Grado SR325e Headphones

Hand produced by the family-run firm in Brooklyn, Ny, the SR325e is instantly recognisable as a Grado, with all the customary chunky foam ear pads wrapped around those distinctive open- rear earcups, placing the 40mm drivers that are dynamic. Fearless branding on each earpiece plus a leather-clad headband give a yesteryear appeal that will split opinion as to whether or not it qualifies as a luxury offering to it.

The slender design is. The on-ear foam pads let my ears more readily than some over-ear designs, but the foam does feel a little bit prickly to the touch.

There's undoubtedly the chunky cable is of the best quality, but it is interesting to understand that Grado has chosen for a mini jack over a full-size 6.35mm termination, although a mini-jack-to-full-jack adapter is provided to allow you to hook it up to equipment fitted with larger-sized headphone output signals.

Sound quality

The Grado SR325e needs a much lower input level to get the same amount output signal as every other model on test here, and is the headphone that is simplest to drive. The efficient drivers make it more compatible to be used having a comparatively lower power output from a portable music player, for example, even if the cable that is chunky and drawn-out isn't especially well suited to applications that are portable.

This is really a tidy on-ear version and as the most compact offering in the group, it doesn't supply much in the way of passive isolation from outside noise. Being an open-back design also means that it is fairly noisy for anyone that's sat next to you too.

I confess that I just like the airiness of open-back earphones, and discover that it's easily the most expansive soundstage of any model on test. The stereo effect feels super extensive and devices put in the stereo soundstage dancing beyond my ears, while vocals are securely fixed to the centre of my brow. This makes the SR325e pleasurable and a fun listen, although not totally accurate in its presentation.

Tonally, it's a distinctive sound, which implies that it stands out from the other versions here thanks to its character that is slightly dry and forward. At first it can seem somewhat towards and unbalanced the brash side of the sound spectrum, however of running in a good amount helps to mellow any factory- the drivers as well as freshness soon bed in after a few hours of use. This done along with the aforementioned forwardness in the group fast begins to mellow, meaning that Dunedin Consort's Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G Major has great clarity and comes across as tremendously engaging without any further suggestion of through brashness.

Bass Guitar amounts are decent as the Grado digs deep, but quality is maybe a little blurry and indistinct when compared with the test competitions. It does not feel nearly as well integrated with the remainder of the frequency range as it lacks some attack that makes it seem to be slightly lagging and uncontrolled when playing Lorde's Royals, and should.

Grado SR325e Headphones photo

Review price £300 / $450