Grado Labs

I was introduced to Grado headphones in 1993 with the SR 60 model, still the best deal in audio. Presently I listen to the SR 125 which is a little more expensive ($ 150 vs. $ 80) but with a slightly roomier ‘soundstage’ as they say in the business and some more bass. The sound of these cans is absolutely wonderful: clear, open and just enough highs and lows that allow me to hear the music naturally. I recommend anyone take a listen to Grado headphones before spending more than $ 80 on a different brand. Plus, they are made in America and finally, I had abused my SR 60 for years and sent them in years past warranty for an estimate on repair. They came back fixed, with no invoice! Imagine any other company you’ve done business doing that. Name one?!?
I recommend replacing the ear pads with the yellow replacements Sennheiser sells for the HD 414, available on E-​bay for less than $ 10.

Picked up my first pair of Grado headphones today — the prestige series 325e. I found them at park ave audio in Manhattan, buried in the back of the salesmanship desk with a dozen floor models. I tried some top of the line headphones and finally saw the Grados. Asking what they were, the salesman said «oh those, are hand made in Brooklyn.» Personally I love hand made items, but after I put them on I was fully immersed in music I’ve had for years and never heard so clearly. The trembling wood of a cello, or creak of a piano chair. At times I swear I could actually visualize the roundness, density and length of strings. Music before was just notes, tunes, beats and sorta just noise. Now it’s spatial — a place that I feel transported to. Honestly, a bit dangerous walking around the city and certainly driving as its so engrossing (great for walking around Dia: beacon). If you ever spend time testing out top of the line products, and you just melt into one product you know the designers did something right. Grado Lab headphones put all their product cost in the important parts — which I think is beautiful and respectable. Good luck finding a pair. I pushed the sales guy to sell me the floor model. If you find one at a specialty store BUY IT! You’ll hear the other half of the sounds in your music that’s been hidden. My condolences to John and his family for the loss of Mr. Joseph Grado this past February.

I had a Gold cartridge, which developed a problem with one channel. There was no output and infinite resistance. Although it had not been heavily used, it was 10 years old. Way out of warranty. I contacted Grado, and they said to send it for evaluation.
I figured they would let me know the cost of repair, and I would have been happy to pay. There was not much in the way of followup contact-​I had to contact them to be sure they even received it.
In a few days a small package arrived. It was a brand new Gold cartridge. No comment, no bill, no charge.
This is a family company that is proud of their product, and stands behind it forever. Need I say more?

First of all, I’m a HUGE fan of the headphones. This review is for Grado Labs, the PLACE.
This place is an unmarked factory in an out-​of-​the-​way section of Brooklyn. I was misled on their website which, in their «Where to Buy» section, said that this location offered headphones for purchase. After walking around for a while in the July heat, I could not even find a sign that marked this place. I used my iphone to call the factory number. A woman picked up and said they don’t let people in, don’t sell headphones there, and at first didn’t even know where they distributed their products. Overall, I was bummed. But got a new pair of cans elsewhere so I’m happy!

Oh Grados — how you hold me in ecstasy in your sweet embrace…
Grado Labs — you’ve turned me into *THAT* guy. The guy that instantly sneers at other people for their choice of headphones. The guy that would get up on a soapbox and sing the praises of your products as soon as anyone mentions headphones. The guy that would instantly quit his job if you offered me any job at your factory (… I’ll even take a janitorial job…) … if I wasn’t already employed at one of the few companies that outrank you on my list of ‘Best Places to Work’ (trust me, there are few).
I’m like a Mac fanboy — equally annoying — except you’re far more obscure and your design is so-lame-that-you’re-cool style… and I’m hipster for saying that. But I don’t care — you guys don’t waste money on style or marketing at all — just best bang-​for-​buck audio quality. I don’t care that my cans makes me look like a WWII-​era telegraph operator and I annoy everyone near me — your headphones are damned comfortable and reproduces every detail in music.
I know you’re had to roll with the times and produce some ‘stylish’ headphones — but I’ll love you as long as you keep producing value Prestige-​series cans and have a pair of GS1000i for me when I finally pull the trigger on my first no compromises multi-​thousand dollar headphone setup. I was a believer the instant I slipped on a pair of GS1000i.
Stand strong against the temptation of mass-​produced muddled boomy celebrity-​endorsed overpriced excuses for headphones. For what it’s worth, I always submit my Grados for comparison tests to the unenlightened. These usually result in a sale for your company or at least leave someone crying over buying the wrong headphones.
Everytime I’ve emailed you with a query — I’ve gotten a response back the same day. Warranty-​or-​not… US customer or not…
The only complaint is that I wished you would offer your products in Canada through new distributors or relax the licensing agreements — standard Canadian MSRP is about twice what you see in the US (even with our dollars at par). You have believers in Canada as well and not everyone has back-​channel sources.
Grado — keep on keeping on.

I just got my repaired Grado. It took Grado about 3 weeks all in all.
I’m so happy with it, so pleased. Now, my can looks brand new!

BEST CANS FOR $ 60! The SR-​60 are, really. Sure, they aren’t isolation cans and the next door cubicle can hear you but boy do these cans pack a punch. You hear tiny nuances of music that you don’t with other cans. They can reveal any weak recording and make you cry like a little schoolgirl.