Grado Signature S750 vs SR325: Which Upgrade Fits You?
By Grado Labs | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: Buying Guides
Compare Grado's Signature S750 and Classic Series SR325 on price, design, and replacement parts. Decide which open-back headphone matches your listening setup and budget.
Quick Answer
Choose the Signature S750 if you want Grado's newest Signature Line model with S2 drivers and a redesigned cushion, and you are comfortable spending around $1,050. Choose the SR325 if you want a Classic Series Grado for roughly $235 and do not need the latest driver or cushion design. Both are open-back headphones, so neither is a good fit for noisy commutes or quiet shared spaces.
What You Are Actually Comparing
These two headphones sit in different Grado lines and at very different price points. The Signature S750 is the third model in the Signature Line and is described by Grado as featuring new S2 drivers and a new cushion design. The SR325 belongs to the Classic Series and is sold in a Standard configuration under SKU SR325. That difference in product family matters more than any single spec: the S750 is positioned as a current flagship-adjacent release, while the SR325 is a long-standing Classic Series model.
Because the catalog does not list impedance, sensitivity, weight, or cable details for either headphone, do not assume they are identical in those areas. If a specification is not published, treat it as a decision limitation and ask the seller before buying rather than guessing from the model name.
Price and Value: Where the Gap Shows Up
At a catalog price of USD 1050.90, the Signature S750 costs roughly four and a half times the SR325's USD 234.50. The S750 also carries a catalog comparison price of USD 1695.00, and the SR325 shows USD 350.00, so both are listed below their comparison prices at the time of writing. That gap buys you the newer Signature Line design and the S2 driver and cushion updates, not a different category of product.
If your budget is under $300, the SR325 is the realistic Grado entry point in this comparison. If you are deliberately moving up the Grado range, the S750 is the step that reflects the current Signature Line rather than the Classic Series.
Open-Back Reality Check Before You Buy
Both models are open-back headphones, which means they leak sound outward and let room noise in. That is a design choice, not a defect, but it changes where you can use them. A quiet room at home is ideal. A shared office, a library, or a flight is not.
If your main listening happens in noisy or shared environments, neither the S750 nor the SR325 solves that problem, and you should look at a closed-back design instead. If your listening is at a desk or in a dedicated room, open-back sound is exactly what you are paying for.
Long-Term Ownership and Replacement Parts
Grado sells consumer-replaceable genuine ear cushions, which extends the practical life of either headphone. The Grado Headphone Replacement S-Cushions are standard equipment on the SR60, SR80, and SR125, and they also fit all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional, and Limited Edition headphones. If you want to keep a single spare part on hand for a Grado collection, that is the one to stock.
For storage and transport, the Large Hard-Shell Case for Grado Headphones is a zipper case with an embossed Grado logo that fits the PS1000e, PS2000e, GS1000e, GS2000e, GS3000e, and RS1e. Grado notes it is the correct case for any headphone with G-cushions. The catalog does not state that it fits the S750 or SR325, so verify fit with the seller before assuming it works for either model in this comparison.
How to Decide in One Sitting
Write down your total budget including any cable options, then compare it against the two catalog prices. Next, confirm where you will actually listen; if the answer is anywhere noisy or shared, stop and reconsider open-back headphones entirely. Finally, decide whether you are buying the current Signature Line design or a proven Classic Series model, because that is the real choice behind the price difference.
Decision Rules
- Rule 1: Let your total budget decide first: If your ceiling is around $250, the SR325 at USD 234.50 is the only realistic option here. If you can spend around $1,050 and want the current Signature Line design, the S750 at USD 1050.90 is the step up. Set the budget before you audition anything, or the price gap will do the deciding for you.
- Rule 2: Match the headphone to your room, not your playlist: Both models are open-back, so they leak sound and admit room noise. Buy either one only if your main listening space is quiet and private. Noisy commute or shared office? Neither model is the right purchase.
- Rule 3: Buy the newest design only if you value the design itself: The S750's case rests on its new S2 drivers and cushion design as the third Signature Line model. The SR325 rests on being a straightforward Classic Series headphone in a standard configuration. If the S2 driver and cushion updates do not matter to you, the SR325 leaves far more budget for a source or accessory upgrade.
- Rule 4: Plan the ownership cost, not just the purchase: Genuine Grado S-Cushions are consumer-replaceable and fit all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional, and Limited Edition headphones. If you want a hard case, confirm fit first, because the catalog lists the Large Hard-Shell Case only for PS1000e, PS2000e, GS1000e, GS2000e, GS3000e, and RS1e and for any headphone with G-cushions. Budget for cushions now and verify case compatibility before checkout.
Product Facts
- Signature S750: The Signature S750 is the third model in Grado's Signature Line and is described by Grado as featuring new S2 drivers and a new cushion design. This is the core reason to pay the higher price: you are buying the newest Signature Line driver and cushion design rather than a Classic Series model.
- SR325: The SR325 is part of the Grado Classic Series and is offered in a Standard configuration under SKU SR325. A single standard configuration keeps the purchase simple and puts the SR325 at a much lower entry price than the Signature S750.
- Grado Headphone Replacement S-Cushions: Grado Headphone Replacement S-Cushions are consumer-replaceable genuine cushions, standard on the SR60, SR80, and SR125, and they also fit all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional, and Limited Edition headphones. Replacement cushions are a low-cost way to keep a Grado headphone in service over years of use instead of replacing the whole unit.
- Large Hard-Shell Case for Grado Headphones: The Large Hard-Shell Case for Grado Headphones is a hard-shell zipper case with an embossed Grado logo that fits the PS1000e, PS2000e, GS1000e, GS2000e, GS3000e, and RS1e, and Grado notes it is the correct case for any headphone with G-cushions. If you already own or plan to own one of those models, this case protects the investment, but the catalog does not confirm fit for the S750 or SR325.
Who Each Headphone Is For
Best for
- Listeners who want Grado's newest Signature Line model with the S2 driver and redesigned cushion and can spend around $1,050
- Buyers who already own a Grado Classic Series headphone and want a clear step up within the brand
- Listeners with a quiet, dedicated space where open-back sound leakage is not a problem
Not for
- Buyers on a sub-$300 budget, who should look at the SR325 instead of the S750
- Anyone who needs isolation on commutes, flights, or in shared offices, since both models are open-back
- Shoppers who need published impedance, weight, or cable specifications before buying, because the catalog does not list them for either model
