Grado SR325e Review | 93 Data compared

The What Hi-Fi? review celebrates the Grado SR325eGo open-backed, on-ear headphones as an unbeaten, five-star award winner in the £100–£400 price bracket. The core strengths (pros) of these headphones lie in their exceptional sound performance, which delivers an impeccably balanced, transparent tone across all frequencies, highly expressive dynamics, and precise, agile timing. Structurally, the reviewer praises their rugged, highly flexible build, creak-free 360-degree rotating earcups, and a surprisingly lightweight, adjustable headband that makes long listening sessions highly enjoyable. Musically, they excel across genres, treating both rhythmic, high-energy tracks and delicate orchestral pieces with equal finesse and clarity. While the formal verdict summary list states "Nothing" under the cons, the body of the review highlights two notable practical limitations (cons). First, due to their strictly open-backed architecture, the headphones suffer from severe sound leakage, causing music to spill out extensively into the immediate environment and making them poorly suited for public settings or shared spaces. Second, from a purely aesthetic standpoint, the headphones are described as simple and utilitarian rather than modern "head-turners," featuring basic spongy foam ear pads that rest...

The Grado SR325eGo is described by reviewers as a specialized open-back headphone delivering an energetic, "Grado house sound" with exceptional mid-range clarity, forward vocals, and detailed instrument separation, particularly excelling with rock and acoustic genres. Key pros include a tight, textured bass response and an intimate, engaging soundstage, making it a strong choice for listeners prioritizing detail over sheer quantity. Conversely, user feedback highlights significant comfort issues due to harsh, on-ear stock cushions and an unpadded headband, along with a heavy, non-detachable cable that limits usability. Major cons include substantial sound leakage, poor sub-bass extension, and a bright treble peak that can cause fatigue or sibilance, making them unsuitable for bass-heavy genres.

The Grado SR325e is an open-back, on-ear dynamic headphone that delivers a fast, fun, and detailed soundstage with excellent instrument separation and airiness. In terms of positives, its bass is remarkably tight, articulate, and well-textured without overpowering the track, sitting perfectly flat in the mix for genres like rock and jazz fusion. Additionally, the high-frequency treble response offers plenty of sparkle and excellent transient detail. The unit is physically lightweight, ensuring it does not cause severe physical wearing fatigue. However, the headphones suffer from glaring flaws, most notably a massive, unnatural 2kHz spike in the mid-range that makes extended listening unbalanced and irritating. The treble peak also leads to harsh sibilance and hissing when pushing the volume. Structurally, the build quality is highly questionable for the price point; it features an annoyingly thick, non-detachable cable and a bulky 3.5mm jack that struggles to fit into phone cases. The review notes that the standard stock L-cushions make comfort awful and increase brightness compared to the smoother S-cushions. Ultimately, due to severe diminishing returns, the author labels the SR325e an expensive mistake,...

The Grado SR325e is a $295 open-backed, on-ear headphone that continues the Brooklyn-based company’s tradition of a "classic house sound" optimized for rock and jazz. Featuring unique powder-coated aluminum earcups instead of the plastic found in lower Prestige models, they offer a distinct 1930s aesthetic and a durable build. While they are heavier than the SR225e due to the metal construction, they remain lightweight and comfortable for long listening sessions, aided by a simple, adjustable metal headband. In terms of performance, the reviewer highlights several pros, including exceptional speed, transparency, and a lively midrange that makes electric guitars and vocals "snarl" with realism. The bass is described as fast and punchy with improved definition over previous iterations, while the treble offers a life-like shimmer without being overly harsh. Their low impedance (32 ohms) and high efficiency also make them very easy to drive using portable devices, though they scale well with better amplification.

The RTINGS.com review identifies the Grado SR325e/SR325Go as above-average, open-back headphones, praised for delivering highly detailed, accurate audio with a spacious soundstage, particularly for critical, neutral listening. Pros include efficient, easy-to-drive performance without needing an amplifier, while key cons involve a lack of sub-bass, a heavy design that causes discomfort over time, and poor stability. Designed specifically for quiet, indoor environments, these headphones are unsuitable for commuting or office use, as they lack all passive noise isolation and leak significant sound, according to the review. The non-detachable, thick cable restricts movement, further confining the headphones to stationary use, though they excel at resolving high-fidelity vocal tracks in that setting.

The Grado SR325e is an open-back headphone from the Brooklyn-based family company that delivers exceptional detail, precise dynamics, and clear vocals, especially for genres like classical, folk, or ambient music. It features a distinctive retro design made of powder-coated aluminum housings, a stiff leather-wrapped headband, and cups that rotate 360 degrees. At an impedance of 32 ohms, it is easy to drive directly from a smartphone, though it benefits from a dedicated amplifier. Key pros highlighted in the review include its crystal-clear sonic precision, low power requirement, and a surprisingly precise clamping pressure that mitigates the usual discomfort associated with Grado's standard foam ear rings. On the downside, the headphone's open-back nature causes a massive amount of audio bleed, making it unsuitable for public use. The sound signature lacks bass emphasis, which will leave fans of hip-hop or electronic music unsatisfied. Furthermore, the review notes minor design flaws, such as a plastic ring behind the housing that looks cheap, and a thick, heavy cable that cannot be removed from the cups. Finally, the unboxing experience is barebones, as it arrives...

Sound Performance and Acoustics The Grado Prestige Series SR325e is an open-back pair of headphones that provides an exceptionally clear, highly detailed, and lively sonic performance. Thanks to its open-back design, it delivers spacious stereo imaging and a wider, more immediate soundstage than competing closed-back models like the Sennheiser Momentum or Beyerdynamic T 51p. However, this acoustic configuration prevents the headphones from isolating external noise and causes them to leak sound, making them poorly suited for travel or quiet office settings.