The Grado SR80e/SR80 are decent open-back headphones for neutral sound but a below-average choice for everything else. They're decently comfortable and have a well-balanced mid-range and a good bass for an open-back design. Unfortunately, they have a mediocre-at-best build quality that doesn't feel very durable, and they sound a bit too piercing on already bright tracks. Also, because of their open-back design, they leak a lot and poorly isolate in noisy environments.
Our Verdict
Below-average for mixed usage. The Grado SR80e/SR80 are ideal for neutral sound, but they aren't really intended for other use cases. They deliver an above-average sound quality that reproduces instruments and vocals decently well but will sound a bit too sharp for some. They're also decently comfortable but are less stable than most on-ears and even some bulkier over-ear designs. They're also open-back headphones that won't be versatile enough for outdoor use by design.
- Lightweight, comfortable on-ear design.
- Above-average, open sound reproduction.
- Very high leakage, by design.
- No isolation from ambient noise, by design.
- No audio controls.
The Grado SR80e are above-average neutral listening headphones. They have a wide, open soundstage and great reproduction of instruments and vocals. They lack a little bass and sound slightly sharp at times, but they reproduce the detail in high-res audio with above-average accuracy.
The Grado SR80e aren't designed for commuting. They don't block any ambient noise, which won't be ideal for a busy train or bus ride.
The Grado SR80e aren't intended for sports. They're unstable and the thick cable is bothersome. They also have no control scheme and are bit bulky and cumbersome to carry around on your person. On the upside, they're fairly breathable.
The Grado SR80e are sub-par for office use. Unless you work alone or in an isolated office, the leakage level will be too bothersome for those around you. Also, the open back design doesn't block any noise so you hear your environment fairly easily even when listening to music at higher-than-average volumes.
The Grado SR80e are below average for gaming. They're decently comfortable, sound great, and have a low latency wired design. However, they don't have a microphone for voice chat when gaming and no customization options, which are typical for most gaming headsets. Also, they don't have the convenience of wireless design or multiple connection options for an optimized experience on Xbox One or PS4.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Grado SR80e have an above-average and open sound quality but lack many features for everyday, casual use. They're lightweight and moderately comfortable. The open-back design of the ear cups also improves their overall sound quality. Unfortunately, their build quality doesn't feel durable, and they fall off your head quite easily since they don't have the most stable design and have a bulky non-detachable stereo cable. They also have sharp and piercing sound quality that won't be ideal for all tracks, especially bright and treble-heavy songs. See our recommendations for the best on-ear headphones, the best headphones under $100, and the best audiophile headphones.
The Grado SR80e/SR80 have no significant differences when compared to the Grado SR60e/SR60. They sound about the same, although the SR80 have slightly better imaging and treble mostly due to better consistency in the treble range. However, like the SR60e, they sound sharp. This won't be for everyone, especially on already bright tracks. On the other hand, SR60e are a slightly better value for your money since they have the same performance and overall build quality as the SR80e.
The Grado SR225e/SR225 are also almost identical to the budget Grado SR80e/SR80 but have slightly different pads. The different pads emulate an over-ear design, but it's not very large, which means they still sit on the ears like on-ear headphones. On the upside, the SR80 are a better value for your money since they sound basically identical to the SR225e, except for the slightly better distortion performance of the more premium model. The SR80e are also a bit less cumbersome to carry around since their cable is not as thick and bulky.
The Grado SR80e/SR80 and the Grado The Hemp Headphone are both on-ear headphones that have slightly different advantages. While they have similar designs, the SR80e/SR80 are more comfortable. For the most part, they're able to produce more bass, although it's still somewhat underemphasized. Unlike the Hemp, their treble is also overemphasized, which makes them sound piercing and sharp. However, the Hemp have a better passive soundstage. They also feel better built.
The Grado SR80e/SR80 are pretty much identical to the Grado SR125e/SR125. The SR125e have slightly thicker and more durable cables, but have the same design and build quality as the rest of the budget Grado line up. The SR80 are, therefore, a better value for your money since they have the same performance at a cheaper price point. They also do a bit better in the treble range, although both headphones are a bit too sharp and may sound piercing on already bright tracks. Also, the difference in the treble is within the margin of error for our sound test, since its consistency varies from person to person.
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