Grado SR225e/SR225 Headphones Review

The Grado SR225e look similar to the previous models; SR60e, SR80e, SR125e. They keep the same retro aesthetic that give the Grado their distinct style and also come in an all black color scheme. However, unlike the previous models, the padding used on the ear cups is thicker and has a hollow center, so that the sound leaving the ear cups is unobstructed. This makes them look like an over-ear model, yet they are still an on-ear headphone with surprisingly large and open earcups.

The Grado SR225e are not as comfortable as the SR60e or SR80e. They changed the cushion-like padding design to a hybrid of over-ear and on-ear. This causes the ear cups to apply uneven pressure on the ears, which gets uncomfortable during long listening sessions. They also have the same cushion-like fabric for the padding that feels low quality and easy to tear. On the upside like the SR60e, they don't apply much pressure to your head, especially for an on ear design.

The Grado 225e are moderately portable headphones. They don't have much bulk and have a thin headband. They will easily fit in a bag and are lightweight around to carry on your neck. Sadly, the ear cups are little large for an on-ear design and they don't fold up to take less space. The thick cable is also a bit bothersome and doesn't come with a carrying case or pouch, which is disappointing.

Build quality is subpar. The lightweight design and relatively dense ear cups can withstand a couple of falls without damage. Unfortunately, these headphones look poorly glued together, and the joint are plasticky and look cheap. The plastic used for the ear cups also has a few imperfections in the finish, which add to the seeming cheapness of the build quality. The cushion-like material used for the padding is also susceptible to wear and tear. On the upside, the audio cable is thick and robust.

These headphones like the previous models are not stable on your head and not designed for sports. They will quickly fall off during any physical activity, and have a thick and non-detachable cable that will yank the headphones of your head if it gets hooked on something. They are decently stable for casual listening sessions and the ear pad design adds a little more stability but they will slip off your ears if you tilt your head too far.

• Grado SR225e Headphones
• 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter

Poor isolation. Due to the open-back of these headphones, the isolation is poor by design. They barely isolate any external sound, failing to achieve more than 7dB of isolation in the treble range.

Poor leakage. Being open headphones, these headphones leak a lot of sound. The majority of leakage is happening between 300Hz and 20KHz which is a very broad range. The leakage on these headphones sounds loud, full and intelligible.

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