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Grado GR10 or Shure SE535 or.....????

  • 31-12-2010 9:32pm
    #1
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,120 ✭✭✭


    Looking to shell out on a top pair of IEM's.
    After many hours of research I came up with this shortlist.

    Shure SE535's
    Westone Um3's
    Klipsch x10's
    Etymotic ER6i
    Grado GR10's

    I was going for the x10's at first but they do have very varied reviews.
    The Westones are highly rated but maybe a bit bassy?
    (I don't mind bass but not at the expense of everything else)
    The Shure's are perceived as being the ultimate IEM's right now but I really can't be arsed with the 'over the ear and secure tightly around the neck' installation process.
    I had a pair of SE-115's before and found them good but very swampy and overpowering in the bass dept.
    The etymotic's also have varied reviews.
    I prefer a more natural soundstage with a nice balance across bass, mids and highs, which leads me to....
    The Grado GR10...
    This seems to be the one
    Universally positive reviews, all blown away by the sound reproduction.
    Natural sounding, no artificial boosting of any frequency.
    Soundwise...perfect for rock.

    So, can anyone help me with my choice and is there a Grado dealer in Ireland?

    Currently using Klipsch S4's with Fiio L3 line out and Fiio E5 headphone amp.

    CPL 593H



Comments

  • #2
    yimrsg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,340 ✭✭✭yimrsg


    I'd say if you're dead set on the gr10s, contact Grado direct and see who they're supplying in europe and get the RRP. I think it's armourhome.co.uk but you could try contact iheadphones.co.uk or hifiheadphones.co.uk or any other of the sites in the "where to buy sticky" to see who does the best price or is receiving stock. Neither amazon.co.uk or .de have them currently so maybe keep an eye out there too.

    It's only new to the uk (mid december) so I'd imagine they would be receiving stock soon, think it's retailing at £400. Another choice is to place an ad in the headphones for sale/trade section here: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/list/6550 You might get lucky and only have to pay $400 but you could be left waiting.

    As for alternatives I'd recommend the head direct re0 at $79. It's a little light on bass but for me it's a blinder, it's sound is universally praised and will leave you with plenty of change in your pocket.

    The fishcer audio dba-02 is also another one that get's a lot of praise. I contacted fischer audio enquiring about stock and price of it and the fa-003 and was told that zococity.es will be getting stock of them in early January. http://translate.google.ie/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=zococity.es
    I'm not sure if they deliver to all of europe though. I'll be contacting them soon to find out.

    A good review of IEM's is here:
    http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/450407/multiple-iem-shootout-v-3
    Another big review's conclusion is here:
    http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/478568/multi-iem-review-130-iems-compared-monster-beats-tour-lil-jamz-added-12-29#post_6492059
    Unfortunately neither include the gr10. Let us know which you choose.


  • #3
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,120 ✭✭✭furiousox


    Thanks for the reply yimrsg, more food for thought!
    I researched the phones you mentioned and had a look through the links.
    I really wanted to go for something in the 'upper tier' of IEM's so after more research and careful consideration I stuck with the Grado's and ordered the GR10's from a seller in California.
    In the meantime I burned in the klipschs with 48 hrs constant play.
    I did find that this made them sound a bit warmer and knocked the harshness off the top end.
    Running the klipschs with the fiio line out and amp I was actually very happy with how they sounded and wondered if I needed the grados at all!
    Well the grados arrived today and first impressions are very good.
    They make the klipschs sound a bit flat and dull in comparison.
    Bass is more punchy but not overpowering, overall sound is more detailed, carrying more depth with little nuances coming through that I hadn't heard before.
    I had a listen to some of Leonard Cohen live at the O2 and the sound was just beautiful, perfectly balanced.
    It actually felt like you were standing on the stage as you heard Cohen's deep voice stage centre, the blend of instruments around you and the backing vocals appearing as if they were behind you.
    The only slight concern I have while flicking through the ipod is that there is a slight harshness on the top end sometimes.
    (This may be down to the varying quality of the mp3's I have)
    I'm going to burn them in with at least 24 hrs constant play and hopefully this will take the edge off them as with the klipsch's.
    I haven't even tried them with the line out and amp yet so hopefully that will improve them still further!

    CPL 593H



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