Some manufacturers need to feed their distribution channels with constant novelties, and sometimes even the most conservative high-end audio brands get caught in marketing cycle strategies of launching new products regularly to stay top-of-mind among consumers. As Grado proudly states, "this is only the 4th generation of speakers since we started building Grado drivers in 1991. Avoiding a yearly release “just because,” our family has only ever introduced new speakers when we felt there was a clear and noticeable advancement. The X Driver has been years in the making."
These new X Drivers are now integrated in the classic Grado Prestige Series headphones, which include the Brooklyn-built SR60x, SR80x, SR125x, SR225x, and SR325x, all offered at very reasonable prices and complemented with an assortment of options and accessories.
But Grado is conservative not only in their product strategy, they also don't discuss technology too much. So, it is certainly refreshing to learn about the new dynamic driver design when the company says: "The goal with these new drivers was to increase efficiency and have their components work in unison. Specifically tuned for each headphone they’re built into, 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 our 44mm drivers improves efficiency, reduces distortion, and preserves the harmonic integrity of your music."
"While not only preserving, but improving, the faithfulness to the originally recorded event, the new X Series of headphones present an even superior soundstage while being able to be powered by nearly any device," they add on a more subjective perspective.
While adjectives are better left to actual reviewers, Grado still makes an effort to characterize how these open designs sound in comparison with the previous generation. "Some of the marvels of a Grado driver are the clarity and range, revealing new notes and details in songs heard hundreds of times. With superlative tonal balance, dynamics, imaging, and realism, these headphones lay out an extremely detailed presentation."
Along with the new drivers, the new Grado Prestige Series X Driver headphones also feature new cables and headband, all redesigned specifically for the SR60x, SR80x, SR125x, SR225x, and SR325x models. Housed in a more durable exterior, the headphones now use improved purity super annealed copper 4 and 8-conductor cables. The SR60x, SR80x, SR125x, SR225x all have new thicker faux-leather headbands for a more comfortable experience. The new leather headband on the top-rated SR325x metal housing headphones feature white stitching exclusive to these models in the Prestige Series.
www.gradolabs.com
