Grado SR125i headphones review

Grado SR125i in the box

If you looked at the photo of the Grado SR125s on the left and thought, “Who in their right mind would buy those ugly things?!” you’re not alone.  And if you looked at the photo and thought, “Those headphones look like they’re from the 1960s,” you’re not far from the truth.  When I first spotted a set of Grado cans online, those were thoughts that went through my head.  The first ones that I laid eyes on were the PS1000s which retail for somewhere north of $1,500.  I don’t know about you, but when I see a product that has little or no visual appeal or heavy marketing, yet commands a steep price, I take notice.  After I began researching Grado Labs, I quickly learned why they are priced the way they are.



First off, let me say that if you’re only into using earbuds for listening to your MP3 player while working out, Grado headphones are not for you.  If you’re into trendy, stylish headphones such as Skull Candy, these headphones are not for you.  Finally, if you’re looking for headphones that you can keep for a few years and replace when you get tired of looking at them, these headphones are not for you.  Grados are built to last and built to perform.  It’s not necessarily that they don’t look very good.  It’s more like they look like something you wouldn’t want to be seen in alive…or dead.  That may be a bit too harsh, as I can appreciate the retro styling that has been prevalent in Grado cans since their conception over 50 years ago.  I am no audiophile, but people like myself that buy Grado audio components are buying them for how they sound and not how they look.

A little background
Joseph Grado founded Grado Labs in 1955 in Brooklyn, NY.  Throughout the company’s history, they have always manufactured their products by hand in their Brooklyn factory with the exception of one low-end product called the iGrado.  Being made in America, one can expect a higher price point, but I found for the quality the Grados are as good or better than their overseas competition.  When you look over a Grado product, you can see the homespun elements in little things like weld and solder joints.  It’s clear that no product leaves their production line without many skilled hands, eyes, and ears signing off on the craftsmanship.

My choice
After researching the Grado product line for a while, I had pretty much settled for the 225 model of circumaurul headphones.  My headphone use consists mostly of video editing where I need to listen critically to audio for the purpose of both clean up and effecting tracks.  I also enjoy really listening to music occasionally to hear the nuances that are normally missed when listening in a car or on a home stereo.  Since Grados are not sold in “big box” stores, I had to locate my local dealer, which is Statement Media and Design in Knoxville.  I drove over to their store with my old Sony MDR-V600s in tow.  Once there, I was able to compare the Grados with my Sonys in a side-by-side situation.  There wasn’t a jaw-dropping difference between the two sets, but the difference was there.  I decided on the Grados right there, but the next question was which model.  Statement Media also carried the 125s, which were 25% cheaper than the 225 model.  I then compared those two sets and found that there wasn’t a $50 difference between them.  I walked out with the 125s and haven’t regretted my choice.

Comfort
There’s one consistent theme that runs through peoples’ review of Grado headphones: uncomfortable.  This negative point concerned me greatly in my decision to purchase, so it was imperative that I be able to try them on before I decided.  My Sonys have been very comfortable over the years, but their weakness was their bulk and their tendency to give me sweaty ears.  I found the Grados to be surprisingly lightweight, and in the month that I’ve used them, I have not found them the least bit uncomfortable.  The worst thing that happened was that the area between the backs of my ears and my scalp got a little sweaty once after wearing them for about three hours straight.  The ear cups are adequately padded to not wear on my ears, and the vinyl covered metal strap balances well between distributing the pressure and not messing up my coif too much.

My old Sony cord below with the larger Grado cord above

Sound
As I said, I’m not an audiophile, so I won’t bore you by quoting spec sheets on the Grado SR125s.  You can easily read that on Grado’s site if you need to know.  The important thing is how they work for your individual situation.  For me, they just work.  I wasn’t familiar with the open-back design before deciding on these cans, and it’s not a design for everyone.  Since these sit mainly on your ear and not around them, they won’t block peripheral sound as effectively.  You can also count on others around you being able to hear what you’re listening to loud and clear.  However, the trade-off in how the audio sounds is more than worthwhile.  With my old Sonys (and with any around-the-ear design) the audio sounds very contained.  It’s as if you are listening in a box.  The Grados deliver a high-resolution sound without the echo or muffling of the closed ear style.

Conclusion
Whether you’re coming from the earbuds that come with your iPod, or you’ve been using a decent set of circumauruls for several years like me, you’ll find that Grados will make you re-examine your music.  In a quality piano recording, I could hear the soft action of the sustain pedal lifting.  If you are borderline obsessive about audio quality in your personal listening sessions, I would suggest you look into the Grado brand to see if there’s a model that meets your budget and needs.  You can find a complete listing of their full product line and local dealers at www.gradolabs.com.

This review also posted at: http://pianoanimato.com/2011/05/17/grado-sr125i-headphones-review/