Sennheiser HD 650 vs GRADO SR225e

vs

Let me review two open back type headphones of American and Austrian production Grado SR225e vs Sennheiser HD650. Both are wired but Grado has on ear design vs Sennheiser over ear one.

Features

Low impedance of Grado SR225e with 32 Ohm makes them quite compatible with mobile phones and other devices like players without an extra amp. Sennheiser HD650 is more optimized for high-quality sources with 350 Ohm. It sounds quiet when connected to a mobile phone without a headphone amp. The second wins a bit in sensitivity with 103 vs 100 dB. The frequency response of Grado is more narrow vs Sennheiser with 20Hz-22KHz vs 10Hz-41KHz, however it does not always mean a better sound that we will review next.

Sound

The headphones sound very smooth and warm without sharp edges. The soundstage is very wide and imaging is decent. They sound pretty well with most genres of music. They both seem to lack a bit of bass strength. The trebles may sound brassy at times. But the mids are very detailed and not drawn. I would consider both the models for neutral listening.

Comfort and design

The headphones are very light with 260 and 280 g respectively. Both have adjustable headbands, not tight, but the Sennheiser’s one is better padded. The suede-like padding on its cups looks more appealing and feels more comfy than Grado’s foam cushions. Its cups are also larger for the over ear design that makes me feel better. Unfortunately, both models are not foldable to a more compact design, however the cups of Grado SR225e lay flat to take less space or to wear on the neck like DJs do.

Sennheiser HD 650 pros and cons

GRADO SR225e pros and cons