I’ve been testing the Grado SR325: They’re not the most comfortable, but I could still listen for hours

Tom's Guide Verdict With a sleek, retro design, the Grado SR325 headphones feature warm sound, detailed mids, and exceptional vocal replication. However, their uncomfortable on-ear fit and cheap foam earcup padding distract from the sound. Pros +Sleek, retro design +Amazing vocal replication +Detailed mids performance +Excellent for mellow music Cons -On-ear style isn’t the most comfortable -Cheap foam padding on earcups Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. As someone who’s always listening to music and looking for the best headphones to replicate the sound of my favorite artists, I was excited to test out the Grado SR325. I’m a big fan of detailed sound, and the Grados deliver it in abundance.They have amazing vocal reproduction while also delivering detailed mids performance, so you can take in your favorite guitar riffs and drum fills. I found them best for mellow music, but they perform well across the board.But while the design is sleek and retro, I had some issues. The on-ear style of the headphones isn’t for me. I found them uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, and the cheap foam padding made this even worse. To find out more about the headphones, you can keep reading this full Grado SR325 review.Latest Videos FromTom's GuideGrado SR325 review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Price $350 / £349 Headphone style Open back, on-ear Drivers 44mm dynamic Frequency response 18-24 kHz Impdance 38 ohms SPL 1mW 98 Connectivity Wired, 3.5mm jack with 6.3mm adapter Weight 14 ounces Grado SR325 review: Price & availabilityThe Grado SR325 headphones are available in the U.S. on Amazon for $350 and in the U.K. on the Grado website for £349. When it comes to open-back headphones, you’re likely to be forking out a fair bit of cash for great sound, so that’s to be expected.For around the same price, you can pick up the FiiO FT13 ($329). These cans provide a deep, rich sound with impeccable instrument separation. Similarly, the Meze 99 Classics Gen 2, which cost $349, can provide an even cleaner sound. The Mezes are over-ear headphones with a light headband, making them comfortable to wear for long periods, unlike the Grados.The Meze Audio 105 AER are another solid choice, offering warm sound, some of the best clarity you’ll find, and much better comfort. That’s all for $299, which makes them a true no-brainer when compared with the questionable sound and $350 price tag of the Grado SR325.Grado SR325 review: Design The Grado SR325 are on-ear headphones with an open-back design. They have built-in wires, so there's no need to plug in each time you listen. The headphones look sleek with black aluminum details and a faux leather headband. I think they look great and more than a little retro, but the headband feels flimsy as it’s not very thick. The headphones don’t fold and don’t come with a case either, so you’d need to invest in a headphone stand to ensure they stay in tip-top condition.Tom's Guide: Direct to Your InboxGet instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Comfort (Image credit: Tom's Guide)While the Grado SR325 are comfortable to wear for short listening sessions, I would much rather use a pair of over-ear headphones like the FiiO FT13 ($329) for comfort over extended periods of time. The on-ear style Grado headphones rest directly on my ears, making the cartilage ache, which is annoying if, like me, you want to listen to music for hours on end. Also, the cheap, thin foam used to cover the earcups is uncomfortable and a little bit scratchy. It reminds me of the foam covering on the Gadhouse Wesley headphones, which are significantly cheaper at $69. For $350, I expect more care to be taken with the comfort of the Grado cans.The headphones weigh 14 ounces and didn’t feel too heavy, but the top of my head became sore where the headband was resting after about 45 minutes because there’s not much padding.Connectivity (Image credit: Tom's Guide)The Grado SR325 headphones have built-in wires connected to both earcups that merge into one aux wire. You have the choice between a 3.5mm jack or a 6.3mm adapter when connecting to your device.While listening, I used the FiiO K11 R2R DAC to power the headphones, and my colleagues also tested the cans with the iFi hip-dac 3 and FiiO K15. While the SR325 aren’t very hard to drive and can be powered by your laptop or phone, using a good DAC ensures they’ll sound their best, and I could hear a stark difference between listening with and without.Grado SR325 review: Sound qualityThe Grado SR325 headphones have a very interesting sound profile. It’s a sound I completely enjoy, and they accentuate different areas from other audiophile headphones I’ve used, but this original sound is fuzzy, adopting an analog tone, like a cup of tea on an autumn afternoon. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)I listened using Qobuz, one of the best music streaming services, and used the FiiO K11 R2R desktop DAC to amplify the sound. The headphones offer a well-rounded sound across most genres. They thrive with simpler, acoustic music, but they also enhance layers in more complex tracks.Firstly, I listened to Music On The Radio by Empire Of The Sun to test the bass performance. While it didn’t deliver the same depth of bass I can expect from my everyday drivers, which are the Sony WH-1000XM6, I was able to appreciate all of the layers of the track without the bass becoming crackly or overwhelming. This means the headphones strike a good balance and allow me to hear more of the vocal performance. Bass certainly takes a backseat, but it’s still there, gently warming the track from the bottom up. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)To test out the mid-range performance, I listened to Birds by Turnstile, as it has a prominent guitar riff complemented by heavy drums. The hi-hats stood out between the verse and the chorus, and the guitar riff was incredibly powerful when it kicked in. The soundstage wasn’t as wide as when I listen using my Beyerdynamic DT 270 Pro, but the level of detail made up for that.Finally, to test the treble performance of the Grados, I listened to The Last Man On Earth by Wolf Alice. This song focuses on the vocal performance before exploding with the addition of harmonies, drums, and bass. The vocals were bright throughout and so detailed that I could hear every breath. When the drums kicked in, I experienced some very slight fuzziness, but that’s why I think these headphones do a better job with simple tracks. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)Overall, I think the Grado SR325 headphones are a great option for detailed listening, especially for people who like detailed tracks.Grado SR325 review: VerdictThe Grado SR325 headphones have a sleek-looking, retro design that is sure to look great next to any audio setup. My favorite thing about these cans is the amazing vocal replication. The mid-range is also exceptionally detailed, with guitar riffs taking the forefront where needed. The warm sound makes these cans very pleasant to listen to.And while the sleek, retro design looks good, I can’t help but notice that the foam padding on the earcups feels very cheap. This doesn’t help that the on-ear style is uncomfortable for long listening periods.Overall, these headphones are a great choice, but for $350, you may be expecting a little more comfort with your sound. Ashley is a staff writer on the the Reviews team at Tom’s Guide. She has a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and a BA in Journalism, Media and Sociology. She has written for titles including Women’s Health UK, writing health and wellness stories, and Virgin Radio UK, specializing in entertainment news and celebrity interviews. She has reported on a variety of topics including music, literature, motorsport, entertainment and health. She has previously reviewed live music events, books, and wellness products but discovering the top audio equipment on the market is what she does best. When she is not testing out the latest tech, you can find her either curled up with a cup of tea and a good novel or out hiking. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.