Open Sound with Textured Tones
Near the top end of the Prestige series, just before Grado gets into metal and wood, comes the impressive SR225x. The SR225x and SR125x have had a sibling rivalry for decades. Being the mature one, the SR225x utilizes the new F cushion to open up the sound to more textured tones. The driver works in unison to produce a unique voicing, while also proving to be just as fast as the SR125x. Just don’t tell its kid brother.
Signature Sound
The clarity and range of Grado headphones can reveal new notes and details in songs heard hundreds of times. The driver and housing working in tandem react to sound vibrations and virtually eliminate transient distortions. With warm harmonic colors, smooth top-end, excellent dynamics, and a world renowned mid-range, the SR225x produces a sound that’s pure Grado.
Grado X-Series Drivers
Fourth Generation Grado drivers are here. Specifically tuned for the SR225x, this new speaker design features a more powerful magnetic circuit, a voice coil with decreased effective mass, and a reconfigured diaphragm. Reengineering these components for Grado's 44mm drivers improves efficiency, reduces distortion, and preserves the harmonic integrity of your music. Drivers are matched to 0.05dB compared to 0.1dB matching for the SR60x, SR80x, and SR125x.
New Cables and Headband
Along with the speakers, the cables and headband have been redesigned for the SR225x. Now housed in a more durable exterior, the eight-conductor cable features a super annealed copper wire for improved purity of the audio signal. The new headband features more cushion for a comfier experience.
Hand Assembled in Brooklyn, USA
Each SR225x is hand assembled in Brooklyn, USA. This headphone goes from workbench to workbench until it’s ready for your ears. Grado started building on a kitchen table in 1953, and every experience since then has led to the creation of the SR225x.
The New Grado X-Driver Prestige Headphones
Grado Labs new Prestige Series feature the first X Drivers. These newly built speakers are the fourth generation of drivers the Brooklyn company has designed since the introduction of the first Grado headphone in 1991. Along with the superior sound these new drivers produce, the five headphones in the Prestige Series (SR60x, SR80x, SR125x, SR225x, SR325x) are now built with a new durable cable and new headbands.
In twenty years Grado Labs has only released four generations of drivers, the speaker inside the headphone. Avoiding yearly update cycles, Grado has made sure to only place new drivers inside their headphones when there is a significant upgrade. The X Drivers bring a completely redesigned speaker and new harmony to the inner workings of the Prestige Series.
Each X Driver is specifically tuned for headphone they’re built into. Grado has increased the magnetic power of the speaker while decreasing the effective mass of the voice coil. Along with the reconfigured diaphragm, this unison creates a speaker that represents the truest presentation of the original source.
"The Prestige Series means the world to our family", says Jonathan Grado. "It’s the first series we ever released, and includes not only our first-ever headphone (SR80) but also our first metal pair as well (SR325). Our goal was to increase the efficiency of our drivers while not only maintaining, but also improving the purity of the original recording and the mid-range we’re known for. Without the Prestige Series, we wouldn't be here."