Today we are going to look at and review the Grado SR225e open-back headphones from Grado Labs – one of the finest headphone makers based in Brooklyn, USA. Grado is very popular and known for their remarkable headphones and phono cartridges for many decades now, despite being a small business. The SR225e is one of their third generation headphones under the Prestige Series. The Prestige Series is what you can call their entry level or budget friendly headphones. They may not look like they are built to impress your eyes, but they are certainly built to impress your ears without breaking the bank. Please continue reading my Grado SR225e headphone review below and find out if this headphone is your cup of tea.
Grado SR225e Headphone Review
The Grado SR225e open-back headphone is just one of the headphones under the Prestige Series. The “e” denotes that this headphone belongs to the third generation of Grado headphones. Previously their headphones ended with “i”. According to Grado Labs the SR225e is all about “Love and Fidelity”. It lets you enjoy your favorite music the way it was meant to be heard.
All of Grado’s headphones have an open-back design, this means that sound does leak from the headphone and the people right next to you will hear what you are listening to. You could also hear the noise coming from your environment. So it’s not a very good idea to listen with an open-back headphone in a noisy environment.
However, the advantage of Grado’s open-back design is the enhanced airflow through the rear metal grill, resulting in a fantastic sound stage, great imaging and crystal clear spatial placement. This gives you an impression that you are in the music, and you are surrounded by it. Most closed-back headphones, specially earphones sounded like the music is just in your head.
Before we take a closer look at the Grado SR225e headphone, let me just give you a brief information about Grado’s e-series headphones which was launched back in June 2014. You can also check out the specifications of the SR225e below and after that we’ll proceed on the next page for the closer look.
About the Grado e-Series 3rd Gen. Headphones
The Grado family makes exquisite headphones by hand in our Brooklyn facility. Each iteration of our products represents a significant step forward in sonic reproduction. Our headphones have already been called “The finest electricity-to-sound transducer in the world”. So how did we improve upon perfection?
- Every single component, surface, and material used in The e Series has been upgraded and optimized for one purpose – outstanding dynamics and fidelity.
- Grado’s proprietary SpaceBlack Polycarbonate is engineered to absorb excess energy and reduce secondary impulses, for a clearer tone.
- The e Series method of curing our select Mahogany tone-woods enhances their natural ability to reduce sound coloration and produce consistent results.
- Rhodium, the most expensive precious metal on earth, is employed to prevent corrosion on connectors, and unwanted graininess in your music.
- More than 60 years of Grado Labs expertise have led us to develop the most refined driver geometry in our history, which tracks music frequencies with unequaled precision.
- Design refinements within the housing prevent stray resonance from interacting with the driver, thus protecting the purity of reproduction.
- The magnetic field has been fine-tuned for symmetry throughout the full range of the voice coil.
- Even the glue is new, optimized for greater strength, less mass, and better reliability.
- The traditional Grado open-back form factor has not changed, because it delivers superior sonic quality and greater realism than closed-back.
So if you’re looking for one good reason to invest in The e-Series headphones here it is: they bring you closer to your favorite artists. Your listening experience will feel more intimate because nothing comes between your ears and the performance.
Grado SR225e Audio Specifications
- Transducer Type: Dynamic
- Operating Principle: Open Air
- Frequency Response: 20 – 22,000 hz
- SPL 1mW: 99.8 dB
- Normal Impedance: 32 ohms
- Driver Matched dB: .05 dB
