Grado SR325x

First of all, let me start by saying that if you're basing it off of these so called tier lists and opinions (more like rambling for content) by certain folks in the community and you're new to the hobby, you're probably biased towards not liking not only this particular headphone very much, but any Grado itself. There's a demand for this kind of content and they're supplying it, it's simple. We're full of newcomers and enthusiastic kids who love this kind of content for fanboying/confirmation bias, they will keep parroting everything that these guys say. A lot of newbies and even a considerable amount of other folks take these lists seriously, especially because we're living in an era of "meta this, meta that" mentality and they eventually take this to any hobby, game, etc. Problem is, these folks are immature and treat these lists as if they were a bible, sometimes it's the only reference they have and they're easily manipulated by those opinions. More than anyone, they'll have a tendency to search for, interpret, favor and remember information that confirms their choices and beliefs. Imagine someone who basically listens to Rock, Jazz and older stuff along these lines, then, they see almost everyone trashing Grado as if it was total crap. Most newbies will be totally discouraged to try/buy them, even though Grados could possible be the exact experience that they were looking for. So, if you really wanna know what's up with Grado (more especifically, the newer ones), forget them and let's focus on what matters, actually listening to music.


Now, the SOUND:

The best analogy I can make about the 325x (and almost every other Grado) is that they're the headphone version of being right in front of the stage, they do this pretty well and in their unique Grado way. The older ones were somewhat treble cannons, that's not the case here. Unlike older Grados, the 325x and most of the current lineup are more resolving and balanced, but without losing those magical mids and that Grado feel to it. I think this (and the typical "in your face" presentation) describes the "Grado sound" pretty well, the 325x is no exception to that. Moreover, their soundstage is kinda peculiar, not in the sense that it has a huge soundstage (even though it's OK) but simply because how Grado presents that in their own unique way. It's not a matter of quantity, but rather a matter of perspective. Again, they're the headphone version of being right in front of the stage and that's portrayed very well here. Not because they're glued to your ears, but because they're also tuned for that.

This pretty much sums up Grado and it's what they're famous for. That's why they work so well with Rock of every kind, anyone who's been to a respectable Rock concert will understand that feeling. They're especially good for Rock, Metal, Grunge, Post-Grunge (or anything along these lines) and Jazz. Also work pretty well with a lot of 80's stuff. If you're not an avid listener of these genres and will be finicky about comfort, don't even bother. Grados won't be for you. As a musician/music buff who listens to pretty much anything along these lines, I like them and what they represent. Problem is, people buy Grados (especially the most expensive ones) expecting that they'll sound like other expensive headphones. They won't. The mids are the star here and they're very prominent, engaging and musical. Bass is nothing out of this world, but has a good definition/texture and is just spot on, punchy when necessary (especially kick drums) and they don't overshadow the star of the show here, the mids. Same for the treble. Worth noting that the level of detail is also pretty damn good, definitely no slouch in that department. Also, they're super fast. Transient response is TOTL (which is a common Grado trait). And the separation? Nothing short of amazing. It's so good that when I first tried them I thought there was something wrong with one driver.


The BAD:

To me, the biggest let-down is comfort. My ears don't hurt that much, but after some time my head always start to hurt a bit. Cables are a bit of an overkill. The only problem with cables is that they always keep entangling after the splitter. Comical build quality with those plastic gimbals and the height adjustment, but they don't tend to be as fragile as people think.


The PADS:

G-pads: biggest soundstage of them all with a little more emphasys on the bass. That should be perfect, right? No. It sounds like an annoying Ananda (or Sundara?), there's a peak somewhere in the 7-8kHz that will eventually show up in the vast majority of songs. Unbearable to my ears. Never bothered to EQ with these, but i'm assuming it would turn out VERY good.

L-pads: bass almost non-existent, mids are still good and overall present a more balanced sound, close to the classic Grado house sound without being treble fatiguing. Can be very interesting. They do see some use from my part.

F-pads (stock): the best one IMO, exactly how they should sound (yeah, no s***) and how it was described earlier in the review. Best bass, great mids and the least amount of treble.





Conclusion:

Despite the fact that trashing Grado is trendy among certain circles, most people who do it simply overlook what's actually great about them or have spent literal seconds with their headphones. Anyway, again, apart from the older models which were treble cannons for many (myself included) these are not bad AT ALL. Sure, like any Grado, they feel odd and their sound signature is not exactly something that the average consumer (or even most so-called audiophiles) look after these days, but they're far, really far from being as bad as they're portrayed online. Think of it as a restomod car, it's a raw, pure motoring experience that you won't find anywhere else, but also with the hindrances of it. Absolutely not the most comfortable and the build quality (although they're surprisingly sturdy) is weird for 2024, they feel like old ATC/pilot headphones. There's a reason why they're still around and why people keep buying them despite the flaws and old design.

Buy these if you're looking for a mid/upper-mid focused sound signature where every song feels like a live perfomance/being in front of the stage, with a decent bass punch/texture (although it's not a basshead headphone by any means), intimate vocals, great distorted guitars and fast transients.

Don't buy these if you value comfort, isn't an avid listener of the previous mentioned genres and values a more calm and neutral presentation. Or maybe if you're one of those "audiophile bros".

Grado headphones need no introduction. In an already opinionated community, they rarely leave anyone indifferent. As a matter of fact, one of Head-Fi’s oldest post, dated June 25, 2001, starts with ‘I miss the Grado sound’.

If you ever heard a pair of Grado, this will be a familiar feeling — it certainly is to me having started this hobby with a pair of SR80e.


The object — The SR325x are Grado’s Prestige series top of the line headphones. Each pair of headphones are hand assembled in Brooklyn and have that artisanal finish I grew to appreciate over time.

Compared to my SR80e, SR325e and RS2e, this particular pair of SR325x is probably the best pair of Grado I held in terms of fit and finish, all the while exhibiting many of the brand’s trademarks I enjoy.

The new, non-detachable, super annealed copper 8-conductor cable is stiffer than the pervious generation's yet doesn't kink.


Fit & Comfort — Grado has four sets of pads in their line-up: S, F, L and G. The last ones are the only over ear pads, all the rest are on ear. Worthy of note is that Grado headphones are tuned for the pads they come with. Change the pads and you’ll change the headphones’ intended sound signature.

The SR325x come stock with the F pads which have been genuinely surprising. They are very comfortable which is saying something as I traditionally struggle with on-ear headphones. Having now had the experience with all Grado pads, to my ears, the most comfortable pads are the G, F and S pads, in this order. The only pads with which I genuinely have an issue are the L pads.

In terms of weight, while the SR325x are heftier than my previous RS2e, this translates into a secure fit which I personally appreciate.

Pads used: stock (F) pads


Sound — Paired with the below mentioned sources, the SR325x deliver in spades. They have a nice low-end which punches when required but otherwise remains in place without muddying the mid-range nor impacting the brand’s signature sound.

The detailed and textured mid-range is alive and well, albeit a touch warmer than usual, while the highs remain well controlled with no sibilance.

Overall, the SR352x offer a textured, mature and natural sound which made we wonder about my other, more expensive, headphones.


Comparisons — Speaking of which, at half the price, how do the SR325x fair compared to the Sennheiser HD660S2?
To make it simple, the HD660S2 are technically better as well as scale better but the SR325x make for a slightly more natural listen. Worthy of note, the Sennheiser require proper amplification to be driven adequately.
In terms of comfort, the SR325x aren't as 'clampy' as the Sennheiser and, in spite of the genuine over ear nature of the HD660S2, the Grado are almost as comfortable.
Last but not least, very subjectively, the SR325x seem to convey a bit more soul than the Sennheiser.

The Massdrop x Focal Elex also offer an interesting comparison despite being twice the price of the SR325x.
On complex arrangements, the Elex have a slight edge as they benefit from a bigger soundstage and better instrument separation.
This edge turns into a disadvantage on acoustic and instrumental tracks where the Focal start to sound slightly artificial in comparison to the Grado which, once more, sound more natural.

Files used: CD-quality FLAC bought from Qobuz & Tidal HiFi streaming | Sources used: Schiit Jotunheim MultiBit, Uncapped Sony NW-WM1AM2 and Cayin RU7


Conclusion — The Grado SR325x represent a stunning value. They offer a mature and natural sound which plays well with any genres and recordings. They also are easy to drive.

To my ears, they best my previous Grados, including my RS2e with G pads which were an all-time favourite of mine.

So, if the aforementioned speaks to you — try or get 'em.

This is my favourite set of cans I've ever owned. I love the sound, it blew my mind when I first heard it, and I never could go back to more neutral or dark signatures without caveats. But the energy and aggression of these headphones is a double edged knife, because for some people this will be the exact thing that causes them to dislike them.

Sound
The sound is what makes or breaks these for people. For me, they're spectacular. They're much less bright than other grados, in case you're wondering, but they're still bright. Their clinically revealing in details due to the aluminium housing, and they punch above their weight in regards to price performance. These are less than 500, but compete with 1k priced headphones.

With the f pads, these are aggressive, forward facing and have a wild soundstage. You can pinpoint the placement of all the instruments accurately. The low end hits hard and fast, the mids are somewhat recessed, and the high is detailed and sharp. When you look at these headphones measured, you'll be shocked because they measure so badly. But they sound so wonderful. They hurt to wear with glasses though.

L pads are my least favourite on them, but maybe because they make the grados sound the most like classic grado. They will suit people looking for the classic grado feel. My problem with them is they remove the bottom end a fair bit, which is where so much of the charm comes from. They trade the bass for an even bigger soundstage, which is amazing, but not worth the trade off.

G pad 325x is significantly better than the L pads, and maybe just as good as the F pads. They significantly increase comfort, which is a big deal. Suddenly these become very comfortable, and their soundstage rivals hd800s. If you think I'm exaggerating, go watch DMS talk about these. The soundstage becomes unbelievably huge with the G pads, and it more or less becomes proper v shaped. Huge bass, huge soundstage, details, recessed mids. It's very fun, but not at all neutral. It's great.

Comfort
If you're anyone with ears, these are not the most comfortable, especially with the stock F pads. The f pads sound the best with the headphones, but they're hard to use because they basically place the aluminium driver directly on your ear. That's gonna be a huge drawback for some. You'll get used to it somewhat, it'll be less bad as it goes, but it's still not the nicest feeling. The headband feels good, and the cups swivel well to whichever ears, but in the end these aren't the most comfy. It's all sound here.

Modularity
If you don't know this, that's okay. One of the best aspects is how modular they are. You can tune it quite a bit with pads online. You want more comfort and a balanced sound signature? I recommend the beautiful audio pads for these. Absolutely comfortable, and it makes the sound signature basically flat. More soundstage? G pads. More bass? You can get pads for that.

You can also change any parts or problems easily, the headband, the swivel mechanism, the cable, whatever. These are so modular that there's step by step tutorials on making these wireless if you want. This is the secret power of grado. Amazing drivers that can be turned into anything you want. I personally like their unwieldy cable, and their 1970s radio announcer look, but if you don't no problem.

Summary
These are amazing. If you don't like em, no worries. But I think if you give em a couple weeks you might. They make music sound fun, which is how music aught to sound.

This is not a clinically-accurate listening device. This is a fun interpretation of your favorite music at an affordable price. These cans are opinionated. They think you like the voice up front, the instruments detailed, the highs bright, and the lows tamed. They think you prefer intimate yet airy soundstages.

They are grungy with 90s Seattle-sound jams. They are jumpy with bubblegum pop. They are garage-band fun with rock and roll. They dress up when out and about for a night at the opera. And like in all these experiences, your choice of seating matters. These cans will not put you in the middle of the band, but close enough at slightly-over-student-rush price.

There's a lot of ink (or electrons) out there describing Grado, so I'll spare you the details. The important bit is that their headphones have been, for most folks, a gateway drug into Hi Fi. They are affordable. They are likely to give you the first exposure into detail and dynamics. This is the result of a very carefully guarded pair of house sounds: "The Grado Sound", which you find in their Prestige, Reference, and Statement series, and a more clinical sound they use in the their Professional Series. The 325x are the top of the entry series.

If the 325x were a car, they'd probably be a Mustang. Affordable. Fun. Tweakable. By no means the most technologically advanced, or the smoothest ride, or the most refined curve-takers. But charming and with a very loyal fan base. And above all, fun. Quite a few folks claim the Grado Sound fakes you into perceiving more detail than they actually resolve by virtue of being a bit bright. If that's the case, I wonder: If you exhaust sounds awesome, does it matter you're not the fastest commuter on the road?

You can get an idea of what I test stuff with by looking at my test playlist. If your style of music is not there, my experience may not be as informative to you. At the time of review, my hearing is about 20 Hz - 17KHz.

With my headphone set (Gungnir + Mjolnir 2) and a KANN Cube:

• Detail: Precise, a little sharp mostly due to the metallic housing. Attacks are quick and don't hang much. A little tight. Plastic and wood behave different than metal, and here there is a little bit of a tin can feel that may irritate some.
• Soundstage: Narrow, not quite "in your head" but in front of you with the default ear pads. You won't feel "in the band", but close. I recommend ordering the L-cushions, which make the soundstage wider and improve overall enjoyability. The default cushions are perhaps more practical. Yay, another knob to play with.
• Bass: Adequately rendered. Not for the bass-heavy connoisseur. Jazz trios can challenge the headphone — but rest assured it meets the challenge.
• Voices: Centerstage. They seem to get the most attention here.
• Highs: Well-separated and bright.
• Instruments: Very well voiced. I like strings and keyboards here.
• Overall: Fun open-backs at a reasonable price. If you like the Grado sound, this is a great entry point into the line. Quite a few more bucks get you into the Reference series, which uses wood instead of the metal you find here. More bucks after that get you into their crown jewel, the GS1000e. In the other direction, the PS500e behaves similarly but it is voiced differently and respects the instruments just as much as the voice.

The Grado Sound is alive and well in these cans. While not as detailed, spacious, refined, or resolving as the iconic GS1000, the 325x brings the metal casing from the Professional series to the Prestige line, without changing the signature sound as the PS did. The new drivers seem evolutionary more than revolutionary and you'd be hard-pressed to pinpoint any major advantage. Cosmetic enhancements and better cables will likely divide Grado fans. Whether your journey into HiFi started with an SR80 or you're about to purchase you first "high end" cans, you owe these guys an audition. You won't regret it. For the price of admission, this is a ballroom concert you'll be glad you attended. And I'm talkin' Grateful Dead-glad.

One more thing: Burn them in and have fun doing so! Despite the manufacturer telling us the drivers are distressed, 100+ hours of work relax these cans a bit more. Not enough to transform them but enough to make them feel at ease with what they do well. If you do notice something, it’ll likely be in the attacks, which are a tad less sharp but remain quick.