Grado RS1, RS2 and SR325 Headphone Review

(2008 Note: Though the SR325 was replaced by the SR325i a couple of years back, this old article is still relevant as the 325i was a slight improvement on the SR325.)

Maybe you’ve seen Stereophile’s bi-annual “Recommended Components” list which always lists Grado’s $700 wooden RS-1 headphones as “Class A”, (their ultimate rating for state of the art sound)! Or maybe you’ve read one of dozens of reviews touting the RS-1’s as the ultimate dynamic headphone, the reference with which to judge all other dynamic headphones! Or maybe you’re just curious as to how a simple headphone could cost $700?

Grado RS1 Unless you’ve done a lot of research, or have subscriptions to some better audio magazines, you probably aren’t even aware that Grado makes a whole line of headphones of which the RS-1 is their flagship. Well, my question is this: Why don’t you see very many reviews of Grado’s less expensive headphones for the cost conscious budding audiophile? My guess is that compared to the ultra high priced gear audio reviewers are accustomed to testing, $700 for a pair of Grado’s best is a bargain. They aren’t too concerned with price because cost is secondary to them, it’s the sound that counts. But since GoodCans.com is all about headphones and taking the cost conscious road to the audiophile world, I am going to explore Grado’s second level headphones in comparison to their flagship. This review is more or less a comparison of Grado’s top three headphones: The $300 SR325’s and the $500 RS-2’s vs. the RS-1’s!

First off, I am going to reiterate a point which I have made in several other articles since many of our readers are not familiar with the audiophile world when it comes to sound quality. With high end audio equipment, the value per dollar greatly decreases as you go up the cost ladder. For example, a piece of audio equipment that costs twice as much may only sound slightly better. But this is what the audiophile world is all about. People spend big bucks on audio equipment to get ultimately great sound rather than spend less and maybe settle for only great sound. And remember, good sound quality is a very personal thing. If it sounds good to you, you have accomplished your goal, (but to be on the safe side, you might just consider avoiding listening to someone else’s audiophile setup).

The same cost/value relationship is also true with Grado headphones. The RS-1’s are GREAT sounding headphones, but then for less than half the price, so are the SR325’s. Whether you will want to spend the extra bucks on the best is your call?

Physical Description: Grado’s RS-1’s are revered for their wooden, (mahogany), housing. They are very classy, almost worth the price of admission just for the opportunity to listen to headphones made from something other than just plastic, (plastic is fairly standard on virtually all headphones these days)! Oh, there’s still a little molded plastic at the area where the transducers are attached to the headband, but it is minimal and well constructed. The circle around the wooden transducer housing which holds them against your ears appears to be a solid black metal. The metal pins between the headband and the metal circle are a bit heavier duty than the same component found standard on all other Grado headphones. The headband, like all the Grado’s is a metal strip, but on the RS-1 it is covered by some nice, slightly padded leather.

For $200 less at $495, the RS-2’s have transducer housings also made of mahogany! The housings are larger RS2 Headphones than the standard less expensive Grado models, but they are slightly smaller than those found on the RS-1’s. Other than the padded leather headband cover which is the same as the RS-1’s, the rest of the build matches the standard Grado setup found on all of their less expensive headphones. The portion which holds the transducer housing in place over the ears is a plastic 3/4 circle, the same piece used on the SR60’s, SR80’s, SR125’s... and so on. While this component is not quite as impressive as the RS-1’s metal circle, I have been familiar with Grado headphones for over five years and as far as I am aware, durability has not been a problem with Grado’s headphones. In fact, the earpieces on all of Grado’s models rotates 360 degrees which allows you to stow them flat thus avoiding a breakage problem associated with many other headphones.

SR325 Headphones The SR325’s have a housing the exact same size as the RS-2’s, except they are made of a silver colored brushed aluminum. The headband is also covered with a padded leather, but it is not as wide as that of the RS models. As you would expect, the rest of the build is the exact same as that found on the standard Grado models.

Cord length on all the models is approximately 6 feet and made of UHPLC copper, (Ultra Purity, Long Crystal oxygen free copper...fancy huh!). In any case, the SR225 and below models do not have this fancy copper in the cord... who knows, maybe it does help a little? The SR125 through the RS-1’s all use this UHPLC copper inside them for the voice coil wire. The area on the outside of the housings which allows sound out, (the side facing away from your ear), is a handsome metal mesh, (remember, like all the best sounding headphones, these Grado’s are an “Open” designed headphone). The mesh is black on the wooden RS models and silver on the SR325. The only specification difference between these models is in the frequency response. The RS-1 ranges from 12-30, the RS-2 ranges from 14-28, while the SR325 ranges from 18-24. While the wider frequency range of the more expensive models might impress you, this really seems to have very little to do with sound quality. You can buy some headphones from other companies for well under $100 with equally impressive specs, but their sound quality won’t even come close to the $69 SR60’s which only has a 20-20 range, (even this range is below and above what the average human ear is capable of hearing).

OK, OK... let’s get to that all important comparison... SOUND! Many times, comparing totally different speakers from different companies, can be like comparing apples with oranges. They have a totally different sound which can easily be heard. However, comparing a Grado headphone with a Grado headphone is more akin to comparing apples with apples. Yes there can be slight differences in taste, but the texture is usually very similar. All three Grado’s reviewed here offer better detail than I have heard from any other headphone, (and that includes the Senn HD600’s, HD580’s and HD590’s). Due to their housings being larger than the lower Grado models, these elite Grado’s offer a fuller soundstage. There is more room for the sound to resonate in the air chamber. Maybe you noticed earlier that I mentioned the RS-1’s have a slightly larger housing than the other two models? You guessed it, the RS-1’s have even more room for the sound to resonate in and the result is even a slightly larger effect of the soundstage.

But I want you non-audiophiles or budding audiophiles to take note again. To the casual listener, these headphones will sound virtually the same. Their sound is that close! It is only with very careful listening to well recorded CD’s, (and one’s you are familiar with at that), that you can hear these slight differences.

Occasionally I have read that some feel the SR325’s are too shrill in the upper end. Some of you may have read my other reviews and know that I like the SR325’s very much. To me, when it comes to detail, the 325’s are every bit as good, or better, than the RS models. That emphasis on the upper ranges translates into fantastic detail. Remember, many instruments, even lower ranging instruments, also make subtle high pitched sounds. Stringed instruments being plucked, (including the string bass), woodwind keys, the physical sound made by a drumstick or brush, the breath taken by a singer... all these things are details which can be heard better by headphones that reproduce well on the higher end. Don’t get me wrong though. The SR325’s also offer better bass than do the SR225 and lower models. That extra space in the air chamber and the larger amount of aluminum housing works well in this direction also.

OK, so some of you say that maybe we’re talking too much detail now! After all, most of us grew up on cheap stereos that didn’t offer this kind of detail and who ever get’s to sit that close to the musicians anyway to be able to hear the other sometimes distracting physical sounds many instruments make. That’s where the RS models come in. The wooden housing kind of warms things up a bit. The detail is still pretty much there, it just sounds a little bit more natural. Maybe like you’re in the third row rather than the first row? I have listened to quite a few CD’s with both the SR325’s and the RS-2’s, and to tell you the truth, with some recordings I prefer the RS-2’s and others I prefer the SR325’s. But if I didn’t have the two side by side to compare, I probably wouldn’t miss having the choice to make. In other words, they both sound pretty darn good with most of the recordings I listen to.

I don’t have to go into accolades about the RS-1’s, that has pretty much been said over and over again by the many reviews and the Stereophile recommendation. But comparing it with the RS-2, I find that the sound is close to being the same, with just a little more breathing room around the instruments. Mind you, I had to listen closely to hear that difference. For someone who does not have to have the best, but close to it, the RS-2’s can save you $200, and you still have the warm sound, the detail, and the cool wooden transducer housings!

I know I don’t go into alot of detail about the three headphones. I could tell you I listened to such and such a recording on each and tell you what I heard and what I didn’t hear. But I’ve grown tired of that kind of review. Quick and to the point is my objective. If you are like many people who have to have the best, by all means go for the RS-1’s! If you are like me, and like to buy smart, but always wonder “If would have spent a little more money, I could have had the best...” well then, you might also want to spring for the RS-1’s. But truthfully, if you are on a budget, and would be happy with Great sounding headphones which come very close to the sound of the best for $200 or $400 less, then maybe your a candidate for the RS-2’s or the SR325’s. Personally, even though I’ve heard the RS-1’s, and love the sound, I would be happy with either of the lesser expensive models because I know they are close. (Please note: Remember to consider this when making your decision... the RS1’s come with a high quality 15 ft. Grado extension cord, $40 value, and a Grado 1/4 to 1/8 inch adapter, $15 value... plus a little more attention to build quality with some metal parts replacing plastic parts.)

BTW, most of my comparisons have been done with a Grado headphone amp driving the cans. But unlike the Senn HD600’s and close relatives, the Grado’s can be driven very well by a standard headphone jack on a receiver, integrated amp, pre-amp, and yes, even a decently powered portable player.

There you have it! For those of you who can afford it, go for Grado’s best. But for the rest of us, comfort in the fact that Grados costing several hundred dollars less, come darn close!

Grado's Big Three!