Grado SR80 Classic Series Open-Back Headphones

The Grado SR80 is an open-back headphone that runs the same 44mm X2 driver and molded housing as the SR60 but ships with F cushions instead of S. That single change pulls the driver closer to the ear, and Grado's own comparison of the two is direct: greater immediacy and presence, tighter bass, more forward midrange energy and extended high-frequency detail, for fifty dollars more.

Key Features of the Grado SR80

• 44mm X2 Dynamic Driver: Mylar diaphragm, copper voice coil and a rare earth magnet system engineered for efficiency and control.
• F Cushions: Flatter than the SR60's S cushions, bringing the driver closer to the ear and reinforcing an energetic presentation.
• Refined X2 Tuning: Grado credits years of listening and feedback with improving balance and clarity while keeping the lively character the SR80 is known for.
• Die-Injection Molded Housing: Lightweight and durable, keeping the headphone easy to wear over long sessions.
• Standard Headband Assembly: Padded synthetic headstrap over a steel spring band you bend by hand to set clamping pressure.
• Bronze Cable: Grado's fixed-configuration cable, balancing durability with dependable signal performance.
• Open-Back Architecture: Lets the music breathe rather than sealing it in, producing the spacious presentation the range is built on.
• 20Hz to 20kHz Response: 38 ohms nominal, 98 dB at 1mW, so a phone or laptop output will drive it.
• Assembled in Brooklyn, New York: Built in the same building the Grado family has owned since 1918.

The X2 Driver Behind the Classic Series

At the center of the SR80 is Grado's 44mm X2 dynamic driver, built around a Mylar diaphragm, a copper voice coil and a rare earth magnet system engineered for efficiency and control. Grado says the X2 platform carries refined tuning developed through years of listening and feedback, improving balance and clarity while preserving the lively character that has long defined the SR80.

The driver is matched channel to channel within 0.1 dB, the same tolerance Grado specifies for the SR60. Tighter matching, at 0.05 dB, is what the SR325 adds further up the line.

F Cushions: The Change From the SR60

The SR80 ships with Grado F cushions, which are flatter than the S cushions fitted to the SR60. Sitting flatter brings the driver closer to the ear, and Grado is specific about the result: compared with the SR60, the SR80 delivers greater immediacy and presence, with tighter bass response, more forward midrange energy and extended high-frequency detail. The driver, the housing and the cable are otherwise identical between the two models.

Grado treats cushions as a tuning element in their own right, sold separately so owners can experiment. Moving between S, F, L and G cushions changes the driver-to-ear distance and shifts tonal balance, which means the SR80 is not locked to the voice it arrives with.

Molded Housing and the Open Back

The SR80 uses a lightweight die-injection molded housing, the same shell as the SR60, chosen for durability while keeping the headphone comfortable and easy to wear. Stepping up to the SR325 swaps this for precision-machined aluminum, which is the other structural difference across the three models we stock.

The back of each cup is open. Air moves freely behind the driver rather than being trapped in a sealed cavity, which is what produces the spacious presentation Grado is known for. It also means these leak sound in both directions, so they suit a room of your own rather than a shared office or a commute.

Headband, Cable and Fit

The SR80 uses Grado's standard headband assembly with a padded synthetic headstrap, over a steel spring band. Clamping pressure is set by bending that band by hand, so the fit is adjusted once rather than clicked through detents. The cable is Grado's Bronze design in a fixed configuration, balancing durability with dependable signal performance.

The cable is hard-wired and cannot be detached. That is deliberate across the whole Classic Series: Grado reserves detachable cables for its Signature Line.

What the Classic Series Changed

Grado introduced the Classic Series, gathering the SR80 together with the SR60, SR325, Hemp, RS1, GS1000 and GS3000 and moving them onto the X2 driver platform. Grado's stated aim was improved consistency, control and refinement, with greater clarity, extension and balance, while preserving the lively presentation.

The cable and headband were reworked at the same time. Grado's newly developed Signature cable design is lighter, softer and more flexible while keeping the traditional hard-wired construction, and the headbands were refined for comfort and long-term durability without changing the familiar look. The Classic Series also consolidated the range: the separate SR125 and SR225 tiers that sat above the SR80 in the previous lineup are gone.

Grado Labs, Three Generations In

Grado Labs has been a family-owned American company since 1953, founded by Audio Hall of Fame member Joseph Grado, who invented the moving coil stereo cartridge and developed the first true high-end dynamic headphone. The company still works out of the Brooklyn building that Pasquale Grado bought in 1918, which started life as the family fruit store.

John Grado took over from his uncles in the early 1990s, having swept the floors of that building as a boy in the 1960s. He handed leadership to his brother Richard in 2023, with Jonathan and Matthew Grado, the third generation, coming up behind them.

Where the Grado SR80 fits in the Grado Classic Series

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on exceptional service and relentless passion for hifi. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Grado SR80 Specifications