Grado SR-225 Consumer Headphones

(Updated 4/15/2002)

Original Review (5/14/2000):

I have been disappointed with every pair of headphones that I have owned--unfortunately I didn't realize what I was missing until I finally did some research, got some expert opinions, and bought the SR-225s. After suffering with uncomfortable, muddled headphones, the Grados are wonderful.

These headphones have really amazing sound. I can only describe it as light, airy, transparent, and very, very clean crisp sound. Unlike most other reviews I have read (most indicate that the 225s have strong bass and are great for rock), I consider the bass to be well balanced, to the point where I often like to turn up the bass. The bass is definitely very controlled and smooth, but by no means prominent based on my experiences. I'm inclined to say that they're better suited to vocals and classical, where the detail can really be appreciated. With the Grado's, I've actually been disappointed to hear the flaws in the recordings of some pop/rock songs (amp buzz, noise), though this is no fault of the Grados.

I personally find open-air phones more comfortable and think they sound much better than sealed/enclosed, but they definitely let in outside noise and can be heard by others in a quiet room. In my listening environment, the Grados are perfect since I like to hear if someone is talking to me, but if you're looking to close off the world, these aren't the top choice.

As for comfort, I was warned that they might be uncomfortable, but I'm pretty happy with them for multi-hour listening sessions. I do wish that the headband had at least a little bit of padding at the top, but this is a relatively minor issue.

I must say that I was unimpressed with the somewhat delicate/flimsy construction, but since they are very light, I can't complain much on that front either. My pair has a flat plastic cover over the metal headband which I thought was rather 'cheap' for this level of headphones, but I recently saw a pair in a store that used leather (or leather-looking material), so hopefully they've improved this for newer editions.

Overall, worth every dollar. An incredible sounding pair of headphones.


New Comments (4/15/2002):

Well, I thought I would add an update now that I've had these for almost two years now. I have since listened to two other high-end headphones, and the Grados are still my top choice--they have the most amazingly detailed and crisp mids and highs, which I love.

I have compared them against the Etymotic ER-4S (read my review on my Etys on Epinions as well) and Sennheiser HD590s, and if it came down to buying a new pair all over again based purely on my favorite sound, I would go for the Grados.

I have also hooked two friends on Grados--both are musicians with rock bands. After hearing my Grados, one jumped on eBay that same day and found a pair of SR-60s for sale at a great price. The other agrees that the Grados have amazing sound.

One word of warning: Once you listen to these headphones, every other pair of speakers or headphones will sound dull and lifeless. They will become the standard by which you judge all other audio, which unfortunately, will never match up to the sound you get from the 225s.

On a side note, the SR-60s have a very similar sound to the SR-225s. If you are looking to save some cash, they are a good option, but after comparing the two, there is a noticeable difference between them. The first difference is that the 225s have an 'airier' more transparent sound, with a bit more detail and separation between voices. The second difference is that the SR-60s have a _very_ shallow 'soundstage' when it comes to imaging, so instead of being spread out and identifiable in certain locations in front of you, instruments/voices sound like they are rather flat and right next to your ear. So in case you were wondering, you do get more for your money with the 225s, but the SR-60s are still a great lower-cost set of headphones (and I suspect the SR-125s are a good compromise as well).