Grado SR325is Headphones

lsh40

New Head-Fier
Pros: Full of enery
Cons: Looks like a 30 dollar headphone
For the first few months every time I use my ears hurt because of the ear pads are really uncomfortable. But I still listen to them because they sound really good.
I always listened to rock, edm, and pop music. These types of music perform very well with the Sr325is.

winston444

New Head-Fier
Pros: very detailed clear sound
Cons: harsh and bright. if you mix with these, you'll think your music sounds grating.
The harsh brightness also removes some of the depth and dimensional space you'd expect from Grado headphones.  I'm sending 'em back and buying the reference 2 for 499.  If those are similar fatiguing and unwearable for more than an hour, then it's back to my BeyerDynamic 880's for me.

GoldenGuy66

New Head-Fier
Pros: The most open I have listened to, Energetic Fast Attacking, Mids, Detail,
Cons: Comfort, Treble response, sub-bass is lacking on some recordings
The sound on these is absolutely stunning directly through the headphone jack. It may or may not benifit from an amp, all I know is that I have spent about 30-40 hours listening to Pink Floyd like a complete fool. Over, And over again, So I can tell you these headphones sound really, really, good. Initially, the treble was a bit harsh but since I like listening to music at low to moderate levels the sibilance really is not to a (Headache-like) level. I don't care what anyone here on HEAD-FI says, These are some worthy cans.
 
 
Now is this going to play skrillex without being harsh?
 
Absolutely not, The treble is too strong for electronic music. I will say however, Slightly more moderate electronic music related genres like Trip Hop and Acid Jazz (Flying Lotus, Massive Attack,) sound absolutely stunning. On the soundtrack "me Yesterday//Corded" by Flying Lotus I could have sworn the paino was playing right next to me and that the vocals were placed  infront of me. The bass was very pleasing and controlled without muffling vocals and the soundstage was well seperated.
 
Is this a bass-head can?
 
Not really, But the bass behaves very well during good recordings. It is, however, lacking sub bass but most open cans are not very good in that department un-amped anyways. For being un-amped you really can't ask for more ha ha.
 
Will this satisfy my audiophile needs ?
 
I don't know man are you picky about sibilance?
 
Can I use this as a studio monitor?
 
It's treble is elevated by about 5db, why would you want something that someone else is not hearing? I also notice the grado boosts some frequencies for general music enjoyment so no. 
 
 
All in All 4.5 because (Bad Comfort )
CharlesC
CharlesC
I've been listening to new SR225e's for about 2 weeks.  I'm used to Senn HD598s so it's quite a bit different.  What I am finding is that I'm getting ear aches which is obviously a problem.  I've been using a couple of different small amps (Modi/Magni and microStreamer) but am now testing them running straight out of my iPad, without external amplification. I hope that will help. Or maybe they are just too energetic for me. Or maybe I'm too old or too used to those laid back Senns.
GoldenGuy66
GoldenGuy66
Well GRADO really does not need amplification.
 
People say that an amp can make a diffrence but sometimes an amp can make it even more aggressive and with an  impedance below 50ohms I don't think your missing much in the dynamics department. 
 
My schiit vali is a bit more on the brighter side so using it with an already bright headphone is retarted. 
 
Listen straight off an ipad for about a week and if you still don't like it then turn it in. YOU DON'T want gear just gathering dust! Dueces!
CharlesC
CharlesC
I think it's the amps that will be gathering dust for a while.

ChronicLiar

New Head-Fier
Pros: With high quality music files can sound like live performance, Energetic, Fast Attacking, Warm mid-section
Cons: Very bright headphone, Does not dig very deep, Smaller soundstage than most @ Price range, COMFORT BLO
I own
 
 
-HD 600
-ATH M50
-Sennhieser HD 558 (Modded)
-Skullcandy Aviators
 
 
Of all, IMHO I find them the MOST detailed.I feel like i'm in a live performance in the front row seat especailly with .dsf or flac files. They are bright but after about a month of listening you do get used to it (I don't believe in burn in).
 
I would give this a 5 if it didnt torture me everytime i wear it xD... and if the bass would dig a little deeper. 
 
Overall these are beautiful sounding and i personally enjoy bright headphones more than dark ones. (But that's just "ME",)

Engineguy129

New Head-Fier
Pros: Everything (see below)
Cons: None that I can think of
Ok, this is my first review. However, I feel that my opinion matters as much as anyone elses. I'll start from the beginning. I have been creeping in here for quite a while and soaking up as much info as I can. I am not an audiophile, really just a person that enjoys music a lot and its a part of me. I decided a while back that I wanted to roll with Grado because the genre of music I prefer, old metal head with some punk and classic rock thrown in.
 
Road block one, I am currently deployed USAF. Not a lot of companies will ship to an APO and where I am at, to include 4OurEar's. I e-mailed them and started a on-going dialog with Richard Grado. Great guy! Even though they do not ship to APO addresses, he worked with me and placed my order over the phone. What a class act! 
 
I will be honest, thats a lot of jack to sling without listening to them first. My mind set was, nothing can butcher Van Halen 1 like Dre Beats did. They sell them by the truck loads here. Just not my thing. 
 
They finally arrived, after a about a week and a half. The first chance I got, I popped the jack into my iPod Classic. Holy Smokes!!!! These are exactly what I was after. I scrolled through a few tracks, Nothingface Lipsdick, AC/DC TnT, Perfect Circle Passive....etc. I would have to say that everything is very clean sounding and extremely detailed. The kick drums were clean and tight, great mids and highs. All of this with meh quality music. I have a X3 on the way for my FLAC. This will be strictly for home use when I rotate back to the US.
 
For the money, I am very happy with my purchase. The design, very retro but cool at the same time. Sound...best things I have ever strapped to my nugget. 
 
I wanted to go into comfort a bit and why I rated it so high. I have worn David Clark headsets for hours on end during aircraft engine runs. Those are considered GOLD if you have them. At the same time I have worn Crapco headsets. I never put any thought into comfort. It was more about protecting my hearing and communicating with run personnel or the tower. I popped my 325's on and barely notice they are there. To me they are light and comfortable. The cord is thick but I am fine with that.
 
I cant wait to hear them with high quality music. 

Dicetrain

New Head-Fier
Pros: Bright, lively, good separation of ranges.
Cons: Uncomfortable pads and headband, design flaw on cup holder, heavy.
When I first got these the sound was rather tinny, but over the initial 50 hours they really, really opened up and grew to have a very natural sound. I have them paired with an HRT MS2+ and a Schiit Asgard, which is apparently a good match for Grados. That sound became more warm and round when I switched out the normal pads for quarter-cut softies. I did lose some soundstage with that, but the tradeoff for a more natural and full sound is totally worth it and it also took some sibilance out of the highs so they are very sweet.
 
Overall, after doing this, I truly love the sound. Every now and then I want a bit more punch, a bit more depth, and a bit more clarity to the bass, but I realize then those are just moments when I'm in the mood for a closed can. I'm looking at some Denons for that and won't count it as a weakness for these. Everything they ought to be and are intended to be in terms of sound, they are. And that, if it were where things ended, would be a really good value for the price.
 
Unfortunately, that's not where it ends. There are some issues upfront and then down the road. First off, I tried getting used to the pads that come with them, but I just couldn't. They were rough and rested on my ear too hard and made them hurt, so I got some softies and quarter-cut them to not change the sound too dramatically. Secondly, the headband was kind of hard and would start to hurt the top of my head. My head is also not very big so the angle of the cans wasn't really flat. I remedied this by taking the headband pad off my Sennheiser 555s and sticking it right to the underside of these. It worked perfectly and made them comfy, but you shouldn't have to modify two things just to make them comfortable.
 
But then even after these modifications there are still problems. First off, they are just heavy. The pad took the strain off the top of my head, but it's still on my neck, and I'll really feel it if I am wearing them for a couple hours or so. If I'm playing videogames I don't even bother and just switch to a cheap, lightweight Sony pair. As someone who likes to listen to music for long periods of time while doing work or use quality headphones to watch movies, this is disappointing. Their weight also means that if you're compelled to rock out with your music and swing your head, they're likely to fly right off. It didn't happen to me, but it easily could if you didn't feel it coming.
 
The cords from the Y splitter to the cans don't seem properly aligned, so even if you try to make it as natural as possible, it still seems twisted. This may be different for each pair depending on how they attach them, but at least for my pair it means the cord is always trying to get twisted up, and doesn't naturally hang, but rather sometimes crosses under my chin. I'm not sure if this causes wear on the cord, but it might contribute to a much greater issue in how the headband attaches.
 
The metal cup has holes in the side where a plastic half-circle attaches so that it can have some tilting adjustment range, then this plastic band has a metal bar that is screwed into it, which can slide up and down through the headband piece for vertical adjustment. For some reason, the grooves on this metal bar aren't very horizontal, so it's not too inclined to stay in the plastic forever. Somehow, between the turning of the cans, the stress of the weight of the cans, the angle and pressure from taking them off and putting them on, this metal bar wiggles out and from then on it's very loose.
 
I got around it by using superglue before fitting it back in and letting that dry, but over time another expected issue came up... the plastic cracked. Even though I saw it coming and tried to always put them on by holding the L & R parts of the headband rather than the cups, just the strain of gripping my head or whatever else is involved with normal use led the plastic to crack. What else is expected when you put a thin metal bar through a small hole in a plastic frame? It doesn't even go all the way through, so any tension on that bar goes right to the tip and works like a crowbar.
 
I've looked around and this has happened to other people as well. I'm using superglue again to fill in the crack as well as to get the bar to stick back in, but I don't expect that to hold up forever so I'm considering possible ways I could lessen the pressure that occurs there or some permanent headband modification options. No matter what solution I end up with, this just isn't what you expect after you pay $300 for a product. The issue could have easily been avoided if they simply made the middle piece out of metal.
 
In conclusion, I really love their sound and would recommend hearing them or getting them for cheap, but I can't give a full endorsement because they need some "fixing" in terms of comfort and you'll have to be really, really careful with them if you want them to hold up.
rcoranje
rcoranje
I don't think you really tried to listen to music with these cans. As far as I'm concerned you make a fuzz about nothing. They are not heavy, there is really nothing wrong with the head band and you must have particular ears to have been bothered by the cushions, to name a few examples. But please go on modifying and gluing things to keep you happy.

Siftah

New Head-Fier
Pros: Sound quality
Cons: Ergononics
These were my first pair of good headphones, having previously only had Shure E2C in-ear phones that were anything better than the usual iPod earbuds that (I guess) most of us start with.
 
It was a nice surprise to listen to music with them at first - going through that process of re-discovering music again - now I can't listen to music on anything less, certainly can't bring myself to listen on the iPod ear-buds again.
 
I drive these from an Aune MKii which in turn is fed via digital coax from a RealTek 888 running iTunes with lossless AAC or 320kbps MP3 files. I also have occasionally used them with an iPhone 4 and a 4S, both seem to drive them well, though the volume can be a little lacking the quality of audio is nearly on-par with the Aune.
 
My frame of reference is the Shure E2C's and a pair of Beyerdynamic DT1350's I recently acquired. The Grado's are nicer to listen to than the Beyerdynamics. This is very subjective I think, but the Grado's sound is warmer with more bass and I can pick out the detail more crisply.
 
The downside to the Grado's is the ergonomics - I have a small head and they just about fit, they feel very old fashioned in their design and manufacture. Being open they're not the sort of cans you'd wear outside of the house anyway (I'm sat at my desk when listening with them, so this isn't an issue).
 
Buy them for their sound quality and their retro looks. The sound won't disappoint and they feel like they'll last forever.

marvinong

Head-Fier
Pros: Musicality, Emotion, Heart and Soul
Cons: Great with SOME types of music and mediocre with others , HEAVY and hardly portable, wire management is a dilemma
 
Hi everyone, Just wanted to give my two cents re: the Grado 325is!
 
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AN INTRODUCTION
 
I was on a head-fi poison hiatus for a while because I thought I'd already spent too much on this hobby by acquiring a high end IEM (JH16 Pro) and a good PMP (Cowon J3 - which I unfortunately lost). In the case of IEMs, I think I already achieved audio nirvana, but then this itch of  wanting to try what full-sized cans could offer was always bothering me. 
 
I knew I didn't want "brand name" cans like Senns, AKGs or ATHs (though their cans are very good). I wanted to try something more alternative and "organic" and I found it in the Grados. Alternative because it isn't normally sold in outlets here (except 1), and organic because most of it is hand assembled.
 
THE SOUND:
 
(note: fresh out of the box with only 4 hours burn-in)
 
I knew from the moment I got the 325is that they wouldn't be as detailed as the top-tier IEMs but this was one "risk" I was willing to take to scratch my headcan itch.
 
I was ALMOST right when I said that they wouldn't be as detailed. This is because I think, just as all the reviews say, that the 325is are a mid-focused can. To my ears the vocal qualities(mids) emerge beautifully while some instrumentation, particularly in rock, are sacrificed.
 
This headcan shines most when jazz, acapella, acoustic, and show tunes are played. Not to say that other genres don't play well with these cans, it's just that I think they pair better with mid focused recordings.
 
An example would be Queen's iconic We Will Rock You. 
Some details like the "ugh" word ( at 0:02) ,that you would normally hear quite clearly can't be heard on the 325is. A reason behind this might be that the bass drum and footsteps of the iconic beat mask that particular part of the song. 
 
My favorite tracks to listen to here are those by Frank Sinatra and Linda Ronstadt. They are perfect vocal complements for this can. Their vocal styles and song arrangements are mid heavy, and the main feature of their recordings isn't on intricate arrangements or heavy background music, but their very own voices.
 
I wouldn't want to go on specifics about the highs (which some say are sibilant), or the bass (which some say are inadequate), but to make the long story short, to me they are adequate DEPENDING on the type of recording you are listening to. 
 
CONCLUSION:
 
My first foray into the world of full-sized cans has been a good experience. The 325is though sacrificing a little detail has, dare I say, a distinct advantage over the JH16 pros in terms of SOUL and musicality.
 
I would use the IEMs for sound engineering but I would gladly use the 325is for audio bliss and enjoyment.
 
It provides soul food to ears that are starving for blissful music.
 
And it scratched my itch.
devouringone3
devouringone3
Powder coating finish, first time I see it on the SR325is as opposed to on the PS500.

bobxxxbob

Head-Fier
Pros: Good looking, great sound
Cons: Cord is thick and could be a meter longer, lacks low frequency bass
One of the greatest rock cans ever made. Highly recommended.

Zuqi

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Aggressive and detailed, Crystal clear presentation
Cons: Genere picky, can be fatigue for long term listening
The sound of SR325is is on the bright side of neutral. They are one of the most exciting cans for rock and metal, they can also do jazz and pop pretty well.
For some music such as hip hop & RnB, however, the bright sound is just not suitable for these genre as they are overly bright. So personal preference and system pairing is essential.

headbase

New Head-Fier
Pros: Better than anything else for the money, well built
Cons: I now realize how many low quality recordings there are!
Long story short, they're fantastic.  I bought my headphones from a display/test setup at a Magnolia hi-fi, I didn't want to wait and I got a great discount on them.  I'm sure the salesman still turned a profit of course. (I work retail, I have an idea of the markup levels.)  They're comfortable to me, and I don't intend to own many other headphones.
 
Only other minor issue is the reduced bass, but the clarity was the greatest on this model, short of spending another $600+ on some headphones.  The other models that had less clarity had a lot more bass, but were fatiguing and disproportionate.  And all the others were too tight for my head.  These were actually the most comfortable headphones I've had.  I do see how they could be more comfortable.  The sennheiser HD800's that I tried on were more comfortable, and did sound more open, just as clear and had more base, but I wasn't in the market for those.  Only improvement, would be some sort of actual bass speaker on the floor.
 
They are expensive headphones compared to other items I have purchased, but they are quality, so I can justify it.  I can hear everything around the room 90% as well with them on as compared to off, which is what I wanted.  Bad part is, I now search for better quality sound, I had no idea what lousy recordings there are out there, and of new music to boot!  I guess if most people aren't going to have good cans, why bother making things sound best...
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Nick01
Nick01
Wait till you try the Grado/Alessandro wood models, way lighter to wear and better bass.

dibbler67

Head-Fier
Pros: Very detailed, bright, and very involving. Guitars. QUALITY of bass.
Cons: QUANTITY of bass. Comfort, at first. Weight, too.
These are the first higher-end heaphones I've ever purchased, and I was very impressed right out of the box. Being a novice, I found the bass a little lacking in impact, especially unamplified. Eventually (80 hrs of music and pink noise) they loosened up and gained the ability to tickle my ears. Amplification (Little Dot 1+) helped as well.
 
These are very fast and very detailed, and as Maxtcc says the sound only improves with amplification. They bring out every detail, in all its glory or filth. Separation is good, not stellar (improved a lot with the OPA2107AP installed in my Little Dot 1+, see below.)
 
Comfort is fine for me, though they are heavy and can fall if you aren't careful. I have small ears so these are basically circumaural.
 
I love the look, the cord is thick and long enough for my needs, but I wish the c-rings holding the cups to the headband were made of metal like the cups. Oh well, I like the looks and overall solid build of these enough that I can excuse that.
 
Probably my favorite audio experience so far was immediately after I installed the OPA2107AP op-amp into the Little Dot 1+ (this was probably the single largest difference in SQ I noticed; it separated everything but still brought it all closer and clearer and gave the 'phones a more intimate sound,) plugged these in, and put on a lossless recording of "Yesterday," by The Beatles. They were in my head; that's the only way I can describe it.
 
They're pricey, but I can say they were definitely worth my money. I love them, I look forward to many long hours of listening to them, and I love the hobby they've introduced me to!
 
My setup with these: NuForce uDac-2 => Little Dot 1+ w/ OPA2107AP & Mullard CV4014 EF91 tubes => SR325is
Maxtcc
Maxtcc
Absolutely,
I received my 325's just last week.
First thing I found out.... Don't think that you have heard the clarity and encompassing sound experience of these puppies until you pump your sound out through a decent headphone amp.
Second , pipe your digital music through a DAC before your headphone amp
Third , find a very comfortable position in an easy chair or the like and be not astounded by the visceral bliss of time having passed during the interval of time since you put down the stylus, or pressed play .....
Much time can pass as your brain, body and ears slink to the aural incantations provided.
Oh, and it seems to just get better with more time in the position.

Cybrsrch1

New Head-Fier
Pros: Better Resolution
Cons: Heavy
After 4 years of regular use, my cables were looking a little rugged, the plastic cover over the cables that split to each ear were cracking at the Y splitter . I called Grado and they quoted me $45 (includes return shipping)for a new cable plus an additional $15 to upgrade to the newest 8 conductor UHPLC copper connecting cord. The new cable is stout and heavy, with 8 conductors its my guess grado is using varied size cables to better handle the full spectrum with as little loss as possible, similar to Audioquests Spread Spectrum Technology. http://www.audioquest.com/pdfs/aq_cable_theory.pdf
The new cable is more revealing, digging deeper into the finer details, removing congestion from busy layered passages, it allows you to hear details otherwise buried in the background. I use the larger G pads for comfort and even though Grado doesn't recommend them,(but I do :) ) I think it improves the sound, giving  you a little wider soundstage, now I can listen for extended periods with no dis-comfort.
 Overall I love my 325i's, I listen to mostly rock music, acoustic music sounds simply amazing. I am also using the RSA Predator USB/DAC Amp in both portable and home listening. The Grado / Predator combo sings, Highly recommended !
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hjteq

New Head-Fier
Pros: Detail
Cons: None so far
Comfort-I adjusted the headband so for over head headphone they are fine. I've even worn them to sleep.
 
Source-Using the VDAC VCAN combo right now an I've found my sweet spot.
 
Longevity/durability - I know years down the line I will get the RSis or something like it but I don't foresee letting these go. I didn't give them higher value because the SR80i's could last for 15 years and so can these but the price point makes it kind of hard to argue. The SR80i's give so much for the price point.

BuddyF1

New Head-Fier
Pros: Great sound quality. Perfect for listening to metal/jazz. Look very stylish.
Cons: They are lacking a bit in the comfort division. Also, not the greatest for listening to electronic, but they were not really made for that purpose.
the Grado SR325is headphones are an amazing set of headphones. I have'nt really had a chance to break them in yet, so they are not to their full potential yet, but so far they are amazing. The sound quality is great, and I really couldn't ask for much more than that. They have great highs, mids, and lows. You can hear the vocals crystal clear, the guitars sound crisp and are very full, and you can feel/hear every bass kick and snare hit. Overall a great set of headphones.
 
There is only one factor about these headphones that leave something to be desired and that is the comfort. They are not awful, but they can be uncomfortable for long periods of use. My left ear always seems to get sore and hurts after a little while, though my right ear is fine. Although this can be fixed if you just wear a hat or something to keep the headphones from being too tight on your ears.
 
Great set of cans nonetheless and I suggest them to anyone who is looking for great music quality while listening to jazz, rock, and especially metal!

rataplan

Head-Fier
Pros: look great, sound great especially awesome woth acoustic recordings
Cons: a bit sibilant on some songs, 1/4 inch jack
aside from being the coolest looking headphones on the market (brushed silver imo) these pack some serious punch while maintaining detail and timber that will send chills up your spine on the regular.
 
for someone who is new to grado here are some things you should know: they are *very* open (you're practically forcing your music on those around you) and the cord will eventually get twisted no matter how hard you try to avoid it. that said, most who try them, love them (in my experience).
 
paired with the right amp and/or DAC you'll notice details in recordings that you never paid much attention to before. I found myself being able to discern lyrics that were once unidentifiable and appreciate intricate syncopation while following and isolating whichever melody suits my fancy.
 
that said, i enjoyed these straight out of an ipod for some time.
 
for those who are upgrading from "lesser" grados you'll find improved bass and more slam and better detail.
 
i wish i could have bought these in the states as there is a hefty markup when purchasing internationally, but they're still worth every penny and if you take care of them they should have great resale value.
 
although i'm sure we'd all love a pair of ps1000s, for those of us who are still in the sub $500 range these are a great value.
arool
arool
Radiohard with the fans, the support of Grado
rataplan
rataplan
arool, i'm not sure what you mean.

maverickronin

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Perfect for rock and metal.
Cons: Too bright for long listening sessions
Introduction:
 
I listen to a lot of music.  Whether I’m working or relaxing I usually have some sort of music in the background.  It relaxes me before bed or keeps me pumped up while working.  It is essentially my mind altering drug of choice.  Different headphones with different presentations an affect my mood in different ways and I though a ‘phone with pumped up treble like the SR325is would be good to keep my energy up when I was stuck with boring tasks at work.  I was correct, but other drawbacks kept me from holding on to my pair.
 
Style and Build:
 
I love the look of the SR325is.  They’re slightly retro looking but the important parts are built very well.  The outer half of the cups or “air chambers” as Grado calls them are milled from solid aluminum and look very sharp but the inner half, hidden under the foam ear pad, where the driver is attached is made of the same plastic the lower end models are constructed from.  The simple sliders and gimbals which are shared among all Grado models connect the cups to the headband.  Its headband is a simple steel spring covered with small but nicely finished leather cover.  Cheaper Grado models use plastic or pleather.  The headband can also easily be bent looser or tighter to adjust the fit.  The Y cable is very thick and a bit unwieldy.  Since the ear cups can rotate freely it is prone to twisting if you aren’t careful in donning and removing them.
 
Overall, many aspects of the build quality may not inspire confidence but they make the headphone very easy to repair.  Parts are held together by friction fit and hot melt glue.  Some people may be taken aback by this at such a price point, though this construction makes it likely that any failure can easily be repaired.   I speak from experience as I have previously fixed up a pair of used SR80s for my brother.
 
Comfort:
 
This is another weakness for the Grados.  As supraural ‘phones they press on to your ear instead of around it and are inevitably less comfortable than circumaural ‘phones that rest around your ear.  Careful adjustment can drastically improve the comfort however.  I found them most comfortable with the cups worn slightly forward of the ear so the rear edge of the pads are even with the rear edge of your outer ear.  This also has the effect of improving the soundstage by slightly widening it at pushing it a bit forward.
 
In addition to the ‘bowl’ or “L-Cush” pads the SR325is come with there are others available from Grado which you can try as well as the pads for the Sennheiser 414 which happen to fit Grados too.  I didn’t get the chance to try out all the available options myself though.
 
Sound:
 
Since sound is the primary purpose of a pair of headphones I think its generally fair to forgive a ‘phones other sins if it sounds good.  In general the SR325is deliver in this area.  Grados have a distinct sound which is quite different from anything else on the market.  If you want it, you’ll have to get past their other shortcomings.  I think they make it worth the trade if you like the Grado ‘house sound’.
 
The SR325is, and Grados in general, are a strange balancing act of brightness and warmth with a small-ish soundstage which put you ‘on stage’ with the band.  The certainly aren’t closed in sounding as typical of ‘phones with smaller soundstages but they put everything relatively close together and put you in the middle of the action in a small and intimate setting.  Instruments are well separated but not as sharply imaged as some other ‘phones like my Sennheiser HD650s or Beyerdynamic DT770/600 ohm.
 
The treble is very emphasized and relatively clear, making these bright headphones.  It’s well extended and fairly detailed, but not the most accurate in its price bracket.  It has a ‘fun’ coloration which is hard to describe.  Cymbals and high-hats stand out from the mix and have an extra shimmer.  This can pleasing in rock or metal but becomes overactive in pop mixes which are already very bright.  This brightness synergizes especially well with heavy and dark doom, sludge, or thrash metal.
 
The mids are what make these both warm and bright at the same time.  They are slightly forward, with an almost magical coloration that enhances vocals and guitars.  Its not the most accurate, but once again its very fun.  The mids are also the most detailed part of these ‘phones spectrum.  They lend a slight advantage in intelligibility of death metal growls that my HD650s and DT770/600s lack.
 
There is a slight hump in the mid to upper bass which emphasizes higher tuned bass drums and bass guitars.  The bass response trails off after this hump and only goes moderately deep.  For most rock and metal it goes deep enough and the particular emphasis is often quite pleasing.  If you listen to electronic music with very deep synthesized bass you may want to look elsewhere.  I found it lacking with my trance/electronic/techno collection.  The bass is also a bit loose as well.  Not to a large degree, but the deeper it goes the less controlled it is.
 
Conclusion:
 
As you may have guessed, I think the ‘phones work best with various types of rock and metal.  I especially enjoyed them on my death/black metal Pandora station.  I think that’s their preferred genre.  Of course I could be biased since that’s my preferred genre, but I listen to just about everything but country and rap.  The bass doesn’t go low enough for electronic (and probably rap and hip-hop),  they’re too bright for most modern pop, and I find the soundstage too small for classical.  They do pretty well for jazz though.
 
The Grados specialize in rock and metal though.  This prowess also extends to most anything with guitars as well.  Acoustic singer/songwriter, bluegrass, and probably a good deal of country too.  If you like a forward presentation and primarily listen to any of those genres, then the SR325is are worth a look.
 
I need to say a word of caution about the treble though.  Though Grados as a whole are bright headphones, the SR325is are regarded as among the brightest and if you can’t try before you buy or aren’t the kind of listener who’s always cranking the treble dial you may find them to be too much.  I loved the sound of my SR325is but my ears just couldn’t take them for more than an hour or so.  If you’re unsure about the SR325is you may want to try the less expensive and less bright SR225i or the simillaly priced Grado/Alessandro MS2i.
Tulfi
Tulfi
I don't want to make this comment too long... Or be too politically correct...
 
So:
 
I really think you don't understand the truth completely here...
 
The Grado SR325is will of course have it's 'own sound' in a way.
And there are always better ones... Yeah, yeah.
 
But most of the time it just shows you the LACKS and PROBLEMS of your other gear... 
 
...and in most cases: of the recordings...
 
For expl: if you think the 325 lacks low base... I think you mean you like the distortions in other cans, in combination with your specific other gear.
 
And or you actually say you don't like the sound of the musician's choice of (bass)instrument and recording in that case...
 
This is a commonly made mistake in audio... Misjudgment of cause-and-effect relationship...
 
Best regards...

BluFalcon

500+ Head-Fier
Pros: Nice sound, great for live recordings, sparkly and shiny
Cons: Price, sound not for everyone
I like my music to sparkle and these cans deliver. The sound signature may not be to everyone's liking, but I find them quite pleasant.  I listen to a variety of music from rock, hip hop, light jazz, trance, reggae and even classical, and they all sound great coming from these cans.  Coming from the SR60, I was a bit underwhelmed upon hearing them for the first time, but like fine wine they got better with age. They especially go well with warm buttered toast and hot coffee.  The bass is pronounced without being overbearing.  Vocals are prominent.  Mids are clean and highs are extra crispy. Yummy.  These cans always bring a smile to my face and I'm very happy with this Grado offering. If this is your sound, rock on.  

sparktography

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Great sound, very clear bass, mids, and highs
Cons: Slightly fatiguing, uncomfortable if not properly adjusted
A great set of 'phones for general music listening. Not terribly portable without a case, and can cause fatigue when listening to treble-heavy music due to very crisp reproduction.
 
You could use the cable on these babies to tow a car. Kind of impossible to deal with for on-the-go use, very oriented to seated listening.
 
I love my 325s!

karlhahnert

New Head-Fier
Pros: Refined Grado sound
Cons: Not quite the best at anything
My brief time with these Grados left me rather cold. I really like my Grado SR80s and hoped to get more of everything with the SR325is but instead I was left with the feeling that they try to bite of a bit more than they can chew. In my opinion they try to be both dynamic, fun lovin Grados and transparent and neutral Sens and basically doesn't succeed in any of these pursuits. Don't get me wrong, they do sound nice and all but at the price, even 2hand, I just wanted a bit more. I'm happy with my Grado SR80s, less sophisticated but at least they know what they are..
 
btw, bought mine 2 hand..
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