[ngs428]

yeah, that's what peaked my interest, it seems like for the Prestige Series its either go 80e or 225e everything else isn't worth the money. I'm sure some will disagree, but again, that's based on my research. 

Don't rule out the 325e in your $200 budget. I just picked up a restocked 325e from an authorized dealer for $195. I was going to go with the 225e but this was the same price. If you are curious the dealer I bought them at is http://www.parts-express.com/grado-prestige-series-sr325e-headphones--232-411

 

[stacker45]

 
I think that ALL of the Prestige Series is worth the money.  The SR60 (or 60e) is so great to listen to that you could convince yourself it cost twice as much.  It also has the strongest bass response of the 5 headphones of the series.  The SR80 and SR225 are indeed highly regarded, and I agree that the SR225(e) is the "sweet spot," or center of gravity, of the Grado sound.  But nestled between them, unassuming, not calling attention to itself, is the SR125e.  Absolutely fabulous... like the SR80 but more detailed.   Then at the top of the line, there is the SR325e, the one that Consumers Report chose as The Best Headphone of 2014. In fact, in their rankings of the top 10 headphones, those five members of the Prestige Line were all within the top 7 places!
 
Guess that is why I have one of each (and I'm working on getting an SR125e as a companion to my SR125!)

 
Next time I''ll go back to my dealer's to pick up my RA1, I'll ask them to let me listen to the SR325e. I'm very curious to hear what seems to be THE most popular model among the e serie.
 
I know that you have my Grados, but do you have a pair of PS1?

 

[Kingonly]

Don't rule out the 325e in your $200 budget. I just picked up a restocked 325e from an authorized dealer for $195. I was going to go with the 225e but this was the same price. If you are curious the dealer I bought them at is http://www.parts-express.com/grado-prestige-series-sr325e-headphones--232-411

damn you...lol

 

[ngs428]

damn you...lol

Yea, I had to jump on that deal. Arrived in pristine condition with the s/n box in good shape. So yes, they can be found. They were down to about $265 from soundapproach.com after a coupon code.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

Next time I''ll go back to my dealer's to pick up my RA1, I'll ask them to let me listen to the SR325e. I'm very curious to hear what seems to be THE most popular model among the e serie.

I know that you have my Grados, but do you have a pair of PS1?

No I don't have any PS-1s. Intriguing, though!

 

[Kingonly]

Yea, I had to jump on that deal. Arrived in pristine condition with the s/n box in good shape. So yes, they can be found. They were down to about $265 from soundapproach.com after a coupon code.

i wonder if i can demo them at the needle doctor before committing?

 

[ruthieandjohn]

  i thought i heard before that some people thought that the 325e was almost too bright? Have you experienced that at all?

The 325e is indeed the brightest of the five, but not too bright as to be fatiguing (at least in my opinion... your ears will get tired from the on-ear nature of ALL of the Prestige Series before you mind gets tired of the brightness!). 
 
Also, I think that the e versions (of all of the Prestige Series) tend to lessen the brightness and extend the bass as compared with their older -i counterparts.
 
By the way, the LEAST BRIGHT Grado is the PS500 (or PS500e), which is a step above the Prestige Series and is the first to have the headphone chambers made of wood wrapped in aluminum... wood on the inside and aluminum on the outside.  Grado says that reduces resonances.  Used pair listed at $350 in the Classifieds here.

 

[Kingonly]

 
The 325e is indeed the brightest of the five, but not too bright as to be fatiguing (at least in my opinion... your ears will get tired from the on-ear nature of ALL of the Prestige Series before you mind gets tired of the brightness!). 
 
Also, I think that the e versions (of all of the Prestige Series) tend to lessen the brightness and extend the bass as compared with their older -i counterparts.
 
By the way, the LEAST BRIGHT Grado is the PS500 (or PS500e), which is a step above the Prestige Series and is the first to have the headphone chambers made of wood wrapped in aluminum... wood on the inside and aluminum on the outside.  Grado says that reduces resonances.  Used pair listed at $350 in the Classifieds here.

Good to know and my God those PS500's sound delicious, but well out of my budget for the foreseeable future

 

[grampus]

Big fun of grados. 

 

[Kingonly]

So then my only other question is; how well do Grados (especially 225e) pair with tube amps? I think I read somewhere that tube amps tend to create distortion or too much hum with their design.

 

[jaywillin]

  So then my only other question is; how well do Grados (especially 225e) pair with tube amps? I think I read somewhere that tube amps tend to create distortion or too much hum with their design.

i'm using a 225e with a little dot mkiii, it sounds great, you might be better off with a hybrid amp , grado's love tubes IMO

 

[Kingonly]

  i'm using a 225e with a little dot mkiii, it sounds great, you might be better off with a hybrid amp , grado's love tubes IMO

Sweet, gives me an excuse to get the Schiit Vali then lol

 

[stacker45]

  Sweet, gives me an excuse to get the Schiit Vali then lol

 
My Grados sound very good out of my LD 1+.

 

[jaywillin]

  Sweet, gives me an excuse to get the Schiit Vali then lol

 
 

   
My Grados sound very good out of my LD 1+.

i've used both with grado's, both are great ! 
if i were to pick between the two now, i'd go LD, you can roll  tubes and opamps

 

[ruthieandjohn]

(since I cannot get Bushmill headphones for love or money, I am resorting to fictional news stories... hopefully everyone is packing his Bushmills to send to me and has not read this far!!)