I hate to do it, but i have to hate on the Grados a bit (SR 80s). First complaint, comfort. I may have freakish ears, but the driver surface rubs on my ears and aggravates me after...I don't know how long, but not long enough. Say 30 mins. But putting my freakish ears aside [cue Mark to add pic of crazy ears being put on the side] I don't prefer their imaging style. I could not put my finger on it until I read a pro review that put the problem characteristic into words. I prefer the imaging associated with stereo speakers - i.e., an image in front of you. The Grados are fantastic at sound reproduction freq by freq, but, as the author put it, they sound as if you are in the middle of the band, not looking at the band. Not sure how to better describe it - people love them - but for me the imaging is distracting.
No wonder, you have those little bitty baby ears
