Ross
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2001
- Posts
- 844
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- 105
I own a bunch of Grados - SR80s, 225s, 325s (black) - and I've spent a lot of time with the RS-1s and owned the HP-2 for a while. I've always felt that the 225s were the best headphones Grado produced - they have a warm, liquid, engaging sound. They lose in the bass department to the 325s, but the 325s have a hard, metallic edge; while the RS-1s have a woody colouration that makes them unlistenable for me. The HP-2s were great, with a far more accurate, neutral sound, and yet I always felt they were strangely unmusical, and generally preferred the 225s.
I was excited when I heard about the 325i, which I thought might address some of the shortcomings of the original 325s, which I think have the capacity to be Grado's best headphones with a bit of tweaking. An improved driver without the colouration of the RS-1s might finally achieve the potential of these headphones.
I have spent a few weeks now running in the 325is. Initial impressions were positive - not as dark as the black 325s (which are probably 5 or 6 years old), but a more prominent midrange, more detail, and clearer highs. The results were similar against the 225s.
However, now that I have spent a lot more time listening to the 325i I feel they are a bit of a disappointment. There is a little more detail, but overall they just introduce a lighter, slightly brighter sound. There is also a new colouration that I haven't heard in previous Grados, even the black 325s, which I assume derives from the shape or materials used in the earpieces. Music takes on a slight golden sheen at all frequencies. Some people might like this colouration along with the additional detail. Personally, I find I preferred the old 325s, and the 225s even more.
My conclusion is therefore that, for me, the 225s remain at the top of the Grado range of headphones, regardless of price. They have some shortcomings compared to the more expensive headphones, but their engaging musicality to me capture what Grados are all about, and I find that the aluminium or wooden earpieces of more expensive models produce unaccaptable trade-offs.
I should that I tried all the combinations of bowl and flat pads I have, settling on flats for the 325 and 325i, and bowls for the 225s (taped around the outside edge, which increases bass and deepens the sound, producing the best compromise, in my opinion, for the 225s and SR80s).
I was excited when I heard about the 325i, which I thought might address some of the shortcomings of the original 325s, which I think have the capacity to be Grado's best headphones with a bit of tweaking. An improved driver without the colouration of the RS-1s might finally achieve the potential of these headphones.
I have spent a few weeks now running in the 325is. Initial impressions were positive - not as dark as the black 325s (which are probably 5 or 6 years old), but a more prominent midrange, more detail, and clearer highs. The results were similar against the 225s.
However, now that I have spent a lot more time listening to the 325i I feel they are a bit of a disappointment. There is a little more detail, but overall they just introduce a lighter, slightly brighter sound. There is also a new colouration that I haven't heard in previous Grados, even the black 325s, which I assume derives from the shape or materials used in the earpieces. Music takes on a slight golden sheen at all frequencies. Some people might like this colouration along with the additional detail. Personally, I find I preferred the old 325s, and the 225s even more.
My conclusion is therefore that, for me, the 225s remain at the top of the Grado range of headphones, regardless of price. They have some shortcomings compared to the more expensive headphones, but their engaging musicality to me capture what Grados are all about, and I find that the aluminium or wooden earpieces of more expensive models produce unaccaptable trade-offs.
I should that I tried all the combinations of bowl and flat pads I have, settling on flats for the 325 and 325i, and bowls for the 225s (taped around the outside edge, which increases bass and deepens the sound, producing the best compromise, in my opinion, for the 225s and SR80s).
