Grado iGi In-Ear Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Admittedly, I've had the iGi's less than 24 hours, but I'm impressed already. The plastic wire coverings of my Shure SE210s split after 14 months, so I spent the last month researching their replacement. In a toss up between the Westone UM1 and the Grado iGi, I selected the Grado set for economic reasons and because they're not of the over-the-ear style. I decided to write this review as I found it difficult to uncover a review of the 'phones that mentions the things in which I was interested.
PROS:
* Weight: You hardly feel them when they're in your ears.
* Ear Pieces: Often a point of contention/complaint, I found the best fit with the conical soft plastic tips included with the set. There are two sets of similarly-sized double flange tips and one set of conical tips made from a harder, memory foam material. After trying all of the included tips, though, I found none of them to be really uncomfortable. It's personal preference that led me to the soft plastic tips.
* Sound: The iGi set touts a better frequency response range than the Shure SE210 and the Westone UM1 models and proves it right out of the box. However, note one of the CONS below regarding the sound.
* Design: I'm not one for aesthetics, but the entire device is cradled in my outer ear. This was a pleasant surprise as the SE210s I had before were slightly too big for that part of my ear. Further, the durability of each ear's device and wire is bolstered by a flexible silicone extension. This "bendy" part of the device helps with the contours of your ears and keeps things from feeling rigid.
CONS:
* Sound: On one web site or another, I came across a statement detailing the harsh highs that accompany the Grado iGi model. I agree. At the outset, the highs are so bright that they border on harsh. On the same site, I noticed that Grado states this will level off after a break-in period of approximately 100 hours. Knowing this before my purchase, I anticipated this issue and wasn't surprised when I experienced it.
NOTES:
* These earphones may require you to crank the volume of your MP3 player. I've the volume limiter on my iPod in place and found that its volume had to be approximately 50 - 75% higher than when listening through the Shure SE210s.
* Finally, any potential buyer should know that these are not noise cancelling headphones and are not advertised as such. While they are in-ear monitors that present a great sound and feel practically weightless, ambient noise does filter in during any quiet passages. They succeed in muffling nearby conversations, but won't ensconce you in a soundless environment.

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Grado headphones can reproduce as natural a soundstage from stereo recordings and provide as much listening pleasure as a good pair of speakers do. Grado headphones are free of room effects and placement problems, and they minimize any interference from external noise. They also offer portability and the ability to listen without worrying about the neighbors. With Grado headphones, you will hear recordings with greater clarity and with deeper bass than others! Grado headphones are the antithesis of mass production, as each Grado headphone is hand-assembled and closely scrutinized to meet full performance specifications in the U.S.A.

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