sharke
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 13933
- Joined: 2012/08/03 00:13:00
- Location: NYC
- Status: offline
Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
...I really wish they would put more thought into the build quality. They have a separate cable from each can which go into a Y-splitter at around chest height. What this means is that during the course of their life, no matter how careful you are (and I've tried to be really really careful), the cables develop irreversible twists in them. Meanwhile, they develop little splits in them at the point at which they enter the headphone, and the connection becomes compromised. It gets to the point where one or more of the cans goes in and out, and eventually they just stop working. This is the second pair I've had die on me for the same reason.
Oh and they're not very well put together either, and frequently come apart.
This is why I've limited myself to spending no more than $100 on them. I'd hate to splash $1000 on one of their high end models.....
Grados. Fantastic sound. Crap build.
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
|
craigb
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 41704
- Joined: 2009/01/28 23:13:04
- Location: The Pacific Northwestshire
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/07 14:25:26
(permalink)
And the best part of having the Y that far down is that you now have TWO strands to get caught in things.
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
|
sharke
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 13933
- Joined: 2012/08/03 00:13:00
- Location: NYC
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/07 14:56:12
(permalink)
craigb
And the best part of having the Y that far down is that you now have TWO strands to get caught in things.
I have to admit, that's why I bought them. The thought of being able to knock over two cups of coffee at once instead of the more conventional one cup of coffee was just too much to resist.
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
|
sharke
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 13933
- Joined: 2012/08/03 00:13:00
- Location: NYC
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/08 16:56:44
(permalink)
Well apparently Grado will do a repair for about $25, and they're in Brooklyn, so looks like I'm back in business!
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
|
ampfixer
Max Output Level: -20 dBFS
- Total Posts : 5508
- Joined: 2010/12/12 20:11:50
- Location: Ontario
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/08 17:54:14
(permalink)
That's one of the biggest advantages you have in the USA. Lots of access to parts and repairs. Canada sucks for that stuff so I have to ship everything.
Regards, John I want to make it clear that I am an Eedjit. I have no direct, or indirect, knowledge of business, the music industry, forum threads or the meaning of life. I know about amps. WIN 10 Pro X64, I7-3770k 16 gigs, ASUS Z77 pro, AMD 7950 3 gig, Steinberg UR44, A-Pro 500, Sonar Platinum, KRK Rokit 6
|
sharke
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 13933
- Joined: 2012/08/03 00:13:00
- Location: NYC
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/08 22:00:50
(permalink)
ampfixer
That's one of the biggest advantages you have in the USA. Lots of access to parts and repairs. Canada sucks for that stuff so I have to ship everything.
To be fair, if I lived in say Texas I'd have to ship them as well!
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
|
soens
Max Output Level: -23.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 5154
- Joined: 2005/09/16 03:19:55
- Location: Location: Location
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/09 01:22:09
(permalink)
This is why I like the cordless idea. sometimes I even mix with them because I can walk out of the studio and do other things while the song loops over and over again listening for issues.
I also use a pair that has a detachable cord.
|
RobertB
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 11256
- Joined: 2005/11/19 23:40:50
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/09 01:50:57
(permalink)
sharke
ampfixer
That's one of the biggest advantages you have in the USA. Lots of access to parts and repairs. Canada sucks for that stuff so I have to ship everything.
To be fair, if I lived in say Texas I'd have to ship them as well!
If you lived in Texas you wouldn't have to ship them anywhere. Just hang them on a fence post, and use them for target practice 
My Soundclick Page SONAR Professional, X3eStudio,W7 64bit, AMD Athlon IIx4 2.8Ghz, 4GB RAM, 64bit, AKAI EIE Pro, Nektar Impact LX61,Alesis DM6,Alesis ControlPad,Yamaha MG10/2,Alesis M1Mk2 monitors,Samson Servo300,assorted guitars,Lava Lamp Shimozu-Kushiari or Bob
|
bitflipper
01100010 01101001 01110100 01100110 01101100 01101
- Total Posts : 26036
- Joined: 2006/09/17 11:23:23
- Location: Everett, WA USA
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/09 10:19:25
(permalink)
I came very close to buying a pair of Grados, but was put off by their seemingly-delicate construction and that non-detachable/replaceable Y-cord. The abuse I've put my Audio-Technicas through should be criminal, but they just keep on keepin' on year after year. But I still want a brighter set of headphones for an alternate reference and pleasure listening, which I think the Grados could provide. Looks like my next ones will be AKG K-701 or K-240.
You know, they'll probably just send you a refurbished pair back, not the same cans you sent in. That $25 represents their base cost for the headphones. At least, that's how Shure does it. Makes me want to look for broken headphones at garage sales, just so I can send them in for repair and essentially buy a pair for half price after the repair fee and shipping.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
|
sharke
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 13933
- Joined: 2012/08/03 00:13:00
- Location: NYC
- Status: offline
Re: Dammit, I love my Grado headphones but....
2013/07/09 13:39:03
(permalink)
bitflipper
I came very close to buying a pair of Grados, but was put off by their seemingly-delicate construction and that non-detachable/replaceable Y-cord. The abuse I've put my Audio-Technicas through should be criminal, but they just keep on keepin' on year after year. But I still want a brighter set of headphones for an alternate reference and pleasure listening, which I think the Grados could provide. Looks like my next ones will be AKG K-701 or K-240.
You know, they'll probably just send you a refurbished pair back, not the same cans you sent in. That $25 represents their base cost for the headphones. At least, that's how Shure does it. Makes me want to look for broken headphones at garage sales, just so I can send them in for repair and essentially buy a pair for half price after the repair fee and shipping.
Yeah the Grado's are excellent for that brighter sound. I have to resist the temptation to make mix changes with them on however because they are very deceptive. They have a tendency to make everything sound beautifully wide open and balanced. Excellent for listening pleasure. They're some of the only headphones I can really enjoy rock music on. It's funny, I complain about the construction but I have read comments online from people who swear that they've had a pair for 15 years and they're still in the same condition they got them in. I think they're basically freaks, like those weirdos you see wearing "Fun Run 1985" t-shirts that look brand new. For some reason I don't think Grado are going to give me a refurbished pair, they just come across as that kind of company. Although I guess I won't really mind if they do...mine are a couple of years old. I just hope they put new foam pads on!
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
|