Grado has dropped its latest range of headphones, and it sees a well-regarded series receive a facelift.
Considering the Prestige series were the first headphones designed by John Grado over three decades ago, Prestige Series X headphones speak to the company’s identity and history.
Grado Prestige X Series
The series is built on the award-winning E series, with the new Prestige X Series featuring enhanced drive units, an advanced cable design and a more comfortable headband across its five models: the SR60x, SR80x, SR125x, SR225x and SR325x. All headphones have been hand-crafted at the company’s headquarters based in Brooklyn, New York.
New features include an enhanced speaker design with a new magnetic circuit that’s been revised for improved efficiency. This is along with a new design for the voice coil and diaphragm intended to further reduce distortion and enhance harmonic integrity. According to Grado this should make the Prestige X Series easier to driver across a range of portable devices.
The series is also the recipient of a new cable design that’s both more durable and flexible. The 8-conductor cable on the SR125x, SR225x, SR325x, and 4-conductor cable on the SR60x, SR80x cables have a super annealed copper wire said to improve the purity of the audio signal for more faithful playback.
The other notable change has been made to the headband. It’s been re-designed for added comfort, and despite the leather look the majority of the range has, the material used is actually a vegan-friendly synthetic protein material. The SR325x, however, continues to use a leather headband.
Grado SR60x
| Price | £109.95 /$99 |
| Frequency Response | 20- 20,000hz |
| Sound Pressure Level (SPL), 1mW | 99.8 dB |
| Nominal Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Driver Matched dB | .1 dB |
| Cable type | 4 -conductor |
| Ear pad type | S cushion |
Grado SR80x
| Price | £129.95 / $125 |
| Frequency Response | 20- 20,000hz |
| Sound Pressure Level (SPL), 1mW | 99.8 dB |
| Nominal Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Driver Matched dB | .1 dB |
| Cable type: | 4 -conductor |
| Ear pad type | S cushion |
Grado SR125x
| Price | £189.95 / $175 |
| Frequency Response | 20- 20,000hz |
| Sound Pressure Level (SPL), 1mW | 99.8 dB |
| Nominal Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Driver Matched dB | .1 dB |
| Cable type | 8-conductor |
| Ear pad type | S cushion |
Grado SR225x
| Price | £249.95 / $225 |
| Frequency Response | 20- 20,000hz |
| Sound Pressure Level (SPL), 1mW | 99.8 dB |
| Nominal Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Driver Matched dB | .05 dB |
| Cable type | 8-conductor |
| Ear pad type | S cushion |
Grado SR325x
| Price | £329.95 / $295 |
| Frequency Response | 18- 24,000hz |
| Sound Pressure Level (SPL), 1mW | 99.8 dB |
| Nominal Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Driver Matched dB | .05 dB |
| Cable type | 8-conductor |
| Ear pad type | S cushion |
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
