In this video I’m doing a 1-year-later review of my own Grado SR325e and comparing it directly to the newer SR325x, so you can decide which one actually makes sense to buy. I break down where the SR325e sits in the Grado Prestige line, the different revisions (number, i, e, and the current x), and why I personally jumped straight from the SR80e to the SR325e. Then I go through design and build: the vintage utilitarian look, handmade-in-Brooklyn vibe, metal cups, the adjustment mechanism that can get loose over time, and that famously thick (and not very portable-friendly) cable. Sound-wise, I explain why the SR325e is a very “forward, in-your-face” Grado: mid-forward, slightly bright, with recessed but tight and textured bass and a narrow-but-deep stage that feels intimate rather than congested. It’s a killer match for 80s/90s rock and metal, but it can be unforgiving with poor recordings and potentially sharp for people sensitive to sibilance. In the SR325e vs SR325x section, I cover comfort differences (L pads vs F pads) and why I still picked the SR325e: it’s more lively, brighter, crisper, and more revealing, while the SR325x is more balanced, smoother, warmer, and fuller with better bass and a more tamed treble.