only get moved when it’s time to leave for the day. Buy some AirPods Pro to cover the rest of your bases. VALUE: Some of the best damn bang for your buck you can get. 5/5

Good from left to right, high and low, front and behind. Light, well manafactured. Incredible mids -piano, guitar, vocals. For the price is one of the best choices. I am listening from the pc directly and you tube music, no headphone amp, no special dac. Headband was improved with a cushion foam. I have no issues wearing glasses. Clamping force is on the medium/heavy side though the headphones are very light; all in all you can use it for hours with no complains. Cable is much better than before but shorter, from 3m to 1.2m. The X series is a real upgrade from de I & E former lines up. Best.

There are lot of high end headphones that are supposed to sound more detailed than Grado. Some of them sound good, like the sound you get in a pro cinema. The Grados however, sound as if you brought your granddads old hi-fi stereo with you on the go. Warm, pleasant and engaging. You are literally bringing your stationary hi-fi with you out. I also own the old SR125. They sound more detailed. Still, the driver upgrades into the x-revision provides a punchier, more immediate sound. One drawback, though, is that their open design will diminish some of the enjoyment you get when out on a hike. Even in the park. Sound leaks in and raises the noise floor. However, it is not advisable to compensate with higher volume. For the health of your hearing. I therefore wish that the wizards at Grado would use their expertise to try and implement the same sound into closed cans with active noise cancellation. Preferably on-ears. Also, make sure that headphone-volume measuring apps gives a correct reading of the Grados specifically(not only Beats or earpods). Oh, and I use the Yaxi pads for Porta Pro on my Grados.