Grado Labs Headphones • Shoreline Music

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Grado Labs headphones are without question the most highly regarded headphones in the audiophile world. I was turned on to them years ago by an old employee of mine, and have been eager to introduce them to Shoreline's customers for quite some time. Over the years we have fielded hundreds of requests for good headphones and headphone preamps, and after the retirement of Raven Labs and their excellent PHA-1 headphone preamp, Grado Labs was the obvious choice to fill those shoes. Grado also fits in well with Shoreline's long tradition of offering for sale the gear I use myself.

The panoply of awards for these headphones is too sizable to list here, but here are a few: "Product of the Year" (SR60 and RS1) and "Budget Component of the Year" (SR125) from Stereophile magazine. "Hi-Fi Grand Prix" from Audio-Video magazine (SR80 and SR325). "Golden Note" from the Academy for the Advancement of High End Audio (SR80). "Critic's Choice" from Sound and Video magazine (SR125). Top headphone on Stereophile magazine's "Recommended Components" list (RS1). The fact that headphones this good cost as little as they do is simply astonishing. If you've been looking for headphones for your recording studio, or just to listen to movies on your laptop, I recommend Grados without reservation. You will hear your music as you've never heard it before.

[For what it's worth, Grado Labs also makes some of the world's best styli (for those of you who still own and use turntables and vinyl records). We don't stock the Grado styli, but please contact us if you'd like to order one.]

Prestige Series Headphones:

SR60 - As with the rest of Grado's lineup, these feature a dynamic, vented-diaphragm design with a large air chamber. This design produces smooth highs and a stunning, resonant low-end response. Terminates in a 1/8" miniplug. Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz. (picture)

SR80 - Of the lower-priced Grados, I think this headphone offers the best bang for the buck. The design of the SR80 is virtually identical to the SR60, but it features a more substantial connecting cable and better earpieces, and you'll notice improved response across the audible spectrum. This has become our best-selling Grado headphone, for obvious reasons: It is impossible to find a non-Grado headphone for under $200 that comes close to these $95 wonders. This is made obvious the first time you put them on and listen to any Brandenberg Concerto or any of Michael Hedges' harp guitar pieces (his arrangement of the Prelude to Cello Suite #1 is particularly satisfying through Grados). If you've been looking for an inexpensive way to actually enjoy all that music on your iPod, it's hard to imagine a better headphone than this. Terminates in a 1/8" miniplug. Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz. (picture)

SR125 - The Grado SR125 is the first big leap in build quality in the Prestige Series. The internal wiring is ultra-high-purity wire for maximum clarity and transparency, and the diaphragm in this headphone is de-stressed to improve tonal detail and open up response across the spectrum. Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz. (picture)

SR225 - This next model up in the line features a custom rear screen for improved airflow as well as drivers that are more closely matched than in the SR125. Frequency response: 20Hz-22kHz. (picture)

SR325i - This headphone is the top of the line among Grado's Prestige models. With dramatically more open tone than the lower models, this headphone is virtually impossible to beat. This is also the first model that features the same ultra-high-purity wire in the connecting cable as in the headphones. The "i" in the name refers to the recently improved design of these headphones, with a more balanced housing and new drivers to minimize transient distortion. Grado says that the tonal profile of this headphone is very similar to the Reference Series models, and I'm inclined to agreed with them. As such, I think this headphone gives you the best performance for the money of the entire Grado Labs lineup. Frequency response: 18Hz-24kHz. (picture)

Reference Series Headphones:

RS1 - The Grado Labs RS1 is the best headphone I've ever used. Period. It's no wonder that these are the headphones against which all other headphones are judged. Of course, at nearly $700, it's certainly not the kind of headphone you'll plug into your iPod and take for a jog. But if you're looking for the ultimate in headphone performance, with fantastic imaging, unbelievable bass response, clear but non-fatiguing highs, and accurate mids, then the RS1 is for you. It features handcrafted earpieces made from specially cured mahogany and the same high-purity connecting cable as the SR325. Frequency response: 12Hz-30kHz. (picture)

RS2 - The RS2 is frankly a great way to save a bit of money on the world's best headphone. With a smaller air chamber than the RS1, you lose a bit of the resonant lows that make the RS1 famous, but you also save $200 on a headphone that is in every other way just like its bigger brother. Frequency response: 14Hz-28kHz. (picture)

Other Headphones:

iGrado - The iGrado was the natural next step for Grado Labs. While their killer tone of their main line of headphones is indisputable, they are not exactly designed to be worn on the go. The iGrado gives you the same great tone you'd expect from an SR60 (or at least close to it), in a much smaller, lighter, more portable and wearable package. Available in black or white. Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz. (white)

Headphone Preamps:

RA1 - The Grado RA1 is a headphone preamp whose simple, clean appearance belies its powerful interior. Specifically tuned for use with Grado headphones, the RA1 has a simple left and right input on the back, and a place to plug in your phones. Plug this into any line-level audio source, and listen to your headphones—and your music—come alive. Available in battery-powered and AC-powered versions (two 9-volt batteries drive 40-50 hours of listening). (picture)

Please note: We cannot ship Grado Labs headphones outside the US.

Grado Labs Headphones	Description	Price*
iGrado	Great Grado tone in a lightweight, mobile package	$49.00
SR60	Affordable, award-winning headphones	$69.00
SR80	Similar to SR60 but with better response	$95.00
SR125	Similar to SR80 but with improved features	$150.00
SR225	Similar to SR125 with improved drivers	$195.00
SR325i	Top Prestige Series phones, with better frequency response and new design	$295.00
RS2	Similar to RS1 with slightly smaller resonating chamber, as well as lower price	$495.00
RS1	Grado's top of the line	$695.00
Headphone Preamp	Description	Price*
RA1	Designed to enhace Grado listening	$350.00
RA1-AC	Same as RA1 but with AC power	$425.00

*All Grado Labs headphone prices include free shipping anywhere in the US. CO residents add 2.9% sales tax (7.4% in La Plata county). Please see our Shipping page for additional shipping information.