Overview

The Grado SR325x is an open-back dynamic headphone handcrafted in Brooklyn, New York, representing the top of Grado's Prestige Series and delivering the brand's signature forward, energetic sound in a package built for critical listening and pure musical enjoyment. It features Grado's fourth-generation 44mm dynamic drivers housed in machined aluminum housings, producing a lively, detailed sound with a pronounced midrange presence that brings vocals and electric guitars to the front of the mix with striking immediacy and clarity. The treble is bright and incisive, revealing high-frequency detail and transient information with a speed that dynamic drivers rarely achieve, while the bass is tight and articulate rather than deep or weighty. The on-ear foam cushion design is distinctly Grado, providing an intimate soundstage that places the listener directly within the recording rather than observing from a distance. The eight-conductor cable is thick and durable, terminating in a 3.5mm plug with a 6.3mm adapter. Build quality reflects Grado's artisanal approach, with hand-assembled components and the unmistakable retro aesthetic that has defined the brand since 1953. These headphones are perfect for rock, jazz, and vocal-centric music lovers who crave presence and detail. The on-ear design and firm clamping force can become uncomfortable during very long listening sessions, and the bright tuning may fatigue treble-sensitive listeners.

Headphones

A Brooklyn-made open-back headphone with machined aluminum housings and fourth-generation drivers delivering a forward, energetic sound with striking vocal immediacy and incisive treble detail.

Instrument Details

$295 Advanced
Brand Grado
Type Open-Back Audiophile Headphones
Made In United States
Year 2021
4.6 1 vote

AI Reviews

4.6 /5

The SR325x remains the crown jewel of Grado's Prestige Series, offering a visceral, 'front-row' listening experience that few open-back cans can match at this price point. The move to the 4th-generation 44mm drivers has refined the classic Grado house sound; while the signature midrange bite is still there"making electric guitars and snare drums snap with startling realism"there's a newfound smoothness in the top end and a more authoritative, textured bass response than its predecessors.

The machined aluminum housings aren't just for show; they provide a rigid, low-resonance environment that aids in the headphone's exceptional transient speed and rhythmic timing. However, the Grado experience is a package deal. The supra-aural (on-ear) design and the flat 'F-cushion' pads can be physically fatiguing for long sessions, and the thick, eight-conductor cable, while built like a tank, is notoriously stiff and lacks the flexibility found in modern competitors.

For studio tracking, these are too leaky, but for critical listening of rock, blues, or jazz, the SR325x offers a level of engagement and transparency that is addictive. It's a specialized tool for the listener who values energy and harmonic detail over a distant, clinical soundstage. If you want your music to feel 'live' rather than just 'reproduced,' these Brooklyn-made icons are essential.

Category Ratings

Headphones
4.6
Feb 15, 2026
AI-Generated Review Generated via Google API. This is an automated evaluation, not a consumer review. Learn more
Grado SR325x Screenshot

Added: Feb 12, 2026

gradolabs.com/products/sr325x

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