One of the detail champions of the headphone world, the SR325i open up the door to sounds on recordings you've never heard.
Grado Labs’ headphones have a distinct flavor to them. Some
people love the Grado sound. Some folks do not. Having owned a pair of Grado
headphones for more than ten years, I certainly fall into the “love” category.
Manufactured in Brooklyn, the SR325i are built with an attention to detail
that has made them legendary when it comes to durability. Ten years for a $60
pair of headphones that have more miles on them then most human beings, is impressive
in my book. I have a hard time believing that the more expensive 325i would not last just as long as my SR60’s.
The construction quality of these is really quite superb.
The drivers are matched to 0.5 dB, and the voice coils are from Grado’s
oxygen-free copper. The cable is made from the same copper and attaches to both
earpieces. The Grado headband is a love/hate thing with many people. It is a
simple piece of metal covered with leather that is quite flexible, but also
somewhat uncomfortable unless you gently bend the headband to get it to conform
to your noggin. The height adjusters swivel which is a great feature because
you can turn the aluminum alloy-covered earcups a full 360 degrees and lay them
down flat in a bag.
The SR325i’s cable
is terminated with a full-size ¼” stereo plug, which means that you cannot plug
these into the iPod unless you order the optional 1/8” mini-jack plug from
Grado or one of their supporting retailers. It really should come as part of
the package considering the cost.
On some models, such as the SR325i (the “i” stands for “improved”),
the Grado sound is taken to another level with more detail, greater bass
extension, and an enhanced sense of clarity across the midrange that does not
sacrifice the tonal beauty that Grado headphones are known for. The SR325i are a tad too forward sounding for my
liking, but I can understand why detail monsters love these headphones. If it
is on the recording, you will hear it through the 325i. The bass extension is very solid; resolute, taut, and extended.
If you favor vocals, the midrange of the Grado headphones is not going to
disappoint you. Grado headphones remind me a great deal of their place of
birth. Brooklyn. Many interesting people
reside in Brooklyn. Colorful folks with something
to say. Always. The best pizza in New York is
in Brooklyn, so these earn an extra point just
for that association. DiFarra cannot be touched.
One area where the SR325i
are a tad too revealing is in the top end. There is so much detail coming out
of these drivers that it can become fatiguing after awhile at higher listening levels.
At lower levels, it does not bother me as much, but I do know that it exists.
Bright sounding recordings might become less popular in your rotation if you
crank these too loudly.
While they are certainly easy enough to drive with an iPod,
I would highly recommend a good headphone amplifier with these. Look for
something with a firm grasp of the midrange and sweetened top end. The
combination might be utterly fantastic.
The Verdict
