Grado SR80x
Grado SR80x open-backed hifi headphones, fitted with 4th-generation 44 mm drivers and handmade in Brooklyn, for music lovers seeking clarity.
Description
The SR80x is an open-backed hifi headphone from Grado, the direct descendant of the very first model designed by the brand in 1991. It holds a special place in the Grado line-up, as the oldest model in the range, still produced today with successive refinements to its design.
This model incorporates 4th-generation Grado drivers, developed specifically for the SR80x. This new generation of 44 mm drivers combines a more powerful magnetic circuit, a voice coil with reduced effective mass and a reconfigured diaphragm. This combination aims to improve driver efficiency, reduce distortion and preserve the harmonic integrity of the reproduced musical signal.
The cable has also been reworked: it is now a 4-conductor cable, with super-annealed copper wire designed to improve the purity of the audio signal, all protected by a more durable outer sheath. The headband has likewise been redesigned, with more generous padding for comfort during wear. Each unit is hand-assembled by the Grado team in Brooklyn.
These open-backed headphones are aimed at listeners attentive to sonic detail and midrange reproduction, often sought after by fans of acoustic music or vocals. The open design, characteristic of Grado headphones, calls for listening in a quiet environment, with no sound isolation, and is better suited to home use than to travel or shared spaces.
What to check before buying used
The ear cushions on a used SR80x are almost always found crushed or torn: check their pliability and note that they are easily replaced. Also inspect the headband, whose padding can sag over the years, as well as the cable sheath where it exits the earcups, a point where the thin wires can weaken over time. A check of the sound balance between the two drivers is also recommended to rule out any tonal imbalance between channels.
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