Grado Labs SR80x & SR325x review

Amping and powering

One of the great things about Grado headphones is that they are pretty sensitive across the board, and really don’t need a ton of power to get their drivers singing. The benefit of this is that you don’t have to fork out on a gargantuan headphone amplifier to enjoy using them, and you’ll actually be able to extract a pretty decent performance from humble devices like smartphones and laptops. And in the case of the SR80x, there’s a good chance that that’s where they’ll be seeing quite a bit of use. 

The SR80x only needed around 40% of my Samsung Galaxy’s available volume to get up to ‘spirited’ listening levels, providing a pretty rocking playback experience of the Smashing Pumpkins ‘Monuments to an Elegy’ album. Stepping up to a dedicated DAP in the form of the Astell&Kern SR25 does make for a more refined listen, probably courtesy of the better DAC on offer, but with no real marked effect on frequency response. 

Powering a headphone from a dedicated discrete device is almost always preferable, and paring the SR80x with the Schiit Asgard 3 does yield some nominal benefits in terms of overall dynamics as well as upper/lower end extension. However, I will state that a desktop amplifier is by no means a ‘must have’ with the SR80x. I can see many happy listeners buying the SR80x along with an affordable DAP and calling it ‘a day’. 

While the SR325x is similar in terms of power requirements to the SR80x and will go ‘loud’ quickly off any device, it does scale better and perform differently when pairing with different source components. The SR325x performed well on the SR25 but rewarded even more when fed with desktop components. Powering via the Topping A90 didn’t require much by way of volume in low gain to get proceedings moving, but it did provide a more vivid sense of depth and realism when it came to staging and layering, as well as providing a more taut sense of ‘oomph’ in the bass. Tonally this pairing did sound a little on the lean side, but I found that the S325x preferred a warmer, Class-A source. 

The recently reviewed Burson Playmate 2 added a nice sense of richness to the SR325’s character, particularly in the mid-bass and mid-range, although I did find that there wasn’t much playable volume range on this device on the SR325x – I’m not kidding when I say that ‘01’ in low gain was plenty for me! 

The Schiit Asgard 3 was a great tonal match for the SR325x and thankfully had plenty of usable play in the volume pot without any channel imbalance in low range. It made for a nice lively and energetic pairing with SR325x, with great dynamics but a slightly more intimate overall presentation. 

The most enjoyable pairing I found with the SR325x was the Fidelice Precision Headphone Amplifier from Rupert Neve Designs. This all Class-A design born from the legendary studio engineer isn’t exactly a powerhouse with only 300mW on tap, but it really lent the SR325x a degree of welcome treble refinement along with super-precise attack, decay and imaging. This amp provides a lovely balance of tone, detail and grip on the new 44mm drivers, and I’m looking forward to sharing more about it in an upcoming review. 

Comparisons

The Hemp Headphone

The question that many of you might be asking by now, is how exactly does the SR325x stack up to The Hemp Headphone? And that’s a very good question indeed, and it was an interesting one to test out. I suspected that there might be some close familial ties between the two, judging by the similarities in specs between the drivers, and listening proves these the SR325x and The Hemp Headphone to be very similar headphones indeed – more similar than different, in fact. Both Grados display a slightly more even-handed tuning compared to their traditional mid/lower-treble forward approach, which might be due to the newfound synergy between the 44mm driver and the F-Cush flat pads first ‘discovered’ with The Hemp Headphone. The SR325x is tuned to be less ‘relaxed’ in the upper register, offering a degree more clarity and transparency in the upper treble which makes them feel a little more nimble and sparkly compared to the slightly more ‘chilled’ approach taken in the Hemp. 

The 325x also out-stretches The Hemp Headphone when it comes to bass extension, yielding more impact and thump from Thundercat’s bass guitar. These differences give the impression that the SR325x is a more dynamically capable headphone, offering greater light and shade within the mix of a song due to its ability to extend further at each end of the register, which also creates a better sense of layering and soundstage depth. By comparison, The Hemp Headphone, no slouch in the technical department, feels flatter and more congested in its presentation. Which one you might prefer will largely come down to your preference in both sound signature and aesthetics. If you like a slightly more relaxed tuning, The Hemp Headphone will more likely suit your ears more than the greater emphasis on clarity and precision baked into the SR325x. Personally, at over $100 cheaper than The Hemp Headphone, I think the SR325x has it licked in both the performance and value stakes. Then again, The Hemp Headphone is a very different kind of proposition, being a limited edition run with a different kind of aesthetic and story behind the product inspiration, which might appeal to you more. 

Sennheiser HD650/Drop HD6XX

The legendary Sennheiser HD650 is rightly considered as both a tonal and price-to-performance benchmark, especially with it being available for $220 USD when badged as the Sennheiser/Drop HD6XX. It’s interesting then, to look at how this compares to the SR325x head-to-head as viable options for all-round open-back performers under $300. It must be noted that as 300-ohm headphones, the Sennheisers require pairing with a reasonably powerful amplifier in order to extract their full performance capabilities, while the Grado will happily deal with being played out of a smartphone. So, this must be factored into the overall price consideration between the two. Swapping out the SR325x for the HD650 shows the differential between power requirements, requiring a nudge up the volume pot from 8 o’clock to 9 o’clock on my Questyle CMA600i to reach the same sound pressure level. 

The HD650 is a starkly different-sounding headphone having just listened to the SR325x. It sounds positively silky and laid-back after the in-your-face energy and brashness of the Grado. It’s also a far more intimate presentation, feeling distinctly more like a headphone experience versus the more ‘out there’ staging of the SR325x which provides an overall a much more open and airy experience. While the HD650 is an overall warmer-sounding headphone with a much thicker, syrupy mid-bass and lower mid-range, the SR325x is a better bass performer in my books, possessing better speed, slam, and definition over the more bloom-y low end in the Sennheiser. The mid-range is where things become interesting – do you prefer realism, detail and presence? Or does the idea of texture, warmth, and a luxurious tone tickle your fancy? If it’s the former, the Grado will be your cup of tea, whilst the HD650 will appeal to those looking for the latter. The treble department on these two headphones are like chalk and cheese – the HD650’s being extremely gentle and laid-back, making the SR325x feel like a veritable detail monster by comparison. That’s not to say that the detail isn’t all present in the Sennheiser, but rather it’s just not being hyper force-fed. 

The interesting thing about the new voicing of the SR325x is that it’s now more of a versatile contender in the audiophile headphone stakes, and in my mind makes for one of the best options for an open-back dynamic under $500 – much like the HD650/HD6XX. Which one you might prefer will depend on your source components, but also on your tastes in music and sound signature. Lovers of live music, rock, and metal will probably prefer the energy and extension of the SR325x over the more forgiving nature of the Sennheiser. 

Focal Clear

It might seem a little unfair comparing the $295 SR325x to the original Focal Clear, which still commands retail price around the $1K mark, but I thought it would be prudent to briefly comment on how the SR325x stacks up against another well-renowned and very high-quality open-back dynamic headphone. The Clear is a much more substantial piece of equipment in terms of build and engineering and has a far more ‘luxury’ vibe to it, but it also backs this up with incredible clarity tuning and technicalities. Consider me surprised then, when I found myself spending more than a few tracks comparing the two headphones, despite their apparent mismatch on paper. The reason I say this is because they both do ‘clarity’ extremely well, but go about doing it in different ways. Initially, the 325x feels like it has similar levels of detail across the board, and actually out-stretches the Clear in terms of perceived soundstage width. The 325x undoubtedly has a far more emphasised peak in the upper mid-range – the Focal does have a couple of lower treble peaks itself, but it feels less aggressive and front-foot than the 325x. In terms of overall body, the Grado feels like it has more ‘meat on the bones’ courtesy of the new tickle in the mid-bass and lower mid-range, but the Focal is far and away a more linear, balanced listen. While the Clear’s bass isn’t as comparatively emphasised, it makes the SR325x’s rather decent bass feel a bit sluggish by comparison – the Clear’s bass really is excellent for a neutrally-tuned open-back dynamic. 

Where the Focal really does pull away from the SR325x is in terms of imaging, treble refinement, and overall instrument separation. While you think the Grado might keep up with the Clear for a couple of tracks, the Focal’s treble refinement and ability to layer detail among a black 3D soundscape ultimately show why the Focal commands both respect and its price tag. Still, it’s an interesting comparison and commendable that the SR325x can play with the big boys. Where it does have an edge over the Clear is sheer enjoyment. The Clear is tuned for technicalities and very much an ‘audiophile’ tuning, but damn if the SR325x doesn’t make you want to keep digging into album after album long after you’ve hung the Clear back on its hook. 

Final thoughts

While the rate of change at Grado Labs is measured differently compared to ‘other’ manufacturers, it’s exciting to see that Grado has made some cautious yet worthwhile leaps forward when it comes to updating the Prestige Series while keeping their attention on delivering their house sound, and house design firmly front-and-centre. 

Putting aside the noteworthy but not altogether game-changing design and furniture updates on the new ‘x’ series headphones, the big story here is the evolved and yet still eminently ‘Grado sound’ which is evident on both the SR80x and SR325x. I think that the runaway success of The Hemp Headphone might have caused some trickle-down effects at Grado’s Brooklyn HQ, because the new SR80x and SR325x are no longer headphones that I’d recommend to just Grado fans, but headphones that are worthy of consideration by anyone wanting to explore first-rate sound at either under $200 in the case of the SR80x, or under $500 in the case of the SR325x.

The SR80x and SR325x are more balanced, capable, and versatile beasts than their predecessors, and I can say with this in mind that they’re both better-sounding and better value as a result. Each deserves a hearty recommendation from us here at Headfonia at their respective price points.

(Oh, and the fact that they both look pretty cool in their own retro way makes for extra bonus points too).