Grado SR325x what do they do that the HD650 HD6XX don't do better?

[hottyson]

I like the 6XX a lot. Except for those days when I can't stand them. But that doesn't happen often.
I like Grados too (the ones I've tried, although I've never dipped my ears in Reference Series territory), but I have usually ended up not using Grado headphones for their lack of comfort and fatiguing highs.
It hasn't happened to me with the 325x. Treble is very much improved, as well as bass extension. But those new pads...

Thanks for reading my review. As you can tell from it, I am in love with Grado Hemp tubed. I have read too many also share this love. In fact, I have decided I am going to sell off all of my Grado headphones in my collection except for two. I am going to keep the Grado Hemp for it's amazing sound and I am going to keep my original gen. 1 Grado SR225 for it's sentimental value.
.
I agree that the fourth generation X revision really has improved treble and bass. If not for the Hemp I would be getting the X revision.

 

[SilverEars]

I've done some listening of the 325X, and I'm really not too engaged with the headphone to be motivated to listen more.

Rant on Grados: I don't like how foam pads that has no seal or any sort of decent fit around the ear is used. Also, there doesn't seem to be any purposeful tuning, like what pads would work best on which model, etc.. like HD650 or 600. So, it feels like the drivers have potential, but the design just keeps it from sounding optimal.

With the 325X, I don't like the stock pads. There is not much seal around the ear to contain the bass, and also the sound stage suffers quite a bit. I this the L-cush whould help with this, but in terms of enhancing the bass further, I got some cheap pads from Amazon that's in between G-cush and L-cush. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYQ3PL1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

And this pad works quite well in terms of sound stage and bass. Also keeps your ears distanced from the driver surface. But, I think the highs sounds lesser quality than the stock pads so there's a trade-off. There's something to distance of the ears to the drivers and the sound quality of the highs.

I do think the upper-mids are tamed from the OG 325, which is great for those want a more smoother experience. But, the resolution may have degraded along with it. It maybe more relaxed with greater bass (with the proper pads of course). I have to do a comparison to really know. Also, sound separation is really weak with these so the imaging isn't so good.

But, it's still doesn't stand on it's own to justify being part of a collection if I have the 600/650/6XX. There's no strength of the sound to justify it. IMO, they really need to work on the design to the get the most optimal sound.

 

[DTgill]

I really like the G-pads with my SR325X, I like them with my PS500 cans comfortable and can be worn for longer than an hour.

Bokie G pads

 

[SilverEars]

I really like the G-pads with my SR325X, I like them with my PS500 cans comfortable and can be worn for longer than an hour.

Bokie G pads

I'll give the G-pads knockoff a try. With the OG 325, I didn't like G-pads on it. Preferred L-pads.

 

[ishmaelk]

After my initial doubts, I found myself going back to the 325X a lot.
I really like them, but I agree the comfort is bad, specially if you're wearing glasses.
I bought S and G pads and I use them depending on the time I'm going to use them and for a different tuning now and then.

 

[Syver]

I've done some listening of the 325X, and I'm really not too engaged with the headphone to be motivated to listen more.

Rant on Grados: I don't like how foam pads that has no seal or any sort of decent fit around the ear is used. Also, there doesn't seem to be any purposeful tuning, like what pads would work best on which model, etc.. like HD650 or 600. So, it feels like the drivers have potential, but the design just keeps it from sounding optimal.

With the 325X, I don't like the stock pads. There is not much seal around the ear to contain the bass, and also the sound stage suffers quite a bit. I this the L-cush whould help with this, but in terms of enhancing the bass further, I got some cheap pads from Amazon that's in between G-cush and L-cush. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYQ3PL1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

And this pad works quite well in terms of sound stage and bass. Also keeps your ears distanced from the driver surface. But, I think the highs sounds lesser quality than the stock pads so there's a trade-off. There's something to distance of the ears to the drivers and the sound quality of the highs.

I do think the upper-mids are tamed from the OG 325, which is great for those want a more smoother experience. But, the resolution may have degraded along with it. It maybe more relaxed with greater bass (with the proper pads of course). I have to do a comparison to really know. Also, sound separation is really weak with these so the imaging isn't so good.

But, it's still doesn't stand on it's own to justify being part of a collection if I have the 600/650/6XX. There's no strength of the sound to justify it. IMO, they really need to work on the design to the get the most optimal sound.

I could not disagree more.
The 325x sound very good to me and very different from the HD6 series.
They have become my go-to amidst a number of other more expensive headphones .
The comfort issue is real but easily fixed with the aftermarket options available (already discussed in another thread).
I do not always agree with What-HiFi but this time I do. The 325x are the new reference in this price range as far as i am concerned at least for Rock, Pop and guitar music in general.

 

[SilverEars]

I really like the G-pads with my SR325X, I like them with my PS500 cans comfortable and can be worn for longer than an hour.

Bokie G pads

I tried the G-pads you listed, and it does enhance the sound stage. I do think it generally works for the 325X for added sound stage space and sub-bass (or should we say sub-bass is more noticible since strength of bass is lowered due to the dispersion of sound in the larger space?). The after-market foam pads from Amazon I listed https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYQ3PL1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details&tag=headfi-20 actually enhances the bass impact. These pads are between L and G pads sizing, so I think this is why bass is so prominent with these pads. However, for detail retrieval, I did prefer the flats (which has lots of issues).

I do have the chrome finish 325i, and with the Amazon pads I really do like it. I think the OG 325 is technically better performing, but also the upper-mids are more prominent as well. I really can't tell much of a difference in terms of bass (whether 325X enhanced the bass or not), but the pads do make a difference. With the 325X, I don't like the sound with any of the pads I've tried (Flat, L, G, etc..), but with the 325i, the pads I got from Amazon just works perfectly! Because I wasn't listening much of it, and now I would listen to it more due to the bass that's enhanced. I tried the G-pads with the 325i and I lost the bass impact (and it messes up the tonality), so I do prefer the pads I got from Amazon. The pads I got from Amazon really works with the OG 325 because it keeps the ear more distanced and keep the cup size small for stronger bass (and larger for bigger imaging space), and reduces the upper-mids prominence just enough to sound detailed without being too excessive. So, these pads are the best of happy medium of trade-offs of various pads (or the most normal).

So, it's OG 325 for me as it sounds better transparent, separation, imaging, with the right pads. OG may have had better technical drivers. For any of you have 325, I highly recommend getting the pads I posted if looking for good bass impact. For me, these are my go to pads for any Grado.

 

[Stevko]

I got the 325X the other day, and out of the box, left driver wasn't functional (This is a first time I've ever encountered driver defect out of the box). A bummer. I really dislike the new cabling. Sheathing is so stiff, it's annoying. Why can't they just go with detachable cables, and attach something like the Sennheiser's?

Same with mine.left driver dead

 

[Mightygrey]

Same with mine.left driver dead

It might be the cable, rather than the driver being 'dead'.

If it's non functioning out of the box, of course you should get a replacement. If you want to see if a driver is functional, open up the cup in question (2 mins of heating with a hairdryer will loosen the glue), and touch both solder pads on the back of the driver with the two terminals of a multimeter set to measure resistance (ohms). If it shows ~38 ohms and you hear a slight 'crackle', the driver is most likely fine.

 

[rfernand]

Same with mine.left driver dead

I got mine yesterday and the right driver is mute. :’( they look pretty, thou. The new cable looks promising. Not sure what to think of the cushions.

Bad soldering or luck, who knows. I’m waiting for the fine folk at Grado to get back to me. I’m sure they’re busy.

 

[Stevko]

Got my money back. Buyed used gw100 instead

 

[Stevko]

I got mine yesterday and the right driver is mute. :’( they look pretty, thou. The new cable looks promising. Not sure what to think of the cushions.

Bad soldering or luck, who knows. I’m waiting for the fine folk at Grado to get back to me. I’m sure they’re busy.

I took a flashlight. soldering looks ok. think it is the chinese drivercoil

 

[SilverEars]

I got mine yesterday and the right driver is mute. :’( they look pretty, thou. The new cable looks promising. Not sure what to think of the cushions.

Bad soldering or luck, who knows. I’m waiting for the fine folk at Grado to get back to me. I’m sure they’re busy.

Seriously? Wow, is Grado still being made in Brooklyn? If so, they need to QC their stuff. I much prefer my OG 325 cable even if it's like a doctor's stethoscope cable.

 

[SilverEars]

I took a flashlight. soldering looks ok. think it is the chinese drivercoil

Was the OG driver made in China as well? Where was Grado's driver traditionally produced?

 

[Stevko]

I read on internett: drivers made in china.
All other: NY

but theyr not alone with china production. Ex meze 99, ollo etc