The Grado SR325 Classic is where the familiar Grado house sound meets a more focused, grown‑up presentation. It takes the open‑back, on‑ear formula of the SR60 and SR80 and couples it with a precision‑machined aluminum housing and a refined 44 mm X2 driver, so you hear more articulation, separation and control without losing the immediacy that makes these headphones enjoyable in the first place.
At the heart of the SR325 Classic is Grado’s 44 mm X2 dynamic driver platform: a Mylar diaphragm, copper voice coil and rare‑earth magnet system tuned for speed and clarity. In practice, that means bass that is tighter and more defined than the lower models, a midrange that brings vocals and guitars forward with real presence, and high frequencies that extend cleanly enough to reveal fine detail and room ambience when the recording allows. It is voiced to feel energetic and communicative rather than laid‑back, which suits listeners who want to follow the interplay in a mix and hear subtle shifts in dynamics and phrasing.
The aluminum housings are not just cosmetic. By moving to a rigid, machined shell and pairing it with Grado’s open‑air design, the SR325 Classic reduces unwanted resonances and allows the driver to work into a more stable acoustic environment. The result is a slightly “drier,” more precise take on the Grado signature: edges sound cleaner, transients feel a little snappier, and complex passages hold together with more composure than on the entry‑level models. Driver matching within 0.05 dB helps with stereo imaging, so centre images and pan positions feel better locked‑in across the soundstage.
On the head, the SR325 Classic still feels very much like a Grado. The F‑cushion earpads place the drivers in a position that balances focus and openness, while the Signature headband and lightweight frame keep overall weight manageable given the metal cups. The fixed Signature Silver cable offers a step up in conductor quality and geometry over the simpler Classic models, aimed at preserving signal integrity from your amplifier to the drivers without becoming unwieldy in everyday use. Build and finish are in line with the rest of the Classic Series: purposeful rather than flashy, with the emphasis on longevity and serviceability.
With a frequency response of 18 Hz–24 kHz, sensitivity around 98–100 dB and a nominal impedance of 38 ohms, the SR325 Classic is easy enough to drive from a good integrated amp, desktop DAC/amp or dedicated headphone amplifier. It will play from more modest sources, but it clearly benefits from cleaner amplification and higher‑quality recordings, making it a sensible choice for a desktop or listening‑room system where the rest of the chain is already doing good work.
If you like the liveliness and intimacy of Grado’s entry‑level models but want more precision, separation and refinement — particularly for focused listening with well‑recorded material — the SR325 Classic sits at a very comfortable point in the range and is well worth considering.
