Without any of the typical "audiophile" weirdness: I use these headphones with an iPod. The headphones sound really good to my ear, even without an amp. The cables are thick, and the build quality seems pretty good. They fit comfortably on the head, and the foam ear pads are soft, not scratchy. I'm very pleased with this purchase, with no buyer's remorse. Would purchase again.

Nice sounding phones, very nice. Was having issues with spouse acceptance factor and the folded horn subwoofer in the media room. These don't really cancel noise and there is a strong backwave which can be heard by everyone. Even so, the sound is so good I'm gonna live with it.

Always wanted a pair of Grado phones, but had a tough time coughing up the cash. This Grado series is at a price point where most consumers can indulge in the audio senses. I am very happy with the sound quality and fit. I have a smaller head and find that many phones are too large even at the smallest setting to fit correctly on my head. These phones fit well and have a secure, but not tight placement. The ear padding is firm, but not too firm for comfortable long listening sessions. I wear mine in a crowded office and have had many co-workers try them out. All agree - great fit and sound. I plan to keep these as long as possible, so I purchased replacement foam at the time of purchase. The foam replacements were reasonably priced as well (bought 2 sets). Overall I am very pleased with this purchase. These days it gets harder and harder to say that for most products, but in this case it is dead on target. I recommend Grado often - particularly this series - for those who want to get into better quality than "celebrity endorsed" brands, which are all over the shelves at the big box retailers. That would give them a clear 5 out of 5 rating in my book. For now I give this model a 4.75 out of 5 for excellent sound and fit. Lost a quarter pint on lead cable casing and general cosmetics. That is minor to me since it is all about the sound quality.

First off, Comfort is both a pro and a con, let me explain. In the short term, these light weight headphones are very comfortable. In the long run however (1 or more hours of use) they get a little scratchy around the ears. I suggest taking them off every now and then to refresh your senses!

As for sound, it's extraordinary for headphones of this price. I would argue there isn't anything better for less than $200, or even $250.

I use these with a NuForce headphone amp, and I've extremely impressed with the sound. It's very clean, very dynamic (depending on the recording) and has alot of impact. With most rock music, these are very immediate with drum hits, and the mid range is very detailed.

If I were to say a few more things, I would say they have a ton of texture in the sound. They make music enjoyable again.

As a final word, I haven't been this excited about a pair of headphones since I purchased a pair of Etymotic HF5 earbuds for $120. Those by the way are also outstanding for the price. Just like my Etymotics, I would say these Grados have the same value in the fact that they sound FAR better than anything else for the price.

Overall... Excellent.