Quick update. I’ve always been a skeptic of “burn in” with headphones, but damn if these aren’t smoother after leaving music running all night and morning. I’m sure “burn in” with my brain is happening, too.
These just sound so different than my HD 6XX and LCD-X 2021, which is what I sought. I wanted something to fill a hole in my sonic palette:
– Warm, rolled-off treble, great mids: HD 6XX
– Neutral, great detail, malleable with EQ: LCD-X 2021
– Something more treble-oriented, with more bite but not grating (ahem, Beyer): Grado 325x?
I’m still rocking the Geekria “bowl” G pads for comfort and a sound signature that suits me better than the stock F pads.
These are growers, baby. I like them the more I listen. More updates to come!
A comment on comfort: if you can, try ou the Nyczaj (old Shipibo) earpads, they are fantastic. I had an SR80e with three other pads: G, S and F. I struggled with it because I likes the sound of the S pads more, plus the feeling on the skin of the G pads where a little weird. I ended selling it, but recently came across a GW100 with a pair of these pads, and let me tell, they’re on different league. Can’t say how it will affect the sound though.
You could also try Dekoni, I really like the foam in their products and the shape seems very similar. Plus Dekoni usually measure to tell you what kind of changes to expect with sound.
Definitely will consider your option. But I’m also zeroing in on ZMF’s Beyer oval pads with the Grado adapters. A lot of positive feedback on that setup from people with whom I’ve conversed on forums, and I LOVE the ZMF perforated pads for my HD 6XX.
Besides Nyczaj, a cheaper alternative would be Accessory House in Amazon. I’ve used the XL from then with the SR80e and they are very comfy.
Alternatively, there are some Etsy shops that sell full leather headbands for grado. Never tried any of them but some look really good, and even in different colors.
I would say the shipibo pads dont change it too much, maintain the grado sound, but are much more comfortable and maybe a slight bump on low end, but not a huge difference imho
I have the hybrid pads on my hemp and on the gw100, they also imho add a bit more mids and bass, take a touch off the highs, but not drastically different imho
Headbands are $60, pair of small pads is $115, and a pair of large pads is $160 from what I read. Hard to swallow indeed for a sub-$300 pair of headphones. Yikes!
Now that I’ve stretched the headband on my new 325x, I’m enjoy the stock pads a LOT more. Dig the F flat stock and the G bowls equally.
The F stock definitely brings out deeper, richer bass – makes this headphone very balanced, which is shocking considering Grado’s reputation! The G bowls create much wider soundstage at the slight expense of lesser bass. Detail remains pretty equal with both.
Thanks for all of your tips, audio friends. These 325x are keepers!
Man, every time I listen to my 325x, I gleefully think, “Did I just pay only $295 for the headphone I’ve sought for about the last five years?”
I’ve paid much more for other cans (I own a kilobuck headphone), but the more I listen to the 325x, the more I think it might be the best match for what I’ve wanted out of a headphone since I got into audiophile cans about five years ago.
The tuning is damn near perfect without EQ to my ears for the genres I enjoy the most – rock, classic rock, hard rock, Americana, alt-country. The G “bowl” pads create far wider soundstage than my LCD-X 2021 and HD 6XX, two cans I own and still dig.
And to think I planned on returning these after my first impression! I’m a dumbass, a happy dumbass.
It’s funny how a good chunk of the audiophile community immediately shits on Grados without even trying them.
Yes, they have unique tuning. Yes, their build quality can be sketch. Yes, their on-ear design isn’t the most comfortable.
But the tuning … ah, the tuning. I own an LCD-X 2021, an HD 6XX and a Grado SR325x, and the tuning of the 325x out of the box kills the LCD-X or the HD 6XX. The 325x is a great headphone for rock and alt-country, and it’s only $295 and easy to drive.
Hi, this is my first post, I ve a grado hemp v2 (new chambers and braided cable) with both drivers damaged. I live in Italy and the local official seller can sell at about 250€ a couple of drivers. I know that hemp v2 uses x driver, but are the same of the prestige series? Could I use the driver from a sr60x? Thanks in advance for your help
Hard to swallow indeed for a sub-$300 pair of headphones. Yikes!
