[wesleysneijder]

Having done a meticoluus search in the forum, but it is not yet clear for me:
 
SR325 (w/HP1000 drivers and JGSUWBRC) are made by Joe or John?
 
And, had anyone compared this headphones with HP1000?
 
Thanks
 
Matteo

 

[Liang]

no idea, i only have 225, really interested about 325...

 

[Nick01]

I think they're made by John just after he took over the company from Joe. And since they had spare HP1000 drivers and Signature cables, John put those into the black SR325. No point in wasting the spare parts.
 
If you want impression, I know there are 2 guys who have both the black 325 and the HP2: pcf & tamahome77. Perhaps you can pm to ask them to comment in this thread.
 
P.S: if you want to enquire further, just email Grado.
 

 

[pcf]

I believe Joe was still in the company when the first SR series came out. They were grading the HP1000 drivers. The best ones went to HP1 and HP2, The not as well matched pairs went to HP3 ( the hardest HP1000 to find). The ones that didn't quite make the grade (still really, really good) would be put into some of the Prestige series Grados- SR100,200, 300 and later 325. I am not a big fan of these SR325s. They sound like HP1000 but not as detailed. Plus they are very heavy, more so than the other SR325.

 

[tamahome77]

Someone asked me this yesterday in pm so I'll just paste what I thought about the two.  
 
 
Just like the Sr200 with hp1000, the 325/hp1000 sounds similar to the HP2s but definitely not as good as the HP2s.  The bass seems a little loose and heavy compared to the HP2s.  Surprisingly, the bass quantity and signature of the 325/hp1000 sort of reminded me of my previous black 325 with pink transition drivers.  Could be partly due to same enclosure materials of the black 325.  On the HP2s, the bass is more real and authoritive.  Basically, the bass just sounds more correct or right.  Futhermore, the HP2s is noticeably more natural and neutral than the 325/hp1000s.  IMO, the 325/hp1000 is at most 90% of what the HP2 is capable of.  It's interesting to know that the various designs and materials of different grado enclosures play quite a large part (subjectively speaking) in changing the sound of the headphones having the same drivers.  I was expecting maybe 95%-98% similarities but it's not.  Still great sounding pair of headphones though.
 
If I were someone who's looking for a pair of HP1000 headphones, I'll definitely fork out the extra $500-$600 to get the HP2s.  But it's quite nice from time to time to switch headphones and get a taste of a slightly different HP1000 flavour.  

 

[pcf]

I guess the drivers are not the only key factor in how the headphones sound then

.
To this day, Grado Lab still insist that all RS1 drivers are the same and have never been changed  except for the RS1i. Yet the vintage ones sound different.  There might be same drivers in these SR325 and HP1000 but the HP1000 is in a higher league according to my ears.
Must admit that the SR325 with HP1000 drivers look a million dollars though.

 

[wesleysneijder]

Thanks to all
 
I already own a pair of HP2.
 
Just want to try something else.
 
Regards
 
Matteo

 

[ivanrocks321]

I have the HP1,HP2 & HP driver SR325. To me the SR325 sound very much like the HP2. The main diff to me is the slight bit of extension of high notes & a more smooth bass. The diff to me is very minor a HP SR325 it maybe a good deal & you would get very close to the HP1000 while saving a little cash. On the other note the HP1000 look way cooler, but of course this does not effect the SQ.  

 

[wesleysneijder]

Good boy!
 
You've convinced me!
 
M.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/577103/grado-sr325-w-hp1000-drivers-jgsuwbrc
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[pcf]

These headphones don't come up often though, do they?